Kon-Tiki and I; [Hardcover]

Erik Hesselberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1994

The author relates the voyage of the Kon-Tiki expedition across 4300 miles of ocean in a raft as he experienced and sketched it.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Norwegian (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 71 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company (1994)
• ISBN-10: 0153022558
• ISBN-13: 978-0153022555
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,121,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Forgotten Masterpiece, June 12, 2002

By 

John Dolan (the eXile, Moscow) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kon-Tiki and I (Library Binding)

Kon-Tiki and I is out of print! Agh, that's appalling! It's one of the best books a kid could ever read. Hesselberg was Thor Heyerdahl's navigator on their voyage from Peru to Tahiti on a balsawood raft. Hesselberg is a great storyteller and caricaturist, and his illustrations of the trip are perfectly integrated with the deft, simple narrative. He's much more modest about it all than Heyerdahl--so much so that you may forget how unlikely it seemed to everyone but the crew that this absurd handmade craft would ever survive the voyage. Hesselberg's account is, among other things, very funny--and his illustrations make it even funnier. His sketch of himself dancing a hula in sheepskin pants makes it easy to see why the watching villagers were, as he tells it, reduced to gasping and moaning with laughter.

One of the few truly joyous books in the world. Get a copy if you can. If you have any kids, get them a copy at all costs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Treasure!!!, October 14, 2009

By 

Ima Dancer "Jennie" (Tulsa, Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kon-Tiki and I (Hardcover)

I read the original Kon Tiki book by Heyerdahl and absolutely loved it so when I discovered there was another book about this adventure written by Hesselberg, I just HAD to buy it too! When it arrived, I tore open the packaging and immediately sat down and read the entire book------what a wonderful, simple, entertaining account of that journey! Hesselberg demonstrates his humor and gives the reader a more personal view of what transpired. It parallels identically with Heyerdahl's book, even down to descriptions of aquatic life encountered as well as the building of the Kon Tiki raft. I highly recommend this enchanting book for all ages. What a treasure!!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars A true classic that needs to be reprinted in English, January 13, 2012

By 

Betty Blair - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kon-Tiki and I; (Hardcover)

What an incredibly charming book. Erik Hesselberg documents the 4000 mile Kon-Tiki balsa raft voyage which Thor Heyerdahl organized between Peru to Polynesia in 1947. This book - originally published in 1949 - is a true classic and definitely should be reprinted especially since the Norwegian government is producing a new Kon-Tiki Film to come out September 2012. No other book tells the story in such an entertaining succinct way. The sketches that Hesselberg made on the voyage are incredible. The book is biographical, historical, scientific - all rolled into one with charm and genuineness. Not just for kids. It's easy for grownups to love this book too. About 80 pages.