The Journey Is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon

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Summary: My favorite book
Review: I am a Public Library fan. Rarely do I ever buy a book, but this one was a must-have. One that I want as part of my permanent collection. Because it's not just a book, it really is a piece of art. His collages will blow you away and his work will inspire. His death was such a tragedy, but hopefully his message of tolerance will live on in his work.

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Summary: This book is a life- and perception-altering experience.
Review: When I stumbled on to Dan Eldon's diaries, I was eighteen and relatively directionless. I had lots of good ideas, but a mixture of laziness and fear was keeping me from acting on my adventuresome and compassionate impulses. The story of Dan's passionate, brief and fearless existance inspired and obliterated me, sending me into a little crying crisis the night I took it in, cover to cover. I couldn't believe, or any longer tolerate, my own complacency. The book's dual storytelling, of seeing Dan's dreamlike, haunting, amusing and intrieguing images, and reading his mother's words about the specifics of those times in his life, was devestatingly effective. He was a boy my age and after my own heart, but in his short life he had seen the world, recorded and contributed to it, and embraced it and its peoples and challenges with daring that I had never seen before. The medium of his journal created a lens through which I could see the world as he had seen it. This glimpse gave me the courage to follow my own heart and this courage took me across Europe this summer, and into a major in sociology. I have read hundreds of books, but no single book has ever influenced or affected me more than "The Journals of Dan Eldon." Ever since, I have shared it, one by one, with my friends who I thought could understand and appreciate it, and every one of them has had the same reaction. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially anyone who has big dreams, but does not believe in his or her own potential. Through the sincerity and artistry of its cryptic and moving images, Dan's soul is shared with every reader, and there is nothing more inspiring than being blessed with an intesely personal glimpse at the soul of a truly human hero. I emphatically and respectfully recommend this book.

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Summary: A True Masterpeice
Review: This book has inspired me as well as astounded me. Flipping through each page brought tears, amazement, laughter and disbelief. Each page expresses its own emotion. I cant even start to express my feelings I have toward his journals. I crave to see more of his work but am saddened that such a true heroine of our time can be so tragically killed by the ones he helped. This book has inspired me get involved in my dreams instead of watch it pass by.

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Summary: It takes are lifes for granted
Review: On reading this book it made me think as a school student liveing in Australia how luck i am, i would have loved to be able to do some of the things that dan had done over his life and i think that he should be remember for all the work that he did this is a great book and i think that all people should read it espcaly people who are look for work in the photo jurnalisum area for it real take your veiw on life in a diffretent direction.

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Summary: If you like this you will also like Peter Beard
Review: I stumbled across this book and absolutely fell in love with it. The collages are worth a million words. You have to see them to believe it. I was so sad that this was his only book. Yet a friend turned me onto a guy named PETER BEARD. If you like this book you will also love PETER BEARD'S collages too. Eldon must have been inspired by Beard because they share the same artistic genius.

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Summary: Brilliant collages and superb social commentary.
Review: As an artist, writer, and traveler, I was immediately interested in Dan Eldon's journals. His innovative use of photography, collage, and drawing leads the viewer to pour over each page, finding new details in every corner. The introduction written by Dan's mother Kathy, is a heart breaking story of an arist who gave himself to helping others and expressing his deepest feelings regarding war, love and life. I feel priviledged to be able to see these works. Thank you!

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Summary: Dan Eldon - an amazing young artist.
Review: Dan Eldon was an amazing artist, who, dispite his unfortunate death at a young age, led an incredibly full life. He accopmlished more in his 22 years than most can do in 80. Dan Eldon, was seriously a very interesting person, even the way he died shows that he was a "brave" and "innovative" man. His photos and collages are wonderful examples of what art really is and can be.

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Summary: An inspiration to young people everywhere
Review: Dan Eldon attended St. Martins School, Mill Hill London England as a young boy. In dedication to his memory St.Martins School has awarded an annual prize for the last 2 years to the child who has shown outstanding personal qualities through dedication and hard work during the academic year. My daughter Emily (aged11) was priviledged to have been awarded the Dan Eldon prize this year. His memory lives on through many children in London who have been at St.Martins School and we are honoured to be associated with such a fine young man. His book is a history of a unique young life which although tragically cut short at an early age was not wasted.

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Summary: Required Reading for College-Aged Travellers
Review: You can only get so much of a travelling primer from the Lonely Planet Guide Books. As these will inspire you to follow the paths of others, Dan's scrapbook, coupled with the events in his mostly happy life, will demonstrate what your travels can be. Dan was killed at 22 dramatically in Somalia while on assignment from Reuters. My favorite line from the book was when one of his friends/associates remarked that Dan always seemed to be in such a hurry wherever he was going. Well, what are we waiting for, anyway?

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Summary: Inspiration for living a first hand life...
Review: I have shared this book with many friends. This book has changed the way we all record our lives, whether it be through photography, writing, drawing, music or thought. Mr. Eldon's mother, during an NPR interview, said that the thing that made Dan different, was that he led a first hand life. So many of us live through others: so called second hand lives. It is a beautiful book which should be given as a gift...