Product Description

"Unique among survival books...stunning...enthralling. Deep Survival makes compelling, and chilling, reading."—Penelope Purdy, Denver Post

After her plane crashes, a seventeen-year-old girl spends eleven 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—how people get into trouble and how they get out again (or not)—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 "stages of survival" and reveals the essence of a survivor—truths that apply not only to surviving in the wild but also to surviving life-threatening illness, relationships, the death of a loved one, running a business during uncertain times, even war.

Fascinating for any reader, and absolutely essential for anyone who takes a hike in the woods, this book will change the way we understand ourselves and the great outdoors.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1376 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 318 pages

From Publishers Weekly
When confronted with a life-threatening situation, 90% of people freeze or panic, says Gonzales in this exploration of what makes the remaining 10% stay cool, focused and alive. Gonzales (The Hero's Apprentice; The Still Point), who has covered survival stories for National Geographic Explorer, Outside and Men's Journal, uncovers the biological and psychological reasons people risk their lives and why some are better at it than others. In the first part of the book, the author talks to dozens of thrill-seekers-mountain climbers, sailors, jet pilots-and they all say the same thing: danger is a great rush. "Fear can be fun," Gonzales writes. "It can make you feel more alive, because it is an integral part of saving your own life." Pinpointing why and how those 10% survive is another story. "They are the ones who can perceive their situation clearly; they can plan and take correct action," Gonzales explains. Survivors, whether they're jet pilots landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier or boatbuilders adrift on a raft in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, share certain traits: training, experience, stoicism and a capacity for their logical neocortex (the brain's thinking part) to override the primitive amygdala portion of their brains. Although there's no surefire way to become a survivor, Gonzales does share some rules for adventure gleaned from the survivors themselves: stay calm, be decisive and don't give up. Remembering these rules when crisis strikes may be tough, but Gonzales's vivid descriptions of life in the balance will stay with readers.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
What impels people to risk their lives by climbing mountains or deep-sea diving? What confluence of forces leads to drastic accidents? Why do some people survive disasters while others perish? A renowned journalist intrigued with risk, Gonzales conducts an in-depth and engrossing inquiry into the dynamics of survival. Relating one hair-raising true story after another about wilderness adventures gone catastrophically wrong and other calamities, Gonzales draws on sources as diverse and compelling as the Stoic philosophers and neuroscience to elucidate the psychological, physiological, and spiritual strengths that enable certain individuals to avoid fatal panic and make that crucial "transition from victim to survivor." People who survive being lost or adrift at sea, for instance, pay close attention to their surroundings and respect the wild. Gonzales also notes that survivors think of others, either helping a fellow sufferer or rallying to outsmart death in order to spare loved ones anguish. The study of survival offers an illuminating portal into the human psyche, and Gonzales, knowledgeable and passionate, is a compelling and trustworthy guide. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"After the Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare, Laurence Gonzales' latest book would be the wise choice for any desert-island castaway."Conde Nast Traveller "Buy it so you know what to do if you happen to fall off a mountain."Anthony Sattin, The Sunday Times

Deep Survival is by far the best book on the many insights into epic survival stories I have ever read. -- Daryl Miller, Chief of Mountaineering, Denali National Park & Preserve

A fascinating look into why we are who we are. -- Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature and Enough

A feast of excitement and wonder. Makes complexity and chaos come alive...fantastic accounts of danger and death. -- Charles Perrow, author of Normal Accidents

A gripping and thoughtful investigation of the greatest adventure of all—survival. -- Jerry Kobalenko, author of The Horizontal Everest: Extreme Journeys on Ellesmere Island

A superb, entertaining addition to a nature buff's library—or for anyone not tucked safely away in a bunker. -- Kirkus Reviews

Gonzales takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride that ends with rules of survival we can all stand to learn. -- Jed Williamson, editor, Accidents in North American Mountaineering

Professional rescuers will love this book. Gonzales tells us what we subconsciously know—anything is possible. -- Jacki Golike, Executive Director, National Association for Search and Rescue

Remarkable, unique, and compulsively readable. -- David Roberts, author of True Summit: What Really Happened on the Legendary Ascent on Annapurna

Should be required reading for anyone venturing off the beaten path. -- Jeff Randall, Peruvian Air Force School of Jungle Survival

[Gonzales's] science is accurate, accessible, up-to-date and insightful. An extremely good book. -- Robert Sapolsky, author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

Customer Reviews

Well written and scholarly
This book is not only extremely well written, but offers much scientific insight. The stories of survival provide flavor for his text and illustrate well his concepts. What I found most surprising is the applications of survival stories to everyday life. Gonzales concludes by offering practical advice for surviving in business and personal daily life. This book far exceeded what I expected.

Couldnt get passed the first several chapters...
I was hoping for a great book about stories of survival, what they did, lessons learned and who died, and why - Like the title says. This book, however doesn't even come close to what its advertising. The narrative is chaotic and the ideas somewhat obscure. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Deep Survival
3 yaers ago I heard about this book from a radio announcer. Bought it and read it. Since, I have given it as a gift to many friends and colleagues. I teach a college class on brain incorporated teaching and use key ideas from this book on how the brain works. It has helped me to understand my own thinking. I have quoted from it to friends and family who have had accidents because they were in states of stress, where all the mind can think about is the destination but the surroundings, being highly important, are often neglected. Case in point, a relative, while being late to their destination, and giving instructions to their teenager out window of the car while driving, they ran over the dog. Devastated as they were I sent copies of pages from this book to them. They said the pages did ease their distress in understanding how and why these things happen when teh brain is in this state of mind. The stories in this book are unforgettable, not gruesome as one might think, and very personal. Highly recommended.