Like so many people, Dr. Kamler grew up in a city, dreaming of mountains and adventure. An accomplished microsurgeon, he somehow got it into his head one day to jeopardise his fingers with a long-delayed rock climbing course over in New Hampshire. It was through a contact made there that he was later asked to join a team climbing in Peru as the expedition doctor. After the baptism by fire he received there, his skills, his reputation as (as he puts it) "a medical explorer" as well as his love of exploration were unquestionable.

Over the years I've read literally hundreds of assorted adventure books--including some which describe situations mentioned in Surving the Extremes-- and often had cause to ask myself "how did they live through that?" We know that certain people have lived through things that seemingly would have killed anyone else. But those of us who wonder about these things have never known exactly what it is that makes these survivors different.

These are the questions that Dr. Kamler's book actually answers--he provides a clue about how the will to live, the desire in the brain and soul to endure translates into the physical act of survival. These are questions that I personally never thought would have an answer.

A true-life scientific thriller no reader will forget, Surviving the Extremes takes us to the farthest reaches of the earth as well as into the uncharted territory within the human body, spirit, and brain. A vice president of the legendary Explorers Club, as well as surgeon, explorer, and masterful storyteller, Dr. Kenneth Kamler has spent years discovering what happens to the human body in extreme environmental conditions. Divided into six sections—jungle, high seas, desert, underwater, high altitude, and outer space—this book uses firsthand testimony and documented accounts to investigate the science of what a body goes through and explains why people survive—and why they sometimes don’t.

An absorbing account combining science and exploration as humans confront environmental extremes… (Los Angeles Times) Powerful, moving, and very real. (Oliver Sacks)

Dr. Kenneth Kamler is a microsurgeon and the author of Doctor on Everest, his account of being the only physician on Mt. Everest during the Into Thin Air expedition. He has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 48 Hours, and CNN and profiled in The New York Times and USA Today. He was named a “best doctor” by New York magazine and lives in New York City.

Imprint: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Distributor: Penguin Group USA, Inc
Publication Date: 12-28-2004
Pages: 336
Measurements: 8.48in X 5.58in X 0.78in X 0.63lb