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乇丨賱丞 賰賵賳-鬲賷賰賷: 6 乇噩丕賱 賵亘亘睾丕亍 毓賱賶 胤賵賮 賮賷 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿卅
賯氐 孬賵乇 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱 鬲賮丕氐賷賱 賲睾丕賲乇鬲賴 亘丕賱廿亘丨丕乇 賲毓 胤丕賯賲 賷囟賲 禺賲爻丞 兀賮乇丕丿 毓賱賶 馗賴乇 胤賵賮 亘丿丕卅賷 兀爻賲丕賴 "賰賵賳-鬲賷賰賷" 賲賳 卮丕胤卅 亘賷乇賵 丕賱睾乇亘賷 廿賱賶 噩夭乇 亘乇賵賱賷賳賷夭賷丕 賮賷 丕賱亘丨乇 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷貙 賵賯丿 賰鬲亘 毓賳 匕賱賰 賰鬲丕亘丕 賳鬲乇噩賲 鬲亘爻賷胤丕 賱賴 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘.
245 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1948
1,082 people are currently reading
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About the author
Thor Heyerdahl
73听books302听followersThor Heyerdahl (October 6, 1914, Larvik, Norway 鈥� April 18, 2002, Colla Micheri, Italy) was a Norwegian ethnographer and adventurer with a scientific background in zoology and geography. Heyerdahl became notable for his Kon-Tiki expedition, in which he sailed 4,300 miles (8,000 km) by raft from South America to the Tuamotu Islands. All his legendary expeditions are shown in the Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo.
Thor Heyerdahl was born in Larvik, the son of master brewer Thor Heyerdahl and his wife Alison Lyng. As a young child, Thor Heyerdahl showed a strong interest in zoology. He created a small museum in his childhood home, with a Vipera berus as the main attraction. He studied Zoology and Geography at University of Oslo. At the same time, he privately studied Polynesian culture and history, consulting what was then the world's largest private collection of books and papers on Polynesia, owned by Bjarne Kropelien, a wealthy wine merchant in Oslo. This collection was later purchased by the University of Oslo Library from Kropelien's heirs and was attached to the Kon-Tiki Museum research department. After seven terms and consultations with experts in Berlin, a project was developed and sponsored by his zoology professors, Kristine Bonnevie and Hjalmar Broch. He was to visit some isolated Pacific island groups and study how the local animals had found their way there. Just before sailing together to the Marquesas Islands in 1936, he married his first wife, Liv Coucheron-Torp (b. 1916), whom he had met shortly before enrolling at the University, and who had studied economics there. Though she is conspicuously absent from many of his papers and talks, Liv participated in nearly all of Thor's journeys, with the exception of the Kon-Tiki Expedition. The couple had two sons; Thor Jr and Bj酶rn. The marriage ended in divorce and in 1949 Thor Heyerdahl married Yvonne Dedekam-Simonsen. They in turn had three daughters; Annette, Marian and Helene Elisabeth. This marriage also ended in divorce, in 1969. In 1991 Thor Heyerdahl married for the third time, to Jacqueline Beer (b. 1932).
Thor Heyerdahl's grandson, Olav Heyerdahl, retraced his grandfather's Kon-Tiki voyage in 2006, as part of a six-member crew. The voyage, called the Tangaroa Expedition, was intended as a tribute to Thor Heyerdahl, as well as a means to monitor the Pacific Ocean's environment. A film about the voyage is in preparation.
--from Wikipedia
Thor Heyerdahl was born in Larvik, the son of master brewer Thor Heyerdahl and his wife Alison Lyng. As a young child, Thor Heyerdahl showed a strong interest in zoology. He created a small museum in his childhood home, with a Vipera berus as the main attraction. He studied Zoology and Geography at University of Oslo. At the same time, he privately studied Polynesian culture and history, consulting what was then the world's largest private collection of books and papers on Polynesia, owned by Bjarne Kropelien, a wealthy wine merchant in Oslo. This collection was later purchased by the University of Oslo Library from Kropelien's heirs and was attached to the Kon-Tiki Museum research department. After seven terms and consultations with experts in Berlin, a project was developed and sponsored by his zoology professors, Kristine Bonnevie and Hjalmar Broch. He was to visit some isolated Pacific island groups and study how the local animals had found their way there. Just before sailing together to the Marquesas Islands in 1936, he married his first wife, Liv Coucheron-Torp (b. 1916), whom he had met shortly before enrolling at the University, and who had studied economics there. Though she is conspicuously absent from many of his papers and talks, Liv participated in nearly all of Thor's journeys, with the exception of the Kon-Tiki Expedition. The couple had two sons; Thor Jr and Bj酶rn. The marriage ended in divorce and in 1949 Thor Heyerdahl married Yvonne Dedekam-Simonsen. They in turn had three daughters; Annette, Marian and Helene Elisabeth. This marriage also ended in divorce, in 1969. In 1991 Thor Heyerdahl married for the third time, to Jacqueline Beer (b. 1932).
Thor Heyerdahl's grandson, Olav Heyerdahl, retraced his grandfather's Kon-Tiki voyage in 2006, as part of a six-member crew. The voyage, called the Tangaroa Expedition, was intended as a tribute to Thor Heyerdahl, as well as a means to monitor the Pacific Ocean's environment. A film about the voyage is in preparation.
--from Wikipedia
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February 23, 2013
Every Norwegian family we knew had a copy of this book on their shelves. I read it with much familial encouragement at an early age, mostly as a travel adventure, which it is, and not so much with any regard for the scientific hypothesis the author was testing. Aku-Aku followed soon thereafter.
In 1978, in the summer following seminary graduation, I was invited by mother to visit her in Oslo before moving from New York City back to Chicago. It was a great trip filled with many memorable events. One of them was revisiting the Kon-Tiki Museum there which I hadn't seen since the last time in Oslo at age ten. In the parking lot who should be standing there but Thor Heyerdahl himself? Although he was talking to another man, Mother interrupted them as if she knew him to introduce me to the great man as her son. Polite nothings were exchanged. He was very, very tall.
Did she know him? It's a small country.
Mom did know the former prime minister, Gro Harlam Brundtland, and once, walking down Karljohan, Oslo' main drag, with her boyfriend, she recognized, but couldn't exactly place, the portly gentleman walking his dogs in front of them--someone from Chicago, she thought. Anyway, she broke away from Egil, the boyfriend, and darted up to the old fellow, saying she recognized him, but, sadly, couldn't remember his name. "Perhaps, Madam, it is because I am your king," Kong Olav replied.
In 1978, in the summer following seminary graduation, I was invited by mother to visit her in Oslo before moving from New York City back to Chicago. It was a great trip filled with many memorable events. One of them was revisiting the Kon-Tiki Museum there which I hadn't seen since the last time in Oslo at age ten. In the parking lot who should be standing there but Thor Heyerdahl himself? Although he was talking to another man, Mother interrupted them as if she knew him to introduce me to the great man as her son. Polite nothings were exchanged. He was very, very tall.
Did she know him? It's a small country.
Mom did know the former prime minister, Gro Harlam Brundtland, and once, walking down Karljohan, Oslo' main drag, with her boyfriend, she recognized, but couldn't exactly place, the portly gentleman walking his dogs in front of them--someone from Chicago, she thought. Anyway, she broke away from Egil, the boyfriend, and darted up to the old fellow, saying she recognized him, but, sadly, couldn't remember his name. "Perhaps, Madam, it is because I am your king," Kong Olav replied.
February 13, 2019
We had a power outage with a winter storm the other day so I looked around my bookshelves and came across a book I was fascinated with many years ago and decided to read it again. The book is Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl. The hardcover book I have was published in 1950. It was given to me by my mother for my birthday in 1950. I read this book at least twice a year in the fifties and sixties, but somehow it got put aside. This book is one of the key items that helped me decide on a career in the sciences with secondary interest in archaeology and anthropology. Of course, early on I studied primarily marine sciences and biology.
The book is well written with lots of photographs. The voyage of the Kon-Tiki took place in 1947. The part I liked best was the descriptions of the sea life that came around the raft. This time I was more intrigued with how the raft functioned and how the ancient people of Peru came about to design it in a certain way and why they chose the certain woods they used. Many times, after reading a book that I had enjoyed, I no longer like it and wonder what I saw in it. But that is not the case with this book. I was as fascinated with my current reading as I was back in the 1950s. I did note that they saw no garbage and no plastics floating in the water. Today that is a big problem when sailing the oceans. If you are looking for a different adventure, give this book a try.
I read this as a hardcover book that is 308 pages. Published in 1950 by Rand McNally & Company.
The book is well written with lots of photographs. The voyage of the Kon-Tiki took place in 1947. The part I liked best was the descriptions of the sea life that came around the raft. This time I was more intrigued with how the raft functioned and how the ancient people of Peru came about to design it in a certain way and why they chose the certain woods they used. Many times, after reading a book that I had enjoyed, I no longer like it and wonder what I saw in it. But that is not the case with this book. I was as fascinated with my current reading as I was back in the 1950s. I did note that they saw no garbage and no plastics floating in the water. Today that is a big problem when sailing the oceans. If you are looking for a different adventure, give this book a try.
I read this as a hardcover book that is 308 pages. Published in 1950 by Rand McNally & Company.
December 9, 2008
Is there a greater classic among adventure books than the reckless Thor Heyerdahl鈥檚 story about a 104 day long raft ride through the Pacific in 1947? It is just as crazy as it is heroic and makes your jaw drop everytime. The 6 men fighting the elements on a hand-made balsa wood vesel are at the mercy of the acient Gods of South America and the Pacific. Encounters with wonderful Verne-like creatures of the sea bring the Pacific to life. Squids and giant sharks are right under your feet, fish and octopus fly into your face daily. You just have to put your toothbrush in the water and a fish bites on it vehemently. Myths accompany the Scandinavian crew all the way, it鈥檚 an uplifting tale of a pursuit of dreams. Mandatory for armchair explorers. I am prepared to fight everyone who says it鈥檚 a children鈥檚 book.
