Learning Survival Through Reading

by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President for Iron County Today

Authors create worlds to explore, and in some cases, survive. An older book that has stuck in my mind is the adventures of a ship crew that got stranded in Antarctica in 1915. The leader Sir Edgar Shakleton has become a case study in business schools for leadership in crisis. He had unwavering optimism with a heavy dose of reality. He prioritized his crew over the mission and the 27 men managed to survive in brutal conditions. My favorite part was when they sailed to the wrong side of the island to find rescuers and had to sled down a mountain. When things were going badly he suggested the "Need to put the footprint of courage into the stirrup of patience." Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing will make you appreciate your warm home and hot meals that are much better than boiled seal. 

A more recent book is the Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Layers of mysteries are revealed on a remote island with a dysfunctional family, a mystery woman washed up on shore, and a critical seed bank. It is a page turner with some evocative writing about climate and family. The descriptions of the whales and albatross are beautifully written. Not everyone survives in this novel, but the author gives us a lot to consider. More mature subjects.

Near Death Shift by Holly Porter is a survival story, as well as a book celebrating life lessons. This heroic local woman lived after intubation during Covid with the help of her family, friends,  and the amazing medical teams at our area hospitals. Even though I knew she survived I was still stunned when reading what she endured, especially since we knew other people who did not recover. Porter uses her experiences to recalibrate expectations and has great advice for moving forward with a vastly increased appreciation for family, friends, and life. "If there is one truth my near-death experience carved into my heart, it's that learning doesn't stop when school ends, when a career stabilizes, or even when life feels predictable.  Learning is the very rhythm of growth, and inspiration is the oxygen that keeps us moving forward," she wrote. "Adaptability is not a weakness; it's a sign of resilience. It's the courage to pivot when doors close, the willingness to evolve when passions shift, and the humility to admit when one season has ended so another can begin."

Isaac's Storm by Eric Larson is a detailed account about the hurricane that struck Galveston. The weather predictions from Cuba were ignored and the results for Texas were catastrophic. The individual choices of the people were vastly different, but understandable. I learned a lot about what has gone into developing the modern luxury of weather forecasting. 

Even with the unseasonably warm weather it is still a fine time to tackle a book. Reading about adventures of struggle and survival can also teach many valuable life lessons.  As Shakleton reminds us, "Men are not made from easy victories, but based on great defeats."