Customer Reviews

A World of My Own (The mariner's library)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
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The reader enters the inner workings of the mind of a great sailor and one of the most self sufficient individuals you will ever read about. The book is as enjoyable as "The Old Man and the Sea" and should be kept aboard every small yacht that sails the seas. The true adventure of R. Knox-Johnston's self sail around the world. The first man to do so non-stop and unassisted. It is a great reading and learning experience. A great place to start if you want to learn about sailing, the sea,nature, courage and fortitude.

For aficionados of the 1968 Golden Globe sailing race, this book, from the official winner, Robin Knox-Johnson, is an authentic account of a Herculean task - to sail non-stop around the world. The book is a metaphor for the race itself - at times exhilarating and often monotonous. Although ÒThe Longest RaceÓ by Hal Roth is still the most entertaining book on the subject (it covered all nine race entrants), Knox-JohnsonÕs book is a quick read. Be prepared, however, for a healthy dose of British colloquialisms. Sadly, the end of the book is rather anti-climactic - it ends when the race ends. There was no mention of the events following his return to Falmouth (acclimatization to civilization, fanfare, news of the other contestants, etc.). My sense is that when writing the book, just as in sailing the race, he had just had enough of it.

A good and easy read by Robin Knox-Johnson who now helps manage the Golden Globe race of today. (2003; see Brad VanLiew's brilliant success in the Class 2 fleet in the news)
Readers should also include Bernard Moitessier's `The Long Way' book of the same 1968 race. It is intensely interesting that where one flourished, the appointed `winner' suffered a long and arduous ordeal. Knox-Johnson describes his exhausted stop in Australia and time at anchor in this book, yet accepted the trophy. Moitessier was far ahead off the South American coast when he took a right and continued on half way around the globe again to rest free of the commercialization the media had put upon the event. Bernard had reached the highest levels of thought and global mindedness, while Robin had been reduced to survival mode and raw instinct. Can you call the "Winner" of this non-stop circumnavigation? These two accounts of the same race cover the range of human limits and ethics and should be bundled together as a set.

Knox Johnson tells a good tale, and it's worth reading. But you have to wonder at his seamanship sometimes. He might have swapped the brandy for water and maybe tried a lifeline when he went overboard to fix a leak in mid-ocean. One also wonders whether some of his mishaps might have been man made. Makes a good companion to Bernard Moitessier's Long Way. No denying the courage and determination.
He now runs the Around Alone race and another book worth reading is Sea of Dreams about the 2002 race. There were 3 Americans and 2 Canadians in the race and the book focusses on them and the Canadian Derek Hatfield who was rolled over in a hurricane at the Horn and lived to tell the tale. terrific stuff. As good as Godforsaken Sea, I think.

This is a quaint read. I picked it up after reading Peter Nichol's "A Voyage For Madmen" which provides an outstanding overview of all the men in this first-non-stop-solo-around-the-world race. Knox-Johnson waxes poetic about his extraordinary accomplishment, which, of course, he is entitled to do. There is no doubt he possessed the temperment to embark on this voyage. His skills, however, might be viewed as a bit lacking. Nevertheless, he shares his thoughts, adventures, and, on occaision, his shortcomings that occurred during this voyage. As well, there is an underlying psychological drama that unfolds as you make your way through this book. I recommend reading this book, but strongly recommend you read it only after you have read "A Voyage for Madmen" simply because it will be much more informative and provide better insight into Knox-Johnson.

I enjoyed the very British humor of this author in describing his historic singlehanded around-the-world sail. A nice balance of description, technical information, and personal revelation.

Knox-Johnston took on a terrific challenge, conquered it, and survived none the worse for the experience. The adventure is written well, with interspersed drama throughout the voyage. I've read a number of true life adventures and some are written for the audience-at-large, while others are focused more for the informed expert. Throughout this account Knox-Johnston uses technical jargon, always describing experiences as a seasoned seaman would discuss it with other seamen. He uses hundreds of terms and procedures that even the pleasure sailor would not have experienced and would probably not comprehend. For that reason, the account grew a bit tedious at times. For a good comparison/contrast you might want to pick up the book Adrift, in which a man drifts in a liferaft for over 70 days when he loses his boat on the high seas. Still, a story of a great achievement.

This is a great adventure story, especially for anyone who has an interest in the sea or things nautical. The courage, seamanship and plain luck of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is at times simply awesome. With equipment and a boat which even by standards of the time were not the greatest, this voyage is a tribute to Sir Robin's skill and perseverance. It is written in an understated style which leaves things like Force 10 winds and Southern Ocean seas largely to the imagination of the reader. This accomplishment will remain for all time one of the greatest examples of individual achievement.

...Now, I will admit he was quite young and inexperienced as a writer when he wrote the preposterously titled tome, however, there were times when I wanted to throw him and his book over the side and get on with better reading material. Being curious though, I stuck it out though his many man-made and nature caused disasters some of which could have been avoided it seems to this armchair reader if he'd have laid off the hootch he was addicted to...fresh water would have been more in order instead of so many whiskey and beer bottles cluttering up the larder. His answer to most situations was to stroll down to the locker and pour a shot or two and light up. How many times can one screw up on a trip like this and then write shamelessly about it? Enough to sell a lot of copies I guess and keep us on the edge of our bunks wondering why in the hell he's swimming alongside his 32' ketch in the middle of the ocean with apparently no lifeline tied around him. God forbid how anybody with so little common sense but plenty of guts should make such an arduous journey so ill prepared for the worst and carrying old sails to boot...Robin being an example of both somewhat. Anyway, friends of the sea, it's a compelling book if for no other reason than to experience his many perils and his solutions to innumerable screw ups. Yeah, I liked it but for perverse reasons I suppose since I can play at being a superior know-it-all sailor after cringing through page after page of calamities I WOULD HAVE AVOIDED. Now it's on to his next adventure. Keep it up Robin, old boy or man as the case may be...