Still Alive: A Wild Life of Rediscovery

by Forrest Galante

Very few individuals can truthfully say that their work impacts every person on earth.  Forrest Galante is one of them. As a wildlife biologist and conservationist, Galante devotes his life to studying, rediscovering, and protecting our planet’s amazing lifeforms. Part memoir, part biological adventure, Still Alive celebrates the beauty and determined resiliency of our world, as well as the brave conservationists fighting to save it. 
 
In his debut book, Galante takes readers on an exhilarating journey to the most remote and dangerous corners of the world. He recounts miraculous rediscoveries of species that were thought to be extinct and invites readers into his wild life: from his upbringing amidst civil unrest in Zimbabwe to his many globetrotting adventures, including suspenseful run-ins with drug cartels, witch doctors, and vengeful government officials.  He shares all of the life-threatening bites, fights, falls, and jungle illnesses. He also investigates the connection between wildlife mistreatment and human safety, particularly in relation to COVID-19. 
 
Still Alive is much more than just a can’t-put-down adventure story bursting with man-eating crocodiles, long-forgotten species rediscovered, and near-death experiences. It is an impassioned, informative, and undeniably inspiring examination of the importance of wildlife conservation today and how every individual can make a difference.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Science, Nature, Animals, Biography Memoir, Wildlife

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Amanda Hupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

“But hand in hand with the hopefulness created by our discovery, I need to make an important point: extinction is serious.”

STILL ALIVE
Thank you so much Forrest Galante and Hachette Books for the opportunity to read this book that will hit shelves on June 1st!!!!

Still Alive: A Wild Life of Rediscovery by Forrest Galante is both a memoir and a plea for conservation. Forrest Galante was raised in Zimbabwe and in his words, “it was idyllic!” He loves Zimbabwe, the people and the animals. As a teenager, they had to flee to the United States where he had to adapt to a completely new environment. They settled in Oakland, California. It wasn’t the worst thing to ever happen to him because that is where he met his future wife and realized what he wanted to do with his life. His passion is wildlife biology and conservation. From being a success on the show, Naked and Afraid, to getting his own series, Extinct or Alive, he has been driven by his passion for animals and not television entertainment.

“As a scientist, I can’t tell you that the Earth care about you, but it without a doubt sustains you; and if you care for the Earth, you will be repaid tenfold.”

STILL ALIVE
This is an incredible book! The author’s passion for conservation is palpable! I really loved his ability to adapt to any environment. The one environment you can tell he is not exactly comfortable in is the television environment—and who could blame him. I really agreed with him about his thoughts regarding the History Channel. Every time I have tried to watch The History Channel it is only hours of Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and Ancient Aliens—what happened to actual documentaries—BRING BACK ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE WITH PETER WELLER. Ahem. Sorry. I got sidetracked. Most of the book goes back and forth with him dealing with producers and heads of networks to actually being in the field. I prefer reading about all the fieldwork. Speaking of which, did Kendyl survive the infection from the tick?

I really did appreciate his arguments about certain topics and seeing things from his perspective. The whale footage he got should have been released. I was also interested in his thoughts regarding the Coronavirus. The book goes right up to when COVID-19 hit. He discusses wet markets, which are markets that provide fresh meat for those who don’t have refrigeration. It is really hard to how to respond to this. While this provides food for mainly those in poverty, there is no regulation, and with that comes cross-contamination and the evolution of certain viruses and bacteria. For many scientists, the rise of COVID-19 was not a surprise, only a matter of time. All in all, I devoured this book! I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forrest Galante is an impeccably knowledgeable, uniquely capable wildlife expert who might be the most charismatic of all the experts currently hosting their own TV shows. Unfortunately, he's well aware of the fact and makes it very clear on every page of his book, Still Alive.

