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Mind of a Survivor
***Shortlisted for the Great Outdoors Book of the Year*** Surviving in the wild takes a great deal of strength. Often faced with frozen tundra, sweltering deserts, humid jungles, perilous mountains and fast-flowing rivers, Megan Hine is no stranger to perilous conditions. Whilst leading expeditions and bushcraft survival courses and in her work on television shows such as Bear Gryll's Mission Survive and Running Wild , she has explored the corners of the globe in pursuit of adventure. Faced with the toughest of bad weather; lack of food and being in the presence of predators, is the ultimate test of character and often the biggest challenge to overcome is in the head. In these situations, the human brain is simultaneously the greatest asset and biggest liability. Not everyone is suited to the great outdoors and when danger calls many aren't as well-equipped to survive, no amount of top of the range kit will save you if you don't have the right frame of mind. Here Megan Hine examines the human ability and instinct for survival, showing us how others have developed the attitudes and attributes to thrive in the most dangerous situations, and how those same attitudes and attributes help them confront problems and obstacles at work and at home. Being chased through the jungle by armed opium farm guards, abseiling past bears and lighting fires with tampons, Megan has seen and done it all. In Mind of a Survivor she takes you along for a series of life-and-death adventures and shows you what happens to people when they are pushed to their limits. Inspirational rather than instructional, Megan examines the human ability and instinct for survival sharing the life tools that she uses and showing how they can as easily be applied to more domestic everyday life - from careers to relationships, from overcoming adversity to decision making. Filled with her own experiences, Mind of a Survivor is packed full of adventure and can help people survive in any situation and cope with whatever life throws at them.
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
24 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 13, 2017
Surviving anywhere takes intelligence and guile, but surviving any length of time in the wild takes a great deal of strength. Taking people out of their comfortable urban lifestyles into jungles, up into the mountains and onto the tundra and steppes of our world is another level up. Megan Hine is unusual in that she sadly is a rare female presence in the male dominated world of adventure and outdoor pursuits. However, do not let looks deceive you, she is as tough as the guys too, as surviving requires as much mental strength and rapid assessment of a situation as it does physical ability. Hine is held in such high regard that she has consulted and assisted on various TV shows including Mission Survive and Running Wild by Bear Gryll's.
This in no way makes her any less formidable, she has honed these skills from a lifetime spent outdoors in a variety of hair-raising and frankly terrifying situations. She gets alongside those she is working with to guide and instruct in the best way to survive and even thrive in the circumstances that are presenting themselves. In fact, she goes on to argue, that the most expensive kit may help, but when it comes to surviving that your biggest asset, your brain, will be the crucial element. It is just a shame that can also be your biggest liability…
She is an advocate in getting more out in the wild, not only because the natural world does you the power of good and enriches the soul but the skills you can acquire when outdoors can be hugely beneficial to everyday life at home and in the office. It is a really good book about the power of mind over matter and taking time to assess and make the correct decision, even when that judgement must be made very quickly. She writes very well, mixing her background story with anecdotes of perilous events in the wilderness and combines it all with solid practical advice.
This in no way makes her any less formidable, she has honed these skills from a lifetime spent outdoors in a variety of hair-raising and frankly terrifying situations. She gets alongside those she is working with to guide and instruct in the best way to survive and even thrive in the circumstances that are presenting themselves. In fact, she goes on to argue, that the most expensive kit may help, but when it comes to surviving that your biggest asset, your brain, will be the crucial element. It is just a shame that can also be your biggest liability…
She is an advocate in getting more out in the wild, not only because the natural world does you the power of good and enriches the soul but the skills you can acquire when outdoors can be hugely beneficial to everyday life at home and in the office. It is a really good book about the power of mind over matter and taking time to assess and make the correct decision, even when that judgement must be made very quickly. She writes very well, mixing her background story with anecdotes of perilous events in the wilderness and combines it all with solid practical advice.
August 14, 2023
Other self help authors: “To illustrate my point about being calm under pressure, I once had to liaise with some difficult colleagues in the auditing business…”
Megan Hine: “So I was trekking through primary jungle when we stumbled across an illegal opium poppy field and the mafia opened fire on us, and that’s why you should stay calm under pressure, kids”
This book was gripping, easy to read, and fascinating. While not entirely original in its ideas, by looking at them through the lens of wilderness survival, she brings them together in a whole new light.
At its core, this book is about resilience. What makes a resilient mind? How can you build resilience? What does resilience look like in the wild and how can it be applied at home? These are the questions that are answered in this book.
I felt like I learned so much. I hadn’t heard of the author but I’ve got so much respect for her from this book. She’s grounded and chock full of good stories and common sense. 11/10 would recommend this to anyone.
