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  • Deep Survival

  • True Stories of Miraculous Endurance and Sudden Death
  • By: Laurence Gonzales
  • Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
  • Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (4,077 ratings)

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Deep Survival

By: Laurence Gonzales
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
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Publisher's summary

After her plane crashes, a 17-year-old girl spends 11 days walking through the Peruvian jungle. Against all odds, with no food, shelter, or equipment, she gets out. A better equipped group of adult survivors of the same crash sits down and dies. What makes the difference?

Examining such stories of miraculous endurance and tragic death, Deep Survival takes us from the tops of snowy mountains and the depths of oceans to the workings of the brain that control our behavior. Through close analysis of case studies, Laurence Gonzales describes the essence of a survivor and offers 12 "Rules of Survival".

In the end, he finds, it is what's in your heart, not what's in your pack, that separates the living from the dead. This audiobook will change the way we understand ourselves and the great outdoors.

©2003 Laurence Gonzales (P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"The study of survival offers an illuminating portal into the human psyche, and Gonzales, knowledgeable and passionate, is a compelling and trustworthy guide." (Booklist)
"A superb, entertaining addition to a nature buff's library, or for anyone not tucked safely away in a bunker." (Kirkus Reviews)

Featured Article: The 20 Best Survival Audiobooks for the Prepper in All of Us


Whether we’re focused on the apocalypse or just an ill-timed breakdown on the side of a particularly remote road, there’s something about imagining survival scenarios that can be addictive. On some level, we all wonder if we would have what it takes to pit ourselves against the worst the world can possibly offer and make it out alive. That’s why it’s no surprise that survival literature is so popular, and that the stories in the genre are so diverse.

What listeners say about Deep Survival

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    2,760
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Loved the storytelling. Heavy on the neuroscience in the beginning, worth it to hang on.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Firefighter

This should be on every promotion material for the fire service.

Always remember train ... and laugh!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent- insightful- plan to immediately repeat

excellent- insightful- plan to immediately repeat- insightful- plan to immediately repeatexcellent- insightful- plan to immediately repeat

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting!

Just what I had hoped it would be and more. What makes a person a survivor. perfect narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting survival stories+actionable take aways

Interesting survival stories+actionable take aways
Got my gears turning in a positive away ahead of a planned hiking trip in Colorado

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed the real life examples of survival..

Great real life examples of survival and the lessons learned. Well researched and presented material..

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Narration was excellent, book itself was outstanding. Made it a joy to listen. The stories and examples were intertwined and reinforced the points. If the human mind interests you, get this book.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

loved and hated it at the same time.

first of all I'm glad I listened to the end of the book. there are numerous occasions where I wanted to stop and move on to a different book because I just got so bored with some of the details. The things I liked about the book were the actual stories of survival which were more towards the end of the book. what I didn't like is all the psychoanalysis of how each person survived their ordeal. I really don't think there's a scientific reason why people survive. I think there was too much mumbo jumbo and there was too much poetry style pros in the writing of the book which I'm sure the author had a great deal of pleasure in writing. overall I'd give it a three and a half. like I said the last part of the book is probably the best

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Interesting Idea for a book

Different stories of survival (or not) kept it interesting. I haven't heard anyone else have the same take on why some people might survive a catastrophe and some do not.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Indispensable

Read it years back but recently finished it in audio. As a graduate of the USAF Survival School, I recognize a lot of what’s going on within the pages. A must read for anyone who regularly lives life on the edge. Especially enjoy the Stoicism and Tao references.

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