Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea Kindle Edition

First off I have to say the author wasn’t really “lost” at sea. His abilities and skills coupled with the mindset and tenacity to survive kept him more than just alive. At times he seemed to thrive. His ordeal made me think often of the phrase “hope is not a good plan”. One has to have a plan and work the plan to survive. Steven does this (not giving anything away here as it’s evident he makes it through) and gains a deeper appreciation for all the blessings we take for granted.A line from the book states “Before this voyage, I always had what I needed - food, shelter, clothing, and companionship - yet I was often dissatisfied when I didn’t get everything I wanted, when people didn’t meet my expectations, when a goal was thwarted, or I couldn’t acquire some material goody. My plight has given me a strange kind of wealth, the most important kind.”I was enthused and happy when he ended his journey. The reader will definitely feel as if they too are in the survival raft. Many of the critical reviews cite the repetition and down trodden feel of the book. Well the guy was stuck in the middle of the ocean for over two months alone. Many of us couldn’t go over two weeks without a cell phone.The book also gives us a great description of who and what he encounters after he ends his time adrift. It’s also very interesting to read this book in present time and realize the author is now 71 years old and end through all this in 1981. Worth a read if you want to learn more about what man is capable of and how blessed your life itself might be.

Really felt i was in the boat surviving with author. Day to day details very good. Ending was less good. A very entertaining book

I listened to this on Everand and wanted to give a copy to a friend, hard to put down.

This inspirational moment-by-moment survival narrative puts one in the raft with Steven Callahan as he is crossing the vast Atlantic. I found myself relating to his fight to survive because of my own life, though my struggles were small compared to his.

Very well written and captivating, with the benefit of a first hand account from the survivor. It is realistic, thrilling and thought provoking and what was most expected (I was looking for the survivial-adventure part) was the human reflection: on our insignificance, connection to our surroundings, true needs, resilience and madness. The authors direct reflection on these topics elevated the book, and brings readers closer to a relatable human. There were pompous moments (overly elaborated topics, dramatic inclusions, unnecessary alliterations) and overly complex moments (overly technical descriptions of contraptions, sailor jargon for credibility). But, despite these mild annoyances, the book was very well done with great adventure, survival and human story telling.

I love adventure/survival stories. Steven Callahan, by all comparisons, spins a great yarn. What makes his story better than others is he presents a genuine view for us all to evaluate. Most provide vivid details about the survivor's ordeal but few reveal personal triumphs and losses as well as Adrift. You know the outcome because the author wrote the story but you never know the details until he reveals them. Furthermore, the reader gets a privileged look into the thought processes of a private person - quirks, strengths, weaknesses, regrets, anxieties, etc. I am not much of a voyeur nor do I like reality shows because none of them provide the full panorama of the individual. Callahan manages to give us that full view. You can feel with him as he survives one calamity after another. He also paints himself as a person - not as a hero or someone who demands respect but just a regular person who survives partly from luck and stubbornness. He even goes so far as to say that a true hero would welcome death at sea whereas the coward struggles to survive. We learn about Steven's personality throughout the story and, what makes this story so compelling is that he paints himself in a genuine manner. I admired him for all he accomplished in spite of his reassurances that a more brave individual would gladly die at sea. Perhaps - and hopefully so - I will never know if I would survive but after reading this book I know I will be prepared for whatever might be thrown at me. If I am cowardly for wanting to survive at sea then so be it! Call me a coward.Thank Steven for educating us all by reading this book.

Alone in a life raft on the high seas, one man struggles against nature and himself. He is not merely clinging to a log: he finds himself better equipped than some, having retrieved certain supplies from his capsized yacht. He has a speargun, two water stills and a sleeping bag. A nightmarish ordeal ensues as he drifts for weeks over the Atlantic. Ultimately his impressive knowledge of navigation and practical skills help him to survive where few could have.Structurally you could divide it into two parts. In the first half, tension builds as he faces probable death and gradually loses one safety margin after another. His speargun snaps, then he springs a leak. On and on until he reaches his lowest ebb, a sort of near-death experience. After that, hope builds and excitement rises as he starts to approach land.As an authentic first-hand account, it is reasonably engaging, but not exactly literature. It is structured as a diary, each day focusing on the pressing need to catch fish and water, as well as take care of bodily functions. What I find of interest is his train of thought, the feelings and emotions of one who faces death at any moment. So its not a bad read, but I felt he could have spiced it up a bit more by reminiscing about his life up to that moment, what brought him there, his marriage perhaps, his spiritual beliefs. The fairly dry text is also augmented by his own pencil sketches, which I find rather ugly.

Great condition, easy to read and very informative about surviving on the ocean