Saturday, January 9, 2010

THE SURVIVOR'S CLUB: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE SURVIVORS CLUB

BY BEN SHERWOOD

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Which is the safest seat on an airplane? Where is the best place to have a heart attack? Why does religious observance add years to your life? How can birthdays be hazardous to your health? THE SURVIVORS CLUB WILL ANSWER THAT AND MUCH MORE! Each second of the day, someone in America faces a crisis, whether it's a car accident, violent crime, serious illness, or financial trouble. Given the inevitability of adversity, we all wonder: Who beats the odds and who surrenders? Why do some people bound back and others give up? How can I become the kind of person who survives and thrives? The fascinating, hopeful answers to these questions are found in THE SURVIVORS CLUB. In the tradition of Freakonomics and The Tipping Point, this book reveals the hidden side of survival by combining astonishing true stories, gripping scientific research, and the author's adventures inside the U.S. military's elite survival schools and the government's airplane crash evacuation course. With THE SURVIVORS CLUB, you can also discover your own Survivor IQ through a powerful Internet-based test called the Survivor Profiler. Developed exclusively for this book, the test analyzes your personality and generates a customized report on your top survivor strengths. There is no escaping life's inevitable struggles. But THE SURVIVORS CLUB can give you an edge when adversity strikes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ben Sherwood is a bestselling author and award-winning journalist. From 2004 to 2006, he served as executive producer of ABC News' Good Morning America and led the program to its two most successful and profitable years in its thirty-year history, breaking every ratings record. His acclaimed novel The Man Who Ate the 747 (August 2000) was a national bestseller, published in thirteen languages, and is being adapted as both a feature film and musical. His most recent novel, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud (March 2004) was an international bestseller and is also in development as a feature film at Universal Pictures. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Harvard College, he earned advanced degrees in history and economics as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. He lives with his wife and son in Los Angeles.

REVIEW:


After reading THE SURVIVOR'S CLUB, I am pretty sure most of us would apply for membership! Sherwood gives 3 basic rules to follow to "join the club". One is that everyone one is a survivor; two is that one person's crisis can't be compared to another's as it is all personal; and three is that people are really stronger than they think. I know I have found that last one to be very true as there have been times when I felt so bad and wanted to check into a hospital for a week to clear up all my medical issues and then a family emergency occurs and I am the leader of the band--booking flights, dealing with the powers that be, comforting others, etc.

He gives good sound advice on the many reasons people don't survive so that readers can hopefully learn from others' mistakes. One reason he gives is called the Incredulity Response where people really simply don't believe what it is they are seeing. Another he writes about is being Under Stress as a reason because in that case, people often forget and have memory problems in which they seem to forget what they are supposed to do. Another reason he discusses is Brainlock where people often die because they are unable to respond due to the shock of the situation and they forget to think. If they had been able to think, they most probably could have survived. Sherwood says "panic is the archenemy of survival".

In an easy to follow narrative, the author details many different types of character traits and personalities and how they react and are able to survive. These types range from "fighters" to "believers" to "thinkers" and to "realists. There are also a combination of multiple types like people who just won't even face reality.

He includes a quiz you can take to understand what your potential to survive is and gives tips on how to raise your score. There is also a very helpful website you can go to for more information on this.

Besides the valuable information in this book, I like the way it is organized. The chapters give examples and then deal with a topic starting with "A Knitting Needle Through the Heart: The Three Rules of the Survivors Club" in Chapter One, to "The Supersonic Man: How Much of Life (and Death) Do You Really Control?", to a favorite chapter of mine "The Science of Luck: Why Good Things Always Happen to the Same People" and ending up with the quiz and chapters in Part 2 dedicated to taking the quiz and analyzing your strengths and weaknesses. If for no other reason, this is an interesting read and just may open your eyes enough to save your life someday...surely that is worth the time to read it if nothing else.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO ANNA AND THE
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE
5 COPIES OF THIS WONDERFUL
BOOK
TO GIVEAWAY!


