Alain Bombard (1924–2005) was a French doctor and biologist who, for the first time in the world, conducted a daring experiment in survival at sea. Alone, he crossed the Atlantic on a small inflatable boat, seeking to prove that shipwreck survivors can remain alive for a very long time if they use the resources of their bodies rationally and do not give in to despair. Not a sailor, not a rescuer, and not a survival expert, Alain Bombard nevertheless accomplished this feat in order to help people who found themselves in desperate circumstances believe in their own strength. His diary of this extreme journey, "Naufrage volontaire," became a bestseller around the world. The priceless experience of Alain Bombard is of tremendous practical interest not only to thrill-seekers who conquer the watery element, but also to travelers far from craving adrenaline. The book is for everyone who wants to know how it is possible to survive in extreme conditions.