I think many of us know Laurence Gonzales' works, so I don't need to mention it. If you haven't heard of him, he's worth checking out.

I also enjoy reading about expeditions -- climbing mountains, diving deep into a cave, etc. Take for example, Philip Finch's Diving into Darkness: A True Story of Death and Survival. But that's not the same as what I prepare for.

One thing that us urban survivors can do is pay attention to the objective facts in the news when a disaster strikes. Does it suddenly turn into a Mad Max world? Do people survive by hunting? How quickly does government aid show up?