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| Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft | 
 enlarge | Author: Thor Heyerdahl
Publisher: Pocket
Category: Book
List Price: $5.99
Buy New: $2.00
You Save: $3.99 (67%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $0.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (55 reviews)
Sales Rank: 32716
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.1 x 1
ISBN: 0671726528
Dewey Decimal Number: 910.09164
EAN: 9780671726522
ASIN: 0671726528
Publication Date: May 1, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 An Amazing adventure all the way through... May 15, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Heyerdahl was either extremely ignorant of the sea, completely sure of his hypothesis that ancient peoples traveled the sea in rafts, or both.
I worked offshore, and couldn't imagine doing what Heyerdahl did. I've spent my life on the water and the sea just has never been so forgiving in my case. To build a raft for the first time without testing it first against the sea was just madness. But to put out, without the technology we have today, that was just ballsy.
In the end, history proved him right, over and over again. Heyerdahl is a man who certainly knows how to put his money where his mouth is. If you want to know about the spirit of those who have the faith to really lean on their convictions, this is a great book.
-H
 re-writing history February 20, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was very pleased that i stumbled across this book and thoroughly recommend it as in terms of history and the movement of people the book is very important,history books had to be re-written.Before the incredible journey was taken not many poeple thought it possible that a raft could leave the west coast of S.America and reach the polynesian islands solely by nature alone ie current and wind,most people excepted what scientists wrote ,that is the polynesian islands were populated from the west side of the Pacific(asia)only and no native South Ameicans could have made such a journey especially before technology came into play.But these men had done there homework on sea currents,weather patterns(winds) and construction of the raft which was constructed using the same materials as they had used in inca times.
If you want an insight into how ancient peoples risked everything by sailing into the unknown this is the book for you,its compelling stuff.
Rightful classic December 5, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is an excellent morale boosting story for anyone with a wacky idea that just won't quit, and has been dying their whole life to say "Ha, I told you so!". It's also a great travel epic complete with the quirky locals, the gadget guru, and a group of men willing to risk their lives for an ultimate adventure.
Parts of the book did read like a 1960's documentary. I could almost envision the "exciting world of color" technicolor intro and Thor narrating over the action. But I think it all adds to the ambiance of the book. It makes you realize in days before GPS and sattellite radios how crazy this band of pioneers really were. Also Thor doesn't really get into the emotional implications of first signing on to the expedition, then being at sea with a handful of men for three months. Instead he spiced up the day to day desciptions with detail about sea life and what the crew did to entertain themselves. I would have imagined the trip to be much more monotonous and morale killing then he makes it out to be, but it definitly makes a much more exciting read.
I woudl recommend this book to any travel book lover. It a classic of it's genre and a must read.
Remarkable October 12, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was an incredible gripping tale of Thor Heyerdahl's adventurous travel to Polynesia to prove that such travel was possilbe years ago. Thor Heyerdahl was not only a entertaining writer but an avid adventurer. He writes in a way that allows you to take the journey with him on the balsa raft that he uses with six others to travel from Peru to Polynesia. He definitely proved his point.
Riveting Trans-Pacific Adventure! September 10, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is one of the few books I could not put down.
How did people populate the polynesian islands way out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Can a balsa wood raft built today survive the journey? Can large enough balsa trees be found to create the raft of the past? Can they accurately recreate a raft like the once used so long ago? Can they recreate the ancient navigation techniques? Can they crash land on a reef while blazing in the equatorial current?
This book takes you though the whole great adventure. Join Heyerdahl and his mates - build the raft, smell the sea, feel the mist, dine one abundant free fish and marvel over the glorious glowing kingdom below!
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