Episode · Stuff You Should Know · 2025-11-12
Books mentioned on Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome
People who’ve found themselves in life-or-death situations with their endurance at its limit have reported sensing another presence with them, urging them to continue on and survive. No one knows what the heck is going on here but it sure is interesting.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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South!
South! by Ernest Shackleton is a firsthand historical account detailing the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition and the remarkable survival efforts of its crew in the frozen expanses of Antarctica.
Discussed“So um Shackleton sensed it, but he never said anything about it until he wrote his book, um South.”
Where to get it
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The Third Man Factor
The Third Man Factor by John Geiger is a compelling non-fiction book that explores the psychological phenomenon of a comforting, unseen presence aiding individuals during extreme survival situations.
Discussed“Like we said, there uh was a collection by John Guyger called The Third Man Factor that you mentioned earlier from 2008 where he, you know, dug up a bunch of these stories.”
Where to get it
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Touching the Void
Discussed“So he was in really bad shape and he wrote a book called Touching the Void where he talked about obeying this voice like guiding him.”
Where to get it
