This book has remained in my memory for many years. Why I read it was because our family was stationed at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. There is a museum there with many wonderful naval artifacts. One of them was the actual raft that those three sailors journeyed on for over 37 days. My mouth dropped open when I saw it 'in the flesh'. It is tiny. I immediately found the book and read it. It is everybit as amazing as the raft itself. I urge anyone who wonders about survival and man's ability to hold onto life to read this book. Well written and I'd say, a classic.