Customer Reviews

Kon-Tiki and I;

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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.

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!!!!

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.