April 8, 2018
WOW!!! This book was recommended to me back in the 1950s by my favorite teacher, Mr. Bailey, who ttaught 8th grade in Paso Robles, CA. I remember going to the Paso Robles library and handling the book back then, but never reading it until now. It took me this long to become interested in seafaring stories. My first one was "The Wreck of the Mary Deare, which made me realize that books about the sea can be very entertaining. This book tops all.
December 6, 2024
讴鬲丕亘 卮乇丨 爻賮乇 丿乇蹖丕蹖蹖 賴蹖噩丕賳鈥屫з嗂屫� 丕賵 賵 賴賲乇丕賴丕賳卮 亘丕 蹖讴 亘賻賱賴丕 (賯丕蹖賯 趩賵亘蹖 亘賵賲蹖) 丕夭 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 噩賳賵亘蹖 丕爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 爻賮乇貙 鬲賱丕卮 賴蹖乇丿丕賱 亘乇丕蹖 丕孬亘丕鬲 賳馗乇 禺賵丿 賲亘賳蹖 亘乇 丕蹖賳讴賴 倬賱蹖鈥屬嗀槽屸€屬囏� 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀池嗀� 丕夭 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 噩賳賵亘蹖 亘賴 倬賱蹖鈥屬嗀槽� 賲賴丕噩乇鬲 讴賳賳丿貙 亘丿賵賳 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 丕夭 賯丕蹖賯鈥屬囏й� 倬蹖卮乇賮鬲賴貙 亘賵丿. 賴蹖乇丿丕賱 賵 鬲蹖賲卮 亘丕 丕賱賴丕賲 丕夭 賯丕蹖賯鈥屬囏й� 亘賵賲蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 噩賳賵亘蹖貙 蹖讴 亘賻賱賴丕 亘賴 賳丕賲 讴賳-鬲蹖讴蹖 爻丕禺鬲賳丿. 丕蹖賳 爻丕禺鬲貙 亘丕 趩丕賱卮鈥屬囏� 賵 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 賴賲乇丕賴 亘賵丿貙 夭蹖乇丕 爻丕禺鬲 趩賳蹖賳 賯丕蹖賯蹖 亘丕 賲氐丕賱丨 賵 鬲讴賳賵賱賵跇蹖 賲丨丿賵丿貙 賳蹖丕夭賲賳丿 丿丕賳卮 賵 賲賴丕乇鬲 夭蹖丕丿蹖 亘賵丿. 爻賮乇 讴賳-鬲蹖讴蹖 丕夭 讴丕賱蹖貙 倬乇賵 丌睾丕夭 卮丿 賵 賲丕賴鈥屬囏� 亘賴 胤賵賱 丕賳噩丕賲蹖丿. 丌賳賴丕 亘丕 丕賲賵丕噩 爻賴賲诏蹖賳貙 胤賵賮丕賳鈥屬囏й� 卮丿蹖丿貙 讴賲亘賵丿 丌亘 賵 睾匕丕貙 賵 賲賵丕噩賴賴 亘丕 诏賵賳賴鈥屬囏й� 賲禺鬲賱賮 丨蹖丕鬲 丿乇蹖丕蹖蹖 乇賵亘乇賵 卮丿賳丿. 丿乇 丕蹖賳 爻賮乇 賲賴丕乇鬲 賴丕蹖 丿乇蹖丕賳賵乇丿蹖 賵 鬲賵丕賳丕蹖蹖 丌賳賴丕 丿乇 夭賳丿賴 賲丕賳丿賳 丿乇 卮乇丕蹖胤 爻禺鬲 亘賴 賳賲丕蹖卮 丿乇丌賲丿. 賲囟乇丕鬲 賮蹖夭蹖讴蹖 賵 乇賵丕賳蹖 爻賮乇 亘乇 乇賵蹖 丕毓囟丕 賳蹖夭 鬲丕孬蹖乇 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 丕爻鬲. 亘丕 賵噩賵丿 賴賲賴 爻禺鬲蹖 賴丕貙 讴賳-鬲蹖讴蹖 亘賴 賲賯氐丿 乇爻蹖丿 賵 爻賮乇 亘丕 賲賵賮賯蹖鬲 亘賴 倬丕蹖丕賳 乇爻蹖丿. 丕蹖賳 爻賮乇貙 鬲丕 丨丿蹖 丕夭 丿蹖丿诏丕賴 賴蹖乇丿丕賱貙 賳馗乇蹖賴贁 丕賵 乇丕 鬲丕蹖蹖丿 讴乇丿 賵 賳卮丕賳 丿丕丿 讴賴 賲賴丕噩乇鬲 丕夭 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 噩賳賵亘蹖 亘賴 倬賱蹖鈥屬嗀槽� 亘丕 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 丕夭 賯丕蹖賯鈥屬囏й� 爻丕丿賴貙 丕賲讴丕賳鈥屬矩佰屫� 亘賵丿.
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讴鬲丕亘 賳賴 鬲賳賴丕 卮乇丨 蹖讴 爻賮乇 丿乇蹖丕蹖蹖 丕爻鬲貙 亘賱讴賴 鬲氐賵蹖乇 丨蹖丕鬲蹖 丕夭 鬲噩乇亘蹖丕鬲 卮禺氐蹖 賴蹖乇丿丕賱 賵 賴賲乇丕賴丕賳卮 乇丕 賳蹖夭 丕乇丕卅賴 賲蹖鈥屫囏�. 毓卮賯 亘賴 賲丕噩乇丕噩賵蹖蹖貙 賴賲亘爻鬲诏蹖 丕毓囟丕蹖 鬲蹖賲貙 賵 亘乇禺賵乇丿 亘丕 趩丕賱卮鈥屬囏� 賵 賲禺丕胤乇丕鬲貙 賳賯卮 賲賴賲蹖 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘 丕蹖賮丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�.
October 26, 2024
I was completely overwhelmed. I sank down on my knees and thrust my fingers deep down into the dry warm sand. The voyage was over. We were all alive. We had run ashore on a small uninhabited South Sea Island. And what an Island!
Kon-Tiki was a fascinating read. In 1947, the author, Thor Heyerdahl, and five other guys sailed on a raft made of 9 large balsam wood logs from Peru to the South Pacific Islands. The journey and the story Heyerdahl tells is absolutely amazing.
The trials of conquering the ocean and Mother Nature, all the creatures and marine life they encountered, and the life lessons they learned about themselves and each other is unforgettable. This is a perfect book that allowed me as a reader to live vicariously. I will never be going to the South Pacific in my life but I partially feel like I鈥檝e been there now after experiencing this book.
5 stars all the way. A great read!
Kon-Tiki was a fascinating read. In 1947, the author, Thor Heyerdahl, and five other guys sailed on a raft made of 9 large balsam wood logs from Peru to the South Pacific Islands. The journey and the story Heyerdahl tells is absolutely amazing.
The trials of conquering the ocean and Mother Nature, all the creatures and marine life they encountered, and the life lessons they learned about themselves and each other is unforgettable. This is a perfect book that allowed me as a reader to live vicariously. I will never be going to the South Pacific in my life but I partially feel like I鈥檝e been there now after experiencing this book.
5 stars all the way. A great read!
Read
February 4, 2025The years haven't been kind to Thor Heyerdahl's thesis that Polynesia was first colonized by people from South America. Genetic, linguistic, and other lines of evidence suggest that the old, common sense assumption is true: the earliest human inhabitants of these islands migrated from Asia.
To his dying day, Heyerdahl refused to acknowledge any of the emerging evidence that contradicted his theory. It was a classic example of "belief perseverance," and a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming too attached to your own theories.
Nevertheless, I'd argue that Heyerdahl did make an important contribution to anthropology. The knee jerk objection to his theory was that Polynesia is much closer to Asia than South America, and that ancient South Americans never developed nautical technology sufficient to traverse that vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Heyerdahl proved not only that they could have done it, but that they could have done it rather easily.
He proved it by the most practical and definitive means possible. He built a balsa wood raft bound together with vines, on the model of vessels ancient Peruvians are known to have possessed. Then he sailed this craft, the famous Kon Tiki, from Peru to the Tuamotus Archipelago of Polynesia.
The voyage took 101 days. The Humbolt current carried them most of the way. There was no danger of starvation: fish literally leap up from the water to the deck to be harvested. Heyerdahl鈥檚 theory might have been wrong. But the most common objection to it was clearly wrong too.
Moreover, why did it have to be one or the other? Maybe ancient South Americans as well as Asians crossed the Pacific. Given the demonstrable ease with which they could have, it seems probable that occasionally they did鈥攊f only by accident, driven off course by storms and caught in the westward- flowing ocean currents. Even if native Polynesians are overwhelmingly of Asian descent, it doesn鈥檛 follow that they must be entirely of Asian descent. It鈥檚 possible that ancient South American explorers did leave a faint genetic and cultural mark on Polynesia. Heyerdahl鈥檚 theory might yet contain elements of truth.
Whatever the case, Kon Tiki is a thrilling story of true adventure. Thor Heyerdahl鈥檚 willingness to challenge conventional opinion no less than brave the hazards of the open Pacific makes for a most inspiring protagonist. Everyone with the slightest interest in anthropology or exploration should read this wonderful book.
To his dying day, Heyerdahl refused to acknowledge any of the emerging evidence that contradicted his theory. It was a classic example of "belief perseverance," and a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming too attached to your own theories.
Nevertheless, I'd argue that Heyerdahl did make an important contribution to anthropology. The knee jerk objection to his theory was that Polynesia is much closer to Asia than South America, and that ancient South Americans never developed nautical technology sufficient to traverse that vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Heyerdahl proved not only that they could have done it, but that they could have done it rather easily.
He proved it by the most practical and definitive means possible. He built a balsa wood raft bound together with vines, on the model of vessels ancient Peruvians are known to have possessed. Then he sailed this craft, the famous Kon Tiki, from Peru to the Tuamotus Archipelago of Polynesia.
