Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 4,321 ratings

Price: 21.88

Last update: 01-24-2025


About this item

On October 12, 1972, a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the remote, snow-peaked Andes. Out of the 45 original passengers and crew, only 16 made it off the mountain alive. For 10 excruciating weeks, they suffered deprivations beyond imagining, confronting nature head-on at its most furious and inhospitable. And to survive, these men and women not only had to keep their faith; they had to make an impossible decision: Should they eat the flesh of their dead friends?

A remarkable story of endurance and determination, Alive is the dramatic best-selling account of one of the most harrowing quests for survival in modern times.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Andrea
    5.0 out of 5 stars Title: Braving “Alive”: A Journey from Phobia to Awe in the Andes
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2024
    “Alive” by Piers Paul Read is the book that made me reconsider what it means to endure discomfort. As someone who’s perpetually cold below 20°C and terrified of flying, reading about a plane crash in the Andes was a choice that made me question my life decisions. But Piers Paul Read’s storytelling makes the harrowing journey feel almost sacred.

    This isn’t just a survival story; it’s an exploration of brotherhood and resilience. Read’s genius lies in narrating the brutal reality without exploiting it, showing the raw determination and humanity of young men pushed to the limit. It’s factual yet full of empathy, immersing you in a way that makes this more than just a read—it’s an experience.

    If you’re on the fence about reading something this intense, I say give it a try. “Alive” might just surprise you with its warmth, even amid the ice.
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gut wrenching!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2024
    This book was slow to start but picked up as I went along. This is a gut wrenching story of loss and survival by whatever means necessary! This is truly a remarkable account of what the survivors went through and their amazing strength and faith to never give up.
  • Joseph A Corkill
    5.0 out of 5 stars As it was in 1983 it is in 2024
    Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
    The summer days between my junior and senior year in high school were long, sweltering, and boring. I remember my grandmother had a book with a picture of some people whose cracked skin and sunburned faces made feel sort of sick. My grandmother had an extensive personal library. Occasionally, she would remove the books, dust, clean, and put the books that were in the worst condition into another cabinet in the hallway by my room. One day I picked up this novel (Alive). I realized it was true story about a plane crash. Well, I have always been fascinated by plane crashes, so I thought I would try to read it. I hated to read. I really did. I did not know at the time that I had a reading disability and ADHD. As I began to read this novel, I must have become hyper-focused because when I put it down, it was 7:53 in the morning. Forty-one years later, I thought I should reread it (ironically, I am an English teacher now). It is now 7:53 in the morning, just as when I finished this book that hot August morning in South Texas. The story is captivating, of course. But it is not only the plot that draws me into the novel; it is the writing of Piers Paul Read. His diction creates a sensorial odyssey. The words float off the pages hitting you with the violence of the plane crash. The sounds of metal smashing against the mountain along with the roar of the avalanches are words striking the reader’s ears. The smell of fear, loneliness, decay, and death waft in the air. The tastes of chocolates, rum, cigarettes, and the dead are palpable. Moreover, the incessant touch of ice and snow engulfs you to wonder how anyone survived this at all. It is so well written. I wanted it to never end. I would have liked to know a little more about those who did not survive; however, this title lends itself to the sixteen who were alive after almost three months on the mountain. Incredibly written. Thank you for this gift.
  • onthefarminarcherlodge
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alive is the most riveting account of the 1972 plane crash and aftermath I've found.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2024
    This book will remain in my mind. Each individual in the crash comes alive through the author's pen. The most dramatic revelation in my mind is that now I can understand clearly how they made the decision to survive with the flesh of their dead friends. Their discussions about the decision were based on their strong religion and their love for their families. The book is absolutely riveting. I cannot imagine such endurance, sacrifice, and will to live. I wanted more and tried another book only to realize I had already read the best. Nothing can capture this extraordinary human trial more so than "Alive" Now I will find the movie.
  • jhbandcats
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrifying and compelling
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2024
    This is the second time I’ve read this and I’m still in awe of the story and the fact it was written so cogently within a year of the plane crash. It has a rather harsh, abrupt feel to it. The author describes some of the young men as, variously, violent, immature, and arrogant, and he goes into detail about the strife and bitter arguments amongst the survivors. In agonizing pain, increasingly weak from starvation, tempers frayed and insults flew.

    At the same time, what the survivors remember is their camaraderie and love, their team spirit. In later interviews, the disagreements have been forgotten but at the time, they were all-encompassing. It’s difficult to reconcile the two outlooks. It almost seems like this author goes out of his way to be as harsh and cruel as possible. In other books, the authors bend over backwards to be more understanding and philosophical about the situation.

    In any case, this is an amazing tale of extraordinary survival. It’s a riveting story. I found myself thinking of it whenever I wasn’t actively reading. It may not be the most well-written nonfiction book I’ve read but it’s certainly one of the more compelling.
  • John McAlexander III
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not my kind of book .. But a Challenging read !
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2024
    I know, because I had previously had heard About this event, that this book was based upon a true story. Eventhough that being the case, I could never find myself in any type of cannibal-type setting. I have read other books that contain cannibalism, and I understand how such methods-of-madness
    people can be drawn into. SAD ! This book is not for the 'faint at heart'. If you do not have a strong moral disposition before reading this book... Do Not Read this book !!! The subject matter is interesting, but the actions Taken Within the book are very CHALLENGING!!! RECOMMENDED to the Morally Strong !! Not recommended to a novice reader. Many quite graphic depictions are described within this book ! !

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