Customer Reviews

Adrift: Seventy Six Days Lost at Sea

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Steven Callahan's story of sheer determination is one of the best survival tales since Swiss Family Robinson. I believe the book's most powerful asset lays within the nararation though, having the story told by the actual survivor gives the reader an extremely good feeling of what it was like on that small raft. The nararation also opens the mind of the author so the reader can experience first hand Callahan's struggle with sanity. The story starts in Callahan's boat as he attempts to sail around the whole world, alone. When disaster strikes Callahan's ever present knowledge of the sea is shown. Having grown up on a sailboat, one of my favorite features of the book is its vast variety of factual information pertaining to nautical exploration. Although the pictures were shown in rather awkward places at times (pages ahead of where they were to be talked about), they were extremely helpful and interesting as well. Overall I would say that Adrift by Steven Callahan is a great read. If you like stories of adventure, this is a dose and a half of pure survivalism, at its best. I feel that Callahan's story is so surreal that I could say that I might have serious reservations about actually going out on the open sea again, but not about picking up another book of this caliber.

This book was an excellent, true story, adventure. This is an autobiography written by Steven Callahan. There was plenty of action with just the right amount of true facts. It was the type of story everyone wants to say,"ya i did that!" but, no one really wants to do it. It was well written with a lot of factual input that the narrator had either read or heard about on tis way around the atlantic in his sailbout beforehe went "Adrift." I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good adventure especially sailors. There were two things I did not like about the book. One, that he was adrift for seventy-six days, which it states on the cover of the book. When hope of rescue comes about and its not the 76th day, you know that there is still awhile before he is rescued. Another downfall were the pictures. I liked them a lot and thought they were vary helpful to decipher the things he was doing. The problem with them was that they where placed haphazardly throughout the book. You will see a picture and then a couple of pages later it will talk about the event in the picture, giving the story away. I definitely will give this book 5 stars.

I read this book for the first time about ten years ago and I have never forgotten it. It was one of the most compelling, absorbing books I've ever read, if not the most. How he survives is truly amazing, and this story belongs in the collection of anyone with an interest in true stories of survival. It made me wonder how I would handle such a situation, and would I be tough enough to make it. I'm sure anyone who reads this will ask themselves the very same questions.

I read this book at the recommendation of my father. I had broken my leg and was immobile and alone on the 2nd floor of a house in Charleston, SC. I couldn't put his book down until I had finished it. Callahan's account of his daunting, aimless attempt to reach land alive will make anyone appreciate what they have and that they don't know the meaning of desperation, uncertainty, hopelessness and perseverance. I felt lucky to only have a broken leg once I finished this book. I highly recommend it.

I bought this book, but couldn't read it until a week later because my kids (ages 12, 16 and 18) got to it first and found it so good they wouldn't put it down. We all agreed that it was one of the hardest books to put down that any of us had read.

Both my husband I and read this book. While we were both disturbed at what a risky endeavor solo was, it does not take away from Callahan's inspirational tale of survival. For me, the (true) story will never be forgotten and I have enjoyed sharing some of the experiences I read about with friends, marvelling at his determination. One bummer though. I wanted desperately to know more about what he is doing these days. More on how it changed his life. I also think that there were some good lessons in the book for sailors.

This book is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. The very brave struggle of a man who has to use his ultimate cleverness to survive. He discribes his feelings of loneliness in a very fine way. I've read it several times. In my opinion: a very good book.

The book is a thoroughly realistic and sensitive depiction of the days the author spent across the Atlantic Ocean fighting for survival. As the book is not the original log, but a book written way after the author was rescued, one might expect self-aggrandizement of sorts or at least some hubris to settle in. Surviving 76 days on an inflated life raft with only rudimentary equipment is no small feat after all. To the contrary however we find humble man, a man who claims that he had learnt how to live and how to appreciate it through the devastating experience. In his own words: "The real story of Adift is not so much about me as it is about the magic and mystery of the sea and how it delivered me two priceless gifts."

The book stands out among other adventure stories in the author's sensitivity and his attention to details. A school of dorados follows him throughout his journey. His observing the dorados daily allowed him to recognize the individuality in them; even under his predicament he feels sorry for having to hunt the dorados. As for Callahan's attention to detail one needs to read only a few pages on how he fixed any of his equipments during the journey. One discovers infinite patience, his affection towards the equipment, description on the minutest details of how he has done the job, and at times diagrams of the equipment. All the diagrams and sketches in the book were drawn by the author as well.

In my opinion the book thoroughly deserves to be included as one of the best survival tales ever written.

I enoyed this book immensely. Callahan gave very poetic descriptions of what was happening. I sympathized with him for having to survive on his only friends, the dorados. I was amazed at his will to live and ability to overcome, with his wit, the failed equipment in the raft. I appreciated his drawings so I could better understand the state of things. To be alone on the ocean in a small raft is frightening in itself, without mentioning all the problems Callahan encountered.

I had the pleasure of becoming friends with Stevens parents, Ed & Doris Calahan, which is the reason I read the book. Reading this book, has made me a much safer boater. Every time I set out, I think about Stevans chiling reconstruction of his amazing survival.How anyone could have the strenth to survive the intense hardship and complete hopelessness of being totally alone for so long is a true testiment to his strong character. A riviting, must read for boaters and anyone who likes a superb, edge of your seat story.Hats off to you Stevan, say Hi to your parnets for me. Ken Woodman