My Review 1/19/2010:  The Unthinkable is a “must read” because it deals with how people psychologically cope with a sudden physical emergency. The emotional step-by-step behavior of people caught in the middle of a financial train-wreck is actually quite similar to the behavior of people who experience the real thing, albeit without the physical injuries.

Ms. Ripley takes us through the emotional processes of enduring Hurricane Katrina, the 9/11 attack in Manhattan, the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, and other physical disasters, and thus reveals the common human habits of coping with sudden threats. We read about denial, milling behavior, deliberation, and paralysis, and how to cope with them.

As an Investment Advisor, I believe this is a “must read’ for investors preparing emotionally for whatever financial downturn may come later. The next financial downturn may take place in twenty years or two months, but as Appendix 1 of this book points out, there’s a lot we can do to increase our capacity to deal with physical and financial emergencies more effectively.