I'm not a big reader but I do enjoy incredible tales of survival. The two I've recently read (Alive, and Into the Heart of the Sea) are both just insane stories that see a group of people try to survive and then ultimately eat their dead friends when there are no options left.

Any other recommendations for me?

And feel free to use this thread to talk about whether or not you could stomach eating your dead friend for nourishment if you were stuck somewhere with no rescue in sight, haha. It's pretty fascinating to hear about the different reactions people have and the emotional toll those things take on a person.

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party

Although everyone knows the story on the surface…it was WAY worse than you think.

Some of my favs that I'd classify as survival stories are Revenant and Apocalypto.

In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton, about the sinking of the Indianapolis.

The Bounty by Caroline Alexander, although it is more than just a survival story.

It's fairly "enhanced" but I enjoyed reading Papillon. The basis of a classic movie with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

BurnetAggie99 said:

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If you like military survival The walking dead is a good book. About the 9th Marines 8 month survival in Da Nang jungle. The 9th Marines got the name the "Walking Dead" during that time fighting for their lives.

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Did they find Rick Grimes?

Lol I didn't even read the first reply.

Castaway starring Tom Hanks in one of his lesser known roles.

Most people don't know that's based on a true story.

Jackal99 said:

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Another vote for Endurance. Incredible story.

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+1

Couldn't put this book down until I finished it

"River of Doubt" is about Teddy Roosevelt's exploration of an uncharted river in South America. One of my favorite books, his journey goes from expedition to survival situation in a hurry.

"Deep Survival" by Laurence Gonzales is a good book as well, details dozens of survival situations & what the characteristics of those who survive are. Very interesting & can lead you to lots of other stories.

Stive said:

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Unbroken

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Came here to post this.

There's a book Nando wrote about his experience. I liked that one too.

https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Andes-Days-Mountain-Long/dp/140009769X

He really was a badass.

The 12th Man. Story of a Norweigian commando surviving a failed mission and his journey to escape from the Nazis.

Could also look at Nine Years Among the Indians by Herman Lehmann. Story of a young kid held captive by the Apaches and Comanches.

Several great books about survival in Stalin's gulag. One of many:

" Man Is Wolf to Man (1998; ISBN 9780520221529)[1] from the Latin Homo homini lupus is a memoir by Janusz Bardach, primarily surrounding the years during World War II. It was co-written with Kathleen Gleeson. The book tells the story of Bardach's transformation from placid student in pre-war Poland, to a Communist convert after the Soviet Union's bisecting of the country with Germany, and then follows him through his trial for treason and sentence of forced labor in the camps in the Kolyma region of Siberia. Throughout, Bardach's accounts show the sacrifice, toil, and luck necessary to survive in a Stalinist-era labor camp."

Aggie1205 said:

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The 12th Man. Story of a Norweigian commando surviving a failed mission and his journey to escape from the Nazis.

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+1

Such an unbelievable story on several levels. But apparently completely true (even down to the eyes).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_12th_Man_(film)

The Worst Journey In the World - Appsley Cherry-Garrard
The Gulag Archipelago - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
The Last Place On Earth - Roland Huntford
Madhouse At The End Of The Earth - Julian Sancton
Alone On The Ice - David Roberts

Surprised no one has mentioned "127 Hours"

Thought of another one.

Touching the Void - Joe Simpson

Corporal Punishment said:

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Several great books about survival in Stalin's gulag. One of many:

" Man Is Wolf to Man (1998; ISBN 9780520221529)[1] from the Latin Homo homini lupus is a memoir by Janusz Bardach, primarily surrounding the years during World War II. It was co-written with Kathleen Gleeson. The book tells the story of Bardach's transformation from placid student in pre-war Poland, to a Communist convert after the Soviet Union's bisecting of the country with Germany, and then follows him through his trial for treason and sentence of forced labor in the camps in the Kolyma region of Siberia. Throughout, Bardach's accounts show the sacrifice, toil, and luck necessary to survive in a Stalinist-era labor camp."

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In this vein, though a much more low-key story of survival - One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Highly recommend this one. It's harrowing

Skeletons of Zahara

Skeletons on the Zahara chronicles the true story of twelve American sailors who were shipwrecked off the coast of Africa in 1815, captured by desert nomads, sold into slavery, and subjected to a hellish two-month journey through the perilous heart of the Sahara.

Jackal99 said:

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Thought of another one.

Touching the Void - Joe Simpson

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+1 on this. That story is just insane. I can't imagine for the life of me how it's even possible.

Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton - pretty self explanatory about survival during imprisonment during the Vietnam War. Pretty amazing what the human spirit is capable of.

Ag_07 said:

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Highly recommend this one. It's harrowing

Skeletons of Zahara

Skeletons on the Zahara chronicles the true story of twelve American sailors who were shipwrecked off the coast of Africa in 1815, captured by desert nomads, sold into slavery, and subjected to a hellish two-month journey through the perilous heart of the Sahara.

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I've heard of this. Had forgotten about it and hadnt had a chance to read it. Great reminder.

Lost Moon - Jim Lovell's account of Apollo 13
Not Without Hope - lone survivor of capsized boat
Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea - solo sailor loses his boat in the middle of the Atlantic
When I Fell From the Sky - maybe the second most amazing survival after falling from a destroyed airplane.