This work investigates the motivations, social structures, and belief systems of American survivalists who prepare for societal collapse. Richard G. Mitchell, Jr. utilizes ethnographic research to examine how individuals reconcile their daily lives with the anticipation of an impending apocalypse. The book explores the psychological and social functions of survivalism, arguing that these practices serve as a mechanism for asserting control in an unpredictable world.

Sociologists and cultural historians frequently cite this text as a foundational study of the American survivalist subculture. Experts note the author's balanced approach in documenting the internal logic of these groups without resorting to sensationalism.