At first, I was charmed by his colorful stories: fighting off hostile human invaders with a bow and arrow in his home country of Zimbabwe, and later, after being displaced and living in California, when he went hunting pigeon with a Red Ryder BB gun, only to find himself surrounded by Coast Guard helicopters. As the book continued on, though, and the author elaborated on his prowess, these adventures felt less like good stories and more like bragging: his finding love after being paid to go on a date with a gorgeous woman, miraculously surviving a horrific accident after attempting an incredibly stupid stunt, and also, not only surviving and winning, but breezing through the taping of his challenge on the TV show Naked and Afraid ("They wanted me to change my attitude. They insisted that because I didn't cry or complain or tear down my partner, I was going to annoy viewers. But the opposite happened: I was a hit").

I'll be tuning in whenever this guy hosts a TV show, but I doubt I'll be reading any more of his books. But hey, don't take my word for it. If you're unconvinced of Forrest Galante's abilities, expertise or general badass reputation, just read his book--he'll tell you.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Still Alive” by Forrest Galante is a memoir or autobiography of biologist and conservationist Forrest Galante. We follow him from his upbringing in Zimbabwe where he was forced out of his home during a political uprising. To when he moved to California, where we follow his struggles to fit it. We also see his many accomplishments through discovering what was believed to be extinct animals and his many other tv appearances. The man has accomplished a lot and led a very exciting life in such a short amount of time.

Forrest Galante has been kind of like a rockstar for me lately. I find his life to be so insane. I originally saw a short of him in YouTube. Then I started watching interviews, podcast and following him on social media. I saw he had a book and figured I’d give it a go. It is quite fascinating. If you followed his interviews or seen him on Rogan you will have heard most of the stuff he mentions in this book, but there is quite a bit you probably haven’t heard. If you find the man as interesting and insane as I do, I suggest checking out the book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forrest Galante has lived a wild life, pun fully intended. This man is one of my favorite Animal Planet stars, and for good reason. He delivers an entertaining yet informative account on his life and the research he has conducted. I learned a lot of things that I never knew about nature. His views on conservation are truly eye opening. Overall, great read!

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was riverting. Being a fan of Forrest shows extinct or alive and mysterious creatures, soon as I heard he had a autobiography I picked it up straight away. First half of the book Forrest talks about his early years growing up in Africa and his love for animals and how he became to be the wildlife expert he is. His early years were very interesting. As a whole this book is a easy 5 stars though the second half of the book is mostly spent talking about his tv shows and explaining a few things that happen off camera, having watched his tv series there wasn't much new information sadly. I felt like it was a bit of a rerun of the episodes. I would still reccomend this book to someone who has any interest in animals and exploring.

[Eric Grote · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read! There wasn’t a boring page in the book! Highly recommend.

[Lindsay Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dude thought that finding a tortoise that hadn’t been seen by white people for a long time was the greatest scientific discovery of the century. Seems problematic?

[Paperwitches ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Forrest and his show Extinct or Alive, he has done so much for conservation and I can tell how he loves animals and his life.

So of course I had to check this out. It doesn’t have much prose, but it’s straightforward and still emotionally moving. I never realized how much Forrest had to go through, especially because he always seems so cheerful. I would say it lacks practiced writing, but the author makes up for it with his expertise in animals and adventure.

I couldn’t put this book down, and I reveled in the stories. This is a great read for those who are a fan of animals, conservation, or Forrest Galante himself. It tells a multicultural tale, from a unique perspective. I highly recommend it if you’re into nonfiction, memiors, and adventure!

[Taiyo Watt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
At first I thought this guy was a little full of himself, but as the book went on I realized he’s just been on some of the most mind blowing adventures ever. This book is entertaining in the same way an animal planet show is, but there is an underlying theme of caring for the environment and becoming in tune with the natural world. I would love to go spear fishing and get a beer with this guy.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forrest has lived an interesting and exciting life. This book is filled with adventure as he retells stories from his early childhood through his time hosting Extinct or Alive. It also stresses the important message about how humans needs to reconnect with nature before we destroy the planet that nurtures us.

