The Third Man Factor
Surviving the Impossible
Published on 2. July 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-84767-419-7 (ISBN)
Description
The Third Man Factor tells the revealing story behind an extraordinary idea: that people at the very edge of death, often adventurers or explorers, experience a benevolent presence beside them who encourages them to make one final effort to survive.
If only a handful of people had ever experienced the Third Man, it might be dismissed as an unusual delusion shared by a few overstressed minds. But the amazing thing is this: over the years, the experience has occurred again and again, to mountaineers, divers, polar explorers, prisoners of war, solo sailors, aviators, astronauts and 9/11 survivors. All have escaped traumatic events only to tell strikingly similar stories of having experienced the close presence of a helper or guardian. The mysterious force has been explained as everything from hallucination to divine intervention. Recent neurological research suggests something else.
In The Third Man Factor John Geiger combines history, scientific analysis and great adventure stories to explain this secret to survival, a Third Man who - in the words of legendary Italian climber Reinhold Messner - 'leads you out of the impossible.'
If only a handful of people had ever experienced the Third Man, it might be dismissed as an unusual delusion shared by a few overstressed minds. But the amazing thing is this: over the years, the experience has occurred again and again, to mountaineers, divers, polar explorers, prisoners of war, solo sailors, aviators, astronauts and 9/11 survivors. All have escaped traumatic events only to tell strikingly similar stories of having experienced the close presence of a helper or guardian. The mysterious force has been explained as everything from hallucination to divine intervention. Recent neurological research suggests something else.
In The Third Man Factor John Geiger combines history, scientific analysis and great adventure stories to explain this secret to survival, a Third Man who - in the words of legendary Italian climber Reinhold Messner - 'leads you out of the impossible.'
Reviews / Votes
With an irresistible blend of harrowing anecdotes and hard science, John Geiger unravels the mystery of how the mind copes under extreme duress and in the process sheds fresh light on what it is to be human. A compelling, moving read. * * Carl Honore, Author of IN PRAISE OF SLOW and UNDER PRESSURE * * What lies beyond resourcefulness, endurance, and courage? To answer that question, John Geiger follows explorers, mountaineers, solo-sailors, and disaster survivors to the ends of the earth. The Third Man Factor is a prodigious synthesis -- elegant, entertaining, and important. If you enjoyed Frozen In Time, you'll love this book. * * Ken McGoogan, Author of FATAL PASSAGE and RACE TO THE POLAR SEA * * I consider John Geiger a fellow writer of exploration literature. -- William S. Burroughs A remarkable piece of forensic deduction. -- Margaret Atwood on FROZEN IN TIME A riveting read, while the astonishing photographic record ... will lift the hairs on the back of your neck. The book gives a horrifying picture of the last days of those hungry, half-crazed explorers. * * Scotsman on FROZEN IN TIME * * Geiger's account combines history, scientific analysis and true-life tales to haunting effect. * * Bookseller * * Geiger recounts many, many tales of people who have found themselves in extreme situations, and felt a ghostly presence helping them. Almost without exception, they are exciting, edge-of-the-seat tales. Some of them might be familiar, which is no bad thing; it's like revisiting the greatest hits of exploration and daredevilry, but from a new angle . . . These are ripping tales, and Geiger tells them well. -- Melanie McGrath * * Evening Standard * * Geiger seeks the opinion of a range of neurological researchers, and sets out these expert opinions with zest . . . There is interesting material here on the human organisms's capacity to endure. -- Sara Wheeler * * Literary Review * * Founded on astonishing near-death tales . . .The Third Man Factor is a more thoughtful investigation of a strange "presence" felt by lonely explorers. -- James McConnachie * * Sunday Times * * Curiously gratifying. * * Literary Review * * His study of the history of adventure, natural disaster and neurological theses provides some amazing insights into the psychology of man. -- James Keating * * Sunday Business Post * * Extraordinary . . . compelling . . . John Geiger's book combines history, scientific analysis and great adventure stories and produces much food for thought. -- Jane Tester * * ReFresh magazine * * Author John Geiger has now, for the first time, collected these stories in a remarkable new book. Whatever the explanation for this mysterious phenomenon such 'third man' experiences seem to be an extrememly powerful force for survival when death seems imminent . . . Some of the most amazing survival stories ever are told by John Geiger's 'The Third Man'. * * Weekly News * * Gripping. -- Paul Sieveking * * Fortean Times * *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
425 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84767-419-7 (9781847674197)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
John Grigsby Geiger was born in Ithaca, New York, and graduated in history from the University of Alberta. The author of four books of non-fiction, his work has been translated into nine languages. He is Editorial Board Editor at The Globe and Mail, and was 2004-05 St. Clair Balfour Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. He is a Governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Chairman of the Society's Expeditions Committee, and a Member of the Advisory Board of Wings Worldquest.