Deep Survival

True Stories of Miraculous Endurance and Sudden Death

By: Laurence Gonzales

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

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)

Should be mandatory reading for most of us

Sadly out anorexic English language is way short on adjectives to describe the value of this book. Is a 2X or 3X read.
You may wish you had read this much earlier.

Solid

I was worried that this would be some vague sermon about "grit" or whatever, but it's way more interesting. He talks about such things as Rational decisions verse Instinctive emotion, mental fallacies in dangerous situations (such as the desperate urge to keep moving forward when you're lost), and, yes, the importance of having a good outlook in bad situations.

The book is very good at balancing hard science and personal inferences/experience. It's not a dry survival checklist, cautious to the point of being dull (I once took a college class on Wilderness Medicine and the only thing they told us for every injury/complication discussed was to leave the wilderness and go to the hospital), and it's not some "inspirational" rambling about Willpower and Perseverance.

Overall, this is a book about neuroscience and psychology in dangerous or stressful situations, and it's definitely worth a listen.

Must read!!!

A primer for life. The events recounted in this book are of survival in vast wildernesses and death defying circumstances. The author’s analysis of the collection of events illustrates to the reader a lexicon of mental and spiritual skills that can help people survive. This is a book to revisit multiple times. It is the number one book I want my kids to read before they leave high school.

A good book, but not quite what I expected.

I thought that this book would be divided up into separate survival stories, but it's not. It does discuss multiple survival stories, but it jumps between them, instead of separating them into their own chapters.

It is interesting, but sometimes you get mixed up on who's story is being told.

Must pisten for anyone outdoors..Could save you

A scientific analysis of physical and mental aspects of survival..Starts off a bit slow but by mid to end, I am looking forward tona sequel. Accident theory, wilderness survival and analysisbof various real life situations bring this book to life. Leaves the listener with a few best practices of being adaptive, observant perseverant and avoid overconfidence.

Read this book if you ever wondered why you love doing crazy things.

It will explain why you are the way you are and why you love the edge.

Expert advice + eloquent writing = A great book.

I have 973 titles in my Audible library. If I had to choose ten of these to take with me on a desert island, DEEP SURVIVAL would be on the list. If I had to choose ONE title to take on a solo circumnavigation, DEEP SURVIVAL would be the choice. I would take it both for its entertainment value and for the treasure trove of potentially life-saving advice it contains. It's simply one of the best books I have read in years.

From the start it gets you hook.

I like that you kinda get a little bit of a flash back,the voice actor still gives you his best with in the book.

This book is so much more than survival stories. It is an amazing manual for life!

I listened to this book first and then ordered a hard copy, I can’t wait to read it again. I’m going to buy copies for my adult sons.
It’s well written and filled with valuable insights and knowledge.

Outstanding, best survival book of its type!!

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.