
Lewis Dartnell
A practical and scientific guide to rebooting civilization after a global collapse, covering survival, agriculture, materials, and technology.
The book includes detailed instructions on how to make a sourdough starter from scratch.
Section 1
7 Sections
Imagine a world where the familiar hum of civilization has fallen silent. The cities once teeming with life stand empty, their streets choked with weeds and their buildings succumbing to decay.
There are many ways this collapse might come: a devastating pandemic sweeping through densely packed cities, a nuclear exchange turning skylines into radioactive glass, or an asteroid impact blanketing the atmosphere in dust and ash. Each scenario leaves behind a world stripped of its former glory but still littered with the tools and resources of a vanished civilization.
In this new world, the 'grace period' is a precious gift. It is the window of time during which survivors can scavenge food from stocked supermarkets, extract fuel from abandoned gas stations, and repurpose medical supplies from deserted hospitals.
Social order, the invisible glue holding communities together, dissolves quickly. Without the social contract enforced by law and governance, desperation breeds chaos.
Meanwhile, nature begins its quiet takeover. Cracks in asphalt widen as roots pry apart concrete; vines crawl up the sides of skyscrapers, weaving a tapestry of green over steel and glass. Fires, sparked by lightning or stray embers, ravage the combustible interiors of buildings, hastening their collapse.
For those who endure, the challenge is immense. But there is hope. A population of around ten thousand survivors, diverse in skills and knowledge, can form the foundation for recovery.
As the sun sets on the old world, the dawn of a new civilization awaits. To embark on this journey, survivors must understand the fragile balance they inhabit and prepare to harness the resources and knowledge left behind.
Let us now turn to those essentials, starting with the basics of shelter, water, and food—the pillars upon which life depends.
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