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Deep Survival- Who Lives- Who Dies- and Why

3 stars (Deep Survival, by Lawrence Gonzalis) - Entertaining, but disappointing book. Survival based more on pure luck than "know how". 4 stars (Useful, Often Fascinating, Sometimes Meandering) - Deep Survival can often be quite an interesting journey, although occasionally, like many of the hikers in the true life stories within, it gets a little lost and goes in circles. Laurence Gonzales has made a nice selection of survival tales and presents them in a very useful and illustrative manner. The author shoehorns himself in a little too much (particularly as humility is supposed to be one of the main virtues possessed by a survivor.) These true tales make a nice balance and counterpoint to much of the fascinating scientific research. The book does ignore anything that does not help its thesis so luck is downplayed as is the fact that non-survivors, who tales cannot be told, may often experience and exhibit the same charateristics as survivors, such as a sense of humour, but time was never on their side. Still, it makes for great reading and, despite the author's final insistence that survivors are born, may offer many useful tips for mental attitude adjustments during a hike or a climb gone wrong. 2 stars (Very slow in getting to the point) - I recommend against this book. It is extremely slow. If I need to fall asleep, I start reading this book again. The book has potential, but never lives up to it. I feel like writing about how the author could've or should've, but why waste my time and yours. Oh, and how old is this guy to keep writing about how great his daddy is. . . . ...
W W Norton - Company :: Social :: group or collective psychology :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Special Interest - Adventure :: Outdoor Skills :: General :: Essays :: Laurence Gonzales :: :: Deep Survival- Who Lives- Who Dies- and Why