Megan Hine: “So I was trekking through primary jungle when we stumbled across an illegal opium poppy field and the mafia opened fire on us, and that’s why you should stay calm under pressure, kids”
This book was gripping, easy to read, and fascinating. While not entirely original in its ideas, by looking at them through the lens of wilderness survival, she brings them together in a whole new light.
At its core, this book is about resilience. What makes a resilient mind? How can you build resilience? What does resilience look like in the wild and how can it be applied at home? These are the questions that are answered in this book.
I felt like I learned so much. I hadn’t heard of the author but I’ve got so much respect for her from this book. She’s grounded and chock full of good stories and common sense. 11/10 would recommend this to anyone.
February 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Not a typical autobiography but a thoughtful way to tell the tales of her experiences. I’m a big fan of Megan Hine. She’s not boastful or in any way bragging. She’s had a huge amount of experience and tells it like it is. She is confident in her abilities as a leader and I love that. I like adventure tales and it’s very refreshing to read from a female perspective without the bravado & ego trips that many male adventurers write about.
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January 23, 2022This book made me wanna pack up and go off on an adventure! Megan is both impressive and inspiring. A lot of what she writes in this book is also relevant to everyday life, so I would recommend this book even if you're not into adventuring and survival.
May 11, 2021
I listened to this and really enjoyed it. Practical advice and really cool experiences to learn about.
September 17, 2023
A great read about human behaviour and psychology in relation to extreme survival experiences.
August 16, 2024
This is a frank and eye-opening account of how Megan Hine came to be regarded as one of the foremost experts on survival and safety in the wild. I listened to the audio book and appreciated hearing about the human side of Megan in her own voice... that she's not a superhero, that she does still experience fear, and that she knows she has to deal with and accept whatever split-second decisions she makes... whether that's a right or wrong choice.
I found it interesting to hear that Megan considers indecision to be more dangerous than not making a decision at all. She gives valid, true-life examples to back this up, and it makes so much sense. She also shares how she boxes up her fear or anxiety in emergency situations to give her head total clarity. This is important if she is to be able to focus on making those decisions.
What I most liked about this book was the honesty and appropriateness to our daily lives. It's all very well talking about coping out in the wild, using survival techniques, and guiding clients on expeditions; perhaps some readers may not see beyond this. However, I envisioned every skill, situation, and challenge that the author highlighted as being a step towards bettering oneself in the workplace, home, and even in our relationships. Learning how to say no. Understanding the qualities of a good leader. Knowing the importance of calm in a life or death moment. Applying that knowledge to the heated discussions with your boss or colleague. Just being able to stop and think about what course of action is needed before bulldozing in with an ill-considered decision. Yes! This. All this.
I found it interesting to hear that Megan considers indecision to be more dangerous than not making a decision at all. She gives valid, true-life examples to back this up, and it makes so much sense. She also shares how she boxes up her fear or anxiety in emergency situations to give her head total clarity. This is important if she is to be able to focus on making those decisions.
What I most liked about this book was the honesty and appropriateness to our daily lives. It's all very well talking about coping out in the wild, using survival techniques, and guiding clients on expeditions; perhaps some readers may not see beyond this. However, I envisioned every skill, situation, and challenge that the author highlighted as being a step towards bettering oneself in the workplace, home, and even in our relationships. Learning how to say no. Understanding the qualities of a good leader. Knowing the importance of calm in a life or death moment. Applying that knowledge to the heated discussions with your boss or colleague. Just being able to stop and think about what course of action is needed before bulldozing in with an ill-considered decision. Yes! This. All this.
September 26, 2018
"You have to accept you are not going to get everything your own way...acceptance enables you to ditch your emotional baggage and think more clearly because you are no longer sapping your energy fighting reality...it's about not blaming anyone (including yourself) so you can start to think your way out of trouble" (Hine, 2017, p.54).
Megan Hine's book details the aspects of resilience from the perspective of a survivor, combining two powerful concepts and presenting the information in such a way that it is insightful and motivating. She uses anecdotes and psychological concepts, which makes the content interesting and memorable. She also leaves room for personal reflection and consideration of how the concepts may apply to the reader in real life, providing different perspectives and encouraging the reader to be more mindful in every area of life. With her concepts fresh in my mind, I feel a renewed sense of excitement, admiration, and awe for everything the wilderness can teach us. Now to head out with my pack and experience this for myself!
Megan Hine's book details the aspects of resilience from the perspective of a survivor, combining two powerful concepts and presenting the information in such a way that it is insightful and motivating. She uses anecdotes and psychological concepts, which makes the content interesting and memorable. She also leaves room for personal reflection and consideration of how the concepts may apply to the reader in real life, providing different perspectives and encouraging the reader to be more mindful in every area of life. With her concepts fresh in my mind, I feel a renewed sense of excitement, admiration, and awe for everything the wilderness can teach us. Now to head out with my pack and experience this for myself!
