Baidarka: The Kayak [Paperback]

George Dyson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1986

This classic book tells of George Dyson's rediscovery of the Aleut baidarka (sea kayak) and his far-ranging travels with his boats.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Dyson, the son of distinguished physicist Freeman Dyson, grew up immersed in the world of groundbreaking science. His previous books include the acclaimed "Darwin Among the Machines," He and his father are also the subjects of Kenneth Brower's dual biography, "The Starship and the Canoe," Dyson lives in Washington State.

Product Details

• Paperback: 231 pages
• Publisher: Alaska Northwest Books (June 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088240315X
• ISBN-13: 978-0882403151
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful, interesting book, April 22, 2000

By 

Nicholas F Schade (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baidarka: The Kayak (Paperback)

This book looks like a coffee table book, but it is a lot more. It covers history of the Aleut kayak builders, documents the experiences of a free spirit, and demonstrates an innovative method for building a beautiful kayak. The pictures are interesting, beautiful and inspiring. I don't know how this book got published, it does not fit well into any one catagory.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful, informative and fascinating book, July 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Baidarka: The Kayak (Paperback)

Many of us first became aware of George Dyson and his infatuation with the Baidarka on reading Kenneth Brower's "The Starship and the Canoe", published in the mid-1970s. This book, published about ten years later (after a long journey from one prospective publisher to another) is the fruition of Dyson's vision. It's a history of the baidarka, a history of Dyson's own baidarka building projects, and a basic how-to manual for building your own modern Dyson-style aluminum, nylon and hypalon baidarka capable of cruising open seas.

Even if you never plan to build a boat- or if you have no interest in paddling- this is still a stunningly beautiful and fascinating book.And if you've read "The Starship and the Canoe", you owe it to yourself to get a copy of Dyson's book, to really see what it was that had him so excited about baidarkas. Reading "Baidarka" will give you an entirely new perspective on George Dyson and his dream.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great follow-up to Starship and the Canoe, November 6, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Baidarka: The Kayak (Paperback)

It was so great to read the author's words directly after reading The Starship and the Canoe. Dyson has helped keep alive one of humankind's greatest vehicles in in its purest possible form. While singing the praises of the Aleuts, he doesn't fail to tip his hat to the other greats of boat building, the Polynesian trimaran and the Tlingit cedar canoe. You don't need to be a kayaker like myself to get something from this book.