American Exit Strategy: The Economic Collapse Chronicles, Volume 1

It was a page turner for me. Worth every penny & am buying the next one in the series as soon as I'm done writing this review! Enjoy. God bless.

Al Muhammed = Barry Soetoro aka Barack Obama aka Obama The Destroyer.Mark Goodwin definitely owns the shtf fiction genre.

Warning: SpoilersI have read quite a few 'prepper books' in the last year and the honest truth is most of them suck. Weak, one dimensional characters, outrageous assumptions, irritating preachiness and just a general misunderstanding of how politics and the world in general work. Don't get me wrong, I 100% believe that SHTF is coming. I just dont think it will happen as presented in most prepper books. Rawles is a perfect example. I know lots of people think hes Citizen #1 in the prepper community. Im not really sure why. His books are about as compelling as young adult novels, the preaching is so in your face its annoying (Im very involved in my church but for whatever reason Rawles injections of faith in his books just turned me off), he advocates buying silver and gold (which he conveniently sells on his website)...etc. I couldn't force myself to finish book 2. I enjoyed Joe Nobody's books but by book 4 they started to get a little ridiculous too. The 'average joe' of the story is now bigger and badder than Rambo. So my search for good prepper books continued.Then, along comes Mark Goodwin. On the surface, his book is very similar to Rawles books. The protagonists are all good, honest Christians. The story involves the collapse of the government. (Ok thats pretty obvious given the genre lol) He even injects lots of very overt Christianity in his book. But in this story it didn't bother me one bit. I actually enjoyed it. Why? Because Mark Goodwin is actually a great story teller. His 'preaching' didn't get in the way of the story it actually made me feel more connection to the characters. And Goodwin's descriptions of HOW the government crashed actually made sense. Rawles take note! The whole election aspect of the book was also very interesting. I honestly dont know how realistic it is that a 3rd party candidate would be 'big' enough to be at a debate with the GOP and DEM candidates (considering how rigged the system is) but again, I could get past that because the story was well written and interesting.The really scare thing about this is the 'sheeple' in the story were the most realistic I've seen in any prepper book. They sounded EXACTLY like the majority of my friends and family. Well done, Mr Goodwin!PS: Please forgive all the hating on Rawles. I think the real reason I dislike him so is because he was a 'Military Intelligence Officer.' You know what an MI Officer does all day? Admin work. Just like every other officer. Now, if he had been a WARRANT OFFICER, Ok I'd be at least acquiesce that you know how to gather info. He just puts that crap on his books to make 'tacticool' retards think he knows how to be an 'operator'... Dropping lots military acronyms doesn't make you a Navy Seal, guy.That brings me to the last thing I wanted to mention. I enjoyed the action in Goodwin's book. It wasn't dramatic or sexy. If this was a movie, it would have been an action scene without music. It just happened fast and was over. Bang Bang. Then vomiting. Thats actually realistic. Once again, well done Mr Goodwin.

I'm acquiring this book because I think Mark and Tate probably share the same level on a lot of things. I have enjoyed the 299 Days series by Glen Tate and after I heard Mark Goodwin's interview with Glen Tate on Prepper Recon, I am sure you can't go wrong with taking a look at "American Exit Strategy." I'm on it! Three stars right off the bat for being Prepper Recon extraordinaire. Will update after I read it.-------------------------GREAT BOOK! GREAT BOOK!Update 20140219: I never thought I would be mentioned during a podcast but I think Mark was referring to me in the 18 Feb podcast during another awesome interview with Mr. Tate. Hilarious. I guess I do owe you an update and you receive a much deserved 5-star rating!I wanted to submit a comment prior to reading it because I thought it was interesting, at least to me, that you two authors are somewhat acquainted with one another a little bit beyond being in the same genre as far as authorship is concerned. Not only have I finished "American Exit Strategy", but as soon as you (Mark) mentioned last week that "American Meltdown" was out for purchase, I hit the Amazon Prime and got it ASAP. I'm about half-way through. I would give you a 5-star on that one too but I will wait to finish!"American Exit Strategy" is another example of the ability of the author to develop the characters to such an extent that I feel like I know the people personally. Glen Tate does this masterfully. 299 Days is a little different because the depth of the main character is such we know his background and life going all the way back to conception really..."American Exit Strategy" doesn't really go back that far with individual development but nothing is lost because of it.Another thing I enjoy about the writing style of these authors is they both paint a picture of what is going on all over the country with different people and demographics. It's all very holistic.One thing you mentioned Mark about some reviews comment on the "preachiness" of your writing, I don't really see it, I like the quotes at the beginning of each chapter from Jefferson, Paine and the Bible, it kind of drives home our country was founded on Christian ideals and that the founding fathers specifically created the Constitution to guard against tyranny and the overreach of government which even to the layman appears to be coming to a head.Mark, didn't you interview Joe Nobody too? Anyway, I started down the path of the "Apocalypse Law" series too, I think it's because I heard about him on one of your interviews. I enjoy your podcasts along with The Survival Podcast and anytime you have people on like Mr. Tate is even more enjoyable.Anyway, great books, can't wait for #3, keep them coming, keep up with the tips and tricks you weave into the situations and I'll keep reading. Thanks for the shout out too!

