Book Review: Built from Broken by Scott H Hogan

Reviewed by The Prepper’s Voice

In the world of preparedness, strength isn’t just measured by how much gear you can carry or how many supplies you’ve stockpiled—it’s measured by the resilience of your body and mind. Without a strong, pain-free, and functional body, all the prepping in the world won’t mean much. That’s why Built from Broken: A Science-Based Guide to Healing Painful Joints, Preventing Injuries, and Rebuilding Your Body by Scott H Hogan is one of the most essential health resources I’ve come across in years—and a must-read for anyone who considers physical capability as a pillar of preparedness.

Overview: A Blueprint for Physical Resilience

At its core, Built from Broken is about taking back control of your body—especially if you’ve been sidelined by joint pain, chronic injuries, or poor mobility. But Hogan doesn’t just offer surface-level advice. He digs into the real, often misunderstood, root causes of joint dysfunction and pain: muscle imbalances, poor movement patterns, and over-specialization in fitness routines that ignore foundational strength and mobility.

The book is structured in a logical progression that mirrors a true recovery and rebuilding process. Hogan begins by explaining why so many of us are dealing with chronic joint problems—think years of desk jobs, sitting, lack of strength training, or even “traditional” workouts that focus too much on the wrong movements. He then leads readers through actionable steps to correct those issues with an emphasis on:

• Muscle balancing

• Mobility restoration

• Proper strength training techniques

• Nutrition and recovery

• And most importantly—re-education of movement patterns

Science Meets Practicality

What makes Built from Broken stand out from the sea of fitness and rehab books is its foundation in evidence-based strategies. Hogan is not peddling gimmicks or trendy workouts. He provides clear, digestible explanations of complex topics like myofascial tension, neuromuscular activation, and tissue remodeling. Yet the writing never feels condescending or inaccessible to the average reader.

He breaks down the physiology of joints, tendons, and muscles in a way that connects the dots between pain, movement, and strength. If you’ve ever wondered why your shoulder clicks, your knees ache, or your back locks up during activity, this book will explain it—and then give you the tools to fix it.

For preppers, this isn’t just “nice to know.” It’s vital. A bug-out plan, homesteading labor, or defensive situation could quickly go south if your joints fail you. Hogan offers the preventative strategies to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Holistic Yet Grounded Approach

What really surprised me was the holistic lens Hogan applies to the healing process. While the foundation is physical (exercise, mobility, training), he also tackles:

• Stress and its impact on recovery

• Sleep optimization

• Nutrition for connective tissue repair

• The psychological toll of chronic pain

He doesn’t promise quick fixes, and that’s a good thing. Instead, Hogan emphasizes the long-game: sustainable change through rebuilding, not rushing or masking symptoms. That aligns perfectly with the prepper mindset—building durable systems and investing in resilience, not relying on brittle band-aid solutions.

What You’ll Get (and What You Won’t)

What you will get:

• A detailed, step-by-step plan to restore your body from chronic pain or dysfunction

• Clear guidance on functional strength and joint-specific rehab

• An emphasis on mobility, not just muscle size or “gains”

• Practical exercise routines that can be done at home or in minimal-space settings

• A no-nonsense, empowering tone that teaches you to take ownership of your body

What you won’t get:

• Quick fixes or “miracle” treatments

• Fluff or filler

• Overly complicated jargon without explanation

Final Thoughts: A Vital Resource for Every Self-Reliant Individual

In my view, Built from Broken is more than a fitness book—it’s a manual for physical self-reliance. Whether you’re dealing with nagging injuries, chronic joint pain, or you simply want to bulletproof your body for the demands of a resilient lifestyle, this book delivers.

For those of us in the preparedness community, this isn’t optional reading—it’s essential. A body that can’t move, lift, carry, run, or adapt is a liability. Hogan’s message is clear: pain is not your destiny. With effort, education, and consistency, you can rebuild.

And that, my friends, is exactly what preparedness is all about—taking responsibility, staying ahead of problems, and building systems that work when things go wrong.

Highly recommended. 9.5/10.

Have you read Built from Broken? Have questions about joint health or recovery as a prepper? Drop a comment below—let’s get the conversation going.

Stay strong, stay ready.
– The Prepper’s Voice

Amazon link to the book Built from Broken: A Science-Based Guide to Healing Painful Joints, Preventing Injuries, and Rebuilding Your Body  https://amzn.to/4kzxGkB 

Support us for free when you shop on Amazon. Just use our link and shop as you normally do. No extra cost to you but a sweet help for me to help pay for my giveaways and web hosting fees !

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This is news to me, I did not know you could still buy it over the counter.
I will be carrying some when every i’m out doors in my First Aid kit.

