Laurence Gonzalez – Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why book review

In a nutshell (295 pages), the subtitle really sums it up. The book does a great job of outlining why he is in a position to offer an answer to those three questions, and then he does a great job answering them.

What I got out of it

There are a lot of platitudes and sometimes even dangerous attitudes (like the lone wolf) about survival. This book gives a useful, brass tacks mental differentiation between those who will survive and those who won’t. Gonzalez uses hard-hitting true stories to illustrate his points. One example between a fully equipped guy on a planned trip that goes slightly wrong versus a young girl unprepared and unequipped. You’ll be astonished at the results.

What was difficult

If you’re honest with yourself, you can probably see a scenario where you may not be on the winning side of the equation. That said, Gonzalez shows you how you can change that.

Recommendation

If the title of the book interests you at all, you will very likely appreciate this book. Save some time for reflection after you do.