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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
Don't read this book if you're squeamish about cannibalism. Just sayin'.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado is one of the most incredible books I’ve ever read. It’s brutal and heartbreaking, but also so awe-inspiring that I couldn’t put it down. The way Parrado describes what he and his friends went through after the plane crash is almost unbelievable. Freezing cold, no food, and no hope of rescue. It’s gut-wrenching to read, but at the same time, it’s filled with so much courage and determination that it left me in awe.
What really stuck with me was the message at the heart of the book. Parrado’s love for his family and his will to survive gave him strength in the darkest moments, and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read. This story doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of what happened, but it also shows the power of hope and love in a way that feels so raw and real. It’s absolutely incredible and might go down as one of my all-time favorite books.
What really stuck with me was the message at the heart of the book. Parrado’s love for his family and his will to survive gave him strength in the darkest moments, and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read. This story doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of what happened, but it also shows the power of hope and love in a way that feels so raw and real. It’s absolutely incredible and might go down as one of my all-time favorite books.
I vaguely remembered this event that took place in my teens. What I remembered most was the cannIbalism. So I was somewhat reluctant to read about it. It took me several weeks of grudgingly reading a few pages at a time to finally get hooked. I loved Nando's pragmatism coupled with a need to understand why this had happened to him. The "meat" was merely sustenance and made sense in the context of their desperate situation. I remain stunned at the power of the human will, the many ways God is manifest in human lives and the ability to express the inexpressible. It was hard to read about so many who did not survive. Nando writes a moving testament to those who never had a chance.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
I know it was 40 years ago, but this story of the rugby team stranded in the Andes after their plane crashed has really captured my thoughts. I watched the documentary "Stranded: I've Come From a Plane", and longed to know more. Perhaps I should have read "Alive!" instead, but I chose Nando's book for no good reason, probably a mistake. In fact, I think Nando assumes his readers will have read the earlier account. Nonetheless, it's an amazing story of determination in the harshest of conditions.
It reminds me quite a bit of "Touching the Void". In both books, the central lesson is the same: there is a trick to doing unimaginably difficult tasks. You break the task into smaller pieces. In both stories, the victims had to walk great distances and if they thought of the entire journey they would sink into a possibly fatal mental depression. Instead, they only thought about making it to the next rock, or the next shadow on the ice, or whatever seemed barely obtainable, and then on to the next.
I once worked with a guy who I found out was afraid of heights (as I am). He told me how in the Navy he had to climb these huge towers on the ships, while the boat rocked underneath him. I asked, in amazement, how he did it. He said, "I just kept saying to myself, over and over, 'I didn't die in the last 5 minutes, perhaps I won't die in the next 5 minutes.'" Same strategy, slightly different bend to it.
Now that I've read the book, I think the documentary was pretty faithful. The effects are a little cheesy, but the impact is really in the story. If you haven't read either of the books, or seen the documentary, I recommend picking one. It will give you a totally new look on the life force, and the resilience of human beings. I didn't find it inspiring exactly, because I hope never to meet such difficulties, but it does throw things into perspective.
It reminds me quite a bit of "Touching the Void". In both books, the central lesson is the same: there is a trick to doing unimaginably difficult tasks. You break the task into smaller pieces. In both stories, the victims had to walk great distances and if they thought of the entire journey they would sink into a possibly fatal mental depression. Instead, they only thought about making it to the next rock, or the next shadow on the ice, or whatever seemed barely obtainable, and then on to the next.
I once worked with a guy who I found out was afraid of heights (as I am). He told me how in the Navy he had to climb these huge towers on the ships, while the boat rocked underneath him. I asked, in amazement, how he did it. He said, "I just kept saying to myself, over and over, 'I didn't die in the last 5 minutes, perhaps I won't die in the next 5 minutes.'" Same strategy, slightly different bend to it.
Now that I've read the book, I think the documentary was pretty faithful. The effects are a little cheesy, but the impact is really in the story. If you haven't read either of the books, or seen the documentary, I recommend picking one. It will give you a totally new look on the life force, and the resilience of human beings. I didn't find it inspiring exactly, because I hope never to meet such difficulties, but it does throw things into perspective.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced