Rating: 
Summary: A great tale
Review: As an Australian I loved the way the author described the characters in this book. They all seemed to be giving, friendly folk who saw this "Epic" trip as a cool thing to do but nothing to get too excited about. It made me a little homesick. Eric Stiller writes with a style that slowly hooks you and then gently pulls you along for a wild ride without getting too worked up. He almost gets too emotional and then he'll break away just in time, especially with regards to a girlfriend back in the states. While some will say Eric was a bit of a whinger, and to some degree he was, I noted with interest that it was Eric who did the majority of planning before and during the trip and that Tony while having a she'll be right mate atttitude also came accoss as a guy who was used to having the mundane things done for him by someone else and that he was there for the adventure. I really enjoyed this book and I have never been in a kayak before. Highly recommended to those like myself who enjoy all travel narratives.
Rating: 
Summary: brave men struggling with adversity
Review: Eric Stiller has done for the sea what John Krakauer has done for the mountains. KAL has all the hallmarks of a great adventure story: two men with all the experience and strength that the sport could supply buffered by unbridled enthusiasm rushing forward to the consequences. Their quarry: the circumnavigation of Australia or Oz, as the locals call it, stands stubbornly in their way. Mercurial surf that threaten to destroy the boat on a daily basis, 24 hour paddles that end in a fit of exhaustion on the beach only to face the dangers of killer crocs. These are just a few of the concerns these two dealt with on a daily basis. Imagine this happening over the course of a year and you can get a feel for the extent of the task at hand. Add to that the Jeckle and Hyde personalities of Stiller, the german technician schooled in the esoteric nuances of the sea and the craft they traveled in with the sheer, giddy exuberance of Brown, the international model with a taste for testing personal limits and adventure and you have a book that simply sings with all the trappings of human drama. I thought more than once of Seneca's quote when reading about these two in the open sea: A brave man struggling with adversity is a spectacle for the gods.
Rating:
Summary: Honest and hardcore
Review: Eric Stiller's candid and often-amusing book is an excellent description of a totally impractical idea: two inexperienced expedition kayakers who want to paddle around a continent with some of the most volatile seas in the world. The strength of the book lies in the details: Stiller, an intense urban guy who was working in his father's Klepper Kayak shop in Manhattan, meets a laid-back, seat-of-the-pants fashion model from Australia named Tony Brown, and before you can say "Good Day mate" they're training in the Hudson River to circumvent Australia in a collapsible kayak. (Think of the Odd Couple meets Into the Wild and you begin to get the idea.) Keep Australia On Your Left has plenty of gripping men-against-nature tales. Their 9-day non-stop crossing of a treacherous bay is an intense and daring as anything you'll read in the genre. However, what the book does best is take an honest look at a difficult friendship that eventually goes sour. Stiller also takes us on an interesting internal journey -- describing the trying issues in his life that reveal themselves as his psychological layers are peeled away. Whether you're a veteran expedition kayaker or an armschair adventurer eager to see a few good men take a salty beating, this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Realistic look at Adventure tourism
Review: For anyone that has read Don Starkell & sons account their 12,000+/- mile canoe from Winnipeg, Canada to the Amazon will have experienced a true account of individuals setting out on an adventure of discovery and strengthening a close bond.After reading Starkell's famous book, who hasn't thought finding a partner and setting of on such an adventure? Eric Stiller and Tony Brown went on such an adventure! The book has some awkwardness, as did the trip. It is a good book over-all and a necessary book for anyone needing to re-evaluate some of the romantic notions of stepping out of modern society into the life of "adventure" and the "wilderness". All the power to Eric & Tony for all the fun & experiences they had!
Rating:
Summary: Realistic look at Adventure tourism
Review: For anyone that has read Don Starkell & sons account their 12,000+/- mile canoe from Winnipeg, Canada to the Amazon will have experienced a true account of individuals setting out on an adventure of discovery and strengthening a close bond. After reading Starkell's famous book, who hasn't thought finding a partner and setting of on such an adventure? Eric Stiller and Tony Brown went on such an adventure! The book has some awkwardness, as did the trip. It is a good book over-all and a necessary book for anyone needing to re-evaluate some of the romantic notions of stepping out of modern society into the life of "adventure" and the "wilderness". All the power to Eric & Tony for all the fun & experiences they had!
Rating: 
Summary: Epic's adventure
Review: I am currently in the final chapters of Keep Australia On The Left. I bought it because the title and the idea of such a journey appealed to me. I was disappointed with this book because it appeared that the author couldn't make up his mind whether to write a tell-all journey of self-discovery against the background of an exciting expedition(which would have been interesting) or a Boys Own adventure yarn (which would have been equally interesting). As it was, I found he dabbled in both, and failed miserably at both. I got frustrated by his self-obsessed ramblings, and what seemed to be his inability to try a new culture. Instead I found the book to deteriorate into an Epic search for coffee, American newspapers, and a letter from the infamous Nicole. I think TB did really well not to belt Epic with a paddle. Their lack of preparation, research, and extensive training together was in my opinion ill-advised, in fact it was just plain stupid, given what they intended to do. I think it's a miracle they didn't need to be rescued or that they just didn't disappear into the great unknown.
