In 1982, Steve was sailing solo across the Atlantic Ocean when his boat sank after a collision with a whale. With no ship, no crew, and limited supplies, he survived 76 days alone at sea in a small inflatable life raft—drifting thousands of miles before being rescued near the Caribbean.
His experience became the basis for his bestselling memoir, Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest survival books ever written. The book is studied not only for its gripping narrative, but for the lessons it offers on problem-solving, perseverance, mental resilience, and the human will to survive.
Beyond the physical challenge, Steve’s time alone on the ocean led to deep personal reflection. He has spoken about how the vastness of the sea humbled him and reshaped his understanding of faith, purpose, and humanity’s place in the world.
Today, Steve Callahan shares lessons from his experience with students and audiences around the world, offering powerful insights into resilience, adaptability, faith under pressure, and what it means to keep going when everything familiar is stripped away.
His story reminds students that even in the most overwhelming circumstances, clarity, courage, and hope can still be found.
