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  • 438 Days

  • An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea
  • Written by: Jonathan Franklin
  • Narrated by: George Newbern
  • Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (176 ratings)

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438 Days

Written by: Jonathan Franklin
Narrated by: George Newbern
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Publisher's Summary

438 Days is the miraculous account of the man who survived alone and adrift at sea longer than anyone in recorded history - as told to journalist Jonathan Franklin in dozens of exclusive interviews.

On November 17, 2012, Salvador Alvarenga left the coast of Mexico for a two-day fishing trip. A vicious storm killed his engine, and the current dragged his boat out to sea. The storm picked up and blasted him west. When he washed ashore on January 29, 2014, he had arrived in the Marshall Islands, 9,000 miles away - equivalent to traveling from New York to Moscow round trip.

For 14 months, Alvarenga survived constant shark attacks. He learned to catch fish with his bare hands. He built a fish net from a pair of empty plastic bottles. Taking apart the outboard motor, he fashioned a huge fishhook. Using fish vertebrae as needles, he stitched together his own clothes.

He considered suicide on multiple occasions - including offering himself up to a pack of sharks. But Alvarenga never failed to invent an alternative reality. He imagined a method of survival that kept his body and mind intact long enough for the Pacific Ocean to toss him up on a remote, palm-studded island, where he was saved by a local couple living alone in their own Pacific Island paradise.

Based on dozens of hours of interviews with Alvarenga and interviews with his colleagues, search and rescue officials, the medical team that saved his life, and the remote islanders who nursed him back to health, this is an epic tale of survival, an all-true version of the fictional Life of Pi. 438 Days is a study of the resilience, will, ingenuity, and determination required for one man to survive 14 months lost at sea.

©2015 Jonathan Franklin (P)2015 Simon & Schuster
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What the critics say

"Narrator George Newbern does an excellent job delivering the story of Alvarenga's struggle... Newbern's consistent pace and varied tone keep the compelling story going, communicating the harrowing aspects of the journey as well as Alvarenga's inspirational will to survive his extended ordeal at sea." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about 438 Days

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Riveting

I listened to this book all 'in one go'... couldn't stop listening. There is no doubt that God preserved his life for His purposes. What a testimony of faith and resilience even though he started out with no knowledge of God. God makes Himself known to those who seek Him.

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Amazing and well documented tale of survival

Don’t listen to the phoney forced outrage of the green peace and PETA like reviews of this book. It is an amazing and well told story of survival. It seems to put the reader right alongside Salvador in his tiny 25’ boat as he struggles to overcome his mental and physical ailments on his unprecedented 14 month journey adrift in the open ocean. Amazing!

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Incredible!

Well written, well researched, couldn't put it down. Amazing! The will to live through that ordeal is astounding.

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Good listen

This is a well written tale of survival against all odds. I was never bored and enjoyed it thoroughly.

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Excellent!

This story has me captivated the whole way through. It’s as if you’re there with him living the experience. A tale of an unbelievable man with grit and the will to survive no matter what the odds.

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Fabulous book

I really enjoyed this story. Well written and very inspiring . I highly recommend this book. 5 stars

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What a listen!

I love stories of survival and this one tops them all for length of survival and positive outcome. George Newburn is a fluid, calm reader and it put me at ease listening to him weave the true story of Alvarenga lost at sea. I would definitely listen again. Such an inspiring story of overcoming odds and enjoying life to the fullest.

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Hard to put down

What an amazing story. As someone who has had a few close calls in the wild Pacific, I found this audible book very hard to turn off even on my second time through. It is well written and read - I have recommended it to many friends.

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Beautiful story

I have never cried while listening to an audiobook before and this story had me in tears. What an incredible man.

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Resilience & courage

Inspirational and done with all the fact checking you would hope.
Remarkable story told well

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