The voyage took 101 days. The Humbolt current carried them most of the way. There was no danger of starvation: fish literally leap up from the water to the deck to be harvested. Heyerdahl鈥檚 theory might have been wrong. But the most common objection to it was clearly wrong too.
Moreover, why did it have to be one or the other? Maybe ancient South Americans as well as Asians crossed the Pacific. Given the demonstrable ease with which they could have, it seems probable that occasionally they did鈥攊f only by accident, driven off course by storms and caught in the westward- flowing ocean currents. Even if native Polynesians are overwhelmingly of Asian descent, it doesn鈥檛 follow that they must be entirely of Asian descent. It鈥檚 possible that ancient South American explorers did leave a faint genetic and cultural mark on Polynesia. Heyerdahl鈥檚 theory might yet contain elements of truth.
Whatever the case, Kon Tiki is a thrilling story of true adventure. Thor Heyerdahl鈥檚 willingness to challenge conventional opinion no less than brave the hazards of the open Pacific makes for a most inspiring protagonist. Everyone with the slightest interest in anthropology or exploration should read this wonderful book.
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December 5, 2019
From memory: 4Stars - I really liked it
As an early teenager, I attended a small boarding school (actually a junior seminary馃槆) where we suffered enforced silence during meals for most days of the week. During these meals, students, on rotation, would read aloud from a 'sacred' book, most often the "Lives of the Saints"馃檮, or the like, or a 'suitable' novel. I remember very clearly that I was fascinated by and very much enjoyed "Kon-Tiki". I won't listen to it or read it again, because it has a special place in my memory, but what a great story and a very suitable novel it was!
As an early teenager, I attended a small boarding school (actually a junior seminary馃槆) where we suffered enforced silence during meals for most days of the week. During these meals, students, on rotation, would read aloud from a 'sacred' book, most often the "Lives of the Saints"馃檮, or the like, or a 'suitable' novel. I remember very clearly that I was fascinated by and very much enjoyed "Kon-Tiki". I won't listen to it or read it again, because it has a special place in my memory, but what a great story and a very suitable novel it was!
February 27, 2019
Read this one a long long time ago. Heyerdahl was hero then. I wanted to go to the islands, too.
Subsequently revised my perception of Thor credibility, but remained interested in ancient sea travel.
***
Fascinated by earliest watercraft. Believe they were much more useful to earliest humans than taught in schools, as Sapiens explored and settled the world. Here's link about 'rafts.'
quoting Wiki - "The antiquity of the use of sea-going rafts by the people of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian coasts has not been established as ancient balsa wood rafts have left few archaeological traces, but it appears that a maritime trading system from southern Colombia to northern Chile was established by about 100 BCE."
"The sudden adoption of metallurgy in the civilizations of Mexico about 800 CE has led archaeologists to conclude that the technology was introduced, most likely by sea-going rafts, from the Ecuadorian coast of South America where metallurgy had been practiced for hundreds of years. Later advances in metallurgy in Mexico after 1200 CE resembled the metallurgy of the Chincha in Peru."
***
Tried Heyerdahl's "Early Man and the Ocean." Quite disappointed by his beliefs. Four stars seems generous now for Kon-Tiki.
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Subsequently revised my perception of Thor credibility, but remained interested in ancient sea travel.
***
Fascinated by earliest watercraft. Believe they were much more useful to earliest humans than taught in schools, as Sapiens explored and settled the world. Here's link about 'rafts.'
quoting Wiki - "The antiquity of the use of sea-going rafts by the people of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian coasts has not been established as ancient balsa wood rafts have left few archaeological traces, but it appears that a maritime trading system from southern Colombia to northern Chile was established by about 100 BCE."
"The sudden adoption of metallurgy in the civilizations of Mexico about 800 CE has led archaeologists to conclude that the technology was introduced, most likely by sea-going rafts, from the Ecuadorian coast of South America where metallurgy had been practiced for hundreds of years. Later advances in metallurgy in Mexico after 1200 CE resembled the metallurgy of the Chincha in Peru."
***
Tried Heyerdahl's "Early Man and the Ocean." Quite disappointed by his beliefs. Four stars seems generous now for Kon-Tiki.
/book/show/3...
March 23, 2008
A crazy man with a migration theory tries to convince his Scandinavian buddies to float across the Pacific with him on a balsa wood raft in order to give credence to the theory. As they value adventure more than their lives, they are persuaded to join.
Follow his trail from the conception of the theory to the felling of the balsa wood trees, and from the launching of the craft to its disastrous landing on a fragile South Pacific island.
This is the story of Thor Heyerdahl's original voyage. He would later go on to write a large tome about his ideas (probably not available at you local library) and build and test several other primitive watercraft to prove that people could have gone from here to there in vessels you would probably trust less than a rubber raft.
Follow his trail from the conception of the theory to the felling of the balsa wood trees, and from the launching of the craft to its disastrous landing on a fragile South Pacific island.
This is the story of Thor Heyerdahl's original voyage. He would later go on to write a large tome about his ideas (probably not available at you local library) and build and test several other primitive watercraft to prove that people could have gone from here to there in vessels you would probably trust less than a rubber raft.
July 16, 2018
This is a highly entertaining account of a man willing to risk everything to prove his theory correct. The book is colorful and full of humorous accounts of the authors adventures through South America and across the Pacific. The book is full of great detail, but in the end it drags on a bit and I struggled to finish it.
September 1, 2013
This was one of my boyhood books that inspired me to be adventurous, to think the unthinkable, to push beyond the usual.
January 18, 2022
9 out of 10
Kon-Tiki is a book about six men going on an expedition on a balsa raft from Peru to the Polynesian Islands. The author is a man named Thor Heyerdahl. Thor was interested in Polynesian culture. He had a theory that it was possible to sail from Peru to the Polynesian Islands on a balsa raft without sinking. He gathered five other men for his crew and started the complicated process of actually building the balsa raft.
SPOILERS
I鈥檓 not sure why I started reading this book. I had it on my shelves and I picked it up, looked at the cover, and decided that I wanted to read it. I鈥檓 glad that I read it. I learned a lot about Polynesian culture and a lot of sea terminology. This book was a little intimidating to read, because of the prose, and the constant discussion of different cultures, but it was explained very simply, and added to the experience. The description of sailing on this raft, despite all of its hardships, made me want to go out and experience something of the sort myself.
Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining adventure book with wonderful, immersive descriptions of nature. I wasn鈥檛 a huge fan of some disturbing elements of this book (like the head-shrinking scenes (you鈥檒l know if you've read this book)) but learning about these cultures was very interesting. Some things seem grotesque to us but are normal for many cultures around the world. But overall, I had a really good time reading this book, I鈥檇 definitely recommend it. This book has the best descriptions of an ocean voyage I鈥檝e ever seen.
Kon-Tiki is a book about six men going on an expedition on a balsa raft from Peru to the Polynesian Islands. The author is a man named Thor Heyerdahl. Thor was interested in Polynesian culture. He had a theory that it was possible to sail from Peru to the Polynesian Islands on a balsa raft without sinking. He gathered five other men for his crew and started the complicated process of actually building the balsa raft.
SPOILERS
I鈥檓 not sure why I started reading this book. I had it on my shelves and I picked it up, looked at the cover, and decided that I wanted to read it. I鈥檓 glad that I read it. I learned a lot about Polynesian culture and a lot of sea terminology. This book was a little intimidating to read, because of the prose, and the constant discussion of different cultures, but it was explained very simply, and added to the experience. The description of sailing on this raft, despite all of its hardships, made me want to go out and experience something of the sort myself.
Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining adventure book with wonderful, immersive descriptions of nature. I wasn鈥檛 a huge fan of some disturbing elements of this book (like the head-shrinking scenes (you鈥檒l know if you've read this book)) but learning about these cultures was very interesting. Some things seem grotesque to us but are normal for many cultures around the world. But overall, I had a really good time reading this book, I鈥檇 definitely recommend it. This book has the best descriptions of an ocean voyage I鈥檝e ever seen.
August 11, 2024
袧邪褔械 芯卸懈谢邪 屑芯褉褋褜泻邪 械薪褑懈泻谢芯锌械写褨褟
袦芯褟 写褉褍谐邪 泻薪懈谐邪 写芯褋谢褨写薪懈泻邪 孝褍褉邪 袚械褦褉写邪谢邪 褨 褟泻懈泄 卸械 褑械 斜褍胁 泻邪泄褎! 袩芯褔懈薪邪褞褔懈 胁褨写 蟹邪褌褟褌芯褩 胁褨褉懈 薪芯褉胁械卸褑褟 褍 褌械, 褖芯 芯褋褌褉芯胁懈 袩芯谢褨薪械蟹褨褩 蟹邪褋械谢懈谢懈 谢褞写懈, 褟泻褨 薪械 锌褉懈泄褕谢懈 蟹 袗蟹褨褩, 邪 锌械褉械锌谢懈胁谢懈 褌懈褋褟褔褨 泻褨谢芯屑械褌褉褨胁 锌谢芯褌邪屑懈 蟹 袩械褉褍, 写芯 薪邪胁械褉褌邪薪薪褟 褨薪褕懈褏, 褖芯 褑械 屑芯卸薪邪 写芯胁械褋褌懈, 褟泻褖芯 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌芯胁褌芯褉懈褌懈 褑褞 锌芯写芯褉芯卸. 校谐褍, 锌褉芯褋褌芯. 袧邪 锌谢芯褌褨. 孝懈褋褟褔褨 泻褨谢芯屑械褌褉褨胁 褍 芯泻械邪薪褨. 袟胁褨褋薪芯, 锌褉芯褋褌芯.
