The Civil Defense Manual by Jack Lawson is a two-volume work, presented in 8.5” x 11” soft-cover Perma-Bound format. The pair of books are not sold separately. They arrived shrink-wrapped, in A-1 condition, well-cushioned in a stout USPS flat-rate box, tracked and insured. The manual is 952 pages; each volume has a glossy cover, is printed in a larger font, and has a clear and easily understood table of contents. The manual lacks an index.
Lawson draws upon his vast experience in the military, including tours in Africa combatting armed revolutionary factions, to produce a comprehensive work that covers seemingly every conceivable natural or man-made disaster, and what preparations an American citizen must take to protect himself, his family, and his neighborhood. The sheer number of dangerous scenarios and events the average person might never think of, is staggering. The detail is considerable, and there are many illustrations, photographs, charts and graphs. There is no wasted space, no non-essential filler material, or pages intentionally left blank. There are lined pages reserved for the reader’s notes after each chapter, however.
The primary thrust of the manual is the organization of the neighborhood protection plan, a concept essential to survival since evidence clearly shows strength is in numbers, and in a time of civil collapse, the person who tries to go it alone is likely doomed. In addition to his original text, Lawson incorporates articles by and citations to other authors, both civilian and military, who possess valuable expertise, acquired not only by careful research but also first-hand experience, as in life in countries that have suffered through revolutionary turmoil and chaos. Throughout the manual he also makes reference to other books which the reader is strongly encouraged to consult for further study.
Lawson cautions that dangerous times may be ahead, and that it is naive to assume the racial, religious or political turmoil that has happened in other countries can never happen in the USA. The information he presents in the Civil Defense Manual can save your life.
