10 books about survival in extreme conditions

Despite claims that people now read less and spend more time online, the Internet will never replace a good book. There are so many genres, everyone chooses what he likes, but no doubt everyone likes adventure. Books about the survival of people in unusual conditions are especially popular. Even if you have not taken a book in your hand for a long time, remember Robinson Crusoe, every schoolchild must have read this work.

Do you want to immerse yourself in this atmosphere again, worry about the heroes and forget about everything in the world? In addition, these books will help you recognize the insignificance of some of your problems and begin to enjoy life. And if fate brings you to a desert island, at least you will have an idea where to start the struggle for survival. Below is a list of top 10 books about people who were able to survive in extreme conditions.

10 Robert Stillmark “Heir from Calcutta”

This book is suitable for adults and teens to read. This is the story of the heir to the title of Chansfield, whose ship was captured by pirates. After a shipwreck, two survive: the heir and the captain of a pirate ship. They end up on a deserted island. A fascinating plot, numerous events will not let you get bored. In fact, there are a lot of characters in the book. Some after reading are advised to write them down so as not to get confused. By the way, the history of writing the book is also impressive. Shtilmark wrote it in the camp, his boss tried to impersonate the author. Still, Robert managed to prove his authorship.

9. Cormac McCarthy “The Road”

This novel was written not so long ago, in 2006. The plot is based on the story of a father and his little son, they move towards the sea in the hope of salvation. After all, a global catastrophe occurred in the world, many people and animals died, cities were destroyed. On their way they meet different people, good and evil. They have to run away from the marauders. The situation is complicated by the fact that the father is terminally ill. He worries about his son and hopes that he will have time to save him. When the man dies, the boy goes on alone. The book will appeal to the modern reader, because many are interested in the apocalypse and the post-apocalyptic world.

8. Daniel Defoe “Robinson Crusoe”

Everyone knows the legendary “Robinson Crusoe”. This novel is almost 300 years old, but it occupies an important place in the home libraries of many families. The book tells about a young man who, in pursuit of profit, gets into a shipwreck. He lived for 28 years on a desert island, during which time Robinson did not go crazy, did not become wild, on the contrary, he was spiritually reborn. The plot of the novel is based on real events, only literary critics still cannot agree on who became the prototype of Robinson. In Russia, the book is very popular, but it is positioned more as a children’s book. Defoe wrote a sequel to “Robinson Crusoe”, but it did not receive such wide popularity as the first part.

7. Henry David Thoreau “Walden, or Life in the Woods”

The book is an autobiography, but Henry did not get into a shipwreck, did not get lost in the forest, he consciously moved away from people. The author wanted to conduct an experiment, he built himself a house on the outskirts of the city, where people did not live. He lived there for two years, providing himself with everything he needed. He hunted and fished a lot. Yet Henry communicated with people who lived in the town. The author wanted to prove to the outside world that life close to nature is still possible. He did not understand a society that built a cult out of money, because everything you need can be obtained with your own labor. The novel received mixed reviews. Some critics gave it the lowest scores. Despite this, “Life in the Woods” was recognized as one of the most famous American works.

6. Jules Verne “The Mysterious Island”

And again a desert island. Ageless classic, survival guide. Five men escape during the Civil War. Their transport is very peculiar – it is a ball. They land on a deserted island, but do not lose heart, but start working. They drain the cave, settle in it, make their own explosives, breed wheat from one grain of wheat. Three years later, the island no longer resembles an uninhabited one, everything is here, then pirates appear. This is not all the adventures of men, this is just the beginning. The book was read by teenagers of all countries, but it will be of interest to the modern reader as well.

5. Umberto Eco “The Island of the Eve”

The plot is based on the story of a young nobleman. Outside the XNUMXth century. All members of the team died during the landing on an unknown island at the hands of local residents. Only Robert is left, he cannot swim, so he remains on board the ship. He lives here for quite a long time, soon he begins to hallucinate. He thinks about his fears all the time, but then he realizes that he is not alone on this abandoned ship. Many people say that the book is hard to understand, too “abstruse”, but someone really likes it.

4. Arkady Fidler “White Jaguar – the leader of the Arawaks”

Early XNUMXth century. A descendant of Polish settlers flees North America, as he angered the English lords. He escapes to an island in the Caribbean. There he meets the Arawak Indians and becomes their leader. The book grabs you from the first pages. Teenagers will appreciate it. If you didn’t read it as a child, be sure to read it now. Many say that they could not tear themselves away from the book until they had read it to the end. The book accurately conveys the atmosphere of that time, the reader forgets about everything in the world, he seems to be in the center of events. People who have read The White Jaguar never tire of recommending it to friends and acquaintances.

3. Jon Krakauer “Into the Wild”

A documentary novel that is included in the curriculum of many educational institutions. The book is based on real events. Christopher McCandless was born into a wealthy family, but when he turned 22, he decided to give up wealth. For some time he wandered around the United States until he reached Alaska. There he found an old bus that replaced his house. He had a small supply of food, some equipment. But Christopher did not live long, only 4 months. The author repeated the path of McCandless, he tried to understand what drives young people who go to Alaska and sacrifice their lives.

2. Jack London “The Sea Wolf”

The best novel by Jack London. It very quickly became the most fashionable publication, readers and critics were amazed. Literary critic Van Weyden is shipwrecked. He is rescued by the captain of a fishing ship nicknamed the Wolf. Now the Sea Wolf will make a real man out of Van Weyden, he makes him work on the ship, the literary critic’s worldview is changing. But the book is not only about that. Further events further inflame the situation. The book will interest both adults and children. In addition, the novel is not only about adventure, there is also a love line.

1. Jack London “Interstellar Drifter”

Another title for the book is Straitjacket. The plot is based on the story of prison inmate Professor Standing. He was sentenced to death, but for now he is in solitary confinement. He is tortured with a straitjacket. A piece of tissue tightly wraps around the body, it is impossible to move, angina pectoris begins. One of the prisoners advised the professor to go into a trance. So he escapes, travels among the stars, remembers his past lives and reincarnations. The work about the soul, about the immortal spirit was to the taste of many readers.