Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home

I read Alive by Piers Paul Read when it came out in the 70s and never forgot the terrible, life-affirming story. A few months ago when I read that Nando Parrado, one of the heroes of the book, had written his own book about the plane crash and miracle of survival, I re-read Alive, just to familiarize myself with the details.I bought this book by Nando Parrado as soon as it became available, and at times thought that it was a repeat of the Piers Paul Read book, but then began to realize that the facts are what they are, and that Nando Parrado's book is filled with much more than just facts; most of all it is filled with heart.The horror of the crash and the brotherhood of the survivors is unsurpassed in human survival accounts. I would rank Parrado up there with Shackelton and maybe a couple of other early explorers: men with grit and honor, able to see beyond the horrific facts of the unexpected circumstances they find themselves in. Because of Nando's and Roberto Cannessa's determination to not die on the mountain, and to not let even one more of the survivors perish, the miracle of the book's title occurrs when they walk out of the mountains to get help for the other survivors, who, for a variety of reasons, were unable to save themselves. Parrado's account of his very real struggle, fear and dread is bone chillingly real, but along his trek through the Andes he has fortitude and foresight, and in the realization that no human had ever climed the mountain they were on, he named the tallest mountain they traversed for his father. It is my fervent hope that the name Mt. Seler has stuck and will be printed in history books and on maps from now on.Parrado says he and the other survivors have made the unconscious decision to not let the plane crash define them, and have all moved forward with their lives for the sake of their families as well as for their own peace of mind. They are to be commended for that; however, the world would not have come to know them were it not for the accident and the miracle in the Andes. I am proud to have met these men through the pages of this remarkable book. It is truly a Masterpiece.June 22: I am editing my review above, having just finished Terri Jentz's book, Strange Piece of Paradise. Her book also tells of a horrific event that befell the writer, also in the 70s, but there is a huge difference between that book and this one: Jentz has never gotten over her trauma, in fact would appear to be stuck in it. It bothered me. Her book was overly long and exhausting in the extreme. And compared to Miracle in the Andes the event she experienced was very strange, but almost trivial in comparison. I have added the paragraph below to this review ....Once read, Miracle In The Andes will never be forgotten, not only for the courageous story that is told, but because of the man writing the book. Nando Parrado has to be the bravest and wisest man I have ever come across in the pages of a book. How he has taken the catastrophic event of the plane crash, followed by deaths, freezing weather, broken bodies, hunger, etc. and turn it into the Miracle of the title is just about beyond my comprehension. What a man he is to realize that we cannot let one event define our lives, no matter how painful or horrific that event may be. He also has somehow rallied together, every single year for 30 plus years, his fellow survivors, and they are all smiling in every photo I have ever seen of them. He is my hero. All of these men are heroes. I can't think of enough ways of stating how wonderful this book is, and how fabulous its message is. Please, please read it and recommend it to anyone who wants to be proud to be a human being.

Nando Parrado comes across in the Piers Paul Read book, ALIVE! as impossibly heroic, the power house of strength whose destiny seems to be to lead the trek out of the Andes. He is kind, hard working and never seems to loose his cool.In this book, he tells us the story 30 years after the airplane crash in the Andes. We hear of his terror of the mountains, panic at being so trapped, impatience to escape, and horror at the death of his mother, sister, and friends. As we hear this story from his heart, a different Nando emerges.He tells us the story of the climb up the mountain, which had they only known better, was impossible. It was a technical climb at high altitude better attempted by well equipped mountaineers than by boys in street clothes and rugby boots. And yet they climbed it and walked out and have lived to tell about it.He tells us of his efforts to remain calm and not succumb to panic, such as after the avalanche kills a number of the survivors. We learn of his focus on saving energy, "tears waste salt". He uses many skills to remain focused throughout the entire ordeal in the mountains. [A study of those skills makes the book worth reading by itself.] But like everyone else there comes a time when he, too, looses his cool.He tells of the web of values and experiences that he took into the mountains, of his parents love and teaching. He tells us that when all else is lost, it is love of his father that keeps him going even though he is convinced that he will die in the attempt to trek out.He tells us of his weaknesses and the heroism of the others, both those who lived and those who did not. He tells us of the strong bonds between individuals and how they "made each other better men".He tells us of the cold so intense it burns, the thin air and the brutal magnificance of those huge mountains. What a cruel enviornment it is for people who have never seen snow before.In the end all of the victims and survivors seem more human and more heroic.As for Nando, he emerges as more complex, more compelling, more generous, and somehow more convincingly human than one would have expected. Love becomes his centralizing value and theme. And, somehow, his telling of this story becomes an act of love.That in itself is astouding and courageous and could only have been do by someone who is living his message. It is a privilege to read this story.For those not familiar with the story I would suggest reading ALIVE! 1st. But if you are interested in humanity, survival and especially, love: READ THIS BOOK!

