This is a wild real-life adventure that reads like a novel! Mitchell Zuckoff turns an obscure World War II story into a gripping survival tale, blending history, anthropology, and drama. You'll get to know colorful servicemen, a gutsy WAC, quirky rescuers, and even the Dani tribespeople of New Guinea. Zuckoff's research is thorough, full of primary sources, photos, and even voices from the valley itself. Anyone into WWII stories, true survival, or tales of first contact with hidden cultures will be hooked. It's also great for readers who normally prefer fiction - this one doesn’t read like your typical dry history book.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Some readers found the pacing a bit uneven, especially with the detailed backstories and military logistics. If you're expecting nonstop action or a more traditional war story, you might be disappointed - this is more about survival and rescue than battlefield heroics. A few wished the book dug deeper into the social context, media frenzy, or long-term effects on the native culture. Others felt certain sections (like character background) dragged or came off as filler. Also, if you don’t care for narrative nonfiction or need a tightly focused storyline, this might not be your style.

A fascinating, fast-paced true survival story with a unique WWII setting - compelling for fans of adventure, history, and overlooked moments in time.

About:

Lost in Shangri La is a captivating true story of survival and adventure during World War II. The book narrates the harrowing account of a military airplane crash in the native jungles of New Guinea and the subsequent heroic rescue mission to save the survivors. Mitchell Zuckoff skillfully weaves together the tales of the crash, the survivors' struggle to survive, and the daring rescue attempt, providing a detailed narrative of a lesser-known historical event overshadowed by the war itself.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and narrative-driven, effectively blending research with character-driven storytelling, creating a vivid and suspenseful experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot narrates the crash of a military plane during WWII, the survival ordeal of three servicemen, and their subsequent rescue, emphasizing the stark contrast between expectations and reality.

Setting:

The setting showcases the remote jungles of New Guinea during WWII, creating a striking backdrop that enhances the survival challenges faced by the characters.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick and suspenseful, effectively maintaining reader engagement through the unfolding drama of survival and rescue.

Sixteen months earlier, in January 1944, Margaret Hastings had walked into a recruiting station in the nearby city of Binghamton. There, she signed her name and took her place among the first generati...

Genres:

Topics:

american military history

new guinea

survival against the odds

airplane crash

Notes:

The book recounts the true story of a plane crash during World War II in which a C-47 airplane crashed into the jungles of New Guinea, killing 21 of the 24 passengers.

The three survivors were Army Corporal Margaret Hastings, Lieutenant John McCollom, and Sergeant Kenneth Decker.

Initially, the survivors feared the local natives, whom they believed to be hostile cannibals, but found them to be friendly.

The name "Shangri-La" was used to describe the remote valley, implying it was an untouched paradise despite the dangerous reality of their situation.

The book highlights how the media sensationalized the story, particularly focusing on the attractive female survivor, Margaret Hastings, and projecting the narrative of a damsel in distress.

The rescue team included Filipino paratroopers, whose significant contributions were largely overlooked by the media at the time.

The survivors had to endure uncomfortable conditions, with one of them facing potential amputation due to gangrene, but timely medical help arrived.

The rescue operation involved parachuting supplies into the jungle and ultimately devising a plan to extract the survivors amidst challenging terrain.

Zuckoff conducted in-depth research, including interviews with the last surviving survivor and the native people involved in the rescue.

The book is part personal narrative, part exploration of cultural misunderstandings, showcasing both American soldiers and the Dani natives of New Guinea.

From The Publisher:

A New York Times bestseller, the extraordinary World War II mission to rescue survivors of a U.S. military plane crash in an isolated corner of the South Pacific, and the ancient indigenous tribe members that aided those stranded on the ground in this "Shangri-La."

Award-winning former Boston Globe reporter Mitchell Zuckoffunleashes the exhilarating, untold story of an extraordinary World War IIrescue mission, where a plane crash in the South Pacific plunged a trio of U.S.military personnel into a land that time forgot. Fans of Hampton Sides' Ghost Soldiers, Marcus Luttrell's Lone Survivor, and David Grann's The Lost Cityof Z will be captivated by Zuckoff's masterfullyrecounted, all-true story of danger, daring, determination, and discovery injungle-clad New Guinea during the final days of WWII.

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Lost in Shangri-la: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II

Mitchell Zuckoff

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