The Survivor: 21 Spine-Chilling Adventures on the Edge of Death

by John Goddard

John Goddard, a career explorer and adventurer, experienced many thrilling close calls with death during his adventurous life. As told in one of the most memorable stories in the original Chicken Soul for the Soul , when he was a boy, John Goddard made a list of 127 things he would like to do in his life, from living with pygmies in Africa and headhunters in Borneo to exploring the world's greatest rivers and highest peaks. The Survivor captures some of these adventures as it follows his experiences from boyhood, through his teen years and into adulthood. Each individual adventure is sure to thrill readers-from the exquisite details of exotic locales, to the raw power of Pacific storms, to the hair-raising brushes with death-always emphasizing the danger and exhilaration intrinsic to the adventurous life. Unique to this book, though, is the author's reverence for life and all living things, his honesty in admitting his own recklessness, his awe and gratitude to the supreme force that miraculously allowed him to survive each of these close calls with death, and his ability to use his experiences and the lessons he learned to set and achieve clear, meaningful goals. This great read will entertain and inspire people to live their dreams.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure

300 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Saba Abu Farha · Rating 4 out of 5]

لو تسنى لك مقابلة مدمن للحياة... مدمن بحيث لا يخشى الموت لمقابلتها, فماذا سيكون رد فعلك!
لعل جون جودارد أشهر مغامر في قرن العشرين لم يصل امرء بعد لعشق الحياة مثله.
في كتابه The Survivor نبحر معه في تحقيق حلمه في إظهار عشقه للحياة... فأشهر المغامرين الأمريكيين بل العالميين كتب 127 هدفا لتحقيقها في حياته, ولم يمنعه المرض أو أي عائق لتحقيقها جميعها... فهو رجل سار خلف حلمه لتحقيقه بكل حذافيره... من تسلق معظم جبال العالم بما فيها الهيمالايا وكاليمنغارو وغيرها... والسباحة في بحيرة فيكتوريا والتجديف في النيل... ومصارعة الثيران والتماسيح والدببة والفيلة... والقفز الحر... وقيادة الطائرات... وغيره. حتى أن الإصابات المتكررة في جسده وقربه من الموت أكثر من مرة وإصابته بالملاريا والكثير الكثير لم تعيقه بل زادت من عزيمته...
فقد نجى وأصبح أهم مغامر وأستاذ جامعي وأب لستة أطفال, ملهم للكثيرين في الأمس واليوم والغد... فلسان حاله يقول إياك والخوف... فالخوف يميت الرغبة بالحياة... وامض في حلمك ضاربا بعرض الحائط من يحاول ثنيك عنه...
من أجمل المتحدثين والمحاضرين وطبعا المغامرين... حيث يقول... إن كان لديك حلم خطط جيدا ثم حققه...
إن لم يكن مثل هذا عاشق للحياة! فمن قد يكون!
كتاب يستحق القراءة... فهو يزيل الغم ويحفز على الأحلام والمضي لتحقيقها.

[Natalie Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

In high school I happened upon his other book "Kayaks Down the Nile" and loved it. In some ways I think it inspired me to always be a yes person when it came to opportunities for adventure, and I would still recommend it today. This one was enjoyable, and wow- what a life, but the writing is just okay; honestly there were a couple times I almost put it down unfinished. Also for all that "living" I would have appreciated some deeper meaning beyond setting and achieving goals for the sake of checking off the boxes.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read Kayaks Down the Nile, it's much better. But if you are interested in him & his life list of goals, (which is included in the back of the book) this is a short read and adds to the picture of an admirable man.

[Ekeoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's is a motivator book for those who wants to achieve great goals.
You can achieve any goal if you are determined.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

My father in law gave me this book. He is a friend of the author. Interesting adventures in Africa but the writing leaves something to be desired.