Laurence Gonzales

Laurence Gonzales is an author and journalist whose work focuses on science, adventure, and the human condition. He is known for the book "Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why," which explores survival case studies and draws on neuroscience and psychology to examine why some people endure life-threatening situations while others do not. "Deep Survival" has been published in multiple languages and was followed by the sequel, "Surviving Survival: The Art and Science of Resilience," which examines how individuals recover and rebuild after catastrophic events. The book combines adventure narrative, survival science, and practical advice for managing stress, assessing risk, and making decisions under pressure, and has been referenced by business leaders, military officers, educators, and psychiatric professionals.

Gonzales is the author of three novels and five nonfiction books. His works include "Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival," which reconstructs the crash of a DC-10 and was adapted for the stage by The House Theater of Chicago, with additional performances in Boulder, Colorado, and Miami, Florida. His novel "Lucy" blends science and ethics in a thriller format. Gonzales's essays are collected in "House of Pain" and "The Chemistry of Fire."

Gonzales has received several awards for his books and essays, including two National Magazine Awards, the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, and the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He also received the Montaigne Medal from the Eric Hoffer Society and the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize. His academic recognition includes a Journalism Fellowship from the Santa Fe Institute and an appointment as a Miller Distinguished Scholar there, a position awarded to accomplished thinkers who contribute to the understanding of society, science, and culture.

Gonzales has served as an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University and has spoken before organizations such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, Exxon-Mobil, the Wilderness Medical Society, and the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been featured on television, radio, and podcasts. Gonzales writes about the neuroscience of decision-making, the psychology of resilience, and the ethics of biotechnology, combining research and narrative to address the science of human survival.