Customer Reviews

Odysseus' Last Stand: The Chronicles of a Bicycle Nomad

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I've read a fair number of cycling oddessy books because I like the topic. Admittedly, within this genre, it can be rare to find a book that is well written, and even rarer to find one with a compelling narrative. However, this gem scores well on both accounts. The author has a lot of material to draw from, as he describes a 7 year adventure around the globe that takes him to some pretty rough but exciting places. More importantly, the events the author faces have a deep impact on him. He conveys this with thoughtfulness and intelligence, but the text is never preachy. This book does offer a unique and honest perspective on world travel however. The events described really stuck with me after I had turned the last page, and I was sad to see the adventure end. For me, "Odysseus' Last Stand : The Chronicles of a Bicycle Nomad," represents the best of the genre. For a more humorous collection of cycle travel anecdotes, Kurmaskie's Metal Cowboy is quite good.

I take my hat off to Dave for pulling this off. He travels 40,000 kms across some of the most inhospitable, yet sometimes beautiful terrain in Japan, China, Nepal, India, Australia, South East Asia, Turkey, across many countries in Europe and finally, through his homeland, the US. He lives in some of these countries for varying periods of time and his entire journey takes 8 years to complete. It is an amazing story of the man and his diverse experiences with humankind. A must read for those who love adventure.

In 1992, Dave Stamboulis began a bicycle trip that was to last seven years and 40,000 kilometers around the world. Odysseus' Last Stand: The Chronicles Of A Bicycle Nomad his his account of his adventures as he bicycled through obscure countries and foreign cultures, taking in all the sights, sounds, and teeming life that can be viewed from the slower and more intimate pace of a bicycle. What motivated Stamboulis to his epic odyssey was the need to slow down in a world that was moving every faster, and to explore the role that the bicycle plays in peoples' lives around the world. Odysseus' Last Stand is also a candid and informative study of an attempt to find his place in a world that is a complex web of tensions between ancient traditions and technological/industrial progress, value differences between the developed and the developing countries. Along the way we are treated with insights, compassion, and a great deal of humor. Enhanced with eight pages of color photographs, Odysseus' Last Stand: The Chronicles Of A Bicycle Nomad is especially recommended reading for armchair travelers, as well as anyone who has thought about traveling the world along the lesser known paths.

In fact, this might be my favorite.
Descriptive, informative yet personal.
Comprehensive trip, scratch that, journey around the world with insight on his surroundings and himself that leave you with the feeling you've taken the journey with him.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to the traveler, adventurer, distance-cyclist and just plain avid reader.
PUBLISHER; WHY ARE YOU NOT PRINTING MORE?!?! Do the world and yourself a favor! At least put it in digital format!

I just finished this book. It was amazing. He basically transcribed and edited his journals from 7plus years riding his bike all around the world. Hard to say any details without spoiling the story. I simply had a mind journey while reading Dave's book and have now been bicycling every day and just rode 100 miles across central washington to prepare for my own adventure. Beware: this book is infectious! In a very good way!
I can't reccomend it enough. A friend lent it to me so now i have to find my own copy to lend out to my friends!

I bought this book a few years ago after deciding that I myself was going to ride my bike around the world. David's book is full of emotion, making accurate descriptions of both the joys of long term bicycle touring as well as the misery. He has interesting descriptions of the countries and villages he visits, as well as the people and animals that live there. For those planning their own adventure, or simply looking for an accurate description of someone else's, this book not to be missed.

I've never written an Amazon review before, but I really like this book and I had to write something.

I guess I'll start off saying that this book isn't what I normally read. I like how he doesn't sugar coat things if it was awful he says so. It was a truly amazing journey and I think a lot of people would enjoy reading it. It has become one of my most given presents.