The Kon-Tiki man: Thor Heyerdahl

by Christopher Ralling

Book Overview

Part biography, part autobiography, this book, which accompanies a TV series on the life and work of the noted explorer and author, is intended to make Heyerdahl's scientific achievements accessible... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0563209208
• ISBN13: 9780563209201
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: BBC Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 2.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An outstanding book about an outstanding man.

If ever you wanted to know what all the fuss about that raft called the Kon Tiki was all about - then this is the book to provide the answers. Kon Tiki was much more than just a raft and in so many ways, Thor Heyedahl was much more than someone who simply went to sea in that raft. Through the text of this excellent work by Christopher Ralling, the reader is able to understand both the man and the mission and the significance of that mission as far as the history of the world and the colonisation of the Pacific Islands is concerned. The book is perfectly supported with a rich and relevant selection of photographs, pictures and maps throughout. Ralling has as easy-to-read style of writing to which Heyerdahl has provided as easy-to-respect achievement. NM

An outstanding book about an outstanding man.

If ever you wanted to know what all the fuss about that raft called the Kon Tiki was all about - then this is the book to provide the answers. Kon Tiki was much more than just a raft and in so many ways, Thor Heyedahl was much more than someone who simply went to sea in that raft. Through the text of this excellent work by Christopher Ralling, the reader is able to understand both the man and the mission and the significance of that mission as far as the history of the world and the colonisation of the Pacific Islands is concerned. The book is perfectly supported with a rich and relevant selection of photographs, pictures and maps throughout. Ralling has as easy-to-read style of writing to which Heyerdahl has provided as easy-to-respect achievement. NM

Heyerdahl: a combination of adventurer and scientist

As an English teacher of reading-disabled high school tenth-graders, I have, in teaching an excerpt from the Kon-Tiki, spent two to three days on this account and let it go at that. This year, I wanted the story to seem more real to the students; I wanted them to realize that this was a true, exciting account of an incredible experimental voyage, one which I, as a fourteen-year-old, remembered from Life magazine and radio updates. I researched the library and found this book. The exciting aspect of this book is that we had read and studied the excerpt from the perspective of the narrative genre; we chronicled the duties and adventures of the crew and learned their names. But now, in this biography, we could see Herman, Torstein, Heyerdahl, Erik and the rest! They did exist, and my students could see that this strange boat did, too! They were also amazed that Mr. Heyerdahl is still alive and working. This text has added such life and discussion to our brief excerpt that it has taken its place along with our class textbook and vocabulary. It now remains in my curriculum.