[Clare rushby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed listening to this one in audible and it was awesome that forest actually narrated it. The first half is about his life in Africa as a kid that I found really riveting. The second half is all about his career and extinct or alive which was super interesting, but I have watched the show so was a lot of the same info I already knew. Definitely worth the read.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute inspiration of a book. I haven't watched Extinct or Alive yet but will be very soon! I've followed Forrest for a few years now and am ecstatic that he has summarized a few of his most amazing stories into a book. His approach to wildlife biology, conservation, and how he gets the message out is amazing and I wish there were more people out helping him. 10/10 would recommend this book to everyone not because they'll enjoy it, but because they need to hear the message that comes with it.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd never heard of the author nor seen his show when I randomly picked this up at the library.

That said this was surprisingly entertaining and thoughtful. I learned a lot and learned about an interesting person who is never heard of before. Not much more you can ask for in a book of this type.

Recommended.

[Jonathan Porostosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forrest had such a wild life. Love his work and all he does. Great book.

[Pete Corcoran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t care for the last chapter/epilogue. The tone of the book changed from sharing personal stories to imposing personal opinion.

[Lish Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forrest Galante has some really interesting stories to tell and I enjoyed reading about his life and discoveries. I think this would be an interesting read for anyone.

[Addison Grote · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If we don't commit to clean energy, control plastics, build smarter cities, and preserve our wilderness-then there is going to be a global-scale collapse."

It was an inspiring and incredible book filled with fun adventures and moving stories. Forrest Galante is such an amazing person and I wish more people had his passion for nature.

This book makes me want to rewatch his Extinct or Alive episodes. Like the one where they find the Zanzibar leopard.
Or the one where they witness the killing of a pod of whales in the Faroe Islands.
That part was so sad and Forrest did a great job describing how devastating it was.
"The sea was red with blood....The bay was frothing with dying, screaming, animals."

My eyes were watering when the Village in Myanmar decided to let the murderous crocodile go. It was so noble and wonderful.

All in all, it was a fantastic and quick read and I completely recommend it. Even if you don't like nonfiction, this one is filled with adventure just like fiction books.

[AnimalLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forrest Galante is my idol, I am becoming an animal biologist because of him! Hence my name, AnimalLover. His book is wonderful, I hope to finally meet him one day! Thank you for this book!

[Geraldine (geraldinereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know much about Forrest Galante going into this book, but learned that he's a wildlife biologist and a conservationist. He has rediscovered animals that were thought to be extinct and has a show on Animal Planet called Extinct or Alive. I had never seen the show, but I'm really looking forward to watching it now!

This is described as "part memoir, part biological adventure" and that is 100% an accurate description. He talks about what it was like growing up in Zimbabwe and what brought his family to California. He goes behind the scenes on what it was like to film different episodes of his show and what it was like to travel to different countries with a filming crew.

I found this to be fascinating especially when he talked about animals and behind the scenes stuff! I found myself constantly taking breaks to look up all the animals he was talking about. I was also able to watch some video clips of his show Extinct or Alive and omg why haven't I seen this show before?!! Also, he's recently done a special on wet markets and I saw a video clip on that as well. It was really cool to connect the dots between the behind the scenes stuff he was talking about in the book and the actual video footage.

Overall, I couldn't put this book down! This is the type of book you'll read in one sitting, and then spend hours researching all the things that were mentioned in the book. I definitely recommend this one if you're into animals/conservation or adventure or you're a fan of his show! Plus, it's really easy to understand so no need to be intimidated by the topic!

Thank you Hachette Books for the copy!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew I wasn’t going in to this book for the masterful writing or jaw drooling action to keep me on my toes. No, no...I just wanted to hear more BTS of Extinct or Alive tbh hahahaha. Also! Forest is one of the most interesting and passionate people to grace this long time Animal Planet viewer’s screen - legitimately I feel like mini-Annie got Steve Irwin, and now current-Annie has Forest Gallante! His passion itself is inspiring and I wanted to keep experiencing his world and his viewpoint.

Now this book isn’t for those who’ve never met or watched forest Gallante and just like reading the occasional bio - I think you kinda have to be in on it for the most part? Like, the best way I can describe this is earlier in the book when Forest talks about a cliff-dive gone wrong: I did not know this part of his life from my many reruns of Extinct or Alive, and therefore I was out of the loop and it didn’t keep my attention very much at all.

