Customer Reviews

Conversations with Marco Polo: The Remarkable Life of Eugene C. Haderlie

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This is an odd review, as Dr. Haderlie is my grandpa. But, I really did just read this book, as part of my personal quest to understand my relationship with him and his life better.

***Warning***: *slight* spoilers below, but not really. The journey is the purpose of the book, and my telling you some of the things in it won't destroy your experience of reading it. At least, I think so. Skip to the bottom two paragraphs for a sum-up review that won't harm your newbie eyes.

First of all, if you're looking for a wonderful series of personal people-people stories, not just your average war hero stories (hmm...is there such a thing as average war hero stories? I kind of want to read them, now, if there are) I can vouch that these are 100% him. Some of them I used to hear around the house from my mother, others directly from him. However, I had never have received the full recount of his past work during WWII in mine diffusion. It's startling to think at age 24 he was regularly 100 ft. below sea level, blindly working in the cold Thames river, taking live nazi mines apart with bare hands. Meanwhile at age 24 I'm blogging. Slight disparity? Possibly.

Even though the majority of these stories are Little in nature, they speak so strongly to the Big story of human ingenuity, survival, kindness and nobility under extreme situations. After just coming away from the book, the thought that bubbled up first was: it's shocking how much one individual can experience in one life. But then again, that's the beauty of this book; you are allowed to travel along with him as he goes to the Chicago World's Fair, almost dies from a burst appendix in Baja California, helps liberate the Jewish prisoners in the Buchenwald concentration camp, and then goes on to teach the founders of the Monterey Bay Aquarium marine biology.

Seriously, who does that? Apparently him.

The only drawback I found in the book was in structure. Prior to each interview-transcription series of grandpa talking, the authors draft up a historical background that his latest story takes place in. I was only a kid when this book was being put together, so in hindsight, I completely understand that it is good for anyone who didn't grow up hearing bits and pieces of his life already, ha. But, I did feel more than once the urge to skip directly to grandpa's own words about each story, rather than get the full backdrop of who, what, when, what class of bomb it was and who built them and why, first--i.e., some of the information was more overwhelming than helpful. Then again, I tend to have the attention span of a baby knit.

I hope you do get this book, and I hope you do also enjoy it the way I have. Honestly, it's hard to believe that some of these things happened, and at the same time I've personally held some of the artifacts mentioned in the book. In conclusion, these stories are real and really quite interesting.


cheers,
Beryl Baker

I have know Eugene Haderlie for some odd 35 years now and there are stories here I never heard before. Dr. Haderlie's quest for knowledge and personal elegance are wonderful. The stories of his life and adventures are an inspiration to any budding scientist or naturalist. His wisdom shines through in its simple elegance. Fun and wonderful read!

These interviews with Dr. Eugene Haderlie are a true voyage. The stories told in this book have something for everyone: history enthusiasts, WWII buffs and readers of popular science. Stories of family life on the frontier, hard-hat diving, and a life long career in marine science make the life of Dr. Haderlie truly fascinating. A true story of a true unsung hero.