Studies on California earthquakes have been mainly written by seismologists who study the causes of quakes, the fault lines, the measurement of intensity and magnitude, and other scientific topics.  This book differs from such studies in that it focuses on the experiences of people who have survived earthquakes and tell their stories in the book.  The book also includes accounts written by eyewitnesses such as John Muir and Jack London, but most of the stories come from ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.  The final chapter in the book offers suggestions on how to prepare for the inevitable major earthquake that is when, not if, it will come.