Books like The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life

Though reading this book gave me the same sort of dirty, guilty feeling that I get if caught gawking at a car accident, I have to admit, most of it was pretty fascinating. This title consists of matter-of-fact essays that tell the amazing stories of ordinary people who have defied the odds and survived unbelievable accidents. Interviews with plane crash survivors, a young man who lived after jumping off the Golden Gate bridge, a woman attacked by a mountain lion, another who punctured her heart with a knitting needle, and the most astonishing - a man who survived ejecting from a jet going faster than the speed of sound.The book should be viewed mainly as a series of interesting case studies, rather than a survival guide. Most of the factors that determine survival are intangibles you can do nothing about - your age, personality, and the severity of your injuries. As in all of life, it helps if you are fit and healthy. And if you are in a plane crash? It's best if you are a male. A strong family life, will to live, religious faith, and determination are all mentioned as assets shared by survivors. I made note of the Japanese saying Fall down seven times, stand up eight as a new mantra to chant in times of crisis.There's also plenty of conflicting information. During WWII, POW's were most likely to survive if they were pessimists, whereas Holocaust survivors tended to be optimists. Perhaps Elie Wiesel offered the best explanation. "Chance" he whispered. "It was chance. That is all."The book includes a link to a website where the reader can take a survivor quiz.* I was not surprised to see that I have a "well-defined survivor personality." I kind of already knew that, as I decided long ago, I am not leaving this planet BEFORE my mother-in-law does. That thought is all I need to get me through any emergency.*NOTE: The link to the quiz has expired. Buyer beware.