Extreme Encounters, how it feels to be drowned in quicksand, shredded by piranhas, swept up in a tornado, and dozens of other unpleasant experiences...

This book was outstanding. The only complaint I have is that it wasn't longer. What I enjoyed most was that each story refers to the characters as YOU, and has enough scenerary information to give you a clear image in your head of where your suppossed to be, then BAM something crazy happens and your drowning in a lake in the middle of nowhere. I could literally taste the water in my mouth during that story. Then after the climax of each story the author throughly describes how each situation can kill you. He is very descriptive and interprets it in an easy to understand language. He must have done his homework to be able to describe those many different situations as he did. I loved this book, it is a quick fun and factual read for anybody at any age level.

So what does it feel like to die? According to author Greg Emmanuel, it all depends on how you go. 39 separate, horrible fates are chronicled in this book, and though not all of them end in death, they do all make your skin crawl. The categories include When Animals Attack, The Great Outdoors, Somebody Get a Doctor, Crime and Punishment, Everyday Mishaps, and Going to Extremes. Most of the scenarios only last for 2-3 pages which makes this a great book to pull out at parties and read aloud from, or take with you on vacation. The story style is conversational and informal, and the book length is a scant 175 pages, so it's a quick read all around. Yes, the stories are creepy and gross, and at times they'll make you laugh though you might feel a little guilty for doing so. This is a novel and fun book.

It's weird to say that it was enjoyable to read a lighthearted book about terrible ways that people have gone through pain, but it was. Beyond doing a lot of research, the author has a good sense of humor. I read it pretty quickly, but it also seems like it could be a good book to keep next to the toilet: you can read one or two of the descriptive vignettes when you go.

I saw this book at Tower and picked it up because of the cover and I have to admit that these stories really get under your skin. Especially the story about the fire ants. You don't want to mess with fire ants! The chapter on the elevator falling was also pretty cool. It'll make me think twice next time before I mess with an elevator. The really nice thing is that these stories are short, so if you get tired of one you can just go on to the next one. But they are all really good except for the one on the Grizzly. That hit a little too close to home for me because of a childhood accident with my youth group. But if you have never been exposed to a Grizzly the way I was then you might not object to it the way i did. Besides, the other 39 stories were all pretty good and definitely get under your skin in a good way.

not normally a big fan of non-fiction but this one rules. the quicksand story freaked me out...thought it was better than worst case scenario handbook. also dig the 2nd person voice. extremely good.