The Third Man Factor
Surviving the Impossible
Published on 6. May 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-84767-420-3 (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 but 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.
In The Third Man Factor John Geiger combines history, scientific analysis and great adventure stories to explain this secret to survival, the 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 but 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.
In The Third Man Factor John Geiger combines history, scientific analysis and great adventure stories to explain this secret to survival, the Third Man who - in the words of legendary Italian climber Reinhold Messner - 'leads you out of the impossible'.
Reviews / Votes
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 * * 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 gripping 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 * * Geiger's account combines history, scientific analysis and true-life tales to haunting effect. * * Bookseller * * 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. -- William Leith * * The Scotsman * *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
216 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84767-420-3 (9781847674203)
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
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2009
Canongate Books
€12.89
Available for download
Persons
John Grigsby Geiger was born in Ithaca, New York, and graduated in history from the University of Alberta. The author of five non-fiction books, including the international bestseller Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition, his work has been translated into ten languages. He also authored, with Dr Peter Suedfeld, the scholarly study 'The Sensed Presence as a Coping Resource in Extreme Environments'. He is editorial board editor at the Globe and Mail, and a senior fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. He is a governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and chair of the Society's Expeditions Committee, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the Explorer's Club, and a Member of the Advisory Board of Wings Worldquest. He received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.