It's funny, his novel "Patriots" is possibly the worst piece of fiction I've ever read...but it still has useful information in it. As a review on Amazon points out, there is no real story here. There are probably 20 pages of blather in between every plot progression in the book. The plot will progress a little bit, then Rawles will spend the next 4 or 5 pages describing in painful detail weapon specifications, inventories, etc. I recall one passage in which a new character shows up at the retreat, and spends 2 pages listing everything in his backpack. Then there's the matter of the communist cannibals.
No. Really.
That having been said, it still has useful information regarding retreats, long term survival off the grid, etc.