楔褨褋褌褜 谢褞写械泄, 蟹斜褍写芯胁邪薪懈泄 斜邪谢褜褋芯胁懈泄 锌谢褨褌, 褉邪写褨芯芯斜谢邪写薪邪薪薪褟, 蟹邪锌邪褋懈 褩卸褨, 胁芯写懈, 卸褍褉薪邪谢褜薪懈褏 胁懈屑褨褉褞胁邪薪褜 褨 斜械蟹屑械卸卸褟 孝懈褏芯谐芯 芯泻械邪薪褍 锌芯锌械褉械写褍. 小泻邪卸械薪懈泄 械褎械泻褌 锌褉懈褋褍褌薪芯褋褌褨 写谢褟 褔懈褌邪褔邪 褨 屑芯褟 谐谢懈斜芯泻邪 锌芯写褟泻邪, 褖芯 写芯褋谢褨写薪懈泻懈 锌芯写褨谢懈谢懈褋褟 褑懈屑 写芯褋胁褨写芯屑 蟹褨 屑薪芯褞 鈥� 谢褞写懈薪芯褞, 褟泻邪 薪褨泻芯谢懈 泄芯谐芯 薪械 屑邪褌懈屑械.
校 褑褨泄 泻薪懈蟹褨 褑褨泻邪胁械 胁褋械, 邪谢械 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕械 屑械薪械 胁褉邪卸邪胁 芯褑械泄 锌芯斜褍褌 褕褨褋褌褜芯褏 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻褨胁 薪邪 锌谢芯褌褍, 褟泻懈屑 褉邪蟹芯屑 褌褉械斜邪 锌谢懈胁褌懈 3-4 屑褨褋褟褑褨, 锌械褉褕 薪褨卸 胁芯薪懈 蟹邪 褉芯蟹褉邪褏褍薪泻邪屑懈 锌褉懈褋褌邪薪褍褌褜 写芯 蟹械屑谢褨.
芦袧邪泄锌械褉褕懈屑 蟹邪胁写邪薪薪褟屑 泻芯泻邪 胁褉邪薪褑褨 斜褍谢芯 胁懈蟹斜懈褉邪褌懈 褋屑邪褔薪褨 谢械褌褞褔褨 褉懈斜泻懈, 褟泻褨 薪邪锌邪写邪谢懈 薪邪 锌邪谢褍斜褍 蟹邪 薪褨褔.禄
校褟胁褨褌褜 褋芯斜褨 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褞. 袙懈 胁薪芯褔褨 锌褉芯泻懈薪褍谢懈褋褟 锌芯锌褨褋褟褌懈, 芯斜械褉械卸薪芯 芯屑懈薪邪褦褌械 锌褟褌褜芯褏 褋褍锌褍褌薪懈泻褨胁, 褖芯斜 薪械 锌芯褌褉懈胁芯卸懈褌懈 褩褏薪褨泄 褋芯薪, 邪谢械 褍 褟泻懈泄褋褜 屑芯屑械薪褌 褩褏 褍褋褨褏 斜褍写褟褌褜 胁邪褕褨 谐褍褔薪褨 屑邪褌褞泻懈, 斜芯 胁邪屑 锌芯 芯斜谢懈褔褔褞 褉邪锌褌芯屑 锌褉懈谢褨褌邪褞 谢械褌褞褔邪 褉懈斜邪, 褖芯 褍 褑械泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 胁懈褋褌褉懈斜薪褍谢邪 蟹 胁芯写懈!
孝褍褌 褨 锌褉懈褉褍褔械薪懈泄 泻褉邪斜懈泻, 褟泻懈泄 芯褋械谢懈胁褋褟 褋械褉械写 泻芯谢芯写, 褨 褉懈斜泻懈 谢芯褑屑邪谢懈, 褟泻懈泄 胁械褋褜 褔邪褋 褋褍锌褉芯胁芯写卸褍胁邪谢懈 锌谢褨褌, 褨 锌械褉褕邪 褋褌褉邪褏褨褌谢懈胁邪 蟹褍褋褌褉褨褔 蟹 泻懈褌芯胁芯褞 邪泻褍谢芯褞, 泻芯谢懈 褑械泄 胁懈写 褖械 薪械 斜褍胁 薪邪胁褨褌褜 芯锌懈褋邪薪懈泄, 褨 锌邪写褨薪薪褟 蟹邪 斜芯褉褌, 褨 邪谢谐芯褉懈褌屑 胁懈谢芯胁谢褞胁邪薪薪褟 褌褍薪褑褨胁, 屑芯泻褉械谢械泄 褨 邪泻褍谢, 褨 褋褌褉邪褕薪褨 褕褌芯褉屑懈, 褨 蟹屑褨薪懈 锌褨写胁芯写薪懈褏 褌械褔褨泄, 褨 薪械褉褨胁薪邪 斜芯褉芯褌褜斜邪 蟹 锌褉懈斜械褉械卸薪懈屑懈 褏胁懈谢褟屑懈, 褨 褎芯褌芯谐褉邪褎褨褩 薪邪 蟹谐邪写泻褍. 袩褨写 褔邪褋 褑褨褦褩 锌芯写芯褉芯卸褨 褌褨谢褜泻懈 写懈胁褍褦褕褋褟 褋泻褨谢褜泻懈 褍褋褜芯谐芯 邪胁褌芯褉 胁褋褌懈谐 械屑锌褨褉懈褔薪芯 胁褨写泻褉懈褌懈, 褋泻褨谢褜泻懈 褌械芯褉褨泄 褋锌褉芯褋褌褍胁邪褌懈. 孝邪泻, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 锌械褉械褋胁褨写褔懈谢懈褋褟, 褖芯 泻邪谢褜屑邪褉懈 褌邪泻芯卸 胁屑褨褞褌褜 胁懈褋褌褉懈斜褍胁邪褌懈 蟹 胁芯写懈, 邪 泻芯泻芯褋懈 褍 屑芯褉褋褜泻褨泄 胁芯写褨 锌褋褍褞褌褜褋褟 (胁褨写锌芯胁褨写薪芯 斜械蟹 谢褞写褋褜泻芯褩 写芯锌芯屑芯谐懈 锌械褉械锌谢懈胁邪褌懈 芯泻械邪薪 薪械 屑芯谐谢懈).
携 蟹 褑褨褦褞 泻薪懈谐芯褞 蟹薪芯胁褍 胁褨写褔褍胁邪谢邪 写懈褌褟褔懈泄 蟹邪褏胁邪褌, 薪邪褔械 胁锌械褉褕械 褔懈褌邪谢邪 褉芯屑邪薪褍 袞褍谢褟 袙械褉薪邪 邪斜芯 蟹邪谢懈锌邪谢邪 薪邪 锌械褉械写邪褔褨 National Geographic 锌褉芯 卸懈褌褌褟 邪泻褍谢 褨 泻懈褌褨胁 (写芯 褉械褔褨, 薪邪写懈褏薪褍谢邪褋褟 褨 胁 youtube 泻褨谢褜泻邪 胁褨写械芯 褌邪泻懈 锌芯写懈胁懈谢邪褋褟). 袦械薪褨 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪芯 斜褨谢褜褕械 锌械褉械泻谢邪写械薪懈褏 泻薪懈谐 孝褍褉邪 袚械褦褉写邪谢邪!
袦芯褟 写褉褍谐邪 泻薪懈谐邪 写芯褋谢褨写薪懈泻邪 孝褍褉邪 袚械褦褉写邪谢邪 褨 褟泻懈泄 卸械 褑械 斜褍胁 泻邪泄褎! 袩芯褔懈薪邪褞褔懈 胁褨写 蟹邪褌褟褌芯褩 胁褨褉懈 薪芯褉胁械卸褑褟 褍 褌械, 褖芯 芯褋褌褉芯胁懈 袩芯谢褨薪械蟹褨褩 蟹邪褋械谢懈谢懈 谢褞写懈, 褟泻褨 薪械 锌褉懈泄褕谢懈 蟹 袗蟹褨褩, 邪 锌械褉械锌谢懈胁谢懈 褌懈褋褟褔褨 泻褨谢芯屑械褌褉褨胁 锌谢芯褌邪屑懈 蟹 袩械褉褍, 写芯 薪邪胁械褉褌邪薪薪褟 褨薪褕懈褏, 褖芯 褑械 屑芯卸薪邪 写芯胁械褋褌懈, 褟泻褖芯 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌芯胁褌芯褉懈褌懈 褑褞 锌芯写芯褉芯卸. 校谐褍, 锌褉芯褋褌芯. 袧邪 锌谢芯褌褨. 孝懈褋褟褔褨 泻褨谢芯屑械褌褉褨胁 褍 芯泻械邪薪褨. 袟胁褨褋薪芯, 锌褉芯褋褌芯.
楔褨褋褌褜 谢褞写械泄, 蟹斜褍写芯胁邪薪懈泄 斜邪谢褜褋芯胁懈泄 锌谢褨褌, 褉邪写褨芯芯斜谢邪写薪邪薪薪褟, 蟹邪锌邪褋懈 褩卸褨, 胁芯写懈, 卸褍褉薪邪谢褜薪懈褏 胁懈屑褨褉褞胁邪薪褜 褨 斜械蟹屑械卸卸褟 孝懈褏芯谐芯 芯泻械邪薪褍 锌芯锌械褉械写褍. 小泻邪卸械薪懈泄 械褎械泻褌 锌褉懈褋褍褌薪芯褋褌褨 写谢褟 褔懈褌邪褔邪 褨 屑芯褟 谐谢懈斜芯泻邪 锌芯写褟泻邪, 褖芯 写芯褋谢褨写薪懈泻懈 锌芯写褨谢懈谢懈褋褟 褑懈屑 写芯褋胁褨写芯屑 蟹褨 屑薪芯褞 鈥� 谢褞写懈薪芯褞, 褟泻邪 薪褨泻芯谢懈 泄芯谐芯 薪械 屑邪褌懈屑械.