--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!
HOW TO ENTER

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON IF YOU THINK YOU ARE, OR WOULD BE, GOOD IN AN EMERGENCY ENOUGH TO SURVIVE A DEADLY SITUATION. WOULD THIS BOOK BE A HELP TO YOU...YES OR NO?

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND THEN COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON IF YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG AND IF SO, CAN YOU REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE SINCE I STARTED ONE WHOLE YEAR AGO?
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 6 PM, EST,
JANUARY 15 FOR THIS BOOK!


HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ONLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO
ENTERED DURING THE BLOGIVERSARY
WEEKEND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
GRAND PRIZE TO COME ON JANUARY 16...
THAT IS THEY WIN ALL 12 BOOKS

NOTE: BLOGIVERSARY WEEKEND
GRAND PRIZE ELIGIBILITY IS OVER!

BUT YOU CAN STILL WIN THIS BOOK!

97 comments:

Benita said...

I think I would be able to survive in an emergency. I've gone through a few and am still here to talk about them. I think this book would help because it gives great insight into people and situations and ways of behaving. I'd love to read this book.


bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I do follow your blog. I've been with you since I discovered blogs, but it isn't quite a year; maybe it's about 6 months. I do really like your blog, and I appreciate you for doing such a terrific job.


bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I tend to get coldly calm and logical in emergency situations (or is that frozen with fear?) but this book sounds like something everyone should read "just in case...."

Sheila
skkorman@bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

I do tend to get a bit frazzled when faced with an emergency situation so I would like to learn how to calm down enough to do what needs to be done right away.

Donna
dlhaley@hotmail.com

DarcyO said...

I would probably perish in an emergency because sometimes I lack basic common sense. I need to read this book!

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I've been following your blog since July and now follow with Google Friend Connect.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

elaing8 said...

I think I'm good during an emergency situation. I think this book would be a help to me,the more information you have the better.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

elaing8 said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/elaing8/status/7564544451

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

elaing8 said...

I am a follower but not from the beginning.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Marie said...

I think it really depends on the situation for me. For some things, I can remain calm and act rationally, then other times I'm a nut case. I think this book could be really helpful.

mparke[at]mts[dot]net

cheryl c said...

Wow, this sounds like a fascinating book! I don't really know how I would respond in an emergency. I am afraid that I would have the Incredulity Response, but I might just be smarter and stronger than I think. It would be a big help to read this book.

castings at mindspring dot com

Marie said...

Your blog is in my Google Reader.

I don't remember the date I started following you, but it's been at least since May 09, probably a month or so before.

cheryl c said...

I have been a follower for quite a while, but not since the very beginning. Happy blogiversary!

castings at mindspring dot com

mariag said...

I am pretty calm under pressure but I think I need more pratical information I could use in an emergency.

fmlj94 at yahoo dot com

mariag said...

I have been following your blog approx. for six months.

fmlj94 at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

Depending on what the emergency is, I think I would be okay and fall apart later. I am usually level-headed and calm.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

google reader follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Sarah said...

I don't know how great I'd be in an emergency, but I'm sure this book would help me!

Jane said...

I don't think I would be good in an emergency. I would be too scared and flustered to be of any help. This book would probably teach me how to stay calm and what to do in an emergency.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Jane said...

I've been a follower of your blog for about two months.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Simply Stacie said...

I think I would be ok in an emergency since I do have anxiety and am always thinking of what I would do if something happened.

simplystacieblog at gmail com

Simply Stacie said...

I've followed your blog for awhile now and have won before. I can't remember when I started though!

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I think I would be good, but thankfully haven't been put to the test too much. I'd like to read this book.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I am a fairly recent follower.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Renee said...

I think common sense would kick in and I could survive many emergency situations

reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com

Renee said...

I'm a google follower but not for a full year

reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

i would love to read this book. i'm not sure if it'd be good in a really bad situation. i can handle certain things, but this book would be a nice help!!

lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

i follow your blog

lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

janetfaye said...

