Danger: True Stories of Trouble and Survival

by James O'Reilly

Book Overview

Here are 28 awe-inspiring stories of danger and survival, guaranteed to get your heart pumping. Whether trapped in an underwater cave, escaping an avalanche, fending off a thug, or surviving a storm... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1885211325
• ISBN13: 9781885211323
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Travelers' Tales
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Good Book

I agree with Munawar Ali above. That being said, people who travel extensively for adventure and then end up almost dying, like most of these folks, are asking for trouble. The gal who traveled over 4 continents on a bicycle and, who would never drive a car due to a childhood traumatic auto accident, had to expect running into a crazy man who beat her up in his apartment when she trusted him and his attempted rape on her. The way she escaped however was very very brave. I personally think in today's world, one has to be crazy to go out traveling all by themselves, running out of money, depending on the goodness of foreigners, etc. Also, my personal opinion only, one is a little off their rocker to try to climb a dangerous mountain where deadly snowstorms come along. It's almost as if they feel they've accomplished something great by suffering to get through their traveling abroad. That aside, the book was a good one. I admit though, I skimmed over the war stories as I am so tired of hearing about war. The story about the hyena attacking its care-taker in my opinion was the best one. For the most part, an excellent read.

An enjoyable read with lessons to be learned

I picked this book up after reading RYP's The Worlds Most Dangerous Places. My brother was in Iraq, my best friend in afghanistan, and I had recently returned from Eastern China. I was looking for info on other countries as well as a good read. This book is filled with stories from different travelers, and all pertain to near death, near rape, or near something else and how they managed to survive. The book is gripping, and as much as I enjoyed and learned from it, I hope never to be able to share a story like any of them. I recommend this book. It's easy to read and shares lessons learned, and adventures had.

"Danger is entirely about mortality."

It was quite intriguing to learn that when the publisher of the book entitled DANGER! TRUE STORIES OF TROUBLE AND SURVIVAL attempted to mail me a copy of their book it was returned to them due to "heightened security reasons." Furthermore, the US Postal Services insisted that the book be delivered in person to the post office before they would even consider permitting it to be mailed to Canada! After reading the 28 episodes, each narrated by 28 different authors and edited by James O'Reilly, Larry Hebegger,Sean O'Reilly, I can well appreciate their concern.All of the essays support Tim Cahill's assertion in the introduction to the book: "danger is entirely about mortality. It is an elucidation and illumination of the final mystery of human experience, a matter, if you will, of life and death."The essays divide themselves into four sections each of which emphasize different situations. The protagonists either willingly place themselves into dangerous situations or involuntarily are faced with daunting encounters. In the first section entitled "dangerous territory" the emphasis is on the geographical location where a possible disaster is averted. We read about such encounters as a war correspondent in Bosnia who, if he makes one wrong move, is a "goner," A couple living in Zambia who are attacked by some local thugs, a Python wrapping itself around someone's body, a face-to-face meeting with a bear in Alaska.The second and third sections, which are called "going to the edge" and "heart of darkness," recount adventure tales where the principal characters actually seek out dangerous situations or are exposed to the darker side of man's behaviour towards his fellow human being. Mountain climbers who endeavour to climb the highest peak in the former Soviet Union, Mt. Communism, are faced with an avalanche as well as the falling into a coma of one of their co-climbers; a medical doctor treating the casualties resulting from the savage war being waged between the "Hutu"-and the "rebels"- Tutsi;The final section entitled "crossing to safety" is a philosophical essay that addresses when something inside of us says, "it is time to quit" or as the author states, "get down, there is danger here, and it does not serve."Each one of these stories is written in a different style, yet they all have the same underlining theme. The reader is constantly shaking his head and saying to himself "oh no!" After reading all of the 28 tales, we are left with the impression that it certainly takes a very special individual to withstand some of the various experiences that are exposed in the book. It also makes you ask the question why seek out danger! What is it that seduces a traveller to go out of his way to experience terrifying encounters?Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com

Suprisingly Gripping

I try to stay away from cheap thrills, and quick fixes. So when I picked this book up, I told myself that I would only read two pages, and if I got bored, it was going back. It took 2 paragraphs and I was hooked. Each short story is a true account of harrowing danger. The writing is excellent. You don't expect professional adventurers to write well, but they do; And they keep you in it. Each story starts climaxing within 3 pages, so you're on literal adrenalin high almost all the way through the book. I really enjoyed the book and will keep on the lookout for others in the series. Recommended when you need to kill an hour.

Jack into a world of danger and taste the mind of evil.

Travelers' Tales Danger takes you on a tour of Danger's world. My favorite story in the book is Blademaster. Learn that when faced with a knife wielding attacker that must say to yourself, "today I must bleed a little." Discover the insanity in Rwanda, encounter the hoods of America and the hoodlums of England. I also learned how terrifying it must be to fly in the dark and not know whether you are going up or down. Whether you want to climb perilous crevasses or play with Stinger missles, this book has something for all those looking to safely jack into the violent and dangerous world around them.