Customer Reviews

A Test of Will: One Man's Extraordinary Story of Survival

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I approached this book with some trepidation. Having just read two similar accounts of persons severely injured in the wilderness, I was in no mood to endure yet another awfully written book.

Apparently, Warren MacDonald has some writing experience or perhaps a very good editor. In either case, readers are treated to an exceptionally interesting book chronically the course of Warren's maverick life.

As expected, Warren first immerses his readers in the gripping tale of his entrapment beneath a one-ton rock as fellow hiker Geert van Keulen frantically goes for help. An added feature of the book are the Geert van Keulen written sections covering his side of the experience.

In interspersed chapters, reader's learn of Warren's introduction to the wilderness, his doomed efforts to save a portion of it, and his eventual and emotional efforts with friends and family to overcome the loss of his legs. Showing his maturity, Warren is wise enough to thank all those folks responsible for his rescue and long recovery.

This is truly a well written and inspiring take on the age old ideal of never giving up.

After you read this book, everything in your life will be measured by the BEFORE Warren, or the AFTER Warren Macdonald experience. Because one thing is certain, you will NEVER see the world in the same way, AFTER

reading Warren's book. There are some books that change your life, your heart, your mind and your perspective forever.... and then there is Warren's book, that is far greater than that! Warren will change how you value life itself. Warren will change how you feel inside your own skin! Warren will transform your

relationship with the Earth; and he will do it with an honesty, a directness and a sincerity that you will never forget.

There are some stories that forever change who YOU are by reading them. There are some people whose courage and strength, redefine what it means to be alive and successful. I am a better person for having read

Warren's book; how many authors can say that about their literary contributions?

Vaishali

I had the opportunity to meet Warren at an open house for a climbing facility in our area. After listening to him speak, I just had to have his book! Warren MacDonald's "A Test Of Will" is one of those rare books that was difficult for me to put down. One day, I was almost late to work, because I became so immersed in it, and lost track of time! I 'm left wanting to read more of his stories. Warren's "can do" attitude is one that we all should strive for. It's his attitude, not his body, that enables him to do what ever he pleases. He may have no legs, but there is no "dis" in his ability. This book is a must read for anyone working with ,and helping people whose bodies fit different molds .

Diana Hanks, Volunteer for Vermont Adaptive Sports

Survival stories are a 'guilty pleasure' of mine and over the years I've gobbled up quite a few. Although I have yet to find a story that gets even close to Krakauer's 'Into Thin Air' this is definitely one of the better books of the genre.

As opposed to plenty of other author's of survival books Warren Macdonald stays refreshingly human in his outlook and he quite openly describes also his not so positive and politically correct feelings. I was very impressed particularly by the second half of the book describing how he works to get his life back on track in a self-determined manner. His attitude could certainly serve as an example for a lot of people out there.

As for the contributions of his travel companion, I could have very well done without them.

Certainly a good read!

Very inspiring. I did see Warren MacDonald in an interview and he had so much Charisma that I wanted to read the book. An amazing story how a person can evolve through crisis, this goes for the victim as well as for the savior. Warren shows that the sky can be the limit and it is possible to put mind over matter. It is a very intense story and the way it is written, it feels like being part of it. It's remarkable how candid he describes his feelings and conclusions regarding the amputation. It gave me very important insights as I never knew anyone dealing with amputation, but it completely changed my view.

For Warren, things went from bad to worse, to worst. Wow! I knew how it ended and I still couldn't put it down. It's a great message in an even better book.

While I very much admire the courage of the author in getting through a very difficult situation, I'm afraid the book itself is just not very interesting. I think the story could more easily have been told as a magazine article, as there is a lot of filler. In my opinion, there are much better survival stories, like Jungle, Endurance, or Lost in the Wild.

Warren Macdonald was an avid outdoorsman, experienced Mountaineer and environmentalist when he set out for what was supposed to be a two day (there-and-back) climb up Mount Bowen on Hinchinbrook Island in Australia. Little did he know these would be his last steps he would ever take as a "complete" human being. His little jaunt up the mountain turns suddenly into a nightmare when a massive 1 ton slab of rock breaks free and in a "wrong place, wrong time" moment traps Warren beneath it.

Along with flashbacks into Warren's life the majority of this memoir alternates POV's between Warren's 48 hour struggle for survival beneath the rock and his hiking companion Geert van Keulen's harrowing 11hour race back down the mountain to find help. With a broken pelvis and barely able to move Warren manages to fight off drowning (as the creek bed he's lying in fills with water) the elements, pain, fear, insanity and even death. And just when you think it can't possibly get any worse, as Warren puts it "A bad movie gets worse"

Near the end of his ordeal Warren ends up using a stick to fight off yabbies (Australian crayfish) that have started eating his dying legs and feet. Not long after he feels a stinging sensation in his groin and chest area, and realizes a colony of ants has found a new and delicious home, "one with a steady food supply...him." At this point I don't know how Warren maintained his sanity, it was hard enough to read. I should add that his companion Geert's journey back down the mountain is equally gripping and added a great perspective to the story.

I won't be spoiling anything (he lets you know on the very first page ) by telling you that Warren is rescued yet ultimately looses both his legs. A large part of this read also deals with his time in hospital, rehab and learning to deal with his new reality. Which I might add he exceeds. Warren's road to recovery was equally as motivating and uplifting as his survival story.

I'm always amazed at what the human spirit is capable of enduring when it comes right down to it and this is a fascinating example of courage, strength of spirit and sheer determination. Now a motivational speaker Warren has since become the first above knee amputee to reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. He also swims, surfs and has learned to walk again.

The writing and editing here is good unlike a lot of survival memoirs I've read although towards the end we do get a ton of name dropping which I suppose is great for Warren's friends but not so interesting for the reader. Also contains 4 pages of photographs and a map of Australia showing Hinchinbrook Island and Mt Bowen.

The journey that is described in the pages of this book is overwhelming for the reader. I had to put this book down a few times because of the awesome emotions and physical realties that are described in VIVID detail. Warren's battle, illustrates to us all how far we CAN go when we are pushed and when we really have no alternatives.

Think you've had a bad day?

Outdoorsman extraordinaire Warren MacDonald literally got caught between a rock and a hard place during one backcountry hike Down Under. This is an inspiring first-person narrative of his horrendous experience and his enduring will to adapt to this setback and use it as a positive force in his life.

Whether or not you were a rock climber or an outdoorsman, MacDonald's story offers an excellent case study in overcoming adversity.