The Third Man Factor tells the revealing story behind an extraordinary idea: that people at the very edge of death, often adventurers or explorers, experience a benevolent presence beside them who encourages them to make one final effort to survive.

If only a handful of people had ever experienced the Third Man, it might be dismissed as an unusual delusion but over the years the experience has occurred again and again: to mountaineers, divers, polar explorers, prisoners of war, solo sailors, aviators, astronauts and 9/11 survivors. All have escaped traumatic events only to tell strikingly similar stories of having experienced the close presence of a helper or guardian.

In The Third Man Factor John Geiger combines history, scientific analysis and great adventure stories to explain this secret to survival, the Third Man who - in the words of legendary Italian climber Reinhold Messner - 'leads you out of the impossible'.

Incredible true stories of a life-saving presence experienced in extreme adventuring situations - backed up by weighty research

About the Author
John Grigsby Geiger was born in Ithaca, New York, and graduated in history from the University of Alberta. The author of five non-fiction books, including the international bestseller Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition, his work has been translated into ten languages. He also authored, with Dr Peter Suedfeld, the scholarly study 'The Sensed Presence as a Coping Resource in Extreme Environments'. He is editorial board editor at the Globe and Mail, and a senior fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. He is a governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and chair of the Society's Expeditions Committee, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the Explorer's Club, and a Member of the Advisory Board of Wings Worldquest. He received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

Reviews
Founded on astonishing near-death tales . . .The Third Man Factor is a more thoughtful investigation of a strange "presence" felt by lonely explorers. -- James McConnachie * * Sunday Times * *
Geiger recounts many, many tales of people who have found themselves in extreme situations, and felt a ghostly presence helping them. Almost without exception, they are exciting, edge-of-the-seat tales. Some of them might be familiar, which is no bad thing; it's like revisiting the greatest hits of exploration and daredevilry, but from a new angle ... These are gripping tales, and Geiger tells them well -- Melanie McGrath * * Evening Standard * *
Geiger seeks the opinion of a range of neurological researchers, and sets out these expert opinions with zest . . . There is interesting material here on the human organisms's capacity to endure. -- Sara Wheeler * * Literary Review * *
Geiger's account combines history, scientific analysis and true-life tales to haunting effect. * * Bookseller * *
Extraordinary . . . compelling . . . John Geiger's book combines history, scientific analysis and great adventure stories and produces much food for thought. -- Jane Tester * * ReFresh magazine * *
Author John Geiger has now, for the first time, collected these stories in a remarkable new book. Whatever the explanation for this mysterious phenomenon such 'third man' experiences seem to be an extrememly powerful force for survival when death seems imminent . . . Some of the most amazing survival stories ever are told by John Geiger's 'The Third Man'. * * Weekly News * *
Gripping. -- William Leith * * The Scotsman * *



Book Information
ISBN 9781847674203
Author John Geiger
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Canongate Books
Publisher Canongate Books
Weight(grams) 205g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 19mm