Part personal memoir of two grizzly bear maulings, part natural history, Blindsided is a cautionary tale of survival, as well as a tribute to the wild grizzlies of North America. 

Jim Cole has spent years tramping into the wilderness of Alaska, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park in search of grizzlies. At times, he’s been surrounded by dozens of bears, yet has never felt threatened. Even after being mauled by a grizzly in 1993, Jim trekked annually into the bears’ habitat, armed only with bear spray, his camera, and his knowledge of how to stay safe. But nothing could have prepared him for the day he was attacked in Yellowstone by a mother grizzly. The bear literally ripped off most of his face, blinded him in one eye, and savaged him nearly to the point of death. Jim was left sightless, bleeding, and alone in the wilderness. Blindsided is a gripping account of that fateful day—how Jim survived an assault by one of the most unstoppable predators on earth and managed to carry himself to safety despite his gruesome injuries. It’s also the story of how he recovered with the support of friends, family and a dedicated medical team, but perhaps most importantly, the book is a love story between and man and animal, a clear-eyed and affectionate look at the marvel that is the grizzly bear.