Deep Survival: True Stories of Miraculous Endurance and Sudden Death

Gonzales effortlessly weaves quantam mechanics, spirituality, psychology and James Bond into
a fascinating book that is at first glance about physical survival, but it can be used as a metaphor for many facets of human experience.

I'm in awe of how Gonzales uses information from such diverse sources - yet it all fits so logically. I can't say enough good about this book. It's intelligent, educational, emotional, and entertaining. And finally - the perfect narrator as a bonus.

An absolutely great book. This was my first book into what is referred to as "survival literature." After reading other books in the same genre, I would highly recommend this to anyone as either a primer on the group, and/or a broad, stand alone reference.
One thing to watch for, and it's not a critique of the book necessarily, but simply an interesting observation.
The author seeks out adventure, always trying to live up to his father's example. Except that his father lived a thousand lives in the service of his country, came home and raised a large family, and carved out an all-American life. The author, in contrast, never served anyone but himself. He went through several marriages, flew for fun not for country, and generally missed the larger point of his father's core example. That of self-sacrifice, not self-aggrandizement.
Still a great book, that I gave 5 stars.

never a dull moment with this audio book, i loved it. as many others have noted, the narrator is very good and never misses a beat. i love all the things others have noted, plus one other thing. this man can write, really write. every sentence in this book is well crafted and exuberant in its choice of words. i will listen to this again and again. thanks to all the other people whose comments made me curious enough to listen to something i might not have ever chosen.

I've always been drawn to stories of survival so this book was a natural for me.

Gonzales really brings out how we are all in a state of survival. That is in our personal lives, business/work, economic, emotional, .... So it is really wonderful to hear what it takes to come out the other end alive.

Add good and appropriate narration and I'm telling all my freinds to get this one.

This book is all about survival, life, the universe, and everything (with profound apologies to Douglas Adams). It is a moving meditation on what it is to be human and applies to all of our existence even though we usually ignore our mortality and the functioning of our minds. The adventures and misadventures Laurence Gonzales chronicles reveal our human condition better than anything I have ever read. This is not a simple adventure book so some may be disappointed. It is so much more. I understand Gonzales has another book along similar lines due out in September of 2008. I hope it come to Audible and I hope that Stefan Rudnicki narrates that one as well. He is brilliant. His narration of "On Intelligence" was excellent - his intelligent speech highlighted that book as well as this.

Bravo Gonzales, Rudnicki and Audible - well done. Thank you!

This is a profound look at what a human being goes through in a survival situation. It is not designed to relay the gory details of survivor stories. Instead this book systematically disects and examines the way the human mind functions when it meets with disaster. I have never read a book that better describes and defines the attributes that separate "The Quick From The Dead". Gonzales also did a great job presenting this information in a personal way that keeps the reader on the edge of thier seat. Exellent book for anyone, especially if you ever venture into the wild. This should be required reading for SAR professionals.

A terrific audio book. 10+ hours, but wish there was more. The true account storytelling dovetailed with the explaination and analysis exposes the roots of survival.
Exciting, frightening, and educational, with lessons applicable not only in survival circumstances but everyday life.

As a rule, I do not write reviews if I have nothing more helpful to add to the other opinions. But I can't stay mum on this one. This book is worth every insightful moment. Five stars, could be more. This is simply a "me too" review

I can't remember reading a book that affected me more profoundly. Sure, it is a book about people who are living in survival situations and the reasons why some live to tell the story while others don't. But the in-depth analysis has far-reaching implications that go well beyond the subject matter.
Gonzalez is extremely well read and an accomplished writer. His style is breezy and an easy listen even when the subject matter is rather dark. Add to this the fact that many passages are gripping, edge-of-the-seat nail biters, and you have a book difficult to put down and impossible to forget.
Take for instance the description, early in the book, of landing a plane on an aircraft carrier. At first it is difficult to understand all of the "pilot-speak" but as the story unfolds and each piece of jargon is explained, you begin to understand just how hair-raising such a feat is, and the internal battle each pilot wrestles with as he obeys his training in spite of the overpowering instincts to do otherwise. Unfortunately, as the author points out, instinct occasionally wins...with tragic results.
There are, of course, many other situations examined, each with its own lessons to be learned and its own provacative implications.

This is a very good read. As you proceed through the book you realize more and more how this subject matter pertains to everyday life. If you were lost in the wilderness, would you sit down and die? Many people do just that. Don't do it in everyday life. Get a plan and "do something". Choose this book and listen to it with an empty glass.