However - discussing certain parts of the filming of the show, what went wrong, what wasn’t shown on camera, what everyone on the crew was doing or thinking? That was where this book shined. I also can’t help but think if I got this in audio form with Forest’s narration - whoo boy, different ball game. It was super cool to get to step into the episodes and experience it in another way.

Overall, this book is a 3.5 out of 5. I love Forest and he’s truly done amazing things in his life, and I can’t wait to see where his story goes next.

[Nick Mojica · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Forrest Galantes work, I decided to pick the book he wrote called “Still alive: A wildlife of Rediscovery”. I was introduced to Forrest Galante a year ago during the pandemic when I started listening to his podcast, “The Wild Times”. I recommend the podcast highly if you like to learn about wildlife and creatures all around. As I learned more and more about Forrest, I became fascinated by his adventures on his show “Extinct Or Alive” which aired on animal planet. In this show, we follow Forrest and his team of conservationists as they travel the globe to try to rediscover animals thought to be extinct (yet another thing I highly recommend). The book reads like a memoir, explaining Forrest's early life in Africa and the struggles he and his mother faced running an orange farm in a corrupt, violent country. Naturally he grew up in a place rich in wildlife, warranting what he would become in the future, a wildlife biologist/ explorer/ conservationist. The book, despite having its fair share of tragedy and sadness, was still really inspiring to me. As someone who loves wildlife and animals a lot, Forrest’s journey and eventual rediscovery of the Fernandina Giant Tortoise is nothing short of truly amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone but mostly to my fellow wildlife lovers, I’m sure you’ll find Forrest Galante to be as big of an inspiration and influence as he is to me.

[TARA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: “Still Alive: A Wild Life of Rediscovery” by Forrest Galante
Genre: Non-fiction | Science

Being from the Pocono Mountain area in Northeastern PA, I’ve encountered my fair share of predictors including: black bears, bobcats and rattlesnakes. But all that pales in comparison to the wildlife Forrest Galante interacts with in his book “Still Alive.” The biologist turned tv host and explorer expertly discusses through each chapter of his book his life stories and adventures. He entertainingly recounts his travels around the world, from mundane tasks of counting ants to epic adventures of discovering animals once thought to be extinct. He even recounts the process of developing the premise of these discoveries into his tv show “Extinct or Alive.”

This book was an excellent read! I could not put it down - Galante’s writing made me feel like I was sitting down with a friend, hearing about their personal adventures and passion for rare species. Although I’ll admit I never watched “Naked and Afraid” or “Extinct or Alive,” I’ll assure you, you don’t have to be a tv fan to enjoy this book. “Still Alive” is in stores now - so what are you waiting for? If you’re looking for your next great read - this is it!

Thanks goodreads and Hachette books for this copy!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The problem we face is global. The problem we face is inside every human heart and mind. The whole world needs to change its ideas about living in harmony with nature, respecting wildlife, and protecting the places where wildlife lives. " I loved this book. I live in Colorado, where a fee for plastic bags began recently and Walmart opted to remove them altogether. People lost their collective minds, outraged at a minor inconvenience. At this point, who doesn't have a dozen totes anyway. It amazed me how unwilling people are to give up anything that may make a positive environmental difference. It makes me grateful for people like Forrest who can portray the need for change with good humor, thoughtfulness and actions. I'll admit I found him so annoying on the first episode of Extinct or Alive, until I realized his exuberance and excitement were genuine and then I found him to be really interesting and kept watching. How I missed this book coming out until this week, I'm not sure but I'm glad I found it and read it. I think we can all learn from him to find joy in our beautiful earth and do our part to protect it and all its wonderful plants and creatures. Absolutely worth the read.

[Billcorcoran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn’t seen any of Forrest Galante’s TV shows before, but I stumbled across Still Alive: A Wild Life of Rediscovery and thought it sounded interesting enough to give it a shot. It turned out to be a solid memoir, and I did enjoy it—even though I only gave it 3 stars. That rating is more about comparison than anything else; I’ve read adventure memoirs by Joe Simpson, Jon Krakauer, Beryl Markham, Levison Wood, and others that completely blew me away, so the bar was pretty high going in.

