IGX

Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why. By Laurence Gonzales

Got this book from a Nafod post a while back.

Decent book. If you look at the website it touts this book as much more than a case study on survivors. If you've never been exposed to Zen Buddhism or the Tao Te Ching, then maybe it will be enlightening.

For most of the folks on this board who have some knowledge of Eastern philosophy, though, it is still a very compelling read on all kinds of survival situations. I especially felt great affirmation to the common link of dark humor. My years in a fighter squadron were IGx-like every day. Nobody was immune from disgusting practical jokes, and no topic was taboo from satire. I always felt this was necessary to relieve the stress of potential death.

Anyway, he writes well and by the second half of the book, I quickly became engrossed in the situations he studied. You know, when you actually FEEL like you're there on the mountain or in the life raft. For that alone, I'm glad I read this book.