The Preparation: How To Become Competent, Confident, and Dangerous

Tom Woods, New York Times bestselling author and host of The Tom Woods Show: “When I read The Preparation , my jaw was on the floor. I thought: this is exactly what young men need today. It’s practical, brilliant, and long overdue.”

James Altucher, entrepreneur, podcaster, and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Choose Yourself:

“Every young person should read The Preparation . It shows a real, practical alternative to college—and I wish I’d had this book when I was younger.”

Skip the debt. Build the man. What if you could trade four stagnant years in lecture halls for four years of adventure—emerging as a debt‑free EMT, pilot, welder, web/app builder, rancher, and entrepreneur all in one? The Preparation is the field manual for young men (and the parents who love them) who know the old college formula is broken and want a roadmap that actually forges competence, confidence, and real‑world value.

Written by three generations—legendary investor and bestselling author Doug Casey, entrepreneur Matt Smith, and twenty‑year‑old “beta tester” Maxim Smith—this book distills their hard‑won wisdom into a four‑year, 16‑cycle program you can start tomorrow. 16 themed cycles —Medic, Cowboy, Pilot, Fighter, Hacker, Maker, and more—each built around a hands‑on “Anchor Course” that forces you to learn by doing, not by cramming. Earn‑while‑you‑learn design shows you exactly how to pay your way through each cycle and graduate debt‑free. Cost: roughly one year of tuition – yet delivers four years of marketable skills, global travel, and a network of do‑ers, not talkers. Foundational philosophy rooted in Stoicism and Renaissance thinking so you don’t just master tasks—you master yourself. Bullet‑proof curriculum : step‑by‑step schedules, book lists, online courses, and locations for every skill so you’re never guessing what to do next. Battle‑tested results —Maxim used the program to rack up EMT shifts on Oregon wildfires, fly solo over the Rockies, ranch in Uruguay, and sail the Strait of Magellan before he turned twenty. The Problem: College now averages $140,000+ and often delivers little more than ideology, debt, and obsolete credentials. The Preparation: compresses that money and time into a crucible that turns raw potential into a modern‑day Renaissance Man—one who can protect, build, heal, sell, and lead in a world being up‑ended by AI and economic turmoil.

If you—or a young man you care about—refuse to become road‑kill on the conventional path, open this book and start Cycle One today. The world won’t wait, and neither should you.

Scroll up and click “Buy Now” to begin your Preparation.