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	No Nonsense By Solveig Singleton January 25, 1999 You'll like the small size and concise format of this practical guide to preparedness. But the best thing about Victor Porlier's Y2K: You Can't Avoid It (HarperCollins, $10.95) is his no-nonsense approach. Drawing on years of experience with information systems and finance, including Wall Street, local government, and the State Department, Porlier avoids Yourdonesque on-one-hand-and-on-the-other speculation and lays his predictions on the line. His advice: Be prepared for two to four weeks of blackouts and three to 18 months of lingering shortages. Most of Porlier's focus is on basic needs like light, heat, shelter, money, and trade, including a handy chapter on how to prepare if you live in an apartment. His preparation list would make a good shopping list. Still, there are conspicuous omissions: His list of medical supplies didn't include birth control, for instance. He also suggests that clean garbage pails could be used to store water. Since some garbage pails and bags are pretreated with pesticides, don't take a chance. Check out watertanks.com instead. Refreshingly, there's no communitarian nonsense here. Instead of criticizing those who prepare their families for Y2K, Porlier notes that "every single person who makes prudent preparation for the crisis will be helping everyone else." Because of the book's small size, there's no chance it can supply enough detail to convince a skeptic. But it is an excellent guide for those already alerted to the problem -- or those who have decided to join the herd's stampede with only a few months to spare and need some quick help.		FEATURES Book Reviews Y2K already has spawned its own genre. We tell you what books are worth buying. Chip 'n Little Cartoons Chip 'n Little goes on TV Chip 'n Little visits John Koskinen Chip 'n Little saves the world Warning: This cartoon has been called "foolish and tasteless." Y2K from A to Z Y2K Haiku Traditionalists may be shocked. Mad Cow Culture What does Y2K have in common with today's Mad Cow Culture? Answer: Everything. Declan McCullagh's Y2K articles Psychology of Y2K LATEST NEWS As of December 31, 1999 Get Your T-Shirt Quick Bill Gates Does Y2K Reader Feedback A Sarcastic Calendar Cooking After the Apocalypse A Real Y2K Disaster Hitchhiker's Guide Meets Y2K