SKU: 79878778160

The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes

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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

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SKU: 79878778160

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Russell C. Longmire
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 3
Looks Nice But Destroyed by my Lab
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large, Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
A really cute little elephant. My lab loved it and carried it around for a week. Then the elephant began losing body parts. Both legs are gone now plus the big squeaker. Lab still likes the elephant and carries it around. Its loosing stuffing and the real question is what body part is next. Its nice but not tough.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2026
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Nash Crawford
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice toy for Chewers!
Was chewed in a day or so, but she loved it.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
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Beth
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Still in one piece and played with!
Color: Checkers - Dinos Bruto (Purple), Size: Mini
Very durable for my little King Charles Chewer. She's had it for a while now and all though the chewing phase has calmed down, she still can be somewhat rough with the toys. The little dino is standing firm. It was a battle she figured she couldn't win with Dino. Now he's a fetch/ tug o war toy that still gets a few nibbles.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2026
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Kimmi Bear
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 4
DONT BUY THE ELEPHANT, ITS NO GOOD. but GR8 BRAND!
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
The elephant toy had no trunk by the FIRST day! The elephant now looks like an angry Koala bear OR an angry trunk less elephant(whichever u want to say) I LOVE the donkey and dinosaur toys so I bought the elephant confidently, thinking I had nothing to worry about. I wouldn't have spent money on this knowing the trunk would be chewed off in a matter of minutes. My Bella usually chews but she has had her donkey and dinosaurs with the chew guard for MONTHS and there are NO TEARS OR RIPS even with her playing and chewing on them ROUGHLY all day. If you buy any of these type toys I DO highly recommend the donkey or dinosaurs ONLY. The elephant being chewed up in a matter of minutes really makes me angry that I ever spent the money on it. HAD I known it wouldn't be the high quality dog toy I'm used to from GoDog, I would've just bought a second donkey or dino! Now Bella doesn't get her new toy for the month (I try 2 buy her a new stuffed toy or 2 about 1 time a month whenever I have the extra money for it) I guess she will have to go without this month because I spent it on this now trunkless elephant/angry koala:( Whichever name you call it, it is now going to be trash. UPDATE! If you contact the GODOG company they will send one replacement toy for your pet! They also asked me my pet's size, breed and age in order to send the best possible toy! They sent Bella a snake that has held up Extremely WELL! It's great and so far is my favorite(and one of Bella's favorites) The snake has less sqeaky things in it so she doesn't have the drsire to tear it apart immediately to retrieve them by rippong it to shreds:) My updated rating is for the MANUFACTURER'S GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. The fact that they actually replaced it was good but the fact that they went that extra mile by researching the best toy match for my Bella was above and beyond! If you have a Godog toy that went bust right away, contact the manufacturer for a replacement. If you give them your dog's age, weight and breed they will even try to match your pets replacement toy with something that is better suited to your dog's chewing style. (Bella's style is destructive haha) Good luck, ya'll!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2016
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AmberC
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
My Dobermans favorite toy to destroy, and one of our recommended picks.
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
Ok, here's an honest breakdown review. I have a 6 month old Doberman who shreds every stuffed animal and dog bed he's come across. He's one of the worst chewers I've owned. We have tried a WIDE variety of stuffed toys. That said, this elephant is his favorite toy. I have ordered 4 of them so far, and just ordered another 4-pack on a buy three get one free deal. The elephant stands out above all the other stuffed creatures from goDog for me as to durability. Hence why I keep buying more. But they usually last about 2-3 weeks on average. In our house, the poor creatures are subjected to vicious, crazy, shaking of the head, helicopter type rotation. It' so hard if it hits your bare arm or leg it actually stings especially when its wet. Then the old, put it between his legs laying down, tearing at the legs action. The limbs are usually the first things to go over time. But they are each almost self sealing, so you clean up as little fluff and keep using it. Eventually the pup reaches the main body and finishes it off. For a normal light to normal chewer, one of two will get you a long way. For those of us resigned to having zoomie type manic chewers that need a constant supply of toys, 2-3 week durability is pretty sound too. I do not recommend the green cheaper monster. It lasted about 45 minutes. The free replacement took about 3 days. Hopefully this aids you in your decision!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2026

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