Book Review-The Survivors Club

I heard about this book on some talk show or maybe it was on NPR. I was fascinated by the subject. Why is it that some people automatically know what to do and when to do it? Is it something that you are born with or can it be learned?

Ben Sherwood discusses this subject in depth. He has many interviews with 'survivors' exploring what made them think and do the things they did. He spoke with people who survived the Holocaust, plane crashes, and the sinking of ships. In doing so, he found a common denominator among them all. He goes into the science of it all which is truly fascinating! He explores how relevant faith is to those who have survived.

There was a particular passage of the book that I felt was profound. Edie, a Holocaust survivor who later became a psychologist said that many of her patients "lose sight of their power to make choices." She continues, "What we really need to survive--breathing, sleeping, eating, eliminating--is very different from what we think we need. People think they need approval. They think they need to be right. They think they need to be perfect. But none of that is essential to survival. It's just dessert." That's a great life lesson.

An encouraging point about the book is the fact that while some people seem to have this 'ability', the truth is many of us can learn how to do it. Most of it is just paying attention believe it or not. I won't give all the secrets though. Just go and read the book! Just consider it all in a day's work! (If you're frugal like me, you'll request it from your local library!)