Customer Reviews

Flying South: A Pilot's Inner Journey

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You do not have to be a pilot or do not even have to enjoy flying to enjoy this book. Rest assured that it will appeal to pilots, especially those who have longed for planning and completing that flying adventure! I happened to be in Bishop, CA and ordered this book from Barbara in July of 2002 only to be shocked, like everyone, to learn of the death of Barbara and Galen in August of 2002. In talking to her, it was obvious that she was very excited about her book coming out soon. I received the book in November and even though I am not a particularly fast reader, once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days. So what is this book about? It's about an adventure, it's about a woman who discovers the inner strengths that she didn't know she had, it's about the relationship of being married to a world renowned photographer and not getting lost in his shadow, it's about survival, and most importantly it's about living a dream. While most of us dream our lives, in this book Barbara Rowell shows the reader that it is possible to live our dream. My only regret is that I will not get the opportunity to tell Barbara personally how much I enjoyed her book!

I am not sure if this is a travel book, a flying book, or a book towards self discovery. It seems to be a little of each, but not enough of each. As a travel book, I get only a sense of the towns she visits, and the cultures she adores. She gives snippets, and I wanted more. As a flying book, she reveals the most about herself. She is (was) a poor pilot. She set aside her responsibilities as pilot in command and did whatever Doug told her to do, no matter the danger. Her go-no go decisions were terrible, and every novice pilot should learn from her example. As a journey into self discovery, the book was its strongest. How does the spouse of a famous and outgoing person carve out an identity of her own? This was very interesting, and here the author found her voice.

I received a copy of this book from one of my flying students and I couldn't put it down. I believe that pilots and non pilots alike would enjoy it. No matter what you do in life it makes you realize that you are the one in control and you shouldn't trust others to make those all important decisions for you. I'm surprised that Barabara actually made it out of South America alive and it's a tragedy that after all she endured on her adventure that she died at the hands of another pilot.

This book is not only extremely entertaining but also a great collection of beautiful color photographs of different spots "South of the border...WAY South."

The author bears her soul for the reader in such a manner that you will feel you're sitting right next to her in the cockpit of her single-engine Cessna as she flies herself (as well as her husband and brother) to the adventure of a lifetime.

Some will say she was a bad pilot. Who are we to judge? She was a brave soul and I am glad she had the courage to share her experience with the rest of us "safe" pilots.

Barbara's book is an inspiring story of self-discovery. One that pilots and non-pilots alike will enjoy.

I read this book initially as a fan of the author's husband, Galen Rowell, a world renowned nature/adventure photographer. I came away with a new respect for Barbara, his wife. She writes in an easy to read style that kept me turning the pages, not wanting to stop. From her wild flight over Brazil to her rafting accident, where she had to fly herself to the doctor hundreds of miles away, each leg of her trip leaves you wanting to read more. She also gives insight into what it's like being a woman in world dominated by males. Tragically, Barbara and Galen died in a plane crash just before this book was published. Barbara wasn't at the controls, but I can't somehow believe that if she had been the pair would still be alive today. Get this book, you'll read it from cover to cover in a matter of days!

This book is illustrated by a collection of high-end aerial photography that makes it probably the most colorful travel/aviation nonfiction available. The text offers just a tad more of the author's private affairs (career, marriage) than you might expect (definitely too much for my taste: maybe I should have taken the subtitle - 'A Pilot's Inner Journey' - more seriously). That said, you get a fair overview of the challenges of a really long cross country flight as well as an explanation why you want to prepare well for your own flying adventure to South America.

i havn't finished reading the book yet, but this book is awesome! i have like 10 of Galen's books and read most of his other ones as well. its too bad barbara didn't write more books. this book is more revealing than even Galen's books. she is really honest and humorous. an exciting story too.

This book revealed what Barbara was living, not editing out what was politically correct, not covering up the flying mistakes that would be embarrassing to most, not holding back on insights of strong dominate individuals in her life who can make decisions difficult in and out of the cockpit. In this book, Barbara was true to herself and her readers, in her decision-making, her skills and her growth as a person.

As a pilot I learned from this book, good pilots are always learning, as a woman I learned from this book, trust your instincts and as a person I learned from this book, live your dream.

Well written and difficult to put down.

This book is a fascinating look into the world of the risk-taker and the cult of risk-taking. There is no doubt that Barbara Cushman Rowell took an inner journey. She lays all her fears before us and conquers them. Along with this journey are her husband Galen and fellow pilot Doug Tompkins, two wild adventurers who lead Barbara into risky decisions she usually regrets. In the process of wrestling with herself, her husband and Tompkins she puts us inside the cockpit during harrowing landings, inclement weather and her own demons.

This book is a fascinating look into the world of the risk-taker and the cult of risk-taking. There is no doubt that Barbara Cushman Rowell took an inner journey. She lays all her fears before us and conquers them. Along with this journey are her husband Galen and fellow pilot Doug Tompkins, two wild adventurers who lead Barbara into risky decisions she usually regrets. In the process of wrestling with herself, her husband and Tompkins she puts us inside the cockpit during harrowing landings, inclement weather and her own demons.