Event Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Unthinkable in Paperback
October 9, 2008 at 10:54 AM |
6 comments
Good news! The Unthinkable comes out in paperback on June 16, 2009. Still working on the new cover, but it should be out just in time for Father’s Day.
Eric Holdeman said on October 09, 2008 at 12:19 pm
The perfect gift for every father. Disasters, weird ways to die, etc. Uplifting! Just kidding. But, Father’s Day?
Seems more appropriate for Mother’s Day, since mothers worry more. The Dads are just going to die and won’t read the book anyway.
Amanda Ripley said on October 09, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Dads love disaster! They love fire and mayhem! OK, seriously, I see your point. But I have noticed that the men who like the book are most into the storytelling and the historic disaster narratives. The women are more into the practical tips for surviving. Totally fits into everything we know about how men and women process risk! And explains why more men die in floods!
Happy Early Father’s Day!
Jonathan Haber said on October 14, 2008 at 9:08 am
I won a copy of your audio book from the “In Case of Emergency, Read Blog” blog. I have a relatively short commute to work, and for the first time I wish it were a bit longer so I could listen to more of the book. Okay, not really, but I am finding myself lingering in the parking lot to finish a chapter before getting out of the car. I love your story telling style. Even my 15 year old son was enthralled at some of the examples. Great work. BTW ... what about this as the the cover of your paperback! http://albums.phanfare.com/2347040/1363433#imageID=47864651
scott zeilenga said on October 16, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Cool! I usually am pretty hard on paperback books, so I am glad I bought the hardcover. But maybe I will get a softcover for my brother this Christmas.
z.
Hugh M. Masterson said on June 14, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Amanda I loved the book but there is one major problem. Your focus on Rick from the World trade Center murders implies everyone should run out of buildings regardless of the emergency. No one knew a second plane was going to hit the other tower. Rick got lucky. Running out out of buildings proved very stupid during the steam pipe explosion. Rick did not have a crystal ball that second plane could have landed int the street or no second plane might ever came. The first firefighter killed was killed because some one landed on top of him. He was a tough guy but his advice was lucky and not to be emulated in all situations. Hugh M. Masterson Retired NYC Fire Captain
Ilan Kelman said on June 23, 2009 at 3:26 am
I disagree that Rescorla got lucky in the World Trade Center.
The book explains that this form of emergency was one that had been considered. Rescorla reacted in a manner appropriate to his thorough and sensible pre-disaster analysis and thinking. Irrespective of what other planes might or might not have done, the decision to evacuate after the first plane was based on imagination, initiative, careful analysis, and thoughtful planning--all done before the emergency yet adaptable to the specific emergency context. Exactly what dealing with disaster should be about, as the book explains.
For example, we knew from 1993 that there was a plan to topple one tower into the other. Even if the first plane were a mistake, an obvious possibility exists of one tower collapsing into the other (which, on 9/11 did not happen). Therefore, to me, pre-9/11, it made sense to consider evacuation as a priority option when a major emergency strikes one tower directly--as long as the evacuation were planned, trained, careful, and orderly, which appeared to be Rescorla’s point in his preparation and training.
Regarding the steam pipe explosion, any building should have more than one evacuation route. Running out of a building into a steam jet or into a crowd of firefighters trying to control a situation is stupid. Considering evacuation away from an emergency right beside your building and, if that decision is made, carefully evacuating is not stupid. That is why training, drilling, planning, and preparation are needed.
I think that Ripley’s analysis is insightful and correct. Especially because I did not see any suggestion that everyone should run out of buildings regardless of the emergency. Instead, the implication to me from reading the book is to be prepared and know how to think and act sensibly within the context of any situation. Exactly as Rescorla did according to the book.