The Third Man Factor
Type: Book
As of November 2026, The Third Man Factor has been mentioned in one podcast episode on Stuff You Should Know (Nov 2025). In the "Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome" episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh Clark references "The Third Man Factor" by John Geiger as a key source that compiles various accounts of the third man syndrome. He notes that the book helped frame the phenomenon for modern readers and highlights the shift in terminology from "syndrome" to "factor.
The third man factor or third person syndrome refers to reported situations where a perceived unseen presence, such as a spirit, provides comfort or support during a traumatic experience. It is most commonly experienced by mountain climbers. Solo sailors, shipwreck survivors, and polar explorers are also known to have reported the phenomenon.
| Mentioned in | 1 episode on 1 podcast (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| First heard | Nov 2025 on Stuff You Should Know |
| Author | John Geiger |
| Published | 2008 |
| Publisher | Weinstein Books |
| Subjects | Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, Survival, Psychological aspects |
| ISBN | 9781602861077 |
| Genre | Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, Survival, Psychological aspects |
Who talks about The Third Man Factor on podcasts?
Josh Clark brought up The Third Man Factor; the most recent mention was Nov 2025 on Stuff You Should Know.
- Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW on Stuff You Should Know (Nov 2025) — Josh Clark