Managing the Unthinkable: Crisis Preparation and Response for Campus

In this review of Managing the Unthinkable, campus leaders and senior administrators will find a practical, experience-driven guide to preparing for and responding to acute incidents on campus. The book's strongest asset is its focus on decision points that affect lives, institutional reputation, and community trust, drawn from authors who have worked at presidential and senior leadership levels. For anyone responsible for crisis planning, communications, or governance, this review recommends the book for its clear framing of risks and readiness strategies.

Key Features

• Real-world perspective: Authors draw on university presidencies and senior leadership counseling to show how decisions play out in crises.
• Risk management emphasis: The text explains why readiness and risk assessment are central to protecting people and institutional reputation.
• Communication focus: Practical discussion of media and community messaging helps leaders act under intense scrutiny.
• Decision-oriented guidance: The book highlights concrete decision points and their likely consequences, aiding faster, clearer responses.
• Board and presidential relevance: Guidance is tailored to what presidents and boards must know to reduce personal and institutional exposure.

Who It's For

The book is best suited for college and university presidents, senior administrators, campus safety directors, and board members who need a strategic framework for crisis preparation and response. It is also useful for staff who develop emergency operations plans and communication protocols and who benefit from experienced leadership perspectives.

Those seeking detailed technical checklists, legal templates, or incident-level operational manuals may need supplemental materials; this volume is stronger on leadership, reputation, and decision-making than on step-by-step procedural forms.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear leadership focus that translates risk into actionable priorities for presidents and boards.
• Experienced authorship provides credibility and real examples of how responses affect outcomes.
• Emphasis on communication and reputation helps institutions prepare for media scrutiny and community needs.

Cons

• Limited procedural templates or technical checklists, so readers may need additional operational resources.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Managing the Unthinkable is a strong value for campus decision makers who need leadership-centered guidance on crises. Its emphasis on readiness, communication, and the consequences of leadership choices makes it a practical reference to inform planning and governance, though institutions should pair it with operational templates for full implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover operational checklists?
The book emphasizes leadership and decision-making rather than detailed operational checklists, so supplementing with technical plans is recommended.

Who wrote the book and why does that matter?
Gretchen Bataille and Diana Cordova bring presidential and senior leadership experience, which grounds the guidance in real institutional decision contexts.

Will this help with media and community communication?
Yes; the book specifically addresses communication under scrutiny and how messaging affects reputation and community trust.