If you have been around me at all in the last few months, you have likely heard me tell you a story from the book Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales. This is a fascinating book that is full of incredible stories.

Gonzales tells the stories of many people who have been on some crazy adventures. Some lived to tell the story, others didn’t… and you’ll have to read the book to find out who lives and who dies. Most of these stories are about rock climbers, mountaineers, and sailors who simply had all the wrong things happen at just the right time.

What I loved about this book was not only the stories (which are truly fascinating and ones I hope to read again because they are full of incredible detail) but the way Gonzales weaves in these stories with facts about survival. In this book he talks about how the brain works and a various other important things to consider in survival.

One interesting fact he points out is that psychologists have noted the importances of being seen by other humans. This is actually a human need… to be seen by another human! So the big thing about getting lost is the fact that no one sees you, so you feel alone not just emotionally but in your being.

Another thing I learned was that there were multiple people who died who had climbed and summited Mt Everest several times, and then they died in Yosemite or on a Colorado 14er or another “easier” trip. It’s important to always remember that there are multiple factors to survival and just because you have made it to the top of the world doesn’t mean you can make it to the top of the mountain in front of you!

Anyways, I could go on and tell some of the stories in this book, but I wouldn’t do nearly as good of a job as Gonzales does in his story telling, so I will leave you to get the book and read these stories for yourself!

Stay safe out there!

Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales