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Life on a boat would be different. Especially when you are spending it with a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger who has barely been fed in months! It would not only be different, it would be terrifying, depressing, mentally draining, and exhausting. Yann Martel brings his readers into the life of Pi, a 15 year old Indian boy trapped on a lifeboat. Martel explores the decisions we make on a daily basis and why we make them.

The decisions I make on a daily basis include what I want to eat, what I want to wear, what I watch on TV, and when I go to sleep. These decisions are not very difficult to make. They are actually quite easy and I don’t give them very much thought. However, if I was living on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger, my decisions would change instantly. Just like the decisions Pi made, my decisions would be tougher and would require much more thought and consideration. Pi’s many decisions included what will I eat today, if I eat at all, will I make a shelter, and how will I not get eaten by my more than unfriendly roommate.

My decisions are usually based on what I want. But the decisions Pi makes in the book are based on what he needs. Along with anybody else who becomes lost at sea, Pi is no longer able to make decisions on what he wants. He bases everything on what he needs and how he will survive the longest. If he spent his time wishing he had an ice cream cone to eat instead of trying to catch a fish, he would most likely starve. Pi put his needs so far ahead of his wants that he even went to the extreme of trying to eat a cigarette.

Being stuck on a life boat for two-years does not just present physical needs and problems. The psychological and spiritual aspect of being on a lifeboat is even more daunting. Faith is one of those aspects that can provide hope in the worst situations. When many people suffer a loss or feel that they have experienced the worst life can throw at them, their faith sometimes begins to waver. Religion is a huge factor in Pi’s life. Being born in India, Pi was naturally raised as a Hindu and he embraced this religion. However, Pi was curious. Pi began attending Christian masses and Islam prayers and soon found himself a practicing Hindu, Christian, Muslim mix. Pi’s faith does not waiver while he is stuck at sea. He continues to pray five times a day like every other Muslim, as well as stay in touch with his other religions. I admire Pi for this. It is not easy to stay faithful when your family has died and you have been alone for almost two years. Pi remains faithful and says he just wants to love God.

It is common sense that being trapped on a lifeboat would be no picnic. However, it is not easy to make good decisions and stay so faithful after a few weeks of loneliness and fatigue. I really admire Pi for this reason. He always had hope and faith and made sure that the decisions he was making were best for him and would ensure his survival.