53 pages 1 hour read

Laurence Gonzales

Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1998

A 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

Roundup icon

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

Roundup icon

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 this

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.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Psychology

Business / Economics

Science / Nature

Genre

Action / Adventure

Self Help

Travel Literature

Themes

Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance