It's amazing how much we as people take for granted. Everywhere you turn someone is complaining about material things: not having enough money, not having the car they wanted, social problems and political issues. Meanwhile someone somewhere is taking their last breath, wishing for food or shelter. Take a moment to imagine that the world outside, the very air you breathe, is toxic. Imagine that your only chance for survival is to be locked in a silo deep in the earth, never being able to feel the wind, rain, or sun. Having kids is left to someone else, your vacations consist of getting passes to one of over 100 floors, the only glimpse of the world above you is on the dining room wall, and the government is hiding something important from you. Could you survive? Maybe, but would you still be the person you are today? Enter the world that author Hugh Howey vividly paints in his book “Wool” published in 2012. Although the book was a little dense at times, it was also brilliant, exciting and provocative. “Wool” is a fantastical post-apocalyptic tale about overcoming enormous odds and not letting circumstances change you. In the book the silo is made up of three sections with forty-eight levels each. These sections are referred to as upper, middle, and deep levels. There is a spiral staircase in the center of the silo and each section wears different colored overalls to define their occupation. There are no presidents in this world. The Mayor is an elective office; she is the face of authority along with her deputies, but the real power comes from the IT men who keep the programs running that allow them to see the outside world. This plan also has a key secret… middle of paper… citizens to try to protect them. No one likes to be lied to, and the truth always comes out, which inadvertently does more harm than good. The first few chapters almost put me to sleep with the lethargic pace at which the story unfolds. However, once I continued, I realized I couldn't put the book down. Hugh Howey certainly knows how to capture and hold the reader's attention. All the various aspects of religion, death, childbirth, 100% work, and government are unlike any novel I've read before. This, combined with the depth of the characters and the turn of events, makes this a truly enjoyable read. Anyone who loves post-apocalyptic worlds would love “Wool.” I have already recommended this book to some people, and I intend to read the sequels to discover the answers to the many questions that "Lana" leaves unanswered in the first episode.