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august30th's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book, but some parts were a little tough to get through. I came out with a deeper respect for Cook and his journey, and lament for the cultures and lives that were lost as a result.
The way Horwitz described each island made me want to visit them, but he really showed how colonialism has affected them. It made me slightly disillusioned with the world. His description of Hawaii made it seem much more magical than the rest.
He met a colorful cast of characters that made the story that much more fun. Australia was a lot of fun to read about. I envy how well-traveled he is.
The way Horwitz described each island made me want to visit them, but he really showed how colonialism has affected them. It made me slightly disillusioned with the world. His description of Hawaii made it seem much more magical than the rest.
He met a colorful cast of characters that made the story that much more fun. Australia was a lot of fun to read about. I envy how well-traveled he is.
kisaly's review against another edition
5.0
Solid mix of travel, history, and social commentary. 4.5 stars
elusivesue's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book recommended in the pages of Living a Well-Read Life by the founder of Levenger. It was a good recommendation. the book goes back and forth between the author's travels through places that Cook had gone, and his experiences in the 21st century and Cook's three journeys. The writing is styled much like Bill Bryson, with its wit and down-to-earth tone, and since I love Bryson, I loved the writing. Reading about the things that Cook accomplished with the tools he had astounded and impressed me - in an age where ships go down even loaded with to the second gauges and GPS, he went around the world three times with mathematical formulas and measurement tools. Instead of carbon fiber hulls and Kevlar sails, he dealt with wood tarred and nailed together and simple canvas. When you think about it, it's impressive that anyone sailed further than around their own country, let alone a circumnavigation.
gentiang's review against another edition
3.0
I always had an interest in Cook's journeys and I couldn't wait to read this one. The book however was rather boring at best, except for the parts where Cook's history is described. However, it did get me into researching the Pacific Islands, and I'm inspired to read more about them.
nadoislandgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed this book. A journalist's take on Cook-reading his log, following his footsteps, finding and talking with the people of today in the places Cook had visited. I do enjoy those all around views of stories. I had no idea how influential Cook was and how controversial.
This book was a big one! I was reading on it quite a lot for more than a week!
This book was a big one! I was reading on it quite a lot for more than a week!
mollyringle's review against another edition
5.0
This took me a long time to read, as nonfiction tends to for me, but I'm glad I did. Horwitz is an engaging writer, and I learned quite a bit about the Pacific lands Cook visited (many South Pacific islands, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and the Aleutian Islands, to name several of them), as well as about Cook himself and the astonishing journeys he made. I appreciated Horwitz's unflinching honesty in discussing the ambiguity of how to view Cook these days--unwelcome disease-bringing invader or underappreciated explorer, or possibly both?--as well as the current state of these various lands, which Horwitz visits and explores in whimsical low-key fashion (low-key compared to Cook's expedition, that is), and he reports truthfully upon what he finds, good, bad, ugly, or lovely. And incidentally, I hope that in future travel-related writing, he always gets to bring his friend Roger along, because Roger makes for some great comic relief.
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
4.0
I knew next to nothing about Captain James Cook when i picked up this book... history books generally gloss over his voyages, even though he explored an area that encompasses nearly 1/3 of the globe. Horwitz's urge to learn all he could about the man and his work is infectious... you can see this in the text rubbing off on those around him, as seen in Roger, his companion on many of his "Cook" travels.
Retracing Captain Cook's three voyages, relying heavily on the diaires of Cook himself, Horwitz decides to take a short trip to the Pacific Northwest to sail for 10 days in a replica of Cook's ship. He wanted a feel for the life or a seaman, and he sure gets it!! Next he sets off to Australia and New Zealand. His journalistic style brings in great aspects of history, anthropology, and language. He interviews Maori people in New Zealand and Aborigines in Australia, asking them what memories their people have of Cook and his men. Both groups remember Captain Cook, oftentimes in a negative light. It does not appear that they despise Cook as a man, but more of what he stood for, and what his exploration meant for the native culture.
Horwitz and Roger then begin to island hop around the Pacific. I particularly liked the time they spent on the island of Niue (like Horwitz, I had never heard of this island.) Describing the scene, Horwitz claims it may be the last part of Polynesia that is not spoiled by commercialism and tourists. He and Roger stay for a week on this small island (only 11 miles long!) and try to unravel the mystery of the hula hula (Cook's men were scared away from these islands by men with red teeth, and they named the island Savage Island because they thought the people were cannibals).
Roger and Horwitz go to Yorkshire, England, Cook's birthplace (and Roger's too), and take part in a few days of the Cook festival. They meet Cliff, the young president of the Captain Cook society, and try to find out as much as they can about the enigmatic Cook. Going to Cook's own home gives Horwitz a different take on the man, and he learns more about Cook's beliefs and his philosophies.
Their travels end in Hawaii, like Cook's did in 1778. They commemorate Cook on the beach where he was killed.
The other aspect of this book that fascinated me was how Horwitz tried to get "into Cook's head". Cook was a son of the Enlightenment, and did not come to Polynesia with preconceived notions of God, Gold, and Glory like earlier explorers. He wanted to discover and learn about others, and was very scientifically conscious for a man of his time.
Retracing Captain Cook's three voyages, relying heavily on the diaires of Cook himself, Horwitz decides to take a short trip to the Pacific Northwest to sail for 10 days in a replica of Cook's ship. He wanted a feel for the life or a seaman, and he sure gets it!! Next he sets off to Australia and New Zealand. His journalistic style brings in great aspects of history, anthropology, and language. He interviews Maori people in New Zealand and Aborigines in Australia, asking them what memories their people have of Cook and his men. Both groups remember Captain Cook, oftentimes in a negative light. It does not appear that they despise Cook as a man, but more of what he stood for, and what his exploration meant for the native culture.
Horwitz and Roger then begin to island hop around the Pacific. I particularly liked the time they spent on the island of Niue (like Horwitz, I had never heard of this island.) Describing the scene, Horwitz claims it may be the last part of Polynesia that is not spoiled by commercialism and tourists. He and Roger stay for a week on this small island (only 11 miles long!) and try to unravel the mystery of the hula hula (Cook's men were scared away from these islands by men with red teeth, and they named the island Savage Island because they thought the people were cannibals).
Roger and Horwitz go to Yorkshire, England, Cook's birthplace (and Roger's too), and take part in a few days of the Cook festival. They meet Cliff, the young president of the Captain Cook society, and try to find out as much as they can about the enigmatic Cook. Going to Cook's own home gives Horwitz a different take on the man, and he learns more about Cook's beliefs and his philosophies.
Their travels end in Hawaii, like Cook's did in 1778. They commemorate Cook on the beach where he was killed.
The other aspect of this book that fascinated me was how Horwitz tried to get "into Cook's head". Cook was a son of the Enlightenment, and did not come to Polynesia with preconceived notions of God, Gold, and Glory like earlier explorers. He wanted to discover and learn about others, and was very scientifically conscious for a man of his time.
martha_w's review against another edition
4.0
Horwitz tells the story of Captain Cook's three Pacific voyages by following the explorer's path. He intersperses Cook's story with his own adventure. He was usually accompanied by his hilarious, and often drunk, friend Roger, who always serves to make the story more entertaining. The story of Captain Cook's voyages is enthralling and Horwitz's exploration of the state of those places today (including what the locals think about Cook now) is equally fascinating.