Online for Authors Episode 10-15-24

​Surviving the Impossible: The Harrowing Tale of Flight 571 with Author John Guiver

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is John Guiver, author of the book To Play the Game. John’s lifetime interest in the 1972 Andes Flight Disaster led him to travel to the site of the accident in January 2013 in the company of one of the sixteen survivors, Eduardo Strauch. Through him, John met many others connected to the story. The detailed information he amassed persuaded him to write a comprehensive history of this iconic event.

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Are you fascinated by the incredible true story of the 1972 Andes flight disaster and the 16 survivors who endured 72 days stranded on a mountain? In my latest podcast episode, I chat with John Guiver, author of the new book To Play the Game, which provides a comprehensive 50-year perspective on this iconic event.

What makes John's book unique is that rather than solely focusing on the survivors like previous accounts, he tells the stories of every person who was on that fateful flight. As John explains:

"There was a whole context for that story that I wanted to know more about, in particular I wanted to know more about the people who died, many of whom survived for many days. In such an iconic story, they really needed to be known about for the history of this event, which will be talked about for hundreds of years."

Through extensive research spanning over a decade, including multiple trips to Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and the crash site itself, John interviewed family members of the victims and uncovered fascinating archival information to paint a rich picture of not only the passengers, but of the close-knit community they came from.

As I share in my review:

"By the time they were on the plane, you felt like you knew them as a whole and kind of what made them all tick. We care about all of these people who are on this plane, and now we know there's a crash. It was a very different feeling, and I enjoyed that aspect of it."

While writing the book was an intense three-year process, John felt a sense of calm and purpose in telling these untold stories. As he reflects:

"Every single story I told, every one of those 23 stories, had something really fascinating about it that made it a compelling story. For me it was like something outside of me that was just bringing these stories together."

If you enjoy character-driven nonfiction that immerses you in the history and humanity behind an extraordinary event, I highly recommend checking out To Play the Game. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the 1972 Andes flight disaster, and a testament to the power of honoring all of the lives impacted by a tragedy.

To learn more about John's research and writing process, as well as how he tracked down and gained the trust of the victims' families to share their stories, check out our full conversation on the Online for Authors Podcast.

Don't forget, if you want a chance to win a digital copy of the book, head over to the Novels N Latte Facebook group!

Happy reading!Purchase To Play the Game on Amazon:
​Paperback: https://amzn.to/46I7Ipr

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.