A field guide to the apocalypse A mostly serious guide to surviving our wild times

This feel-good book about the end of human existence comes just in time to remedy the winter doldrums. The basic message is yes, we are living in apocalyptic times, but we should calm our fears and prepare for whatever comes. Aktipis (The Cheating Cell, 2020) is by turns witty, insightful, reassuring, silly, and always interesting. She brings in history, biology, neurology, and sociology as she reviews the adaptability and resilience of humans over millennia, blending together accessible science and entertaining scenarios (with a bit of a fixation on zombies). Preparation, that crucial necessity for surviving and thriving, entails developing an optimistic, action-oriented outlook; building networks of like-minded, skilled allies; and assembling personal prep kits: one per person, one for sheltering in place, another for the car, and another for surviving outdoors. There's an awful lot of information here, and Aktipis, who teaches psychology at Arizona State and calls herself a cooperation theorist, provides helpful chapter reviews and handy checklists. There's information on everything from raising self-sufficient children to adopting a future-oriented lifestyle to apocalypse dating tips. There's also a great deal of thoughtful commentary on probable upcoming realities. Aktipis' advice seems a sensible response to it all.