Buying a Knife at a Gun Show
I get asked about this a lot, and on the topic of security, self defense and firearms, most of what I have to say so far is captured in my Rolling Stone feature, “Journal of a Progressive Prepper” (May 2021), the companion video installment below.
TL;DR: From March 7-9, 2020 (the weekend before the Covid-19 pandemic forced us into lockdown), I did a research trip of sorts to the Louisville Survival Expo & Gun Show. It was bleak. But in my conversations with preparedness experts across the political spectrum—including survivalist Bob Gaskin, emergency food purveyor Teri Whisenhunt and archeologist/author Chris Begley, I learned a lot about how people in this country are approaching and preparing for an ever-shifting reality.
Adam Nemett spent 10+ years researching doomsday preppers, homesteading, and communal living for his novel WE CAN SAVE US ALL (named one of Booklist's "Top Ten Debut Novels of 2018"). Now, he's transforming that research into reality, documenting his family's journey toward self-reliance through permaculture and sustainable living. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Salon. When not experimenting with homesteading alongside his wife Kate Lynn and their children, Adam serves as Director of Brand and Content Strategy for WillowTree, bringing his storytelling expertise to digital technology. Follow his ongoing projects at AdamNemett.com.