By Dr. Chris Ellis

In a world grappling with escalating risks — from natural disasters to geopolitical tensions — my new book, Resilient Citizens: The People, Perils, and Politics of Modern Preparedness, is a groundbreaking exploration that challenges outdated stereotypes and offers a hopeful blueprint for building personal and communal resilience. Drawing on rigorous research, personal experiences, and insights from diverse individuals, I argue that preparedness is not about doomsday paranoia but about fostering agency, security, and togetherness in everyday life.

The number of Americans who self-reported they could last at home for a month or more without publicly provided water, power, or transportation doubled from under 10 million to over 20 million between 2017 and 2023. Are you one of them? In a time when people are concerned about civil unrest, climate events, and economic disruption, I showcase these households, their stories, their fears, and their optimism. My book arrives as these risks — and more — swirl around us. I therefore provide rational, evidence-based guidance for navigating an unpredictable future.

The topic of resiliency is making a comeback from the kitchen table to the Pentagon to Wall Street. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, announced a 10-year, $1.5 trillion initiative towards investments in America’s supply chains, energy independence, and overall economic national security. Ray Dalio, who runs a top five in the world hedge fund, recommends investors put 15% of their holdings in gold. The U.S. Army announced it will be installing nuclear Small Modular Reactors on nine bases by late 2028. Is this all hype or coherent prudence? I think it is the latter.

In contrast to most “prepper” books that dive straight into apocalyptic scenarios such as nuclear wars, pandemics, or societal collapses and then dwell on fear and gear checklists, Resilient Citizens takes a refreshingly positive approach. I highlight the psychological benefits of preparedness and its role in enhancing daily well-being, not just for cataclysms but for routine challenges like power outages or economic downturns. Drawing on Stoic practices like premeditatio malorum (visualizing the worst to build mental fortitude), I show how readiness fosters antifragility – growing stronger through adversity.

The book’s structure mirrors its holistic view, organized around the interplay of People, Perils, and Politics. I begin with the overall logic map of why people do or do not prepare, integrated within my peer-reviewed model. Normal individuals are front and center and make up the first third of Resilient Citizens. I showcase various strategies of action that are lucid in their motivation and execution. Every journey is different, but overall contours can be seen throughout the country and the world. One group focuses on homesteading and food (Homesteaders), another on guns (Sentinels), and another on community (the Interdependent). Two focus on apocalyptic events, but from very different perspectives. The Noahs have bunkers to ride out a nuclear exchange or the collapse of the grid (or society) while the Faithful look to save their eternal souls at the End of Days. These are fluid heuristics, with individuals often blending traits as their journeys evolve.

Part Two delves into perils, exploring how we process risks from various biases, emotional and social pathways, and the desire to achieve ontological security (a feeling of safety in one’s being). I discuss how disasters are classified, and I draw on experts like Nassim Taleb and Paul Slovic to explain threats. This section also discusses various governmental and institutional efforts to prepare for perils.

The last segment of the book concentrates on politics, both nationally and internationally. Three of the four chapters are devoted to the American experience of civil defense from the 1940s to the 1960s. They contain formerly Top Secret excerpts from original documents based upon archival research pulled from the presidential libraries of Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy. I show how those administrations, while well-meaning, pushed preparedness in an ultimately counter-productive fashion which, ironically, led to the over fifty-year castigation of preparedness minded individuals we now refer to as preppers. The last chapter in the political section looks to other countries and gives both warning and encouragement.

The book concludes on the themes of agency and hope. It covers the five domains of all people: their social, physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual composition. Getting ready for disasters along these five components will also better your day-to-day life; prayer and practice are needed as well as preps. Just as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. teamed up to challenge people to 50 pull-ups and 100 pushups in the fastest time possible, I challenge you to improve holistically, for yourself, your family, your community, and your nation.

Endorsed by a global array of experts, Resilient Citizens has garnered praise for its fresh perspective. Retired USAF General Glen D. VanHerck calls it “crucial” for strategic deterrence. Preparedness expert John Ramey acclaims the work as “one of the most important voices in risk and resiliency.” Dr. Lucy Easthope deems it “fascinating and definitive,” while Tucker Max wishes he’d had it much earlier his homesteading journey. James Pogue describes it as “illuminating,” mapping a fractured America where resilience is rebellion, and Peachy Keenan hails it as “essential” and “highly recommended!”

Dr. Chris Ellis is a career Army officer, disaster readiness expert, and lifelong student of how people, communities, and nations prepare for the worst. He holds a Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University, along with four other advanced degrees covering public policy, military strategy, and international security. His work has been featured by Glenn Beck, The New York Times, Reuters, and others. Resilient Citizens is endorsed globally from Britain to Japan. Follow Chris @Prep4Disasters on X and find out more at www.ResilientCitizens.com.