What I really liked here was the look back at Galante’s childhood in Zimbabwe. The story of his family being forced to flee after being threatened at gunpoint during political upheaval was harrowing and stuck with me. His passion for wildlife comes through clearly, and there are plenty of close calls in the bush that keep the pages turning. I also found the behind‑the‑scenes details about how a wildlife television show gets made surprisingly fun—it’s not something you usually get in these kinds of books.

So while Still Alive didn’t knock my socks off the way some other adventure memoirs have, it’s still a good read. If you’re into stories about wild places, survival, and the people who dedicate their lives to animals, it’s worth picking up.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone should read this book. Forrest’s life is incredible and his contributions towards conservation are admirable. I only knew of him from his episode of finding the “extinct” Isabela Island tortoise in the Galapagos, but there is so much more this guy has accomplished/endured. He has rediscovered many more species that have been considered extinct, including finding 3 species within the span of 30 days in Africa which is pretty unbelievable. I really enjoyed learning about his childhood in Zimbabwe and how he had to navigate living in a different culture in the U.S. I like that he doesn’t just want to show the good sides of conservation, he keeps it real. And learning about his adventures in the Amazon, Indonesia, & Myanmar were absolutely insane. He does seem a little cocky at times, especially when he was describing how he was a “hit” on Naked & Afraid, but I think if I had his life I would probably be too tbh. Overall even if you aren’t big into conservation (which I think everyone should be) I still highly recommend this book

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Still Alive from a Goodreads Giveaway.
The author's passion for animals and the environment is very obvious. The book has vivid word pictures of animals and adventures. The action is enthralling, even in print rather than video. At times Forrest Galante seems reckless and foolhardy, but his tenacity and determination to locate animals and share their situations with the world is inspiring.
While filming the tv show Extinct or Alive and writing this book team work and survival skills, as well as love for animals and their well-being is evident. The participants go to such great lengths and risks to share the story that their dedication is evident.
This book is very exciting and interesting, but also encourages a look at how we use the earth and what steps we can take to make it much better for all living things.
I highly recommend this book.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I picked this up having no idea who Forrest Galante was. But being a biology memoir (and his name being Forrest!), I decided to give it a try.

Turns out that given his role, Forrest has a lot of fun wildlife stories to tell. While I could have done with a little less self-pandering, the tales were well-told and engaging. His passion is clear and the message of conservation inspiring.

I did not feel like I needed to have watched his show before picking this up, though the novel did get me going into quite a few Youtube videos haha. All in all, I recommend the book and rated this read as 4.5 stars, rounded up.

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[Devansh Kamodia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well the book has been written quite lucidly and the author really brings out that wildlife lover in each one of us.

The adventures that Forrest describes throughout the book not only intrigue you about the various flora and fauna of the world but also broadens your world view. The adventurer on me was just so jealous of the life of Forrest Galante.

With that being said, I do feel the book is quite boastful at times with the author trying to portray his larger than life persona, based on some preliminary research I can also see a lot of his discoveries/claims have been refuted by quite a lot of the scientific community.

Overall keeping the author’s disproportionate self glorification aside I think this book is a good read for anyone who loves to travel and have adventures!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars for me. I am not sure how much impact this book would have on readers who are not already familiar with the author, and his TV show Extinct or Alive, but as a fan I really enjoyed it. I got to learn a bit more about Forrest himself, especially his childhood and early years (his teenage pigeon hunting story was hilarious). I also liked reading about how he progressed to his TV show and some of the behind the scenes stuff from some of the expeditions. The book had good pacing and was fun to read, and the author's voice was clear in the writing. Definitely a great read for fans of his TV work.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read my hero’s book about his wild life of rediscovery and conservation. As always, I learned so much and was entertained.

Best Quotes:

“The whole world needs to change its ideas about living in harmony with nature, respecting wildlife, and protecting the places where wildlife lives.”

“If every person in the world doesn't think that chest-thumping, nature-conquering dude is cool anymore, but instead thinks that living in harmony with nature and appreciating it, respecting it, and valuing it is beautiful and essential to our very existence, then I think massive change is possible.”