Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival

A must-read for those who enjoy a true-life adventure at its best.

Great book. Testimony to the human spirit of survival. Having said that, I don't know how we as a species can say a quick "No" to some one trying to sell us a trinket on the street and say "Yes!!" with enthusiasm to an obviously deranged charlatan who invites us to risk our lives in the Jungle. Hunger, exposure, fatigue all play a role in this story. I would have liked maps to be shown at the beginning of every chapter that shows where and how far our protagonist has travelled. Also superimpose the travels of Kevin so we can better place and appreciate the distinct paths taken.

I can't imagine anyone not liking this book. I felt like I was there watching as I read it. Well written, attention grabbing and amazing how someone can survive this adventure. A must read. I've read it three times since I bought it and feel like I read new details each time.

Took a long to get going. most of the problems could have been avoided by thinking before they acted. Anyone dumb enough to go in the jungle with an unknown person. DUH!!!

After hearing about Yossi Ghinsberg on the Discovery Channel's show "I Shouldn't Be Alive" I had to pick up his book and get the details. I was enthralled from the first page. As astonishing as Mr. Ghinsburg's experiences are - and believe me, there were many times I felt like he wasn't going to make it, even though I knew he had lived to write the book - what truly stands out in my memory is the way the writing took me into the jungle with him. His storytelling is rich with descriptions and details. It left me feeling triumphant, as though I had been rescued with him, and incredibly grateful for all of the blessings and comforts in my life.

There is rarely a true survival story with great twists and unbelievable coincidences, so I was quite surprised by this book. The story is of four unrelated men, that meet each other in South America and decide to go trekking through the jungle together. They get separated and some barely make it out, and some don't. The author's amazing survival is matched by the coincidences in his journey as well as twists in the plot all the way to the end (which I won't give away here). Because of this, you realize, by the end, that every detail the author gave you was important. He also tells the story very honestly, often willing to show himself in a bad light. This helps make what is already a great book even greater.

I simply could not put this book down! Every time I was forced to temporarily part ways with it my mind and imagintation remained with Yossi deep in the heart of the Bolivian jungle, and I simply could not cease to wonder where his torturous adventure would lead him next. With each detailed page I was forced to ponder if I too could fight the jungle, or if I would have given up. It's an amazing and addictive story, and any travel addict has got to read it! I love it!

I picked up this book whilst looking for my usual crime novel thinking I may not like the change. But to my amazement, I couldn't put this book down and read it in two days. (A record for me) This book is a very well written true and insperational story of survival. The stories along the way, about the different villages, local people, customs, plants, animals and cities gave me great insite to many regions of South America. I cried, held my breath and imagined myself in many of the beautiful places that they travelled. I would recommend this book to any one. It amazes me how one can survive such harrowing conditions. The strong friendship between Kevin & Yossi should be an example to us all. It makes me realise that my life is an easy one. Congratulations and thank you to the author, Yossi Ghinsberg for sharing this story with us.

This book changed not only the way I perceive the South American jungle, but about the nature of human interaction, as well as isolation. I couldn't put it down.