August 7, 2022
You know it’s a good read when you find yourself telling everyone stories or excerpts from a book, and even though I’ll never come close to attempting the type of expeditions Megan does, I found her stories, advice, and perception fascinating, practical, and eye-opening.
If I ever find myself on the edge of a cliff, I might just remember what do (stay calm, firstly!). You don’t have to be an intrepid adventurer to enjoy this book, many survival tactics she discusses can apply to any challenge in life. As a bonus, her female viewpoint was refreshing as well as insightful and interesting to anyone woman who wants a solo adventure. Hats off to her, what a brave woman.
If I ever find myself on the edge of a cliff, I might just remember what do (stay calm, firstly!). You don’t have to be an intrepid adventurer to enjoy this book, many survival tactics she discusses can apply to any challenge in life. As a bonus, her female viewpoint was refreshing as well as insightful and interesting to anyone woman who wants a solo adventure. Hats off to her, what a brave woman.
December 8, 2021
Captivating, educational, interesting. I really enjoyed this book. It is entertaining and easy to read, and at the same time very deep and can teach you a lot of actual skills and important stuff to go out in the wild. It also helps you reflect on yourself and your own personality, while sharing a ton of great anecdotes and stories. I highly recommend it, whether you like the outdoors and adventures or are just looking for some inspiring stories.
February 8, 2018
Survival
I feel I deserve a medal for surviving to the end of this rather weak lesson in survival! This is a book of tales of overcoming challenges and exciting adventures with anecdotal evidence sometimes in support but whilst interesting was not the deep psychological insights I was anticipating. A brave girl no doubt but better to hear her story over a beer one night.
I feel I deserve a medal for surviving to the end of this rather weak lesson in survival! This is a book of tales of overcoming challenges and exciting adventures with anecdotal evidence sometimes in support but whilst interesting was not the deep psychological insights I was anticipating. A brave girl no doubt but better to hear her story over a beer one night.
May 26, 2021
I always feel like an adventurer at heart but reading this book makes me realise I am not quite there. It was refreshing that the mind of a survivor is not all positive thinking and tenacity but much more complex than that. It made me think of the skills I have used and know others have used in various situations and gives me a little hope (although still worried about bears).
June 14, 2018
fascinating and insightful account from a humbling adventurer. Megan reflects on her own experiences and both psychological and physical challenges she has faced in difficult terrains. she also links these adventures and the resilience gained to every day life. AMAZING.
June 18, 2019
Very insightful with great examples from Megan's own life and experience. Though she says the book is written for women, I thought it helpful for anyone who reads it. And, also it is written from a survival stand point but I think it applies to life in general.
April 24, 2023
This book led me to where I am today. It helped me find out there was a future for me in the outdoors. It helped me find my degree, fuel my fire for the environment and discover that I judt need to be my authentic self in what I do.
May 8, 2023
The thing which makes this book unique is it just doesn't emphasize only on physical side of a survival situation but its main emphasis is on the mind.
It is said that when you calm your mind the soul starts to speak. In any emergency you should have a calm mind to do timely and precise decisions.
It is said that when you calm your mind the soul starts to speak. In any emergency you should have a calm mind to do timely and precise decisions.
January 15, 2024
Good book and an easy read but it didn't really feel like there was much new information for me, being a psychology professional, however her ancestors were interesting, I just wish there had been more of them!
September 19, 2025
Really enjoyed Megan's way of lookong at adventure. What can the wild teach us about ourselves and why do some people survive while others perish? How can you know what decision is the right one. I have captured lots of her life lessons and will be sure to S.T.O.P more often.
February 21, 2019
Absolutely BRILLIANT!!! Girl power to the max without being too in your face about it. Finished in two days. Flows beautifully...
December 24, 2019
A thought provoking read
Very good reading, makes you question what you would do yourself
In a perilous situation. Very good book worth reading.
Very good reading, makes you question what you would do yourself
In a perilous situation. Very good book worth reading.
March 10, 2020
Great book,with great stories shared by Megan Hine's experience. Well worth reading.
April 7, 2020
Amazing. Totally inspiring. Definitely worth reading even if your not 'outdoorsy'.
June 4, 2020
Great book, I loved the psychological aspects of survival & applying these in every day life. Her own experiences and examples are fascinating to read.
June 29, 2021
On audible
December 25, 2021
Great work, wish was longer
January 9, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed the motivation and strength this woman has. The comparison from the wild to everyday life isn’t as far apart as I first thought.
March 25, 2022
This was a weird one. The survival stories were great. The armchair psychology less so. Made me want to watch one of her series, so I guess thats good.
November 21, 2022
Some brilliant and unbelievable stories with timely wisdom throughout. Megan has an amazing balance of grit, skill, sensitivity and situational awareness.
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April 3, 2025A refreshing reminder of the value and benefits of immersing in wilderness
November 23, 2017
A book filled with analytical thinking and observations of people people and adventure down through the years. An enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews