Ready or Not? Max Brooks on How People and Societies Fail to Plan for the Worst

Although bestselling novelist Max Brooks is best known for authoring page-turning fiction about zombie attacks, his books have practical implications for considering society’s level of preparedness for crises that are much closer to reality.  In this episode of Resilient World, Brooks argues we are unprepared to deal with the consequences of pandemics, hurricanes, and other disruptions and unpacks why he believes that people struggle to prepare for major challenges. He outlines how, in a society predicated on convenience and ‘just-in-time’ supply chains, another Hurricane Katrina or Ebola could be even more disruptive.  It is time, Brooks says, to rediscover a culture of preparedness and resilience, and for individuals, businesses, and the government to get ready for the unthinkable.