This book is probably one of the important books you can ever read. I read it in two days! So make sure you have some time off. You feel like you re there. Its life and love affirming in the most awful of circumstances. God is bought up but in such a philosophical manner than its so much more inspiring. This is the story of the man who made it across the mountains. It is moving and incredible to realise what humanity alone is capable of. I have wanted to buy this for many friends and family members. Its an incredible book. I loved reading it and I thank the author for writing it - and revisiting that experience in order to share it with us.

I received this book on Friday lunchtime and by Saturday evening I finished reading it. I devoured it! Could not put it down. I already knew about the 1972 Andes plane crash and had seen one of the movies which sprang from that disaster. But Miracle In The Andes told a much more personal story about the awful suffering the survivors went through. At times, while Nando and Roberto were scrabbling up an almost sheer cliff face to reach the summit, I was really urging them on to get to the top, because I was pretty sure the summit would be a turning point, which it definitely was. Be prepared to get really emotional when you get to the part when they finally saw the guy on horseback. I am now going to watch YouTube videos of the annual trek to the crash site to memorialise the victims.

I'm familiar with the story of the plane crash in the Andes involving a young rugby team from Uruguay on their way to a match in Chile. I've seen a feature film and a documentary about events. Both were challenging to watch, but I had no idea about the real extent of this tragedy.The author was a survivor and after some years, he's written this considered, well balanced although often harrowing account of the crash and its aftermath. There's barely a spare word in a narrative which details deprivation and endurance beyond understanding. Ingenuity, resourcefulness, courage and occasional divine intervention, both good and bad, all played a part in the aftermath of the crash. This is one of the most profoundly moving books I've ever read. Nando Parrado writes with warmth and understanding about his friends and team mates. He writes with insight, compassion and self awareness which brings these (mainly) young men vividly to life. That anyone survived the actual crash may be considered a miracle, but to follow the story of the next weeks as a group of survivors struggle to live is a really emotional ride. It's impossible to imagine being stranded thousands of feet up in the Andes, wearing light summer clothing, without food or heat and no experience of snow which was waist deep. Their physical strength depleted through starvation and dehydration, to say nothing of the injuries sustained during the crash, they had to draw on every ounce of mental and spiritual strength in order to survive.The writing is always measured, which makes it all the more powerful and it's a very thought provoking account which leaves the reader reflecting on a number of moral issues. It certainly puts every day to day gripe about some misfortune or other into perspective. It's a book I'd recommend to everyone.

After having read "Alive" many years ago by Piers Paul Read, I wanted to read this latest book by Nando Parrado. I thought the book was very slow to start with although it did get more interesting as the story unfolded. It was fascinating to find out the inner thoughts and feelings of Nando and the incrediable effort he made to survive. I actually remember this story unfolding in the news at the time in the 1970s and I have always admired all the young people who were on that fateful flight. Not only the ones who survived but the brave people who did not make it back to their loved ones. I did joy this book although I would recommend reading "Alive" by Piers Paul Read.

Picked this up and couldn't put it down until I finished. If there wasn't so much proof, photos, numerous accounts, you wouldn't believe it.This book chronicles the incredible story of the 1972 Andes plane crash. There are moments you just feel hollow, given to you by just the smallest glimpse of what it must have actually been like to be there. It made me truly grateful for my life.Please read this.