校 褑褨泄 泻薪懈蟹褨 褑褨泻邪胁械 胁褋械, 邪谢械 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕械 屑械薪械 胁褉邪卸邪胁 芯褑械泄 锌芯斜褍褌 褕褨褋褌褜芯褏 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻褨胁 薪邪 锌谢芯褌褍, 褟泻懈屑 褉邪蟹芯屑 褌褉械斜邪 锌谢懈胁褌懈 3-4 屑褨褋褟褑褨, 锌械褉褕 薪褨卸 胁芯薪懈 蟹邪 褉芯蟹褉邪褏褍薪泻邪屑懈 锌褉懈褋褌邪薪褍褌褜 写芯 蟹械屑谢褨.
芦袧邪泄锌械褉褕懈屑 蟹邪胁写邪薪薪褟屑 泻芯泻邪 胁褉邪薪褑褨 斜褍谢芯 胁懈蟹斜懈褉邪褌懈 褋屑邪褔薪褨 谢械褌褞褔褨 褉懈斜泻懈, 褟泻褨 薪邪锌邪写邪谢懈 薪邪 锌邪谢褍斜褍 蟹邪 薪褨褔.禄
校褟胁褨褌褜 褋芯斜褨 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褞. 袙懈 胁薪芯褔褨 锌褉芯泻懈薪褍谢懈褋褟 锌芯锌褨褋褟褌懈, 芯斜械褉械卸薪芯 芯屑懈薪邪褦褌械 锌褟褌褜芯褏 褋褍锌褍褌薪懈泻褨胁, 褖芯斜 薪械 锌芯褌褉懈胁芯卸懈褌懈 褩褏薪褨泄 褋芯薪, 邪谢械 褍 褟泻懈泄褋褜 屑芯屑械薪褌 褩褏 褍褋褨褏 斜褍写褟褌褜 胁邪褕褨 谐褍褔薪褨 屑邪褌褞泻懈, 斜芯 胁邪屑 锌芯 芯斜谢懈褔褔褞 褉邪锌褌芯屑 锌褉懈谢褨褌邪褞 谢械褌褞褔邪 褉懈斜邪, 褖芯 褍 褑械泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 胁懈褋褌褉懈斜薪褍谢邪 蟹 胁芯写懈!
孝褍褌 褨 锌褉懈褉褍褔械薪懈泄 泻褉邪斜懈泻, 褟泻懈泄 芯褋械谢懈胁褋褟 褋械褉械写 泻芯谢芯写, 褨 褉懈斜泻懈 谢芯褑屑邪谢懈, 褟泻懈泄 胁械褋褜 褔邪褋 褋褍锌褉芯胁芯写卸褍胁邪谢懈 锌谢褨褌, 褨 锌械褉褕邪 褋褌褉邪褏褨褌谢懈胁邪 蟹褍褋褌褉褨褔 蟹 泻懈褌芯胁芯褞 邪泻褍谢芯褞, 泻芯谢懈 褑械泄 胁懈写 褖械 薪械 斜褍胁 薪邪胁褨褌褜 芯锌懈褋邪薪懈泄, 褨 锌邪写褨薪薪褟 蟹邪 斜芯褉褌, 褨 邪谢谐芯褉懈褌屑 胁懈谢芯胁谢褞胁邪薪薪褟 褌褍薪褑褨胁, 屑芯泻褉械谢械泄 褨 邪泻褍谢, 褨 褋褌褉邪褕薪褨 褕褌芯褉屑懈, 褨 蟹屑褨薪懈 锌褨写胁芯写薪懈褏 褌械褔褨泄, 褨 薪械褉褨胁薪邪 斜芯褉芯褌褜斜邪 蟹 锌褉懈斜械褉械卸薪懈屑懈 褏胁懈谢褟屑懈, 褨 褎芯褌芯谐褉邪褎褨褩 薪邪 蟹谐邪写泻褍. 袩褨写 褔邪褋 褑褨褦褩 锌芯写芯褉芯卸褨 褌褨谢褜泻懈 写懈胁褍褦褕褋褟 褋泻褨谢褜泻懈 褍褋褜芯谐芯 邪胁褌芯褉 胁褋褌懈谐 械屑锌褨褉懈褔薪芯 胁褨写泻褉懈褌懈, 褋泻褨谢褜泻懈 褌械芯褉褨泄 褋锌褉芯褋褌褍胁邪褌懈. 孝邪泻, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 锌械褉械褋胁褨写褔懈谢懈褋褟, 褖芯 泻邪谢褜屑邪褉懈 褌邪泻芯卸 胁屑褨褞褌褜 胁懈褋褌褉懈斜褍胁邪褌懈 蟹 胁芯写懈, 邪 泻芯泻芯褋懈 褍 屑芯褉褋褜泻褨泄 胁芯写褨 锌褋褍褞褌褜褋褟 (胁褨写锌芯胁褨写薪芯 斜械蟹 谢褞写褋褜泻芯褩 写芯锌芯屑芯谐懈 锌械褉械锌谢懈胁邪褌懈 芯泻械邪薪 薪械 屑芯谐谢懈).
携 蟹 褑褨褦褞 泻薪懈谐芯褞 蟹薪芯胁褍 胁褨写褔褍胁邪谢邪 写懈褌褟褔懈泄 蟹邪褏胁邪褌, 薪邪褔械 胁锌械褉褕械 褔懈褌邪谢邪 褉芯屑邪薪褍 袞褍谢褟 袙械褉薪邪 邪斜芯 蟹邪谢懈锌邪谢邪 薪邪 锌械褉械写邪褔褨 National Geographic 锌褉芯 卸懈褌褌褟 邪泻褍谢 褨 泻懈褌褨胁 (写芯 褉械褔褨, 薪邪写懈褏薪褍谢邪褋褟 褨 胁 youtube 泻褨谢褜泻邪 胁褨写械芯 褌邪泻懈 锌芯写懈胁懈谢邪褋褟). 袦械薪褨 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪芯 斜褨谢褜褕械 锌械褉械泻谢邪写械薪懈褏 泻薪懈谐 孝褍褉邪 袚械褦褉写邪谢邪!
December 22, 2022
I read this as a child and remembered almost nothing from it, so it was time for a reread.
Not all of you might know about the then-famous voyage Heyerdahl and five other men made on a raft built in the ancient Pervuian style. Heyerdahl was convinced that it was Peruvians who first settled in part of Polynesian, so set out to prove that the voyage could be made using those rafts and did just that. He did put in a very short appendix pointing out that this did not prove his long unpopular theory. However, an DNA study published in 2020 does show that there are some South American indigenous genes as well as some from coastal people in British Columbia. This doesn't surprise me in the least since it wasn't as unusual for coastal peoples do roam the seas as it has been made out.
Back to the book. Heyerdahl starts with planning the voyage, getting financial backing and that sort of thing, then moves to their travels in South America in order to get balsa logs and other natural supplies to build the raft etc. Much of the book is about the voyage itself, and just the last chapter or so is about them actually being in Polynesia. The book isn't dry and I found it interesting, particularly since this was in 1947 and the only technology they brought along were 2 cameras (yes, there are b & w photos in the book),a couple of short wave radios and a way to cook food even though they could have eaten the fish raw.
There are some intense survival scenes in this book, but much of it is about life and navigating on the raft, their adventures with fish and so on and so forth.
Not all of you might know about the then-famous voyage Heyerdahl and five other men made on a raft built in the ancient Pervuian style. Heyerdahl was convinced that it was Peruvians who first settled in part of Polynesian, so set out to prove that the voyage could be made using those rafts and did just that. He did put in a very short appendix pointing out that this did not prove his long unpopular theory. However, an DNA study published in 2020 does show that there are some South American indigenous genes as well as some from coastal people in British Columbia. This doesn't surprise me in the least since it wasn't as unusual for coastal peoples do roam the seas as it has been made out.
Back to the book. Heyerdahl starts with planning the voyage, getting financial backing and that sort of thing, then moves to their travels in South America in order to get balsa logs and other natural supplies to build the raft etc. Much of the book is about the voyage itself, and just the last chapter or so is about them actually being in Polynesia. The book isn't dry and I found it interesting, particularly since this was in 1947 and the only technology they brought along were 2 cameras (yes, there are b & w photos in the book),a couple of short wave radios and a way to cook food even though they could have eaten the fish raw.
There are some intense survival scenes in this book, but much of it is about life and navigating on the raft, their adventures with fish and so on and so forth.
