Read for book club Jan 2016.

I had heard of the Chilean miners, but knew nothing about their experiences. This book did a wonderful job telling their stories, from the miners, to their families, to the government officials and experts who got them out. It read like a newspaper article at times, but mostly it told a story of the 33 men. The names and places were a bit overwhelming at first, but I got to know the big personalities and the quiet men both. A Google search and Youtube also helped, which I would highly recommend doing as you read, especially a diagram of the San Jose mine. Really gave me perspective on how deep the men were and how they escaped into the Refuge.

But mostly the book seemed like a study of human resilience, including how the men made different choices for good or not and their idiosyncrasies that helped their personalities stand out. I enjoyed the contrast between the days with no contact aboveground and the days after the drill broke through. It was fascinating to read about the men's solidarity, as well as their division. As with any non-fiction, I asked myself what I would have done. A great story about hope, survival, and also surprisingly, of fame and its consequences.