I used to travel quite a bit in the developing world, most often on unreliable public transportation. I had a policy of never leaving home without a bottle of water, a high-energy snack, and a good book. More than a few times, my book came in handy as I waited on the side of the road for hours while engines were repaired, roads cleared of snow and ice, or our vehicle inspected at military roadblocks.

This weekend, I finally put together an emergency kit for my house. I want to be prepared in case I ever need to evacuate DC or remain inside for long periods of time. As I was gathering batteries, my shortwave radio, powdered milk, and bottled water, I decided to throw in a couple of my favorite books as well. I know that a book won’t save my life in an emergency, but it can definitely make waiting for the lights to come back on a whole lot better.