At Sea At Sixty: Reflections from a Round the World Voyage [Paperback]

Catharine Stewart-Roache (Author), Patrick J. Roache (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

At age sixty, the authors travelled around the world for 100 days on a floating university, on the program called Semester At Sea. In the company of 640 undergraduates and forty other senior passengers, they visited ten foreign ports, endured typhoons at sea, took college courses, and participated in the unique shipboard community. This book records their reflections on world religions, politics, environmental issues, education, the search for beauty, and their own aging.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Catharine Stewart-Roache holds degrees in art, counseling, and ministry. An accomplished artisit in both painting and stone sculpture, she co-authored a book on nutrition and exercise, and was involved with the elderly as counselor and chaplain. Patrick J. Roache enjoyed a career in engineering and applied mathematics. He founded a small R&D firm, and authored four graduate level textbooks and over one hundred technical papers. The authors are both active in outdoor sports and bicycle touring. They are both retired, live mostly in New Mexico and part-time in Belize, and travel extensively.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Hermosa Pub; 1st PB Edition edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0913478105
• ISBN-13: 978-0913478103
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,899,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Senior Travel

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than an excellent travelogue, February 20, 2000

By 

John Wheeler (Sierra County, New Mexico USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Sea At Sixty: Reflections from a Round the World Voyage (Paperback)

"At Sea at Sixty" is more than an excellent travelogue. It represents a unique view of several cultures found at different ports around the world as seen by a husband/wife team of experienced travelers. Though the authors share essentially the same American cultural values, their viewpoints illustrate their quite different personalities. As a male reader, I was gratified to read Patrick's blunt (and often funny) impressions of what he saw. As a hopeless philosopher, I enjoyed Catharine's constant questioning as to the meaning of what she saw. It was refreshing to read two impressions simultaneously of what were essentially the same impressions.

When I finished this book, I felt that I had been on an around the world voyage myself. I felt educated. I learned anew that Americans are a very small minority on this planet.

As a footnote, I must say that I received a benefit which the authors may not have fully intended. I received a clear image of a successful marriage. I saw very different people who had obviously learned how to let each other exult in their own personality, while finding and traveling common ground. I saw mutual respect. Marvelous.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Around the World with Ying and Yang, August 26, 2000

By 

William (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Sea At Sixty: Reflections from a Round the World Voyage (Paperback)

This is a highly readable book which will make you laugh, make you think,challenge your assumptions about the world, and reflect about the value of travelling to other cultures. Pat and Catharine, the engineer and the artist, have done something most unusual.They wisely have written chapters alternately using their own voices...describing then reflecting upon the meaning of the people ,places and cultures they encounter on their "Semester at Sea" journey with hundreds of undergraduates. They and about 50 other "older" students join the journey and provide seasoning for the whole trip.P and C complement each other superbly, a ying and a yang completing the circle.This is one of the most interesting, thoughtful, provocative,insightful and fun books I have read in decades.If you are worried about aging, this book is the perfect antidote. I wouldn't face a typhoon and 45 foot waves but I am sure glad the Roaches did!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent stories about a world, November 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: At Sea At Sixty: Reflections from a Round the World Voyage (Paperback)

I would recommend this book to anyone who wonders if there is "life" after 60 (or even 40). The authors' passion for life and adventure is heard in the book's stories. There is a clear and united voice even though the book's chapters are alternately written by differing points-of-views, one from the artist (Catharine) and the other from the scientist (Patrick). Gives young people a perspective on life beyond a career.