Survive: Stories of Castaways and Cannibals

by Nate Hardcastle, Clint Willis

Survive brings together stories about people who find themselves stuck in survival situations in lifeboats, mountains, desert islands, jungles and the arctic. Most of the stories are about ordinary people who must perform heroically to survive -- and some of them are forced to break our greatest taboo to stay alive. The narratives that have emerged are dramatic and compelling, involving issues of physical, moral, and emotional courage. Survive features standout writing from Steven Callahan (Adrift), Leonard Clark (The Rivers Ran East), Lennard Bickel (Shackleton's Forgotten Men), Virginia Reed Murphy (Across the Plains in the Donner Party), Jack London (The Whale Tooth), Herman Melville (Typee), and even Patrick O'Brian (The Nutmeg of Consolation). Like other Adrenaline titles, this one continues to tap one of our greatest literary resources: exceptional human beings in extreme circumstances. 17 black-and-white photographs accompany the gripping adventure stories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Short Stories, History

360 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2001

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good compilation of survival stories. Some decent fiction by Mark Twain, Patrick O'Brian and Jack London. Some quite good factual accounts about Antarctica, cannibalism in Peru, the Donner Party, and the "Alive" rugby players who crashed in the Andes.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of these stories were great, most were interesting, and a few were…kind of strange.
I loved the story of Shackleton’s support team in the Antarctic, Virginia Reed Murphy’s account of being a child in the infamous Donner Party, Steven Callahan’s 76 days aboard a raft, and Mark Twain’s brilliant dark satire on cannibalism. Some stories are intense and a bit graphic, but there’s something for every adventurer here. If you don’t like one story, move along to the next. I read this via audiobook and the audio presentations were wonderful! I loved the variety of narrators.
3 1/2 stars!

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Adrift is one of my favorite books of all time, but this segment, as the others in this book, is nothing more than little snippets of the books. Nothing new in any of the information provided.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff.

[Bryce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredible stories of survival at sea, at the poles and of some situations I'd never like to find myself in.

[Pabloslist]

BOOK: Fascinating accts. Ordinary people achieving extraordinary survivals on land & sea (some involving cannibalism)

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat entertaining. I enjoyed reading about the Donner Party's travels, and some of the other true stories. I just don't think cannibalism in the face of starvation is the gravest of all sins!

[Peter Galamaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the uneven quality, I liked this collection of survival stories - both non-fiction and fiction.

[Lori Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book of short stories, or rather, parts of longer ones. Decent read, but not overwhelming so.

[Whittney Hooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, i've already read a few of the books that are excerpted in this collection. But this made me want to read the rest!

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

become what always been, suffering and deliverance, a mad man not cannibal, looking for salvation, wounded Buffalo rush, bad direction to Hastings cut off, school of fish attract rescuers.

[Ray Savarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection, maybe not quite as good as some of the other titles in this series.