Launches May 5, 2026

The Area Intelligence Handbook

The first edition sold 8,000+ copies and started a movement. While it described what goes into an Area Study, it didn’t describe the intelligence effort after the Area Study. So I spent the past year rewriting it. With 13 new chapters and 400+ new pages, it covers the entire Area Intelligence framework, from setup, collection, and assessment to integration into a persistent intelligence operation long after you’ve finished the book. This is the definitive version you’ll need for the decade ahead.

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The limited Intel Operator Edition — 200 signed and numbered copies — sold out in under two hours. The standard edition launches May 5. Get on the list to be first in line.

“An outstanding reference. It concentrates on one aspect of preparedness that most other preparedness books almost completely ignore. Mike Shelby does a great job… fascinating reading.”

James Wesley Rawles, SurvivalBlog — on the first edition (4.9 stars, 125 reviews)

28 chapters. 7 parts.

See the full table of contents.

Table of Contents
Part 1 — Area Intelligence Framework
Ch 1 Introduction to Intelligence
Ch 2 Area Study Overview
Ch 3 Defining the Operational Environment
Ch 4 The Threat Environment
Ch 5 Mission Analysis
Part 2 — The Operational Environment
Ch 6 Physical Terrain and Weather
Ch 7 Human Terrain
Ch 8 Critical Infrastructure
Ch 9 Politics and Governance
Ch 10 Safety and Defense
Ch 11 Economics and Finance
Part 3 — The Threat Environment
Ch 12 Threat Analysis
Ch 13 Threat Assessment Tools New
Ch 14 Route Analysis New
Ch 15 Risk and Vulnerability Assessment New
Ch 16 The Area Assessment New
Part 4 — Intelligence Collection
Ch 17 Intelligence Planning for Operations New
Ch 18 Open Source Intelligence New
Ch 19 Human Intelligence New
Ch 20 Signals Intelligence New
Ch 21 Imagery Intelligence New
Ch 22 Civil Reconnaissance New
Part 5 — Annexes
Ch 23 Weather and Climate Annex New
Ch 24 Information Annex
Ch 25 Contingency Annex
Ch 26 The Intelligence Estimate
Part 6 — Epilogue
Ch 27 Low Intensity Conflict New
Ch 28 Next Steps
Part 7 — Appendices
A Resources
B Collection Requirements
C Intelligence Estimate Template New
D Analytic Technique Quick Reference New
E PMESII-PT and ASCOPE Framework Reference New
F Area Intelligence Checklist New
G AI for Area Intelligence New

Written for the decade ahead.

Six entirely new chapters on intelligence collection — OSINT, HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT, Civil Reconnaissance, and Collection Planning. Three new chapters on Threat & Risk Analysis. A new chapter on Route Analysis. And an epilogue on Intelligence in Low Intensity Conflict — responding to violent social movements, terrorism, organized political violence, and insurgency — that I’ve never published anywhere else.

Every chapter is written in plain language for civilians. No prior military or intelligence experience required.

The book launches May 5. The Area Intelligence Accelerator — video training, templates, and a practitioner community — is available for pre-order now.

The book launches May 5.

Get on the list for the launch announcement — or pre-order the Accelerator now.

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