I love all prescient books, and this one is fairly plausible and yet personable. You can tell the author is right wing and religious... Very religious and very narrow minded on that front. However, as an insight into the religious paranoia that motivated the isolationists that almost cost WWII, this book is definitely an eye-opener. I really think we should have had quotas on the deported.....The author is definitely well-versed in economics and yet failed spectacularly to convey the speed at which the inevitable collapse will occur.You see, once "The Promise to Pay" is broken, then the collapse has already happened. The faith is lost and the riots begin.I am an atheist, so perhaps my days are numbered if I lived in Mr Goodwin's America... Luckily I am a Loyal, Royal Subject and forever shall be....Anyhow, I enjoyed the read and I respected the lifestyles and choices of the characters, if i thought them somewhat sanctimonious, yet I would rather die than be faced with the possibility of having to exist solely within the confines of the checked-out, copped-out sanitised lifestyle that Adam and Matt seem to want to fight for.Man creates, what does god do again?Anyhow, a damned sight better attempt at readable literature than I could manage. Well done Mr Goodwin.Been thinking... I rated it too highly at 4 stars.... Wait, i give you the four stars for the economics.... Yeah but the GW quotes were good, if somewhat misleading at times.... But then your proof reading was poor too... Damn it man.... You get 4 cause I love knowing that there are people like you in the world....Yours,Atheistic Marxist Royalist!!!

I really wanted to like this book. It had some good reviews to grab my interest and indeed has some great topical and knowledgeable content. A great shame then that the author didn't keep to the interesting topics and facts and drop the ongoing stereotypical right wing preachy approach that detracts so much from the content's impact. Let me give some examples. Wives are one-dimensional, subservient, invariably attractive and like preparing food, cleaning the dishes, keeping house and probably sewing but are undoubtedly killers if they have an abortion with their own bodies. The bible references are ultra annoying, pointless and totally reactionary. It seems to be suggested that those who don't follow the creed will suffer a plague of boils, their wives will be raped and they will be unable to drink their own wine (author's quote from Deuteronomy - WTF?! I know many non-believers and have come across some seriously bad people (LEO), I can't remember any having boils, complaining about their wives sexual treatment or not being able to drink their own wine - maybe they take such disadvantages for granted!). But it goes on. Evolution (true by ANY intelligent scientific analysis) in described as a 'myth'! The President of the US (President Al Muhammud - why not just say President Bin Laden and have done with it?), is always depicted as a lying, cheating fraud who wastes no opportunity to undermine the Constitution and every citizens' rights. It's so obviously a dig at Obama as to be worse than juvenile and boring in the constant diatribes. I can only assume the author is of these views to preach them so consistently throughout the book - either that or he's magnificently writing to a specific (rather thick) audience who will lap it up. What a shame it so detracted from some great content when he stuck to the facts and realistic possibilities. Still, I suppose now 'their man' Trump is in power things will change sooo much and the massive and growing economic imbalance that brought the house down in this book will now be addressed with some urgency. Ha - how's that working out - dream on? This is really nothing more than preachy porn for preppers. And a shame too. Those seriously concerned about where we're going, deserve better. But hold on - I bought the 3 books in the series together......😩

Wow, I've just read all 3 books over the past fortnight.I couldn't put them down, so good to read a book with God and the values of the bible at the centre, as we see so much in the news that gives us concern.This book, although a piece of fiction, highlights the truth of how much of the so called freedoms we believe we have are mostly just an illusion.Thank you, I'll be looking out for more by this author.

really enjoyed it ...if you are into prepping as I am then a good read

This so realistic it's like the news from Ferguson wish a bit more a out false flag events and it is so believe able also a great way to introduce friends to the concepts in context. The use of early founders quotes was great in framing the context. Also the biblical verse helped if a little wordy in some places. Off to read rest of series.