To My Readers

Dear Readers,

When I began writing my first thriller, “Blind Mission,” a current political thriller, I decided to write popular literature but at a high level. I hope that my books provide slightly different perspectives on various topics and encourage readers to think a little differently than they might have before reading. When trying to shed light on a particular subject from a different angle, one must be very cautious of attempts at persuasion that might border on proselytizing. While presenting a topic in a different way is legitimate, trying to change the reader’s opinion through proselytizing is inappropriate and objectionable to me.

In “Blind Mission,” I aim to enhance the reading experience and increase the reader’s identification with the characters by placing them at critical points and crossroads in the story, allowing them to examine what they would do if they were in the shoes of the key characters.

“Blind Mission,” in its English translation, was ranked as the number one bestseller out of thirty-three million titles on Amazon’s global book site in 2016 – an achievement that fills me with pride.

Writing a book where the author seeks to present different opinions and theories requires a great deal of time. For my second book, “Basic Code,” I needed to examine scientific theories and various philosophical angles over an extended period. Before I wrote a single word, I had to learn and understand the subject myself, process the details internally, and think through them thoroughly before I could use them.

I am aware that many readers might dismiss the concept of “Basic Code” with a wave of their hand. However, it is precisely for this reason that I ask each of you to take a moment to consider the following statement: Sometimes, the most accepted, absolute, and definitive truths turn out to be complete nonsense – and vice versa.

My third book, “Don’t Dare to Die Unprepared,” was written following the sudden death of a close friend. He left no specific instructions or organized information to guide his loved ones on how to reorganize family affairs. They found themselves in a massive whirlwind of problems – both big and small. Each issue required attention and resolution, and the cumulative effect demanded ongoing and daily management over a long period – particularly during the most challenging moments.

Again and again, I asked myself: Why do intelligent and normative people, who care deeply for their loved ones and succeed in their work, careers, and family management, ignore the need to properly organize their affairs, thereby endangering the economic and financial future of themselves and their loved ones after them? Disorganized management in the modern era is disastrous – but it is by no means a necessity.

Most people cannot even imagine the range of issues that need to be addressed in daily life or afterward. As someone who meticulously organizes his affairs, I have concluded that people need a guide (like a “Moses” of sorts) to help everyone organize the present, prepare for the future, and answer many questions that people are even afraid to ask.

Although the cobbler does not testify to his trade, I believe that my book “Don’t Dare to Die Unprepared” is a must-have in every home and the most important gift you can give to yourself and anyone dear to you, even though I am aware that few would prefer such a book. As Ferdinand Porsche, the sports car manufacturer, said: “We make cars that nobody needs, but everyone wants.” I, on the other hand, have written a book that perhaps not everyone wants – but everyone needs.

“Don’t Dare to Die Unprepared,” in its English translation, was also ranked as the number one bestseller out of thirty-three million titles in 2016 on Amazon’s global book site. This makes me the only Israeli author whose two books have been ranked number one on the world’s leading book site.

My fourth book, “All Stories – One Hundred and Forty True Stories and One Not,” is a collection of short stories from life in which I attempt to focus on people through different lenses, sometimes critical, and see them through unique glasses. You may suspect that some of the stories are fictional, but this is not the case. All of them, except one, happened and are faithful to the facts.

My fifth book, “All Inclusive – Memories from Airbnb“, is a collection of short stories based on experiences of renting vacation apartments to tourists and my experiences staying in luxurious hotels, the simplest youth hostels, sleeping pods on ships and ferries, sleeper train cars, and back seats in cars. All the stories in this book are also based on real-life events and are true to the facts.

In my sixth book, “The Last Threat“, a political action thriller, I explore what would happen if a suitcase with an atomic bomb were discovered in a hotel in Tel Aviv. This book also develops its plot in many locations around the world, leading to an amazing, surprising, and unforgettable conclusion.

The seventh book, “What a Story“, is the third collection of short stories I have written. Not all the stories in this book are true, factual, and occurred, but even those drawn from imagination are based on partial facts or possible scenarios. In all the stories, I tried to see or guess the surprise in the reader’s mind at the end of each story. This could be accompanied by various emotions – pain, sorrow, sadness, despair, anger, grief, joy, laughter, wonder, and perhaps even fear and disturbance. Ultimately, no matter what the emotion is, I hoped to take the reader out of their daily routine with the hope that they would carry a part of the stories and experiences with them – for the rest of their lives.

My eighth book, “66 Stories from Route 66 – Reflections, Discoveries and Insights – Tastes of the Other America”, offers a different kind of storytelling. It is a travel book that spans four thousand kilometers (two thousand four hundred and fifty miles) of memories, dreams, and hopes, focusing on the search for the America of the past, the one portrayed in books and Hollywood movies.

During my journey, I encountered an America very different from its popular image of abundance, progress, and “the sky’s the limit.” I discovered an America living in the shadows, in a forgotten backyard – a crumbling and melancholic America. In this book, I aimed to present America and its current reality as they are, without beautifying anything.

My ninth book, “Before the Next Disaster,” is a practical guide to evacuation, survival, and dealing with natural and human-caused disasters. This book offers important tools and knowledge for early preparation and organisation on various issues that require attention in everyday life or after the fact, as well as real-time response to emergency situations. It emphasizes various types of disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fires, terrorist attacks, and more.

In “Before the Next Disaster”, you will find practical guides for developing effective evacuation plans, tips for survival in emergencies, methods for organizing emergency supplies, and how to prepare yourself and your family for unexpected situations. The book also provides insights on managing stress and anxiety during a disaster and making quick and informed decisions that can save lives.

Sincerely,

Avichai Schmidt