When I was a kid, my dad used to say, "Son, you don’t know what you got 'til it's gone." It wasn’t just about the last piece of pie, though that lesson stung a bit too. He was talking about the stuff we take for granted every day: electricity, clean water, heat when it’s freezing cold outside, and a roof over your head that doesn’t leak every time it rains. The kind of things you only notice when they’re no longer there.

As the years passed and I saw the world get a little more unpredictable, I started to realize just how right he was. You never know when the power’s gonna go out, when the tap might run dry, or when things might get a little...chaotic. That’s when I started thinking about survival—not in the wild with a machete and a fire starter, but in my own kitchen, backyard, and closet.

This book is full of hacks, tips, and tricks to make sure that, when things get a little crazy, you and your family can keep going without missing a beat. We’re not talking about big, scary, end-of-the-world scenarios here. This is about being ready for whatever life throws at you, big or small. It’s about turning your everyday stuff—your pantry, your tools, your skills—into something that’ll keep you on your feet, no matter what.

So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s dive in. We’re about to take your survival game from “just getting by” to “ready for anything.”

Let’s get started.