We, the Navigators: The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific (Revised) [Paperback]

David Lewis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0824815823 | ISBN-13: 978-0824815820 | Publication Date: January 1, 1994 | Edition: 2 Sub

This new edition includes a discussion of theories about traditional methods of navigation developed during the past two decades, the story of the renaissance of star navigation throughout the Pacific, and material about navigation systems in Indonesia, Siberia, and the Indian Ocean.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Intensely thorough... An exhaustive examination of the pre-European navigational system which should fill any scholar's need... Succeeds admirably." -- The Northern Mariner

"This superb book can be recommended as good literature for both scholar and general reader." -- Geopub Review

About the Author

David Lewis' navigational research has taken him to Central Australia, throughout Micronesia, from Hawaii to Tahiti on the Hokule'a, through Indonesian waters on traditional prahu, to Manus and New Ireland, and among the Alaskan Eskimos and Siberian Chukchi. In 1972-1974 he made the first single-handed voyage to and from Antarctica. Dr. Lewis has received numerous awards for his navigational achievements, including the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of Navigation, London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 468 pages
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press; 2 Sub edition (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824815823
• ISBN-13: 978-0824815820
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > History > Australia & Oceania > New Zealand
  • #39 in Books > History > Australia & Oceania > Australia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An academic book by a knowledgable navigator, April 22, 2002

By 

Stephan Meyn "Stephan Meyn" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We, the Navigators: The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific (Revised) (Paperback)

This book is written by an academic. I don't necessarily mean this in a negative sense. The author has done a very thorough research on the topic and presented his findings. The effect is a book that can be called a comprehensive treatment as far as it can be done given that the practictioners are disappearing fast.
The downside is that it can send you to sleep as the author systematically compares how the navigational techniques are practiced in the various island groups.

The strength of the book is not only its thoroughness but also the fact that the author is a skilled sailor who has gone on trips using these techniques. This makes the material so much more authentic, because the reader can relate how effective these skills are and yet how much practice they require.

The author provides commentary on many practices and relates them to our modern day knowledge. An example was their ability to recognize the impact of sub surface currents, something that is today a rather specialist piece of knowledge not available to the everyday sailor.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Polynesian navigation over great distances w/o instruments, June 3, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: We, the Navigators: The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific (Revised) (Paperback)

"We, The Navigators" is one of the first books written about polynesian navigation over great distances without benefit of any instruments except the senses of the navigators. The polynesians steered by the stars, sun, swell patterns, wind, birds, clouds, phosphorescence in the sea. "The Navigators" began training as soon as they were weened and had to memorize thousands of factors to enable then to reach islands that their ancestors had been traveling to for generations. This book is a great source for both scholars and sailors. However; be warned that if you don't have some knowledge of sailing and navigation you may not fully appreciate "We, the Navigators"

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Old Way of Navigation Preserved!, October 1, 1999

By 

George Erikson - See all my reviews

This review is from: We, the Navigators: The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific (Revised) (Paperback)

A triumph! Lewis's "hands-on" investigation of ancient
sailing tchniques in the Pacific now includes a description of a
renaissance in celestial navigation in Polynesia. The old way, the way
of passing on knowledge of sighting stars and zenith stars, is once
again being passed on from one generation to another.