The Man Who Swam the Amazon: 3,274 Miles on the World's Deadliest River [Paperback]

Matthew Mohlke (Author), Martin Strel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

On Sunday, April 8, 2007, a 52-year-old self-described fat man in a Speedo by the name of Martin Strel swam 3,274 miles of the Amazon River. The Fish Man, as he was called by locals, almost died in the process several times. At the finish his blood pressure was at heart attack level, his entire body full of subcutaneous larvae, and besieged by dehydration and diarrhea and exhaustion. Strel undertook this epic swim to call attention to two issues he is concerned about: deforestation, and river pollution. Along the way he suffered from blisters, sunburn, exotic stomach illnesses, all the while trying to avoid piranhas, anacondas, crocodiles, alligators, river sharks, and a small fish known as the canduru, which when attracted by the smell of urine releases razor-sharp spines into the human orifice it has crawled into.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Thirty-two hundred miles, piranha, crocodiles, anaconda, river sharks,

blistering and relentless sun,dangerous currents, river pirates and drug runners, and the insidious candirú.

 

Martin Strel swam through it all. Why? To call attention to the continued deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and to river pollution.

 

By the time he finished this epic swim from the river’s source in the Peruvian Andes to the delta in the Atlantic headwaters near Belém, Brazil, Martin Strel was almost dead, straining with the remaining shadows of his strength to reach the finish line. His blood pressure was at heart attack levels, his entire body filled with subcutaneous larvae, and he was besieged by dehydration, diarrhea, and exhaustion.

 

Drawn from the eloquent and evocative trip diaries of writer Matthew Mohlke, who, armed with buckets of blood to divert piranha, guided Strel, The Man Who Swam the Amazon is a gripping and inspirational story of perseverance, passion, and endurance: a real-life odyssey of a rare and driven man.

About the Author

Martin Strel is one of the most elite athletes in history. He holds three Guinness world records in distance swimming, and is about to earn his fourth for his Amazon swim.

Matthew Mohlke is author of Floating Down the Country, an account of his Mississippi River paddling adventures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599213583
• ISBN-13: 978-1599213583
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #424,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Incredible Story!, November 26, 2007

By 

Patty Hermann (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Man Who Swam the Amazon: 3,274 Miles on the World's Deadliest River (Paperback)

From the very first page, you know you are in for the story of your life. It is overwhelming to even think of the logistics involved in this unprecedented level of accomplishment - and even more so that it was the grueling feat of a man who, in most walks of life, would be well past his atheletic prime. Author, Matthew Mohlke, brings the reader onto the expedition, the highs and the lows. And if it is Martin's intent to remind the world of the need to preserve the beauty of our forests and rivers, he has accomplished just that with his passionate and unswerving devotion to this cause. In The Man Who Swam The Amazon, the authors share the danger and the beauty; taking the reader on a page-turning adventure that no script writer could ever improve upon. Thank you Martin and your whole incredible team for sharing all 3,274 miles with us; I could have read a page for every mile.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, October 4, 2007

By 

K. Masterson "KMM" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Man Who Swam the Amazon: 3,274 Miles on the World's Deadliest River (Paperback)

I absolutely could not put this book down. I read it all night. I think it is a true testament to what the human spirit can achieve. I truly believe this is one of the most amazing accomplishments in history. He did what I still have a hard time believing is possible. I think about my petty problems and they truly become non-existent when I think of what Martin did. I do long distance swimming and have a small idea of the pain and suffering he must have endured. If you have to ask "why" then this book will explain it. It was one of the most motivating books I have ever read.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Armchair Adventurer Alert, October 29, 2007

By 

JLT Stangl (Buffalo City, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Man Who Swam the Amazon: 3,274 Miles on the World's Deadliest River (Paperback)

99.99999999% of us will never see, let alone float or swim down the Amazon; but if you want to feel, smell, taste, hear, what Martin Strel, Matthew Mohlke and the rest of the crew did on their 3,274 mile trip down then get this book. If you want to get insights into what might motivate those who would sign for such an adventure, get this book. Don't forget to drink plenty of water and an occassional glass of whisky.