October 11, 2018
賵賱鬲囟賮 賱毓賱賲賰 毓賱丞 兀禺乇賶 賯丿 鬲丿賮毓 丕賱乇噩丕賱 賱卮丿 丕賱乇丨丕賱
"孬賵乇 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱貙 亘胤賱 丕賱乇丨賱丞"
賴賷 賯氐丞 丨賯賷賯賷丞貙 毓賳 賲鬲禺氐氐 兀毓乇丕賯 賳乇賵賷噩賷 賯囟賶 丨賷丕鬲賴 賷噩賲毓 兀丿賱丞 毓賱賶 賮賰乇丞 爻賷胤乇鬲 毓賱賷賴 賲賳匕 賮噩乇 卮亘丕亘賴貙 賵賴賷 兀賳 丕賱丨囟丕乇丕鬲 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 乇亘賲丕 賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 賯丿 丕賳鬲卮乇鬲 賳鬲賷噩丞 賱乇丨賱丕鬲 亘丨乇賷丞 賯丕賲鬲 亘賴丕 丕賱卮毓賵亘 丕賱亘丿丕卅賷丞 毓亘乇 丕賱亘丨丕乇 賵丕賱賲丨賷胤丕鬲貙
賵兀丨丿 鬲噩賱賷丕鬲 兀賮賰丕乇賴 兀賳 賵噩丿 鬲卮丕亘賴丕 亘賷賳 丨囟丕乇丕鬲 丕賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞 賵噩夭乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿卅貙 賮丕賮鬲乇囟 兀賳 丨囟丕乇丞 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賲氐丿乇賴丕 丕賱兀賵賱賶 鬲賲丕賲丕 賰賲丕 鬲賯賵賱 兀爻丕胤賷乇賴賲 丕賱賲丨賱賷丞 毓賳 丕賱兀爻賱丕賮 賵賴賵 毓賰爻 丕賱賮賰乇丞 丕賱爻丕卅丿丞 賵賯鬲賴丕 亘兀賳 兀賴賱 噩夭乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿卅 賯丿 兀鬲賵丕 賲賳 丌爻賷丕
丕爻鬲丿賱 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱 亘丕賱夭毓賷賲 賰賵賳 鬲賷賰賷 丕賱匕賷 丕禺鬲賮賶 賲賳 亘賷乇賵 孬賲 馗賴乇鬲 丌孬丕乇賴 賰廿賱賴 賮賷 噩夭乇 丕賱賴賳丿賷貙 賵丨丕噩噩 丕賱胤乇賮 丕賱丌禺乇 亘兀賳 兀賴賱 丕賱噩賳賵亘 賱賲 賷賲賱賰賵丕 爻賵賶 丕賱兀胤賵丕賮 丕賱禺卮亘賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 賷賲賰賳賴丕 賯胤毓 賰賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲爻丕賮丞 賮賷 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿賷亍 丕賱賴丕卅噩
賵賱賰賳 丕賱鬲賲丕孬賷賱 丕賱丨噩乇賷丞 賮賷 噩夭賷乇丞 丕賷爻鬲乇 亘丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿賷亍 鬲卮亘賴 丕賱鬲賲丕孬賷賱 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賮賷 兀賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞貙 賰賲丕 兀賳 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賲丨賱賷丞 鬲鬲胤丕亘賯 賲毓
兀賮賰丕乇賴 賵賳馗乇賷丕鬲賴 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇丕賵丿賴
賮賰丕賳 賴匕丕 賰丕賮賷丕 賱賷囟毓 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱 丨賷丕鬲賴 毓賱賶 丕賱賲丨賰 賮賵賯 胤賵賮 賲胤丕亘賯 賱賲丕 丕賲鬲賱賰賴 丕賴賱 丕賱噩賳賵亘貙 賵兀亘丨乇 賲賳 亘賷乇賵 賲毓 禺賲爻 乇噩丕賱 賵亘亘睾丕亍 賯丕氐丿賷賳 丕賱睾乇亘
"賲爻丕乇 乇丨賱丞 賰賵賳 鬲賷賰賷貙 孬賲丕賳賷丞 丌賱丕賮 賰賷賱賵 賲鬲乇"
"丕賱賲毓噩夭丞 丕賱鬲賷 丨賲賱鬲賴賲"
賱賯丿 賰丕賳 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱 賲賳 丕賱賳賵毓 丕賱匕賷 賷氐丿賯 賮賷 賳賮爻賴 賰孬賷乇丕貙 賮氐丿賯賴 丕賱賳丕爻 賲賳 丨賵賱賴 賵丕賯鬲賳毓賵丕 亘賲爻丕毓丿鬲賴 丨鬲賶 賵廿賳 賱賲 賷爻鬲胤賷毓賵丕 鬲亘賷丕賳 賲氐賷乇 賰賱 賴匕丕 丕賱丨賲丕爻 丕賱匕賷 賱丿賷賴
***
丕賱賯氐丞 亘爻賷胤丞 賵爻乇丿賴丕 賲鬲爻賱爻賱 亘賵囟賵丨 賮賷 兀爻賱賵亘 兀丿亘賷 賲卮賵賯 賱丨丿 丕丨爻丕爻賰 亘兀賳賰 丕賱毓囟賵 丕賱爻丕亘毓 賮賵賯 胤賵賮賴賲 丕賱賲鬲賵丕囟毓貙
丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 噩賷丿丞 賵爻賱爻丞
"孬賵乇 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱貙 亘胤賱 丕賱乇丨賱丞"
賴賷 賯氐丞 丨賯賷賯賷丞貙 毓賳 賲鬲禺氐氐 兀毓乇丕賯 賳乇賵賷噩賷 賯囟賶 丨賷丕鬲賴 賷噩賲毓 兀丿賱丞 毓賱賶 賮賰乇丞 爻賷胤乇鬲 毓賱賷賴 賲賳匕 賮噩乇 卮亘丕亘賴貙 賵賴賷 兀賳 丕賱丨囟丕乇丕鬲 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 乇亘賲丕 賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 賯丿 丕賳鬲卮乇鬲 賳鬲賷噩丞 賱乇丨賱丕鬲 亘丨乇賷丞 賯丕賲鬲 亘賴丕 丕賱卮毓賵亘 丕賱亘丿丕卅賷丞 毓亘乇 丕賱亘丨丕乇 賵丕賱賲丨賷胤丕鬲貙
賵兀丨丿 鬲噩賱賷丕鬲 兀賮賰丕乇賴 兀賳 賵噩丿 鬲卮丕亘賴丕 亘賷賳 丨囟丕乇丕鬲 丕賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞 賵噩夭乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿卅貙 賮丕賮鬲乇囟 兀賳 丨囟丕乇丞 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賲氐丿乇賴丕 丕賱兀賵賱賶 鬲賲丕賲丕 賰賲丕 鬲賯賵賱 兀爻丕胤賷乇賴賲 丕賱賲丨賱賷丞 毓賳 丕賱兀爻賱丕賮 賵賴賵 毓賰爻 丕賱賮賰乇丞 丕賱爻丕卅丿丞 賵賯鬲賴丕 亘兀賳 兀賴賱 噩夭乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿卅 賯丿 兀鬲賵丕 賲賳 丌爻賷丕
丕爻鬲丿賱 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱 亘丕賱夭毓賷賲 賰賵賳 鬲賷賰賷 丕賱匕賷 丕禺鬲賮賶 賲賳 亘賷乇賵 孬賲 馗賴乇鬲 丌孬丕乇賴 賰廿賱賴 賮賷 噩夭乇 丕賱賴賳丿賷貙 賵丨丕噩噩 丕賱胤乇賮 丕賱丌禺乇 亘兀賳 兀賴賱 丕賱噩賳賵亘 賱賲 賷賲賱賰賵丕 爻賵賶 丕賱兀胤賵丕賮 丕賱禺卮亘賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 賷賲賰賳賴丕 賯胤毓 賰賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲爻丕賮丞 賮賷 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿賷亍 丕賱賴丕卅噩
賵賱賰賳 丕賱鬲賲丕孬賷賱 丕賱丨噩乇賷丞 賮賷 噩夭賷乇丞 丕賷爻鬲乇 亘丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿賷亍 鬲卮亘賴 丕賱鬲賲丕孬賷賱 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賮賷 兀賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞貙 賰賲丕 兀賳 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賲丨賱賷丞 鬲鬲胤丕亘賯 賲毓
兀賮賰丕乇賴 賵賳馗乇賷丕鬲賴 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇丕賵丿賴
賮賰丕賳 賴匕丕 賰丕賮賷丕 賱賷囟毓 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱 丨賷丕鬲賴 毓賱賶 丕賱賲丨賰 賮賵賯 胤賵賮 賲胤丕亘賯 賱賲丕 丕賲鬲賱賰賴 丕賴賱 丕賱噩賳賵亘貙 賵兀亘丨乇 賲賳 亘賷乇賵 賲毓 禺賲爻 乇噩丕賱 賵亘亘睾丕亍 賯丕氐丿賷賳 丕賱睾乇亘
"賲爻丕乇 乇丨賱丞 賰賵賳 鬲賷賰賷貙 孬賲丕賳賷丞 丌賱丕賮 賰賷賱賵 賲鬲乇"
"丕賱賲毓噩夭丞 丕賱鬲賷 丨賲賱鬲賴賲"
賱賯丿 賰丕賳 賴丕賷乇丿丕賱 賲賳 丕賱賳賵毓 丕賱匕賷 賷氐丿賯 賮賷 賳賮爻賴 賰孬賷乇丕貙 賮氐丿賯賴 丕賱賳丕爻 賲賳 丨賵賱賴 賵丕賯鬲賳毓賵丕 亘賲爻丕毓丿鬲賴 丨鬲賶 賵廿賳 賱賲 賷爻鬲胤賷毓賵丕 鬲亘賷丕賳 賲氐賷乇 賰賱 賴匕丕 丕賱丨賲丕爻 丕賱匕賷 賱丿賷賴
***
丕賱賯氐丞 亘爻賷胤丞 賵爻乇丿賴丕 賲鬲爻賱爻賱 亘賵囟賵丨 賮賷 兀爻賱賵亘 兀丿亘賷 賲卮賵賯 賱丨丿 丕丨爻丕爻賰 亘兀賳賰 丕賱毓囟賵 丕賱爻丕亘毓 賮賵賯 胤賵賮賴賲 丕賱賲鬲賵丕囟毓貙
丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 噩賷丿丞 賵爻賱爻丞
April 14, 2022
孬賵乇 賴蹖丿丕賱 讴丕卮賮 賵 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屫促嗀ж� 賳乇賵跇蹖 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕卮鬲 賯亘丕蹖賱 倬賱蹖賳蹖夭 亘丕 讴賱讴 丕夭 賲蹖丕賳 丿乇蹖丕賴丕 毓亘賵乇 讴乇丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賵 丿乇 噩夭丕蹖乇 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 噩賳賵亘蹖 賵 噩夭丕蹖乇 丕賯蹖丕賳賵爻 丌乇丕賲 爻丕讴賳 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賵賱蹖 丕夭 丌賳噩丕 讴賴 賴賲賴 鬲卅賵乇蹖 丕賵 乇丕 睾蹖乇 賲賲讴賳 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀池嗀� 賵蹖 鬲氐賲蹖賲 亘賴 讴丕乇 讴乇丿賳 乇賵蹖 賳胤乇蹖賴 禺賵丿 诏乇賮鬲.卮卮 賲賱賵丕賳 丕爻鬲禺丿丕賲 讴乇丿 賵 亘丕 爻丕禺鬲 讴賱讴蹖 亘丕 卮卮 丕賱賵丕乇 丕夭 丿乇禺鬲 亘丕賱夭丕 乇丕賴蹖 丕蹖賳 爻賮乇 胤賵賱丕賳蹖 卮丿 賵 ...
