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Five Real Life Survival Stories You Won’t Believe

By January 23, 2017March 10th, 2021Literature

They say that truth is often stranger than fiction and the books included in this list of real life survival stories really do sound unbelievable.

From escaping the inescapable, to surviving the un-survivable – with acts of courage in the face of adversity, feats of superhuman strength and a determination to survive unbowed by the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that faced them here are five real life survival stories you just might find hard to believe.

Unbroken – Louis Zamperini

Louis Zamperini, former child delinquent turned athlete running in the Berlin Olympics is the only survivor after the bomber he was crewing crashes into the Pacific Ocean in 1943. In a canvas raft and thousands of miles from safety Zamperini’s memoir’s will hold you in awe of one man’s determination to survive.

Unbroken US
Unbroken UK

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Little Daughter – Zoya Phan

At the age of fourteen, Zoya’s childhood was shattered as the Burmese army attacked. With their house in flames, Zoya and her family fled. After two years spent fleeing their perseutors Zoya escaped to the UK where she claimed asylum, marched to protest against the horrors perpetrated in her homeland and was pluked from obscurity by the BBC becoming the face of a nation enslaved.

Little Daughter US
Little Daughter UK

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Aron Ralston

You know the story. Hiking into the remote Utah canyon lands, Aron Ralston felt perfectly at home in the beauty of the natural world. Then, at 2:41 P.M., eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, an eight-hundred-pound boulder tumbled loose, pinning Aron’s right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. No one knew he was there and there was only one person who was going to get him free- himself.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place US
Between a Rock and a Hard Place UK

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When I Fell From The Sky – Juliane Koepcke

At just seventeen years of age Juliane Koepcke crawled and walked alone through the jungle, fighting for her survival after the plane she was travelling in was struck by lightning. Starving and being eaten alive by the maggots that took up residence in her wounds, this is a story of determination that will leave you squirming.

When I Fell From The Sky US
When I Fell From The Sky UK

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Slave – Mende Nazer

Just twelve when the Mujahidin rode into her village in the remote Nuba mountains of Sudan Mende Nazer’s childhood was ended abruptly as the men rampaged through her home killing villagers, raping the women and abducting the children. She was taken and sold to an Arab woman in Khartoum,  stripped of her name and her freedom. This is a shocking first person insight into the modern day slave trade and the strength of character of one woman who refused to be beaten.

Slave US
Slave UK

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There are so many stories of survival out there that it was hard to pick just five but I think the books that we have shared with you here are particularly interesting.

Of course if you have read a book that you believe should have been included in our list then please add it in the comments.



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