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Disclamer:
I am not healthcare practitioner or provider. To the extent that any information is provided through this video, it is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute or substitute for medical advice or counseling, the practice of medicine including but not limited to psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, the creation of a physician-patient or clinical relationship, or an endorsement, a recommendation or a sponsorship of any third party product or service, agents, employees, consultants or service providers. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements available on this video have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Crock-Pot Fermenting Yogurt From Probiotic Capsules

Back when I was having my teeth done. The dentist had me on clindamycin. I made sure to take probiotics during for 2 months after treatment. So my gut would be colonized with the right kind of bacteria to knock down the chance of me getting C-Diff.

Now I store probiotics with all my meds both live cultures and the other kind. I even use the live culture to make yogurt. I know after a few generation it would convert back to the strongest probiotic bacteria. But we are talking 1 crock pot of yogurt per pill.

It really extends the pills/supply’s.

This is a simple solar water purifier That is easy and simple to make.

This is another great idea Duct Tape has so many many many usages. This is another great one.

I am going to start making these in advance . Im tired of wind blowing my  magnesium dust everywhere. With this I can just put it in the pile i’m lighting. I’m thinking now I bet i could drill a chap bar from Harbor freight ( Like the one i’m using ) and make better filings. I might also plug it up with char cloth or cotton balls who know. I can see a lot of possibilities for this.

I dont know why you would not buy a real seal but anything is better then dead in an emergency.

In an emergency an improvised Occlusive Dressing can be a life saver. It’s best to have a real one in your kit. they run about 25 bucks.
and you could easily make out of plastic and tape. But I carry this and a cheap extra.

Here is the link to the one i have. Solar battery charger is where I think everyone should at least start.

Solar 11-in-1 Battery Charger

Solar battery charger. Recharge batteries with the sun!
Charges 11 different NiCd and NiMH battery sizes (AAA, AA, C, D, and 7 GUM sizes) Never be without power again!
Charges 2 pcs of NIMH or NiCad “D”/”C”/”AA”/”AAA” size rechargeable batteries
Adjustable top lid and bottom stand for optimal sunlight exposure
Blocking diode to prevent discharge

I made this video back in 2012 the things that upsets peppers most I’m Coming to your place if something happens.  This is and was my thoughts on it

to this date i still think this way. With one exception is the reffegee bags i have made. I will do another post on that.

there was a time in our nation’s history when times were so difficult that people were advised on how they could use wood in place of flour to bake their bread. This actual procedure was first shared through The Emigrant’s Handbook (1848). (* See note 1 and 2 below)

1.
Chop fresh (green) beech tree wood into shaving sized pieces. You may substitute other turpentine free wood for the beech tree if you like.

2.
Boil the beech shavings three or four times, stirring as they boil. This will take a strong hand to do as wet wood shavings are very heavy. Don’t make too big a batch at a time unless you have a muscular helper.

3.
Dry the shavings out. Laying them out flat on a clean surface in the sun is likely the most appropriate way of doing this. Using a cheesecloth or clean white linen would be preferable as you will need to pick them up once dry and they will crumble up.

4.
Work them around with a firm hand to reduce the wood shavings into a powder, if possible. If you can’t get them into powder form, at least break them up as best you can.

5.
Bake the wood powder/crumbs in your oven 3 or 4 times using a large cookie sheet. The guide does not specify at what degree you would use. Remember, this was in 1848! I would suggest using a very low temperature. You are just encouraging the moisture to become completely evaporated from the wood at this stage.

6.
Grind the wood powder/crumbs as you would grind corn. This will take on the same smell as corn flour at this point. It is reputed that it also tastes like corn flour. No leaven is required to prevent fermentation but you can use corn flour leaven if you wish.

7.
Use your new wood flour to bake your bread. This wood flour is said to produce a spongy bread and “when much baked with a hard crust, is by no means unpalatable.”

*1 note: nowadays it was supposed to be health food. Modern diets don’t contain enough fiber, and sawdust has plenty. They didn’t sneak the sawdust in. It was a selling point. That’s why a lot of “High Fiber” things have  Cellulose in them.  Now go look at your High Fiber bread you have in the kitchen counter.

*2 Before you call bull on this just remember “cellulose is wood” Look on the ingredients list of your foods for cellulose.  here is a link for you cellulose wood in food

This my DIY version coffee brewer is a single-brew French press. all you need to do is: open, pour 1 cup hot water into the pouch, and let it brew 2-4 minutes. This is great for leave no trace camping or backpacking.

Or you can just buy them pre made. At http://amzn.to/1CU7TxU

My amazon store is here http://astore.amazon.com/n027a-20
I will not cost you anything to use the link but it will help pay for my prizes and contest i give out.