Reviews and Comments

Man this dude was lucky; this could be a tale of warning (at one point he heads off into the hills with a cyclone coming)… but he wasn’t the only one doing this. He makes this walk seem accessible, which is inspiring, but also worries me a bit. But on the flip side, it’s an easy and beautiful and inspiring read. I think he benefitted from the hospitality of the girls more than he let on, but it was also cool to see how things worked for them. Will give this to my mum, I know she will enjoy it a lot. Very pretty book.

I don’t know if I would have been able to get through the density of it reading normally- that’s more of a reflection on me than the book; which deftly explains details of countries and people I’d never known much about. It’s crazy seeing the impact of that time and those decisions to today; the audacity of the men that made decisions at the time about places they at times barely knew also.

It starts off with the most horrific bits; it’s important for context: for the confusion and love that follows. It blows my mind that we celebrated this man, but this book challenges and explains that fact beautifully.

Listened to the audiobook version. I found this deeply engrossing and immersive; his explanation of complex physics and step by step experiences were beautiful and inspiring. I particularly appreciated his description of quitting smoking (!) and of Velcro for folk who may have never seen it before. Highly recommended.

I knew it would be harrowing; how could it not be? And didn’t have the energy to read about such deep and intractable violence. But it is a good book, the latter half in particular; about grief and motherhood and fragments of hope.

This felt completely out of time; obviously old (I wouldn’t be trusting any geopolitical advice!) and yet prescient and modern. Beautiful descriptions and obviously pitched to the wealthy human that can afford the opportunity cost of drifting for months on end without any income; and yet delightfully accessible advice. Would definitely listen to again.

Audio Book read by Mike grady

I was expecting a book that focussed more on the islands, than the rim, and the lack of pacific and indigenous voices until pretty much the very end is a disappointment. But every other aspect was not- such fascinating stories and big picture view. Bought a copy to share with my Dad. Highly recommend it, especially the atomic chapter.

(Audiobook to fall asleep to) I enjoyed this a lot, the 12 months’ division was easy to absorb and revisit, drifting away to the west of England each night… written so I could almost smell the grass. Interesting and beautiful.

A beautifully put together book, educational and shocking. I’d be interested to know what residents of Epah think of it/the imagery used to depict sacred things in their culture. I appreciated the warning of bits that were fictionalised; but grateful for the factual time line at the end. I hope kids learning about polar expeditions these days learn who really got to the North Pole first.

As always, I like Herbert’s descriptions of worlds… but this book was claustrophobic and odd. Some explanation, any explanation, of the golden path as being anything other than avoiding some other unnamed “big bad” would have made it more tolerable. Usually Herbert pulls off some plot twist at the end that renders the whole thing as masterful but when one of the female characters had an orgasm when Duncan threw the rope down towards her from the top of a wall… I knew then I wasn’t going to get anything that made any sense. I liked the concept of Duncans as time travellers of a sort, and of having a community as a mind, and what 3500 years of time might look like; but the approach to women, and sex, and horrors homosexuality was so odd. Not sure about approaching the next in the series… could it get any weirder???

For the most part, incredibly realistic, well written and paced. Reminded me of my years as a junior doctors in both good and bad ways. Would be interesting to know how it was for non medical folk reading it. Sad though :(

I think I was expecting more about whales now, than the extent to which it covered fossils- but it was absolutely fascinating and beautifully narrated.

I got hooked I’ll admit, because I wanted to know what happens, and it was mindless enough to be restful to read but im looking forward to reading a book at some point in which the plot doesn’t hinge on sexual assault.