Prepared Audiobook by Mike Glover, Jack Carr – foreword

There’s something about listening to a survival manual while sipping tea in my sunny Portland kitchen—a quiet contrast to the chaos Mike Glover describes, but somehow, it makes his lessons feel all the more urgent and personal. “Prepared: A Manual for Surviving Worst-Case Scenarios” isn’t just another guide filled with tactical jargon or doomsday fantasies. Instead, it’s an unexpectedly compassionate—and even empowering—reminder that resilience is built from everyday decisions.

As someone who used to roll her eyes at reality TV survivalists stacking cans in bunkers, I appreciated how Glover turns the whole idea of preparedness on its head. He focuses on what’s happening between our ears as much as what we keep in our trunks or cupboards. The first sections struck a deep chord with me: harnessing your mind during moments of crisis (think car accident aftermaths or natural disaster panic) feels like a skill I could genuinely use—not just some far-fetched prepper fantasy.

Mike Glover’s background as a Green Beret and CIA contractor certainly shines through, but never in a way that feels inaccessible for people like me—those with zero military experience and only passing thoughts about “what if?” His anecdotes are gripping without being self-congratulatory. Instead of glorifying trauma or danger, he gently demystifies them: yes, bad things happen—but you can learn to respond productively.

What really sets this book apart is its focus on mindset over stockpiles. When he explains brain chemistry under stress and offers techniques to break out of the freeze response, I found myself reflecting on smaller crises in my own life—a fender bender last year where my mind went blank; those few minutes waiting for help felt endless and terrifying. Listening to his advice actually made me replay that memory differently—I wish I’d had these strategies then.

The practical chapters cover home fortification (without sliding into paranoia), keeping essential supplies handy but manageable (I now have an actual plan for rotating water jugs!), and most crucially: building skills before emergencies ever arise. There’s solid guidance here about medical kits for your car (and why), basic food storage logistics, first aid tips—the kind you’ll want whether you live downtown or somewhere rural.

As for dislikes? At times, I wished there were even more step-by-step audio demonstrations—I’m such a hands-on learner—but Glover does an admirable job describing processes clearly enough that I could visualize each action. While the narration credits aren’t available yet (which was disappointing—I always love knowing whose voice guides me), whoever read this audiobook delivered it with steady confidence befitting Glover’s matter-of-fact tone.

“Prepared” doesn’t try to scare you straight—it invites you into calm competence instead of panic mode. And there’s empathy woven throughout; rather than pushing readers toward isolationism or fearfulness, Glover suggests we prepare so we can better care not just for ourselves but also our families and neighbors when it matters most.

In short: If you’re tired of Hollywood-style survival drama and want thoughtful advice rooted in both science and lived experience—this is your book (or audiobook!). It left me feeling quietly capable… which might be one of the most valuable gifts any nonfiction listen has given me recently.