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438 Days

An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea
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( 15,957 ratings, 1,525 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
438 Days by Jonathan Franklin tells the harrowing true story of Salvador Alvarenga, a fisherman who survives 14 months adrift in the Pacific Ocean. After a storm disables his boat, he faces extraordinary challenges, relying on his ingenuity and resilience to withstand the vast, unforgiving sea. The narrative is a gripping testament to human endurance and the will to survive against overwhelming odds.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this gripping biography and memoir if you're fascinated by real-life survival stories and the enduring resilience of the human spirit. This book takes you on a harrowing journey across the vast Pacific Ocean, chronicling the perseverance, courage, and ingenuity of a man stranded at sea. Fans of intense adventure narratives and tales of triumph over adversity would find this account particularly captivating.

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The incredible true survival story of one man's record-breaking 438 days lost at sea

The incredible true survival story of one man's record-breaking 438 days lost at sea

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

On 17th November, 2012, Salvador Alvarenga left the coast of Mexico for a two-day fishing trip. A vicious storm killed his engine and the current dragged his boat out to sea. The storm picked up and carried him West, deeper into the heart of the Pacific Ocean. Alvarenga would not touch solid ground again for 14 months. When he was washed ashore on January 30th, 2014, he had drifted over 9,000 miles.

Three dozen cruise ships and container vessels passed nearby. Not one stopped for the stranded fisherman. He considered suicide on multiple occasions - including offering himself up to a pack of circling sharks. But Alvarenga developed a method of survival that kept his body and mind intact long enough for the Pacific Ocean to spit him up onto a remote palm-studded island. Crawling ashore, he was saved by a local couple living in their own private castaway paradise.

Based on dozens of hours of interviews with Alvarenga and his colleagues, search and rescue officials, the medical team that saved his life and the remote islanders who nursed him back to normality, this is an epic tale of survival and one man's incredible story of beating the ultimate odds.

438 Days by Jonathan Franklin is a testament to human resilience and the fight against unimaginable circumstances.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A riveting tale of endurance and survival, 438 Days is praised for its gripping, action-driven narrative that immerses readers in the harrowing experience of being adrift at sea. Kirkus Reviews highlights the book's ability to engage and captivate, making it a compelling read for those interested in stories of human perseverance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509800193

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 June 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Pan Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 216g

Pages: 300

About the Author

Based in Santiago, Chile, Jonathan Franklin regularly reports for the Guardian, Washington Post, National Geographic and Esquire. He also works with the team at 'Retro Report' producing documentaries broadcast by the New York Times. Franklin's previous books include 33 Men, the exclusive account of the Chilean miners trapped nearly a kilometre underground. 33 Men became a bestseller in the UK and US, and was translated into 19 languages. He can be followed at @FranklinBlog

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