"Deep Survival- Who Lives, Who Dies and Why," by Laurence Gonzales, is one of my favorite books.
As an avid outdoorsman who has spent some of my happiest moments in the vast wilderness of the American West, I have been in situations where critical decision making meant the difference between life and death. I love being in the wilderness, and while I hope I never find myself in the sort of survival situations that Gonzales describes in his book, I absolutely love reading about the extraordinary ability that humans have for surviving in extremely adverse circumstances.
Gonzales' book is riveting from start to finish as it carries the reader on one adventure after another, through case studies of individuals who survived harrowing situations. Hearing these stories is informative, cautionary, and inspirational. Most important, though, in his analysis of why some people survive and some don't (and it is often surprising who does and who doesn't). Gonzales uncovers a series of guiding principles which consistently emerge in the stories of those who survive.
Part of what is fascinating to me, and what makes this book so relevant, is that these same principles form the foundation for enjoying life on a day to day basis and dovetail very closely with the principles that I have discovered through my own experience of seeking to create a fulfilling and meaningful life.
I am a huge fan of this book in so many ways and I highly recommend it to anyone who has a pulse!
Review- "Deep Survival, Who Lives, Who Dies and Why," by Laurence Gonzalez
