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sarahheidmann's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
yellauraya's review against another edition
5.0
5/5
This book is so engaging and I was absolutely invested the whole time. Even though the whole book was not only exclusively about the Thai cave rescue but also some of the Rick Stanton's journey throughout his career as a cave diver, each of his journey mentioned was a bit of a reflection that can be compared to the whole process of the Thai cave rescue. I was captivated by his caving expeditions that I can vividly picture them in my mind. I seriously enjoyed reading this gripping book so much.
Rick Stanton's personality and perspective also added to the charm of this book. He's like a pessimistic, grumpy old man without much empathy (as he said so himself) who doesn't particularly liked children, but ended up saving thirteen of them and actually one of the people who sincerely did his best to rescue them. Reading the inside story is just so refreshing. I've seen John Volanthen, Craig Challen and Richard Harris' books about the rescue and I might read them in the future. I rarely pick up nonfictions but I'm glad I enjoyed it more than I expected!
This book is so engaging and I was absolutely invested the whole time. Even though the whole book was not only exclusively about the Thai cave rescue but also some of the Rick Stanton's journey throughout his career as a cave diver, each of his journey mentioned was a bit of a reflection that can be compared to the whole process of the Thai cave rescue. I was captivated by his caving expeditions that I can vividly picture them in my mind. I seriously enjoyed reading this gripping book so much.
Rick Stanton's personality and perspective also added to the charm of this book. He's like a pessimistic, grumpy old man without much empathy (as he said so himself) who doesn't particularly liked children, but ended up saving thirteen of them and actually one of the people who sincerely did his best to rescue them. Reading the inside story is just so refreshing. I've seen John Volanthen, Craig Challen and Richard Harris' books about the rescue and I might read them in the future. I rarely pick up nonfictions but I'm glad I enjoyed it more than I expected!
amandatheactivist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death
msssc's review against another edition
3.0
Author is kind of an d***. Or at least comes off that way. I only really enjoyed the parts directly discussing the rescue but did appreciate some of the side stories (of previous dives) that gave context to some characters in the Thai mission. Overall just OK, almost didn’t finish and wish I had skipped more of the first half of the book.
bee_vee's review against another edition
5.0
If I didn't already know from the title and just from knowing about the story that all thirteen boys live, I don't know if I would have been able to cope. It is an intense read, there's no getting away from it. The intensity is balanced though as we flip between the situation on the ground in Thailand in 2018, and Rick's life leading up to 2018, learning about cave diving and growing his skillset to become arguably the best in the world in his field - his very niche, dangerous, seemingly totally pointless field. The parts of his life and stories from his cave diving past have been chosen purposefully to illustrate a point that circles back into relevance in the following section when we're back in Thailand at the rescue site. It was incredible to read and the last couple of chapters in particular were tense, and the stories of other cave rescues and body recoveries that Rick has been involved in put a lump in my throat. I am so grateful that there are people who can be called to go in and attempt to bring people home to their families, one way or another.
I would thoroughly recommend this book, and I think other key members of the team also wrote books so I'm really tempted to find and buy those as well.
I appreciate Rick and every other member of the team who made what seemed impossible, possible. (And it's just really cool that he lives in the same area I do! Madness!)
I would thoroughly recommend this book, and I think other key members of the team also wrote books so I'm really tempted to find and buy those as well.
I appreciate Rick and every other member of the team who made what seemed impossible, possible. (And it's just really cool that he lives in the same area I do! Madness!)
sparky_lurkdragon's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
5.0