53 pages • 1 hour read
Laurence GonzalesDeep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1998A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Deep Survival, Laurence Gonzales, drawing from his fascination with survival influenced by his father's World War II experiences, examines human behavior in life-threatening situations, differentiating between "victim" and "survivor" behaviors using neuroscience and real-life anecdotes. He explores how primal instincts, somatic markers, mental models, and biases influence survival outcomes.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Laurence Gonzales' Deep Survival offers a gripping examination of survival psychology, blending real-life stories with scientific insights. Praised for its engaging narrative and depth of research, it illuminates the mental resilience required in dire situations. Some critique its repetitive sections, yet it's lauded for its compelling and thought-provoking content overall.
Who Should Read Deep Survival?
A reader who enjoys Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales is likely an enthusiast of gripping survival stories, cognitive science, and psychological exploration. Fans of Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm will appreciate Gonzales's blend of harrowing true stories and deep dives into human behavior under extreme conditions.