I have never faced an emergency so I don't know if I would be good, I like this book because it gives insight into what to do.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

I have been following you for almost one year.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Linda Henderson said...

I'd like to think that I would be good in an emergency. I've made it through a couple of tornadoes and didn't panic too much. I think this book would give anyone great advice on how to react to an emergency situation.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I have been following your blog for a while but not nearly a year.

seriousreader at live dot com

rubynreba said...

I think I would do pretty good in most emergencies. I know that this book would help because you never know what will come up.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I probably started following you last spring. Before that I wasn't reading any blogs at all!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Lacey said...

Yes i think i would survive because I'm young and calm also I have a strong will to survive.

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

Lacey said...

http://twitter.com/HtxAstrosFan/status/7574633963

tweet!!

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

Lacey said...

I do follow your blog, but I just started this week so I can't wait to see how many books I will win in the next year.

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

I think I would be a great survivor in an emergency, a real Mcgyver! But I would love a copy of this book for some extra hints!
ludeluh(at)yahoo(dot)com

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

I blogged about this giveaway here:
http://giveawayroundup.blogspot.com/2010/01/giveaway-bonanza-at-bookin-with-bingo.html

ludeluh(at)yahoo(dot)com

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

I am a follower on google friends connect. Haven't followed for the whole year though, but probably for a good 7-8 months! :o)

ludeluh(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I would like to say so but I think to be honest much as I hate to admit it I'd panic. So yes this book would seriously help.

jessica(at)fan(dot)com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

+ 1 yes I follow via google but no I know it was less then a year.

jessica(at)fan(dot)com

brokenteepee said...

I think I'd survive. I've been through a few and I've handled them well...
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

I follow with google friend connect and email
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

I am a follower via google friend connect.

I think I might just be part of the emergency lol... I freak out when stuff like that happens.

Alyce said...

I'm entering this one for eligibility in the grand prize, but no need to award it to me if you draw my name for this one. I loved this book!

Unknown said...

I think that this book could help because knowledge always empowers.

ashleymaymott(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I do not think I would be able to survive in an emergency, but this book would help.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Yes, I think I would/could be a survivor in an emergency. I do believe that there is a science to survival and I think this book would help.

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I have been a Google Friend Connect follower since August when I started my blog.

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Mitzi H. said...

I don't thing I would be good in a critical situation.

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Mitzi H. said...

I'm a new(er) follower

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Enjoy you blog very much!!!

sharon54220 said...

I used to ride with a Volunteer First Aid Squad, so yes, I would be good in an emergency. I am always there to console. But I would be there to help wherever needed.

sharon54220@gmail.com

sharon54220 said...

Of course, I'm a follower of this great blog. I love, love, love it.

Google Friend Connect

sharon54220@gmail.com

Angie said...

After being a Boy Scout volunteer for 14 years I would like to think I could survive in an emergency situation, but you never know how you will react when it really happens. I think this book would be extremely helpful.

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

Angie said...

I am a newer follower but I really enjoy coming here. It's like a party every time I step inside the "door"

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

nfmgirl said...

I'm usually pretty good in an emergency. I'm not too squeamish, I'm not afraid to take control (but I don't have to have control), I don't usually get too flustered. However I wish my brain worked more quickly. It seems my brain sometimes freezes for a few moments, and I need a moment to *think* about what I need to do instead of just responding.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

I haven't been with you a year, but perhaps close. I first discovered book blogs nearly a year ago, but I didn't start my own until April. So I would guess I probably joined February-April 2009.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-1-09-10.html

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

booklover0226 said...

I think I would be able to survive in an emergency situation but I'm sure this book will enlighten me on things I didn't think about.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 At gmail dot com

booklover0226 said...

I am a follower but I can't recall if I've followed since you started your blog, but I don't think so. I think I discovered sometime in the spring or summer of 2009.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 At gmail dot com

Wickdogg said...

I think I am pretty good in emergencies as I think the adrenalin flows and gets me through and then i collapse

wickdogg AT gmail dot com

Wickdogg said...

