Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
Book Review: The Human Spirit
Summary: 5 Stars
There are a number of reasons why you should read this book. It is well written and engaging. It gives you an insight into the human spirit. And, the descriptive tales of survival when people are stranded in conditions that seem beyond hope are extraordinary.Book Review: Doesn't get much better than this!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm going to keep my review short and sweet: This is a terrific book! I've recommended it to all my clients and my friends and I recommend it to anybody reading this review.
Well done, Laurence. You hit the ball out of the park with this gem!
Book Review: Everyone should read it!
Summary: 5 Stars
Deep Survival is an amazing book - informative and exciting. It is helpful in all walks of life -not just adventure. I heard it originally as a book on tape - twice - and have given it as gifts which have always been enjoyed. My son-in-law in the Air Froce said it would make a great presentation. Everyone should read it!Book Review: Satisfying and informative mix of science, psychology, myth, and magic
Summary: 4 Stars
Fluff or not? Not
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The author quite obviously has thought much about the topic of survival for most of his life. He manages to include just the right of medical and scientific investigation to leave me looking for more from other sources and ties in wonderfully intriguing stories of friends, family, and the survival of strangers to have me madly adding referenced books to my list. Through all of this, Gonzales never loses touch with the purpose of the book - to talk about what makes a survivor and why some die where others live and that survival is more than luck and more than sheer determination of will. The last section of the book ties everything together wonderfully and manages to drive home Gonzales' point that, true survivors hone their skills everyday over a lifetime and that survivors aren't born or made by accident. He points out several concrete ways to help ensure your personal journey includes regular flexing of your survivalist muscles.
---- What I liked ----
Interesting stories of survival, medical and scientific research to back up his points, concrete steps to help hone personal survival mentality, Gonzales manages to make his study of survival a personal one and shares his passion and curiosity with impact, continuous thread throughout that is never lost.
---- What I didn't ----
Not much, other than that I'm left wanting more
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Book Review: Great read, important lessons
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an excellent book that will be a real eye opener if you have or plan to put yourself in high risk situations or if you recognize that anyone can suddenly find themselves in a survival situation. If you have "been there, done that" then you may recognize the reactions and the unfolding of events. "Oh DUDE, been there man!" Also just a plain good read for even armchair adventurers. The content is fascinating and the writing style is to my liking. Short descriptive prose that is very vivid and direct. Gonzales writes much like Sebastian Junger who I also enjoy reading. I must admit that some of my fascination with the book comes from having been in some of the exact places described and have seen first hand some of the seemingly stupid mistakes made by people even with skills and experience to know better.
The book is a not a book on how to rub two sticks together or what gear to pack on a trip. It is unfair to criticize the book on those grounds. I would however disagree that it is not about the skills necessary to survive. I suggest it is exactly right on about the skills required to survive. Survival is not only about knowing how to start a fire but having the presence of mind and the calm focus to know when to stop walking and build a fire. It is about how to understand the natural reactions taking place in your brain and tell yourself to stop and think. That is what this book is about and it does a great job of exploring that aspect of survival. (at least in the first 50-60 percent of the book-see below)
Why not five stars if I like it so much? If I had posted this review halfway through the book it would have gotten five stars without question. I devoured this book for the first 150 pages. I only mark it down because at about that halfway point it seems to become redundant and start searching for material. Looks like the editor had a minimum number of pages required. Don't let this dissuade you from reading this book. Just be prepared for a slow down midway through.