Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales

[SCinPNW]

Have you read this book? I am almost done with it and wanted to recommend it to everyone here. This is a book about survivor philosophy, not technique. Overall it is a pretty good book, however, it does start off a little slow. I also think the author jumps around quite a bit, but otherwise interesting reading. It definteily has me thinking as to what type of survivor I would be in the types of situations that he describes in the book.

What I find most interesting is the emotional and psychological challenges the survivors described in the book go through. Gonzales also goes into some scientific theories to explain why some people survive and some do not and I found that less interesting then the actual survival stories themselves and the emotional and psycholological toll the act of surviving took upon the survivors. The author also talks alot about his own adventures which I found less interesting then the survival stories of others such as people who have survived for many days in the open ocean, plane crashes, etc.

Lastly, he has another book which I also picked up from the library called Every Day Survival, I will read it when I am done with Deep Survival. If you can, I would pick them up from the library or a 2nd hand book store rather than paying full price. Even though I find the book interesting it is not one that I am anxious to add to my survival library.

If you have read it, I would be interested in hearing your opinion on it.

SC

[EX121]

I read this several years ago and really enjoyed it. I use his concept of "bending the map" which is when the person talks themseves in to believing the the map must be drawn wrong in a effort to explain how the terrain they ar in doesn't match the map. I'm not explaining it well. I like his 12 rules for survival also. A very good book.

[ssonb]

I never get lost!! but I have been powerfull confused one time in the woods... About bending the map I think I have a little experence in that matter ...I was hunting/exploring one time and was getting a little worried about getting back to my truck, I came to a deep stream and spent some time thinking over how to get across so I would be able to get home before dark . I had convinced myself that my truck was just across the creek and over the next rise, I sat down to take a short break when the thought hit me, since I did not have to cross a creek to get lost why did I have to cross one to get unlost (unconfused)??

[monkeybird]

What are the 12 rules?

Also, is bending the map a parable for explaining bad happenings?

[Klayton]

You mean you cant just shake a tree and look for it to vibrate on the map???

Ahh man, guess I'll have to pull out that old lensatic...

[EX121]

Bending the map is rationalizing that it must be drawn wrong in order to explain that what you are really seeing isn't what you think you should. For example I don't see a lake on the map, but there's a lake down there so the map must be wrong, since I can't be lost. As far as the 12 rules, I'm lazy this morning, my favorite is Think Like a Survivor, meaning have a positive attitude. If you do an internet search there are a lot of hits.

[SCinPNW]

The 12 Rules are:
1. Perceive, believe (look, see, believe)
2. Stay calm (use humor, use fear to focus)
3. Think/analyze/plan (get organized; set up small, manageable tasks)
4. Take correct, decisive action (be bold and cautious while carrying out tasks)
5. Celebrate your successes (take joy in completing tasks)
6. Count your blessings (be grateful--you're alive)
7. Play (sing, play mind games, recite poetry, county anything, do mathematical problems in your head)
8. See the beauty (remember: It's a vision quest)
9. Believe that you will succeed (develop a deep conviction that you'll live)
10. Surrender (let go of your fear of dying; "put away the pain")
11. Do whatever is necessary (be determined; have the will and the skill)
12. Never give up (let nothing break your spirit)

Also, one of the survival stories he talks about is also in movie form which I have watched recently and thought was pretty good, "Touching the Void", it is an incredible survival story about some mountain climbers.

SC

[monkeybird]

I really like those 12 rules. Rule number 1 is perhaps the most difficult for most people. Believing seems to be a problem, despite what people see.

I plan on buying this book. It sounds excellent. Thanks.

P.S. I just order the book for my computer Kindle! Technology is Grand!

[monkeybird]

To survive, you must at some point allow cool to become cold. Stockdale wrote, “In difficult situations, the leader with the heart, not the soft heart, not the bleeding heart, but the Old Testament heart, the hard heart, comes into his own.” Survival means accepting reality, and accepting reality takes a hard heart.

I love this quote from the book. The book is definitely food for thought. It's how a 'how to' book, but a philosophy/psychology type of book. I firmly believe that understanding the character of the surviver is essential.

I think I'll strart a new thread on this quote as it profoundly affected my thinking.