The Unthinkable is a well-researched and optimistic reflection about disasters and how people navigate them. In an overwhelming library of disaster novels and how-to books, Ripley should be commended for her work. These tragic stories, however, contain a silver lining, which is that humanity rises to the occasion of doing good more than we think, even during times of disaster. Ripley weaves empirical evidence throughout her writing to display why some of us are more prone to die in a disaster. Stories range from the World Trade Center attacks to the Virginia Tech shooting. The tragic stories of disaster survivors are sobering, yet heroic as they reflect the human spirt to save oneself as well as the lives of others. The Unthinkable, while exploring the dark side of disasters, is intertwined with a sense of hope. Why do we perform acts of heroism? How do crowds of people suddenly turn deadly? What physical reactions do our bodies go through when faced with unimaginable fear? How do we keep from freezing and move past denial? The Unthinkable definitely focuses on mental survival during disasters, but there’s a fair share of practical advice intertwined through the reading to bring it home for Ripley’s readers, including a knowledge base on specific disasters readers could personally face, and mentally rehearse for what they would do. There’s a lot of talk about our instinctual reactions in the face of danger.
Ripley identifies three phases within the survival arc: denial that anything is wrong, deliberation on options considered, and decisions on what we should or should not act upon.Įach chapter of the book focuses on a specific disaster that envelops a particular emotion and action during calamity, and explores how the two are interconnected. The Unthinkable introduces the “survival arc” of actions and reactions when experiencing disaster. Within the over-arching question rises the most poignant thought of who has the highest potential of dying during a disaster: Why? Ripley investigates a range of disasters, both natural and manmade, asking us if we’re endeared with the mental traits of a survivor.
Our Review of “The Unthinkable” by Amanda Ripley The Unthinkable asks us the hard question: “Will my decision in a disaster lead to survival or death?” More importantly, Ripley asks why we exhibit certain behaviors, and if we can change them to make us more resilient during a disaster.
Ripley examines the various levels of human behavior through multiple case studies and eyewitness accounts, leading readers to draw conclusions about themselves. If we’ve ever asked the question, “What would I do in a disaster,” then Ripley’s book is at the forefront of answering that question for her readers.
The Premise: How are you most likely to die? In The Unthinkable, Amanda Ripley asks this question and begins a journey to explore the mindset of humanity to understand what sets apart one’s survival instinct from another’s.
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