Joel Skousen

Joel M. Skousen is an American conservative political scientist, non-fiction Survivalist author, and consultant that specializes in preparedness topics, particularly survival retreat and fallout shelter design and construction, as well as what he calls "strategic relocation." Skousen is the founder and chief editor of World Affairs Brief, a weekly news analysis service. He has done architectural and retreat design consulting in both North America and Central America.

Skousen is the author of several books including Essential Principles for the Conservation of Liberty, Strategic Relocation--North American Guide to Safe Places, The Secure Home, Survival Home Manual: Architectural Design, Construction, and Remodeling Of Self-Sufficient Residences and Retreats, and How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home. He also published a booklet titled 10 Packs for Survival, which he has also posted to several web sites.

Skousen designs and consults on hardened retreat homes, often complete with fallout shelters with HEPA air filtration. In the book Dancing at Armageddon: Survivalism and Chaos in Modern Times by Richard G. Mitchell, Jr., (2001) Skousen is quoted: ""You never want to make a house look like an obvious fortress. Those who want in can always move up a bigger gun. There is no way you can design a home to withstand RPG rockets and tanks. I design these homes so you virtually cannot tell inside or out that they are any different from a conventional home."

Because of its low population density and diverse economy, Skousen and James Wesley Rawles both recommend the Intermountain west region of the United States, as a preferred region for relocation and setting up survival retreats.

Skousen was raised in Oregon and later served as a USMC fighter pilot during the Vietnam Era. Skousen has also worked as a commercial pilot, and is a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and Pilots for 9/11 Truth. During the 1980s Skousen was the Chairman of the Conservative National Committee. He was also the Executive Editor of Conservative Digest.

In late 2007, Skousen gained attention when he gave his support to Ron Paul rather than to fellow LDS church member Mitt Romney in the 2008 US presidential campaign, in a widely-circulated YouTube video clip.

Joel Skousen is the older brother of Mark Skousen and the younger brother of Royal Skousen. The three Skousen brothers are the nephews of Cleon Skousen.

Books

• Essential Principles for the Conservation of Liberty, ISBN 1199306614 (1984)

• The Secure Home, ISBN 1199306720 (May, 1999)

• Strategic Relocation--North American Guide to Safe Places, ISBN 156861053X (various editions, latest listed is February, 2006)

• Survival Home Manual: Architectural Design, Construction, and Remodeling Of Self-Sufficient Residences and Retreats, ISBN 1199306396 (1982)

• How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home, ISBN 1199306524 (1998)

See also

• Retreat

External links

• Skousen's web site
• World Affairs Brief, Joel Skousen's weekly news analysis
• 10 Packs for Survival