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“Review: Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales.
Banjo wrote this review Saturday, May 5, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Not what I expected. I thought the book was going to be an adventure gone wrong and survival as an ending. However, it was about many survival techniques within different true adventures throughout the years. Yet, it also told how some people survive and why some people don’t. The author explained how he research and determined which stories to relate to the reader to allow our imaginations to follow along with his descriptions and opinions. As, a skiing, water rafting, mountain climbing, hiking accidents and other adventures that most people try and are in a situation that determines whether they survive or not.
I found the book interesting and educating. Survival depends on skill and not thinking just because you’re a pro at something that it makes you a candidate for survival. It was well written and well researched. Like the author said, “Who Lives, Who Dies, And Why”. A good read….
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“This was an incredible collection of survival stories. Even the ones where people didn't survive were fantastic. It really walked you through exactly what happens physically, and psychologically in extreme situations.”
Regina Lisak wrote this review Saturday, April 21, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Title says it all. Who survives and why. Its mostly mental and self control.”
Autumn F wrote this review Thursday, April 12, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a fascinating book about why some people survive harrowing situations, and some people do not. Gonzales uses multiple stories of shipwrecks, mountain adventure disasters, and similar to pull together his theories of what it takes to keep going when all looks lost. A great read with much to teach anyone who lives life beyond the safe and mundane. A couple of caveats: 1) the book is not solely (even primarily) about wilderness survival as the cover leads one to believe; 2) the author at times gets a bit too caught up in his own survival stories, which include riding a back country motorcycle--stories that did not engender much interest from me and possibly you. But again, much here that provides great insight and a chances to often reflect, "I wonder how I would have reacted in that situation?!”
Scott Bischke wrote this review Wednesday, March 21, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Awesome book! Great situations handled in a calm way. lot's of situations and how they are handled best.”
Pierre S wrote this review Thursday, March 8, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“She said: Deep Survival (2003) by Laurence Gonzales ****4Star****Gonzales has bought together a collection of survival stories, where people have overcome such drastic circumstances that at times defy nature. It is Gonzales belief along with many psychologists, neuroscientists and other survival experts, that 'survivors' possess certain personal characteristics that set them apart to beat the odds, namely, logic beats emotion. The first half of this book explains circumstances that lead up to accidents, and the psychological and philosophical ideas that formulate within a victim vs survivor who are faced with life or death situations. The second half of the book are the survival stories that are quite moving.”
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Saturday, October 1, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Deep Survival (2003) by Laurence Gonzales ****4Star****Gonzales has bought together a collection of survival stories, where people have overcome such drastic circumstances that at times defy nature. It is Gonzales belief along with many psychologists, neuroscientists and other survival experts that 'survivors' possess certain personal characteristics that set them apart to beat the odds, namely, logic beats emotion. The stories are quite moving.”
She wrote this review Thursday, September 29, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“wow! ”
Nancy W wrote this review Monday, June 20, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“From the website: “It is being used by the head of training for the Navy SEALs and by wildland firefighters, police, and others. But it has also been embraced by a growing number of people who do not take great risks or seek adventure.” The cases he profiles include harrowing tales from 9/11 and various scary military operations. But he also tells the story of a 20-year-old girl who survived a plane crash and walked out of the Peruvian jungle while 11 adults who rallied together miles away died and an experienced hunter and outdoorsman who died after one night lost in the woods, while a four-year-old girl survived a similar experience. (Children under the age of 6 or 7 have surprisingly high survival rates.)
Chevy Kaylor wrote this review Wednesday, May 18, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This book doesn’t just provide you with The 12 Rules of Survival, it explains the kinds of thinking that can get even experienced operators into trouble, as well as the attitude that can keep people alive. Says Gonzales, “To my surprise, I found an eerie uniformity in the way people survive seemingly impossible circumstances. Decades and sometimes centuries apart, separated by culture, geography, race, language, and tradition, the most successful survivors—those who practice what I call ‘deep survival’—go through the same patterns of thought and behavior, the same transformation and spiritual discovery, in the course of keeping themselves alive. Not only that but it doesn’t seem to matter whether they are surviving being lost in the wilderness or battling cancer, whether they’re struggling through divorce or facing a business catastrophe—the strategies remain the same.”
Aside from some too-technical (for me) discussion about brain function, I was riveted the whole way through. Highly recommended.”
“This book was an interesting and enjoyable read about what qualities and possessed and what behaviour is exhibited by "survivors", i.e. people who are able to survive tragic and seemingly impossible situations. The author reflected on numerous different survivor situations such as the stories detailed in the books Adrift, Alive, Touching the Void, and others.
James H wrote this review Thursday, May 12, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
While I did enjoy the book, I found the author's commentary a little repetitive. He seemed to apply the same formulaic analysis to each of the different stories and we heard repeatedly about the same qualities that constitute a "survivor" and how a survivor approaches a scenario.
Overall, it was a good read though, and recommended to anyone who enjoys the out-of-doors and may find themselves in an emergency situation.”
