Customer Reviews

Pirate Soul

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Now I have to say that Pirate Soul is one of the most unique books that I have come across in quite some time. I thought it was a book geared for kids but once I started paging through this beautiful tome and digging up all of the hidden treasures I can say it's really a book for all ages and everyone who loves pirates. The book is written by the adventurous Pat Croce former President and part owner of the Philadelphia 76ers.

As soon as you open the cover you know you're in for something different as a fold out map pops out showing the typical trade and pirate routes circa the early 1700's. Page after page gives the reader more such surprises as there are reproductions of vintage documents that can be pulled out and read such as royal proclamations, a list of the taverns on Port Royal (one of the hotbeds of pirate activity), dictionaries of pirate and nautical terms, political and trade proposals, and so much more. But it's not just some glorified pop-up book. The book's pages also have very detailed information about all things to do with pirates. There's a wonderful page of the mysterious island of Madagascar, the many types of pirate ships, a diagram of various parts of a pirate ship, notes on how they navigated by the stars, the flags used by pirates such as Blackbeard, Jack Rackam, Edward England, and many more.

You'll see the various tools of the trade used by pirates including their weapons, boarding axes and hooks, and cannons. The surprises keep coming including a quill pen, sting knots from a pirate's whip, and even your own cloth pirate flag that you can proudly fly. It's been quite some time since I've had as much fun paging through a book as I did with Pirate Soul. It's informative and its production is quite ingenious. There's simply so much in here that it will take you hours to page through and see everything. It's at once entertaining but extremely educational and would be a great tool for teachers to use to teach their students about this very colorful era of history.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

From the fit and finish of the antique-style cover to the enclosed Jolley Roger, this book is a real pirate treasure. I first saw the book on the desk of a friend and just had to purchase one for myself. Meticulously researched and creatively presented, the text is fascinating from cover to cover. The author leads you through pirate history with a mixture of colorful text and interactive inserts that are captivating, informative and entertaining. Everyone who picks up this book is immediately drawn in. You can bet there will be lots of over-stuffed stockings hanging by the fireplace this Christmas season!

This book is a great history book about pirates. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the daring adventures of the sea, this book is for you. It is well worth the price so I bought two and gave one as a Christmas gift. The book has tangable items in it to keep even a young person interested.
I personally have been to the museum in Key West, Florida in which this book is summerize from. There are more interesting facts and treasures that await you there if you are in the area.

I was so surprised when I saw the amount of inserts and supplemental material included with this book! Jolly Roger flags, Playing Cards, Maps - I don't think there's one piece of history Mr. Croce left out! Entertaining as well educational - I love it!

This book is great! It's a clever compilation of pirate history presented as a captivating, interactive adventure. The colorful illustrations, 3-D fold-outs, treasure maps, posters, etc. not only give this book a unique 'look-and-feel', but also ensure that there's something fun for all ages. A must have!!!

this book is a major WOW! everything you'd ever want to know about the golden age of piracy while making the trip so fun and hands on. i just keep going back through it and finding more and more "stuff"! i love just leaving it out on my coffee table -- no one is shy about playing with it and talking about it. a great gift this holiday season for all pirate lovers.

I was shopping for christmas gifts and came across this book. I was looking to purchase a book for my younger nephew who loves anything to do with pirates. Right from the very first page you can see that this book has been so researched and detailed, that honestly, i'm going to purchase one for myself. My recomendation, get this book for anyone, it's not just a book geared for children, anyone reading this book, will have a very difficult time putting it down. From cover to cover, it just pulls you in so deep for hours into the time of pirates and thier voyages across the sea. The descriptions of their ships,the lives they lived while on the voyages, the encounters with other vessels,the letters written by the captian's, everything is just simply amazing. Again, my recomendation, get this book..you won't be sorry.

I have seen in many reviews that people purchased this book for their children. This is probably due to the fact that there are removable items within the pages of this book. These are actually replicas of authentic 17th and 18th century documents, a really bad hand of period playing cards, and a replica of an authentic pirate flag. in regards to these documents they are somewhat difficult to read (due to the fact the printing in these times was not exactly "good"). Also the fact that this book covers pirate torture techniques and some of there deaths in gruesome detail makes me wonder if young children should be reading that. Anyway, if you want a fun book for the kids pick up "pirates" by john Matthews, if you want a good introductory to the "golden age of piracy" pick this book

If you liked Pirates of the Carbbean...You'll love what Capn Pat Croce does with real pirate art, history, artifacts, fold outs, cloth Jolly Roger flag and dozens of 3-D interactive piratical goodies!!
A copy of PIRATE SOUL will be under the Christmas tree of each of my 10 Grandkids! History was never so much fun!
Only a best selling author with a PASSION for Pirates could create such a Masterpiece.
Only one thing is better than this book....
I've seen Pirate Soul-The Museum in Key West.... Buy this book and take the family!

Pirate Soul is an amazingly desgined coffee table style book, that is equally informative and educational. Croce hits all aspects of Pirate Life and Death while bringing history to life with 3-D documents, maps, playing cards and even a replica of an authentic jolly roger flag! A great gift for all ages, and an awesome conversation starter for your home! Biggest bang for your buck!