丕丿丕賲卮賵 禺賵丿鬲賵賳 亘禺賵賳蹖丿
丕賱亘鬲賴 丕诏乇 亘賴 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 爻蹖丕丨鬲鈥屬嗀з呝団€屫й� 毓賱丕賯賲賳丿 賴爻鬲蹖丿!
丕丿丕賲卮賵 禺賵丿鬲賵賳 亘禺賵賳蹖丿
丕賱亘鬲賴 丕诏乇 亘賴 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 爻蹖丕丨鬲鈥屬嗀з呝団€屫й� 毓賱丕賯賲賳丿 賴爻鬲蹖丿!
March 15, 2019
still one of the great epics of sea faring told by the really last viking. every time in Oslo i pay respect and go and sea the akon Tiki
July 11, 2024
Only the elements mattered. And the elements seemed to ignore the little raft. Or perhaps they accepted it as a natural object, which did not break the harmony of the sea but adapted itself to current and sea like bird and fish. Instead of being a fearsome enemy, flinging itself at us, the elements had become a reliable friend which steadily and surely helped us onward.
I don't think i've ever had much respect for explorer/adventurer types. I鈥檓 not saying thats a good thing it just is. There always seems like it took a lot of people to get the one or two you鈥檝e heard of where they wanted to go. Plus the use of natives for african/mountain expeditions is practically cheating ;) . Even with the arctic expeditions lets face it the huskies were doing most of the heavy lifting :P .
Anyway... these guys i can respect... because they鈥檙e idiots! I mean, not only no natives who might know what they鈥檙e doing but they don鈥檛 even have any sailors at all on they鈥檙e experimental sea voyage. Just 6 crazy scandanavians on a type of raft that hasn鈥檛 been used for hundreds of years.
I love that this is experimental archeaology, and as always with that, they learn a lot of interesting stuff no one knew before.
The writing is far better than i expected too. For non-fiction it has aquite a flourish to it at times. Some of the incidents might be a little truncated compared to what you might get in a hollywoodized version but its still very compelling.
In fact i havn鈥檛 read anything which made the oceans sound this interesting since Verne and 20,000 Leagues... except this is real!
For long stretches it seems like this was far easier a voyage than you might expect but then here and there you realise just how close it all came to disaster. I also reallu like how much science stuff was being done onboard, testing different things, sending data to various institutes etc.
Its like a space mission at times, in more ways than one, as it soon becomes apparent that the raft can鈥檛 be turned araound or even slowed, so anything thing (or anyone) that goes overboard is just going to drift away with no chance of rescue, very space like.
Due to how well its written i was already on 4 stars, then raised it to 5 due to all the info i was getting i hadn鈥檛 heard before. And that was even before many of the really compelling incidents occurred so absolutely 5 stars.
PS. They don't eat any Dolphins. They keep referring to the Doradoe, aka Mahi Mahi, aka the dolphinfish as a Dolpin, that was annoying, its just a fish :lol . Although they are pretty beligerant to some of the other aquatic life, but not Dolphins!
Edit: New research might support Thor's theory .
I don't think i've ever had much respect for explorer/adventurer types. I鈥檓 not saying thats a good thing it just is. There always seems like it took a lot of people to get the one or two you鈥檝e heard of where they wanted to go. Plus the use of natives for african/mountain expeditions is practically cheating ;) . Even with the arctic expeditions lets face it the huskies were doing most of the heavy lifting :P .
Anyway... these guys i can respect... because they鈥檙e idiots! I mean, not only no natives who might know what they鈥檙e doing but they don鈥檛 even have any sailors at all on they鈥檙e experimental sea voyage. Just 6 crazy scandanavians on a type of raft that hasn鈥檛 been used for hundreds of years.
I love that this is experimental archeaology, and as always with that, they learn a lot of interesting stuff no one knew before.
The writing is far better than i expected too. For non-fiction it has aquite a flourish to it at times. Some of the incidents might be a little truncated compared to what you might get in a hollywoodized version but its still very compelling.
In fact i havn鈥檛 read anything which made the oceans sound this interesting since Verne and 20,000 Leagues... except this is real!
For long stretches it seems like this was far easier a voyage than you might expect but then here and there you realise just how close it all came to disaster. I also reallu like how much science stuff was being done onboard, testing different things, sending data to various institutes etc.
Its like a space mission at times, in more ways than one, as it soon becomes apparent that the raft can鈥檛 be turned araound or even slowed, so anything thing (or anyone) that goes overboard is just going to drift away with no chance of rescue, very space like.
Due to how well its written i was already on 4 stars, then raised it to 5 due to all the info i was getting i hadn鈥檛 heard before. And that was even before many of the really compelling incidents occurred so absolutely 5 stars.
PS. They don't eat any Dolphins. They keep referring to the Doradoe, aka Mahi Mahi, aka the dolphinfish as a Dolpin, that was annoying, its just a fish :lol . Although they are pretty beligerant to some of the other aquatic life, but not Dolphins!
Edit: New research might support Thor's theory .
July 13, 2010
Super fun read, great travel book.
Favorite passage:
"Sometimes, too, we went out in the rubber boat to look at ourselves by night. Coal-black seas towered up on all sides, and a glittering myriad of tropical stars drew a faint reflection from plankton in the water. The world was simple - stars in the darkness. Whether it was 1947 BC or AD suddenly became of no significance. We lived, and that we felt with alert intensity. We realized that life had been full for men before the technical age also - in fact, fuller and richer in many ways than the life of modern man. Time and evolution somehow ceased to exist; all that was real and that mattered were the same today as they had always been and would always be. We were swallowed up in the absolute common measure of history - endless unbroken darkness under a swarm of stars."
Favorite passage:
"Sometimes, too, we went out in the rubber boat to look at ourselves by night. Coal-black seas towered up on all sides, and a glittering myriad of tropical stars drew a faint reflection from plankton in the water. The world was simple - stars in the darkness. Whether it was 1947 BC or AD suddenly became of no significance. We lived, and that we felt with alert intensity. We realized that life had been full for men before the technical age also - in fact, fuller and richer in many ways than the life of modern man. Time and evolution somehow ceased to exist; all that was real and that mattered were the same today as they had always been and would always be. We were swallowed up in the absolute common measure of history - endless unbroken darkness under a swarm of stars."
November 25, 2022
Every reader can be an explorer. Maybe even more true for us writers!
When I read this extraordinary book as a junior in high school, finally I became excited about the prospect of exploration.
More recently, having discovered "Big History," more than ever, I honor Thor Heyerdahl's vision, heart, and adventurousness.
When I read this extraordinary book as a junior in high school, finally I became excited about the prospect of exploration.
More recently, having discovered "Big History," more than ever, I honor Thor Heyerdahl's vision, heart, and adventurousness.
May 6, 2015
I read this in school and hated it. My tastes in reading are quite different now and I think I might reread this. Now I think it looks interesting.
January 28, 2022
賰鬲丕亘 賲匕賴賱 賵賲賲鬲毓 噩丿丕
鬲毓乇賮鬲 毓賱賶 賲賳 賰鬲丕亘丕鬲
賵毓乇賮鬲 賯氐丞 賰賵賳 鬲賷賰賷 賲賳 賰鬲丕亘
賱匕丕 毓賳丿賲丕 賵賯毓鬲 毓賷賳丕賷 毓賱賶 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丿賴 賯乇乇鬲 卮乇丕丐賵賴 亘賱丕 鬲乇丿丿
賵賰兀賳賳賶 賰賳鬲 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱爻丕亘毓 毓賱賶 賲鬲賳 丕賱胤賵賮
賮賰乇丞 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 毓賳 毓丕賱賲 兀噩賳丕爻 亘卮乇賷丞 賵賰丕賳 賷乇賷丿 廿孬亘丕鬲 兀賳 兀賴賱 噩夭乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿賷 賯丿 賴丕噩乇賵丕 賲賳 兀賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞 賵賱賷爻 賲賳 丌爻賷丕 賰賲丕 賰丕賳 卮丕卅毓丕
賮賯乇乇 丕賱爻賮乇 賲賳 兀賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞 賱噩夭乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿賷 毓賱賶 胤賵賮 賲賳 禺卮亘 丕賱亘丕賱爻丕 賰賲丕 賮毓賱 兀賴賱 噩夭乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 賲賳匕 丌賱賵賮 丕賱爻賳賷賳
賵賳丕賱 丕賱賮賷賱賲 丕賱鬲爻噩賷賱賶 丕賱禺丕氐 亘丕賱乇丨賱丞 噩丕卅夭丞 丕賱兀賵爻賰丕乇 賱兀丨爻賳 賮賷賱賲 鬲爻噩賷賱賷 毓丕賲 1951
賵兀賳鬲噩 兀賷囟丕 賮賷賱賲 毓丕賲 2012 亘賳賮爻 丕賱丕爻賲 賵賴賵 兀囟禺賲 廿賳鬲丕噩 賮賷 丕賱爻賷賳賲丕 丕賱賳乇賵賷噩賷丞 毓賱賶 丕賱廿胤賱丕賯 賵賳丕賱 鬲乇卮賷丨丕賸 賱賱兀賵爻賰丕乇毓賳 賮卅丞 兀賮囟賱 賮賷賱賲 兀噩賳亘賷
June 2, 2022
I came across this book and it brought back a memory of a high school history class. The teacher talked about the author and his story, for all of about 15 minutes. Then told the class "If you want to learn more, read the book." of course, I did not. Actually I am glad I read it now, I probably would not have appreciated the adventure, as much, back then.
In 1947 Thor Heyerdahl set off with 5 other men, departing Peru on a raft built from specs written and drawn down by Spanish conquistadores He was attempting to prove his theory that The Polynesian islands were first settled by South Americans.
