SKU: 79878778160

The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes

Sale price$14.40 Regular price$16.00
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 12 - Jul 17

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster StrikesDiscover how human beings react to dangerand what makes the difference between life and death Today, nine out of ten Americans live in places at significant risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, or other disasters. Tomorrow, some of us will have to make split second choices to save ourselves and our families. How will we react? What will it feel like? Will we be heroes or victims? In her quest to answer these questions, award winning

Discover how human beings react to dangerand what makes the difference between life and death

Today, nine out of ten Americans live in places at significant risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, or other disasters. Tomorrow, some of us will have to make split-second choices to save ourselves and our families. How will we react? What will it feel like? Will we be heroes or victims?

In her quest to answer these questions, award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley traces human responses to some of recent history's epic disasters, from the explosion of the Mont Blanc munitions ship in 1917one of the biggest explosions before the invention of the atomic bombto the journeys of the 15,000 people who found their way out of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. To understand the science behind the stories, Ripley turns to leading brain scientists, trauma psychologists, and other disaster experts. She even has her own brain examined by military researchers and experiences, through realistic simulations, what it might be like to survive a plane crash into the ocean or to escape a raging fire.

Ripley comes back with precious wisdom about the surprising humanity of crowds, the elegance of the brain's fear circuits, and the stunning inadequacy of many of our evolutionary responses. Most unexpectedly, she discovers the brain's ability to do much, much betterwith just a little help.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amanda Ripley is an investigative journalist for Time, The Atlantic and other magazines. She is the author, most recently, of THE SMARTEST KIDS IN THE WORLD--and How They Got That Way. Her first book, THE UNTHINKABLE: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes--and Why, was published in 15 countries and turned into a PBS documentary. Her work has helped Time win two National Magazine Awards.

REVIEWS:

"A fascinating and useful new book.
The New York Times

The thinking person's manual for getting out alive.
NPR

"Ripley is a voyeur on a mission...Her conviction: We'd all stand a better chance of surviving a disaster if we understood what happens to our little gray cells when things get ugly....Spiced with surprising factoids, this book might save your life one day.
Bloomberg News

The Unthinkable is part study of the science of reaction to extreme fear, part indictment of the US government's response to the terrorist threat, part call to arms....The end result is a fascinating book....Despite its title and its subject matter, The Unthinkable is an optimistic
The Times of London

Engrossing and lucid...An absorbing study of the psychology and physiology of panic, heroism, and trauma...Facing the truth about the human capacity for risk and disaster turns out to be a lot less scary than staying in the dark.
O, The Oprah Magazine

"This is a book with a purpose, meant to change things."
Rob Hardy, The Commercial Dispatch

Amanda Ripley takes us on a sometimes stunning, sometimes sobering journey through disaster, using great stories and respected science to show why some prevail and others do not. The Unthinkable isn't merely a book about disaster; it's a book about survival maybe yours.
Gavin de Becker, author of the New York Times bestseller The Gift of Fear

With The Unthinkable, Amanda Ripley succeeds in two different ways. First, she covers, with great clarity and accuracy, the science of how the body and mind respond to crisis. In the process, she prescribes certain actions that will increase the chances of surviving a disaster. But it's the second aspect, the stories, that makes the book so compelling. These tales leave your viscera enflamed because they compel two questions: What would it feel like to go through that?' and Would I do the right thing and survive?' This is an irresistible book.
Robert M. Sapolsky, John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 79878778160

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.5 ★★★★★
Based on 1375 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
D
Verified Purchase
Devan
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Good material but bites back
Size: 20 sqft
Very good product for my rear trunk and backseat on my mustang. I would recommend some type of gloves due to the foil itself when placing down will cut up your hands and fingers. Overall good product for its price.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Mike
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Great sound mat for the price!
Style: 50 mil 50 SqFt, Style: 50 mil 50 SqFt
This is a good product. Many people go with KILMAT because of the value to price point. I did as well. When you clean the surface (in my case it was all painted metal) this stuff sticks very well. I do recommend you use a seam roller of some type, I used Lumiteco 3 piece roller set. This will help with adhesion and mostly flatten the overlapped edges. It also helps you see where you have rolled as it leaves little grooves. The difference when we had no sound mats and after was very impressive. We haven't finished our install yet and it is quieter than when we had an interior in the van. There are thicker mats available in other brands, but this will work great for our van build, but this helps keep the weight down. It is quality material, just be careful when you are removing the backing, the edge of the foil face can cut you. I suggest you layout where you are installing the mat and cut to fit. From what I have read, you don't need to cover every inch in the vehicle, just spot install for a big difference. I chose to cover most surfaces to help keep sound out when we are sleeping in the van. We haven't finished putting the van yet, but we have driven it around and been very satisfied with this product.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2025
P
Verified Purchase
Paul
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent sound deadening mats
Style: 80 mil 36 sqft, Style: 80 mil 36 sqft
Purchased these for a 2020 Lexus RX350 due to the hollow sound of the car doors when shutting. They sounded cheap. The mats are super sticky and I applied them when the doors were hot from sitting in the sun. They alubutyl sticks like crazy and the end result was perfect. Now I have solid sounding doors. Good quality product.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Awesome product 👌
Style: 50 mil 50 SqFt, Style: 50 mil 50 SqFt
I love this stuff. I use it alot. Sticks great Easy to use Molds super easy Really helps with sound. Great product. I wish I could get sponsored for this product on my projects..
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
john l fields
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Good product at a good price
Style: 80 mil 36 sqft
This product works great and easy to install. I do two or more vehicles a month. I switch to this brand a year ago and would recommend to everyone of my customers
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2026

recommand products