I've just published a book on shipwrecks through the Menasha Ridge Press and leaned a bit on Leslie's book while I was writing mine. Going through my own research (exhausting, if not exhaustive), I can attest to how thorough a job Leslie has done here. This is a great one - expertly researched and beautifully written. I recommend it highly.

I quite enjoyed "Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls". Leslie obviously did extensive research on his subject, and his thoroughness pays off. Many of the stories are at least vaguely familiar to most, like the real Robinson Crusoe named Alexander Selkirk, and a host of others who shipwrecked, crashed, exiled or simply became lost. Amongst my favorites was the story of Hugh Glass who was vicously mauled by a Grizzly on the American Plains in 1823 and left to die by members of his expedition. Facing incredible odds, not only of surviving the wounds, but also battling starvation, the elements and furocious Indians over huge expenses of land and time to face again those who abandoned him.

The only minor criticism I have is that it tends to be too thorough,and after a few dozen early shipwreck stories you feel relieved when a modern airplane crash changes the pace. All in all, a well written and interesting book.

I quite enjoyed "Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls". Leslie obviously did extensive research on his subject, and his thoroughness pays off. Many of the stories are at least vaguely familiar to most, like the real Robinson Crusoe named Alexander Selkirk, and a host of others who shipwrecked, crashed, exiled or simply became lost. Amongst my favorites was the story of Hugh Glass who was vicously mauled by a Grizzly on the American Plains in 1823 and left to die by members of his expedition. Facing incredible odds, not only of surviving the wounds, but also battling starvation, the elements and furocious Indians over huge expenses of land and time to face again those who abandoned him.

The only minor criticism I have is that it tends to be too thorough,and after a few dozen early shipwreck stories you feel relieved when a modern airplane crash changes the pace. All in all, a well written and interesting book.

Every story got better than the last. I was a little skeptical of a compilation book of survival stories, but this was very well written. A great collection of true survival stories.

This book dissapointed me in so far as I thought it was too academically written. It failed to capture my imagination.

I have often wanted to write a thank you note to Mr. Leslie for this wonderful book. It is a touchstone for me. I re-read it once in a while to remind myself of the strength of the human spirit, the determination of character and the resourcefulness of our species. It also gives you something to think about when you think YOU are having problems! I appreciate that Mr. Leslie never assigns any of the successful survivals to the intervention of a devine being. To the contrary, scoundrals seem to fair better at the survival game than those who believe they have somewhere better to go. Certainly a keen interest in your own best interests and a refusal to give up on yourself is a factor in most of these stories. In short, this book is a guide book on survival for anyone who is mortal. Add to all this the fact that Mr. Leslie is a very talented writer and researcher, and you have a book that is a great read and refreshing to your soul. Thanks, Mr. Leslie.

This is a gripping account of how castaways and survivors struggle with nature and, sometimes, man. It is a huge book and I agree that the author could have eliminated the last section of the book. Actually, he should have written two books, one of them on the detailed survival of people like Alexander Selkirk and Herman Melville and the other book a short one on modern survivalists.

This is because the last section of the book is a different format than the first much larger section. On the last section, the author provides only brief synopsis of events and facts and most of them are WWII related nature-related survivals. I would have suggested that he expand one of two of the stories and save the others for another book.

However, what I enjoyed most about this book is the author's writing. He often used a turn of phrase that was unique, humorous and subtle. Don't get me wrong - the book is not humorous but the author has inserted a comment or phrase periodically that summed up someone's plight or segued into their next calamity. I found it very enjoyable and would mark the pages because I enjoyed that writing so much.

I enjoy this genre and know that well written books in this genre are a rarity so I gave this book 5 stars. Whether you like this genre or not, you will enjoy this book!

this is one of the few books i've read that i can't get out of my mind. i keep thinking about the different stories. i lend it out far too often! you don't have to read it all at once; it's a great book to dip into.

A very good book. The author writes in a way that holds your attention from the begining to end. Almost to the end, because he loses rhythm in the last chapter. But this does not reduce its value.

If you like knowing about how people behave under extreme situations, this is the book.

This book is a compilation (accounts and stories, some related in great detail) of the ordeals of survivors of shipwrecks, plane crashes, exploring expeditions, etc. The accounts are fascinating (who couldn't find survival stories like these fascinating: just wondering how each of us would fare in similar circumstances is compelling enough). That's not to say that they don't become somewhat repetitive after a while, which they do. Seagrave has a main hypothesis he tries to prove along with the intriguing stories: those who survived had the will to survive, and special knowledge might help, but plays second fiddle to the will. Interesting.

Leslie functions through a method of story telling where he gives away his powerful punch-line, each time, right up front. This becomes wearisome by dissolving reader anticipation; however, the strength of his content does begin to overshadow this shortcoming. "Risk and Recreation: A Chronology" is undoubtedly the strongest aspect and worth the read entirely. A good composite of interesting survival stories.

Irony in real life can be very rich.

I'd borrowed this book from a friend and chain-read up to about halfway through "The Delicate Question Which" before setting off for a quick 4-day vacation. The blackout happened while we were in the air, and noone told us anything was wrong until we landed and had to ask why the monitors were blank. Cell and pay phones worked sporadically if at all, and there was no power, but thankfully there was water. The upshot was that I never got farther than the connecting airport (La Guardia) and after spending a night on the cold hard floor, pooled with 5 other people and hired a $800+ limo to drive us the 250 miles home. The limo broke down in the Poconos, but we managed to rent cars in Scranton. As of this writing there are apparently STILL people stranded at that airport, waiting to get out.

I'd forgotten all about the book until I arrived home, tired, sore, and sad about my misadventure. I rediscovered it sitting where I'd left it, and was immediately re-immersed into stories of truly dire straits. While some reviewers have said they consider the book dry, I really enjoyed the historical context of the stories, and thorough treatment of the epilogues. The author has uncanny insight into what might have really happened, based on what was said and NOT SAID by the survivors, and delves into the individual personalities involved. It is fascinating to learn what happened to these people after they were rescued; how society reacted to them, how they reacted back. I found it very hard to put down.

It sure put my own recent experience into perspective! At least noone had to resort to eating anyone else. "Abandonded Journeys, Desperate Souls" would have been a great title for it. ;-)