Heyerdahl believed that people from South America could have reached Polynesia during pre-Columbian times. His aim in mounting the Kon-Tiki expedition was to show, by using only the materials and technologies available to those people at the time, that there were no technical reasons to prevent them from having done so. Although the expedition carried some modern equipment, such as a radio, watches, charts, sextant, and metal knives, Heyerdahl argued they were incidental to the purpose of proving that the raft itself could make the journey.
In building the raft and preparing for this crazy journey (remember this is 1947, everyone thought he was cuckoo馃槣) Heyerdahl enlisted help from wherever he could get it. He took privately funded loans and accepted donations from the U.S. Army (food rations and new technology for war that needed field testing).
The story reads more like a fiction adventure, and I loved it.
Heyerdahl's hypothesis of the original Polynesian peoples being from South America is rejected now days. Genetics has aided in proving his theory wrong. However, the man had bones of steel to attempt this journey and I salute him!
In 1947 Thor Heyerdahl set off with 5 other men, departing Peru on a raft built from specs written and drawn down by Spanish conquistadores He was attempting to prove his theory that The Polynesian islands were first settled by South Americans.
Heyerdahl believed that people from South America could have reached Polynesia during pre-Columbian times. His aim in mounting the Kon-Tiki expedition was to show, by using only the materials and technologies available to those people at the time, that there were no technical reasons to prevent them from having done so. Although the expedition carried some modern equipment, such as a radio, watches, charts, sextant, and metal knives, Heyerdahl argued they were incidental to the purpose of proving that the raft itself could make the journey.
In building the raft and preparing for this crazy journey (remember this is 1947, everyone thought he was cuckoo馃槣) Heyerdahl enlisted help from wherever he could get it. He took privately funded loans and accepted donations from the U.S. Army (food rations and new technology for war that needed field testing).
The story reads more like a fiction adventure, and I loved it.
Heyerdahl's hypothesis of the original Polynesian peoples being from South America is rejected now days. Genetics has aided in proving his theory wrong. However, the man had bones of steel to attempt this journey and I salute him!
February 12, 2008
When nobody believed his theory that the Polynesian islands were settled by travelers from Peru because they had no boats, Thor set out to prove his theory by building his own raft ala early Peruvian civilization and sailing across the Pacific. What amazed me was his determination and optimism. When naval officials inspected the raft prior to departure and insisted he was sailing off to his eminent death and he abort, instead of being discouraged or fearful, Thor was confident his expedition would succeed because his predecessors had.
Call it faith or stupidity, everything fell into place from finding the perfect group of 5 men to join his travel to cutting through government red tape and getting funding and supplies. Even the one seemingly setback where they could not find anyone to supply the balsa logs so they entered the jungle and cut them down themselves ended up being for their benefit when the fresh logs, still containing sap, keep the raft floating longer than dry logs would have.
There adventures on the open water including catching shark, hitting storms, and observing strange ocean life were very interesting and their knowledge, skills, and most of all spirit of adventure amazed me. But it's not all page-turning excitement. There were parts of the book that dragged, parts that found me asleep in the middle of a chapter. I'm glad I read the account, but overall, I think it is a book that would intrigue my husband more and I have recommended that he read it.
Call it faith or stupidity, everything fell into place from finding the perfect group of 5 men to join his travel to cutting through government red tape and getting funding and supplies. Even the one seemingly setback where they could not find anyone to supply the balsa logs so they entered the jungle and cut them down themselves ended up being for their benefit when the fresh logs, still containing sap, keep the raft floating longer than dry logs would have.
There adventures on the open water including catching shark, hitting storms, and observing strange ocean life were very interesting and their knowledge, skills, and most of all spirit of adventure amazed me. But it's not all page-turning excitement. There were parts of the book that dragged, parts that found me asleep in the middle of a chapter. I'm glad I read the account, but overall, I think it is a book that would intrigue my husband more and I have recommended that he read it.
March 10, 2019
鈥楽OME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN FATE, OTHERS DON鈥橳. I DO, and I don鈥檛. It may seem at times as if invisible fingers move us about like puppets on strings. But for sure, we are not born to be dragged along. We can grab the strings ourselves and adjust our course at every crossroad, or take off at any little trail into the unknown.鈥�
鈥極NCE IN A WHILE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN AN odd situation. You get into it by degrees and in the most natural way but, when you are right in the midst of it, you are suddenly astonished and ask yourself how in the world it all came about....
...
So, perhaps, the whole thing began. So began, in any case, a whole series of events which finally landed the six of us and a green parrot on board a raft off the coast of South America.
I remember how I shocked my father and amazed my mother and my friends when I came back to Norway and handed over my glass jars of beetles and fish from Fatu Hiva to the University Zoological Museum. I wanted to give up animal studies and tackle primitive peoples. The unsolved mysteries of the South Seas had fascinated me. There must be a rational solution of them, and I had made my objective the identification of the legendary hero Tiki.鈥�
鈥極NCE IN A WHILE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN AN odd situation. You get into it by degrees and in the most natural way but, when you are right in the midst of it, you are suddenly astonished and ask yourself how in the world it all came about....
...
So, perhaps, the whole thing began. So began, in any case, a whole series of events which finally landed the six of us and a green parrot on board a raft off the coast of South America.
I remember how I shocked my father and amazed my mother and my friends when I came back to Norway and handed over my glass jars of beetles and fish from Fatu Hiva to the University Zoological Museum. I wanted to give up animal studies and tackle primitive peoples. The unsolved mysteries of the South Seas had fascinated me. There must be a rational solution of them, and I had made my objective the identification of the legendary hero Tiki.鈥�
June 19, 2007
Part of this book was included in my sixth grade literature reader. After we read it, I swore that I was going to find it and read the whole thing. I finally did, but not until I was about 23 or so!
At any rate, it's a story so inspiring, one man's dreams and theories put to the test, I think everyone should read it. Makes me want to sale across the ocean on a big raft!!
At any rate, it's a story so inspiring, one man's dreams and theories put to the test, I think everyone should read it. Makes me want to sale across the ocean on a big raft!!
August 21, 2022
A book that was hard to put down.
Thor explains in his memoirs how he and several other enthusiasts managed to cross the Pacific on a small raft and survive. I could compare it to "The Old Man and the Sea", but on steroids. It's really worth reading it. Apart from his anthropological theories, which some consider unproven, the contact with Polynesian culture was very refreshing.
Thor explains in his memoirs how he and several other enthusiasts managed to cross the Pacific on a small raft and survive. I could compare it to "The Old Man and the Sea", but on steroids. It's really worth reading it. Apart from his anthropological theories, which some consider unproven, the contact with Polynesian culture was very refreshing.
March 23, 2022
In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl along with five other men journeyed by raft across the Pacific Ocean from Peru to the Polynesian Islands. This historic voyage is documented in Heyerdahl's book Kon-Tiki. The raft was named Kon-Tiki after an Inca god and Heyerdahl believed that people from South America could have reached Polynesia during pre-Columbian times. His aim in mounting the Kon-Tiki expedition was to show, by using only the materials and technologies available to those people at the time, that there were no technical reasons to prevent them from having done so. Although the expedition carried some modern equipment, such as a radio, watches, charts, sextant, and metal knives, Heyerdahl argued they were incidental to the purpose of proving that the raft itself could make the journey.
This was really a great adventure story. I have always admired explorers and adventurers who set out into the unknown putting themselves in peril. The raft did make it all the way to Raroia, a large atoll in the Pacific. Along the way, the men on the raft were able to survive some unlikely adventures and were able to use the spoils of the sea to sustain themselves. Every morning the crew gathered up flying fish which they used as food and also as bait for other fish including dolphin (the fish not the mammal), shark, tuna, bonito, and others. I had never heard of the dolphin fish and at first thought they were eating Flipper's kin. However, I looked it up on google and the dolphin fish is also called Mahi-mahi which I am familiar with. I know that it is a very good seafood. They also encountered a whale shark, the largest fish known, large squid, eels, and an ugly fish called a snake mackerel (Latin name Gempylus) that jumped on board one night into one of the crew's sleeping bag.
The book also detailed Heyerdahl's theory about Polynesia being populated from South America. He describes many of the ruins in South America and how they compare to what is in Polynesia. This includes the stone monoliths on Easter Island and other statues as well as the pyramids found in both places. A rather convincing argument. (Heyerdahl also later traveled to Easter Island and wrote another memoir about his discoveries there called Aku-Aku . I read this one back in the 70s and I probably should give it a reread.)
Overall, a really interesting and educational read. Although the Kon-Tiki raft did crash on a reef, it was salvaged and now resides in a
This was really a great adventure story. I have always admired explorers and adventurers who set out into the unknown putting themselves in peril. The raft did make it all the way to Raroia, a large atoll in the Pacific. Along the way, the men on the raft were able to survive some unlikely adventures and were able to use the spoils of the sea to sustain themselves. Every morning the crew gathered up flying fish which they used as food and also as bait for other fish including dolphin (the fish not the mammal), shark, tuna, bonito, and others. I had never heard of the dolphin fish and at first thought they were eating Flipper's kin. However, I looked it up on google and the dolphin fish is also called Mahi-mahi which I am familiar with. I know that it is a very good seafood. They also encountered a whale shark, the largest fish known, large squid, eels, and an ugly fish called a snake mackerel (Latin name Gempylus) that jumped on board one night into one of the crew's sleeping bag.
The book also detailed Heyerdahl's theory about Polynesia being populated from South America. He describes many of the ruins in South America and how they compare to what is in Polynesia. This includes the stone monoliths on Easter Island and other statues as well as the pyramids found in both places. A rather convincing argument. (Heyerdahl also later traveled to Easter Island and wrote another memoir about his discoveries there called Aku-Aku . I read this one back in the 70s and I probably should give it a reread.)
Overall, a really interesting and educational read. Although the Kon-Tiki raft did crash on a reef, it was salvaged and now resides in a
February 27, 2025
Adventurous or reckless? Either way, Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl is an epic journey! I particularly appreciated getting to see the photos they took along the way. That aspect really helped bring the whole thing home for me.
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