What It Takes To Survive

"Whoever survives a test, whatever it may be, must tell the story. That is his duty."

This opening quote to the first chapter of the book really has set the tone for what this book is really about. By reading through the first five chapters I've been introduced to survival stories of different "survivors" around North America. Some of the situations that many of these people have been through are so unimaginable and are certainly situations that many of us would never like to experience in our lifetime. So far, some of the stories I have read so far range from A Knitting Needle through the Heart to The Mystery of the Unopened Parachute & The Woman who fell from the sky.

Reading through these stories, not only have I felt a great sense of safety and security for not being in such positions but there’s also a sense of admiration for what the people would have gone through in order to survive for their lives. After reading these stories, its unique to read the subtopics listed under each story. Under these headings, the author, Ben Sherwood, goes into deeper research and science of what allowed the survivors to adventure through their struggles. Some of these topics range from the survival formula (which is a math equation that can determine your chances of surviving in an ER) to psychological topics such as the myth of hopelessness and panic. Its really unique to understand and relate to the topic of panic and how and when it strikes us. What is even more useful about studying this topic is how we can overcome it and reduce its negative impact. Some of the neat things I have also encountered are the side stories relating to the world in general. One of the cool stories encountered so far is, what your flight attendant really thinks of you and how their job is truly not to just serve you drinks and pillows. On top of this I know the safest place to sit in a plane to avoid death during a crash. What's even more unique is that with every snap of a finger, three people are rushed into the ER somewhere in the US. Even neater is what I read about the best/safest place to suffer a heart attack. You would think any place in a hospital but in fact it is a casino. Why is this? This is because there's cameras everywhere in a casino and within 2.8 minutes there's a trained staff member over you performing CPR if you ever go into cardiac arrest.

Going through the first five chapters I have really gotten a great sense of knowledge and insight into topics of everyday survival that are relevant to all people. Also, I've learned some intriguing facts that are quite unique to keep in the back of your mind. I find that the facts and ratios of deaths and chances of survival in different scenarios backed up by scientific evidence as proof are what make what I am reading more than a book of just random facts. Better than that, it is amusing and inspiring to read about the people who survive with all odds against them.