Rating: 
Summary: Incredibly Inspirational
Review: Inspiration is a personal matter in that what may inspire one, may not inspire another. For me, this book has left an indelible mark that has propelled me for the last 12 years - it's been that long since I've read it. Since that time however, I've been an advid reader and I have yet to find a book that can rival it. Tristan, who died several years ago, was an unabashed old salt that lived by his own rules. He was unapologetic in his ways, which made him an entertaining man to take you on this incredible voyage. The book is less about seafaring (as a disappointed reader indicates below) and much more about incredible experiences in amazing places. Suffice it to say that this book inspired me to pick up and travel around the world, learn to sail and cruise the Caribbean, and even name my son after him. How's that for being inspired? Most of all, it inspired me to go out and create my own adventures in life. After all, life is the voyage that Tristan was writing about.
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Inspirational
Review: Inspiration is a personal matter in that what may inspire one, may not inspire another. For me, this book has left an indelible mark that has propelled me for the last 12 years - it's been that long since I've read it. Since that time however, I've been an advid reader and I have yet to find a book that can rival it. Tristan, who died several years ago, was an unabashed old salt that lived by his own rules. He was unapologetic in his ways, which made him an entertaining man to take you on this incredible voyage. The book is less about seafaring (as a disappointed reader indicates below) and much more about incredible experiences in amazing places. Suffice it to say that this book inspired me to pick up and travel around the world, learn to sail and cruise the Caribbean, and even name my son after him. How's that for being inspired? Most of all, it inspired me to go out and create my own adventures in life. After all, life is the voyage that Tristan was writing about.
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest sailing books
Review: One of the very best sailing books because of the huge variety of situations encountered by Jones. His fortitude is incredible. Many episodes of bizarre (sometimes gross) encounters with wildlife were fascinating. A strong recommend for readers of Adrift or J. Slocum!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best mariner book I have ever read!
Review: This book will keep you at the edge of your chair. From the Dead sea to Lake Titicaca through a six year voyage this book never gets boring. You wont put it down. OUTSTANDING!
Rating:
Summary: amazing adventure of survival and world travel!
Review: this is a fascinating account by a modern day adventurer/historian. i had an opportunity to meet Tristan and go aboard the tiny sea dart long ago and it had a profound impact on my own life. a must read just to learn about the man with the added benefit of a remarkable true life adventure!
Rating:
Summary: amazing adventure of survival and world travel!
Review: this is a fascinating account by a modern day adventurer/historian. i had an opportunity to meet Tristan and go aboard the tiny sea dart long ago and it had a profound impact on my own life. a must read just to learn about the man with the added benefit of a remarkable true life adventure!
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Yarn with Minor Flaws
Review: This is a pretty entertaining account of one man's quest to sail the same ship from the lowest body of water on Earth (The Dead Sea in Israel) to the highest (Lake Titicaca in the Andes), a feat never attempted before or since. Jones, apparently a renown figure in sailing circles, took five or six years from the late 1960s to early '70s to complete his quest, enduring many a hardship throughout. One thing that needs to be understood from the get go is that Jones was kind of a crusty old sea-dog type, and some of his writing is repetitive and irksome. One example is his constant tirade against bureaucracy, which he seems to believe only exists to stifle adventurous souls like him. While it's true that he faced a lot of stupid red tape, and had to bribe his way a number of times, he treats it like a personal assault on him. Another is his dismaying encyclopedic knowledge of the brothels of port's around the world-we are reliable informed what areas to frequent in various ports, where the world's largest brothel is, and that Madagascar's hookers of mixed Javanese and Arab blood are the most beautiful women in the world. While he's totally scornful of wealthy Westerns who try and live an elevated "colonial" existence in lesser-developed countries the reader is somehow supposed to overlook his (and his crew's) exploitation of women around the world? In any event, Jones was of a different age, and if one can overlook certain elements of the narrative, there's a very good adventure story to be had. While it's certainly more likely to appeal to sailors (nonsailors like myself will want to skim certain passages about technical nautical matters), the book is really more about distant places and people, especially in South America. As Jones' travels take him from place to place, he includes little bits or history and ethnography. My own favorite is the proposition that Chinese sailors might have visited South America well before any European explorers. If you enjoy stories of man against nature, like Shackleton's Endurance, you'll probably like this incredible tale.
Rating:
Summary: I hated to see this book end, it was so good.
Review: This is full of unbelievable adventures. It will teach you history and geography. But beyond all that, it is very good reading. I had never heard of Lake Titicaca before I read this book. When I finished it I got on the net find out more. There are at least 1666 web pages on Lake Titicaca. Amazing!
Rating:
Summary: A True Old Salt
Review: Tristan Jones was truly a man of the sea. This is an amazing tale of truimph over the elements and physical exhaustion.
Mr. Jones wanted to be the first person to sail a ship on the lowest body of water and the highest, and sail the route between. For most of the voyage he is accompanied by another crewmate (one on the first leg of the journey and one at the end), but he also spent some time sailing alone.
One of the most memorable moments, and one that illustrates the hardships endured, was the description of the nightly preparations for aanchoring the ship on the Amazon River as they attempted to steer against the flow of that great body of water to reach Lake Titicaca. First, the men had to tie the ship to a tree and make certain it was anchored far enough from the canopy of branches to make sure no carpenter ants could fall into the vessel and start chewing on the wood. Next, they had to grease the rope tied to the tree to prevent snakes from slithering on board, and finally, the windows had to be boarded up so that no bats could enter. And that is just one small part of this adventure!!
Along the way, Mr. Jones not only describes life aboard ship, but also gives a look into the lives of those he comes in contact with, and sometimes a bit of history of the area he is currently visiting.
One thing is for sure - you won't be bored.
Rating:
Summary: A True Old Salt
Review: Tristan Jones was truly a man of the sea. This is an amazing tale of truimph over the elements and physical exhaustion.
Mr. Jones wanted to be the first person to sail a ship on the lowest body of water and the highest, and sail the route between. For most of the voyage he is accompanied by another crewmate (one on the first leg of the journey and one at the end), but he also spent some time sailing alone.
One of the most memorable moments, and one that illustrates the hardships endured, was the description of the nightly preparations for aanchoring the ship on the Amazon River as they attempted to steer against the flow of that great body of water to reach Lake Titicaca. First, the men had to tie the ship to a tree and make certain it was anchored far enough from the canopy of branches to make sure no carpenter ants could fall into the vessel and start chewing on the wood. Next, they had to grease the rope tied to the tree to prevent snakes from slithering on board, and finally, the windows had to be boarded up so that no bats could enter. And that is just one small part of this adventure!!
Along the way, Mr. Jones not only describes life aboard ship, but also gives a look into the lives of those he comes in contact with, and sometimes a bit of history of the area he is currently visiting.
One thing is for sure - you won't be bored.
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