Lost in Shangri-La

This book is proof that just when you think that every WWII story has been told, another comes along. Ably read by Mitchell Zuckoff, the book chronicles three military personnel who survived a plane crash near the end of the war, only to find themselves stranded without a method of communicating in a jungle known for cannibals. The story of their rescue is gripping, and Zuckoff's narration is adept. He delivers the story with confidence, conveying the fears of those stranded as well as the efforts of the paratroopers and others who attempt to come to their rescue, only to face additional obstacles. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 14, 2011
Zuckoff (Ponzi's Scheme) skillfully narrates the story of a plane crash and rescue mission in an uncharted region of New Guinea near the end of WWII. Of the 24 American soldiers who flew from their base on a sightseeing tour to a remote valley, only three survived the disaster, including one WAC. As the three waited for help, they faced death from untreated injuries and warlike local tribesmen who had never seen white people before and believed them to be dangerous spirits. Even after a company of paratroopers arrived, the survivors still faced a dangerous escape from the valley via "glider snatch." Zuckoff transforms impressive research into a deft narrative that brings the saga of the survivors to life. His access to journal accounts, letters, photos, military records, and interviews with the eyewitnesses allows for an almost hour-by-hour account of the crash and rescue, along with vivid portraits of his main subjects. Zuckoff also delves into the Stone Age culture of the New Guinea tribesmen and the often humorous misapprehensions the Americans and natives have about each other. In our contemporary world of eco-tourism and rain-forest destruction, Zuckoff's book gives a window on a more romantic, and naïve, era.