Survivor : The Ultimate Game Paperback – September 12, 2000

Except for two things, really enjoyed this book. One thing was a few typos; those drive me to irritation. The second thing is that occasionally toward the end, the explanations and conversations between contestants were inexplicably shortened. The first half of the season, the interactions between contestants were almost too fully explained. Not consistent coverage. I did learn a couple of things about hidden mics and cameras. I learned that the first season allowed a surprising number of items contestants were allowed to bring and that they had to dig their own latrine. The book was worth reading.

I'm not a super fan but have always wondered about the set up of Survivor's logistics, production, and casting. This book has it all. Very pleased.

I have just completed Mark Burnett's book and I am very impressed with his sensitive and rational analysis of the events on Pulau Tiga culminating with Richard Hatch leaving the island as the ultimate winner. I didn't expect Burnett's book to be so cerebral: I expected a very long journalistic expose of "the hidden secrets of life on the island". Burnett wrote, however, a far more substantive story of the psychological factors that motivated the participants. I was impressed with these psychological threads that he teased out of life on the island; to the viewer these were seemingly random acts made by the island participants. It was as if the show that I viewed every week was simply the building that was visible above the ground but the complexity of the foundations that allowed the structure to stand were totally hidden until they were pointed out and examined by Burnett. Had I not read his book I would not have appreciated the extraordinary drama that took place-the drama of Pagong and their immaturity in regard to virtually all aspects of the establishment of a viable community and that failure led ultimately to their destruction. In hindsight the game's outcome was known before the first Challenge, if only I'd been as good an observer as Burnett. Without putting too much spit on the pitch, I think that the show transcended entertainment and took the reader into the realm of literary drama because of the insight it offered the viewer [with Burnett's book as a necessary guide] into the human complexities of such a situation.

What a disappointment! As a HUGE fan of the show, I couldn't wait to read this. But Mark Burnett seems to be under the impression that he's writing a novel -- and "The Great Gatsby" at that. There are LOOOOOOOOOOONG descriptions some of the travails of the crew and the stormy conditions of the sea, and extremely little new light is shed on the actual contestants of the show. Also, there's no commentary about anything that happened after the castaways left the island. (Were the producers behind the false rumors about Gervase winning? How about that doctored opening-credits shot of the supposed "final four"? We'll never know...) Rather than a companion piece to the show, it's merely a retelling, and a sloppy one at that.The problem becomes clear at the very end of the book, when Burnett reveals that he wrote the book entirely when he was on the island and didn't change a word afterward. Well, he should have! It's called rewriting, and it's part of what makes books entertaining to the reader.The photos are merely pointless headshots of the castaways, presented without captions and placed randomly throughout the book.Hey, Mr. Burnett, next time, focus your attention on what you do best-- making a great TV show-- and hire somebody else to write the book. (Like Rich-- and let him write his own book, you big grinch! Maybe he'll tell us the things we REALLY want to know!)

This book takes a look at the first season of the hit series, "Survivor". Essentially, it is a companion book that would probably only be of interest to those who watched the first season. It provides a behind the scenes look at the creation of the show, as well as some interesting revelations about the host and the contestants.The book includes a number of black and white photographs, none of which are captioned. So, readers, even those who were fans of the first season, may find themselves unsure as to who or what was photographed. Why this was done this way is beyond me, as it makes no sense, especially as the book is touted as the official companion book to the show. Then again, the whole book has a feeling of being hastily put together.If one was a fan of the first season, as I was, or is simply a hard core survivor fan, I can see reading this book and enjoying it somewhat. If one is not, I would say, don't bother.

Perfect condition

Fantastic book about the behind the scenes, psychological make-up of the Survivor cast. I could not put it down!! This book is not what you think. It does not give you the gossipy, behind the scenes trivia you might expect. It is, however, rich with Mark Burnett's perception of what the survivors were "really like". It reads more like a novel/biography.....and is very well written.

My wife enjoyed this.