Rating:
Summary: An Enormous Achievement
Review: I loved the book, but let me explain my qualifications. I study, design, build and live decked sailing canoes for cruising, usually solo boats. The Klepper double in the book (we own one, too, & a single) is a close relative to a cruising sailing canoe. Captain James Cook is at the top of my historical heroes list, also, and Eric and Tony went along Cook's path. And I know Eric. So I have three reasons to like the book and it doesn't fail. It will become a fixture of small boat literature. Rate it with others, say Bligh's open boat voyage after the mutiny, or Verlen Kruger's canoe trip with Steve Landick, and later Valerie Fons, of a figure eight around North America. It will join the exalted list of Klepper achievments beginning with Hans Lindemann's Atlantic crossing. But I think it has more. It has the insides of a complex fellow, as unique a communicator as exists. In the genre of small boat cruising stories, one doesn't expect the best technical qualities. Some of the books are self-published. Some are from tiny companies just beginning. Keep Australia On Your Left has some of those problems. The most apparent after a few pages is editing. But after a score of pages, that's forgotten. And I know how Eric speaks, and how difficult he'd be to edit. But the trip is real, the waves threaten, the bugs bite, the people are alive---or half dead with fatigue and trials. It's an astonishing achievment as a book and a journey. Hugh Horton
Rating:
Summary: Pass This One Over
Review: I picked up this book because it sounded interesting and exciting and also in hopes of learning a bit more on Australian culture. I found neither in this book. In fact I didn't even finish (which is very rare). First, this book is incredibly dull. The author goes into tedious details about the trip that are totally unnecessary and slow the pace down. There is absolutely no humor to be found and in fact all the author does is complain. Second, I thought the book sounded exciting and dangerous. Although I'm sure the trip was very exciting, the author somehow managed to make it sound like a visit to your grandmothers house. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Lastly, I was hoping for a little insight on Australian culture. The only insight I got was how the author didn't fit in (probably due to lack of any sense of humor). If your looking to learn a little more about Australia, read In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson and skip this dud.
Rating:
Summary: GO FOR IT
Review: I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone wanting insight into the world of ocean kayaking and a great attitude for adventure . Eric's skilful and interesting explanations of the technical aspects of kayaking , and his extraordinary understanding of the ocean make for great reading . I particularly enjoyed the aspect of attaching a sail to the little boat ! From a windsurfing/surfing point of view , Eric is spot on in his perceptive descriptions of the factors that affected their arduous journey . For the armchair traveller / weekend warrior , this book is a must . As far as providing insight into the Australian culture , Eric's awkwardness in dealing with the hard and fast banter of Tony and his friends is completely understandable . They are a ruthless lot who delight in putting anyone or anything down . If you are at all insecure about yourself , do not visit there ! I particularly delighted in reading the encounters with the locals along the way . Eric plugged into the Australian way of life from the edge . I know enough to ignore the review from Christina of Boston . She has obviously a Disneyworld image of the way the place really is . The author does a little soul searching along the way , and for any of you who have travelled at all , this is a usual condition !I found it very refreshing to read of emotions and thoughts in such a candid reflection . It is not meant to be a New Age philosophical novel , or a deep and profound exploration of the way a relationship progresses. It is a fast and fun look at a splendid journey through a beautiful and challenging part of the world . The personal narrative is a bonus to this fascinating tale of stamina and belief in oneself. A great book , a great gift and a wonderful read .
Rating:
Summary: A Realistic View Of The Dream Kayaking Expedition
Review: I was interested in this book because I have been thinking about embarking upon an adventure throughout unknown territory. When I saw this book on the shelf, I knew this was just what I needed to read and I was right. A lot of people think about doing daunting trips like this (circumnavigating Australia by kayak), but have no idea what they would be getting into. This book gives an incredibly realistic view on what two people ACTUALLY go through during a long venture. He makes you aware of the reality of what a trip like this entails as far as equipment, safety, mapping, knowledge of the territory, timing, and being physically and emotionally prepared. He also describes in great detail what can happen in a relationship between two very different people on a hard gruelling voyage of this length, (and what could happen to the relationships you have left behind). He does this through humor, emotion, and spirituality. He seems to give an honest view of his adventure, and he doesn't try to "sugar-coat" his feelings at the time. In order to fully appreciate this book, I think it helps if you have an adventuring spirit and have an interest what such a journey would entail. You would also need to be self-aware to understand the effect that long months of silence in a dangerous environment on the water can have from an spiritual and emotional point-of-view. I really enjoyed this book and I would most definitely recommend it to anyone for reading pleasure. In particular, anyone with an adventurer's spirit, or who has ever dreamed about doing such a trip would find it an interesting and provoking read.
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