I have been following for about 2 months

wickdogg AT gmail dot com

Wendy said...

At the present time I'm not sure how well I would do in certain emergency situations. I could definitely benefit from so additional 'emergency training'.



Thanks for the entry!

Wendy
wendysfictionaddiction(at)gmail(dot)com

Wendy said...

I'm a follower! I have followed you since I first discovered book bloggers a few months back.


Thanks for the entry!

Wendy
wendysfictionaddiction(at)gmail(dot)com

Kaye said...

Initially I run around like a chicken without a head and then something comes over me and I get determined to overcome it.

I think this book would be great. florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Kaye said...

I've been following you pretty much from the beginning I think through google friend connect.

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

CherylS22 said...

I think I would be able to survive & help others survive in an emergency. I do feel, however, that I would benefit from reading this book.

Thanks ~ megalon22 at yahoo dot com

CherylS22 said...

I've been following in GFC since about May of last year.

megalon22 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I would definitely like to THINK I would survive, but you never truly know until it happens and I am not going to go find out for sure. I do think this would be a great book to read anyway.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Unknown said...

Following via GFC and I know it has not been 1 year because I have not been blogging for one year yet.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

kalynnick said...

I think I would not be able to survive during an emergency because I would most likely panic. I think from looks of it this book might be able to help out.

kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

kalynnick said...

I have been a follower for about a month.

kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

Cheffer said...

I think I would be able to handle and emergency situation. I was a fellow girl scout lol! This book will definetly help me becuse it will give more information about handling a crisis!

Fourevermandm@aol.com

traveler said...

This book would be helpful as long as no one panics which is hard to prevent. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)COM

Cheffer said...

Tweeted about this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/PastryChefSam

Fourevermandm@aol.com

Cheffer said...

I have been a follower for several months I started following you around July because thats when I started my book blog!

Fourevermandm@aol.com

Edna said...

Please enter me into this contest


Mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Denny, Alaska said...

I have lots of medical emergency training, and think I could survive an emergency from that perspective. Can this book help? Yes, the more knowledge the better.

Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

denny(dot)gill(at)gmail(dot)com

Nancye said...

I'm not sure how much help I would be in an emergency situation because I am disabled and in a wheel chair. I do think I could possibly remain fairly calm and help others be calm too.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower on Google

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/7606541606

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Rebecca Orr said...

I think that it would depend on the emergency situation of course...but I think that I would be able to handle most without a doubt.
Thanks for the chance.
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

I have been following since August I believe...google reader, email, and gfc.

bekki1820cb at gmail

Libby's Library said...

I think that I would fall apart in an emergency, UNLESS, I was the only person who was able to "take charge". I could always handle things when my kids got hurt, if my husband wasn't around...but if he was there, I would fall apart.

Yes - I think that this book would be helpful!

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Libby's Library said...

+1 I'm a follower:-)

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Lee P said...

To be honest, I don't think I'd handle myself very well in an emergency. I'd probably go into shock, but I'd like to believe that my survival instinct would kick in. I'd love to read this book! Thank you for another great giveaway.

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Lee P said...

I have been following Bookin' With Bingo via Google Friends for about 6 months now.

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Missa said...

I'm not sure I would be able to survive in an emergency. I guess it would depend on the type of emergency. This book would definitely be helpful for me!

sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Missa said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/hunniebee724/status/7610815099
sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Missa said...

I follow your blog, but just recently found it.

sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Lee P said...

Tweet:

http://twitter.com/chinook92/status/7610831747

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Ladytink_534 said...

It really depends on the emergency. I think I could be good in some but in others I'd probably go to pieces.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ladytink_534 said...

I've been a follower for a very long time
Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I dont know if I would be good in it, I am kind of panicky, so probably not. Maybe this book will help, I have to read it first.
shopgurl101@gmail.com

Unknown said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/shopgurl/status/7799774383

shopgurl101@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I have been following you for a long time, I dont know if it is that long though.

shopgurl101@gmail.com

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