Does the human psyche possess an inherent mechanism for surviving absolute isolation? These historical accounts provide a rigorous examination of resilience when stripped of societal infrastructure. From Alexander Selkirk’s resourcefulness to the plight of Marguerite de La Rocque, these narratives offer a compelling cross-section of psychological endurance. It is the most involuntary form of simple living imaginable, proving that the instinct to persist often overrides every modern comfort. It serves as a sobering reflection on the human hierarchy of needs. 🧐🧘♀️
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/5c/da/5cdab59c-f032-49e7-8b5c-07bccfd83800/the_adventure_of_wrangel_island_p_316.jpg)
Smithsonian Magazine
Meet 13 People Who Survived on Deserted Islands, From a Real-Life Robinson Crusoe to a Noblewoman Marooned With Her Lover
Ahead of the release of Sam Raimi's "Send Help," revisit the stories of Alexander Selkirk, Marguerite de la Rocque, the Tongan castaways and others...










