One of the most astonishing books I've ever read is Unbroken, which is the true story of an American pilot (and Olympic athlete) who went through a similar experience as a POW of the Japanese. Well worth checking out.
If you enjoy tales of survival against the odds, I highly recommend Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales [1]
It recounts multiple amazing tales of survival against the odds, then goes into the psychology of what's needed to survive such a situation. Finally, it lists the top 10 traits exhibited by survivors of these kinds of situations.
If you are interested in stories like this, and how people make life or death decisions in difficult situations, I recommend Laurence Gonzales's book Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why.
The book 'Endurance', written from interviews with the survivors, is absolutely gripping. My partner and I read the whole thing out loud over the course of about a week - like binge watching a series.
I enjoyed “Endurance” by Alfred Lansing, and would recommend it if anyone wants to read a riveting and mostly accurate account of Shackleton’s famous voyage.
Adrift by Steven Callahan. It’s an account of a sailor whose ship sank and left him adrift for 76 days. I find it it both grounding and life-affirming. It has also taught me some lessons that I have never forgotten since. For instance that one never gives 100% as long as there is still hope that someone else is going to come and save you.
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