Joshua Slocum

First published in 1900, Joshua Slocum's autobiographical account of his solo trip around the world is one of the most remarkable and entertaining travel narratives of all time. Slocum set off alone from Boston in April 1895 and went on to join the ranks of the world's great circumnavigators. But by circling the globe without crew or consorts, Slocum outdid them all. His three-year solo voyage of more than 46,000 miles remains unmatched in maritime history of courage, skill, and determination.

Sailing Alone Around the World

Andrew John Kinney

Extremely interesting book if you are a sailor (as I am). Slocum's book convinced me I never ever want to sail anywhere near Cape Horn.

altlovesbooks

"The sea was confused and treacherous. In such a time as this the old fisherman prayed, 'Remember Lord, my ship is small and thy sea is so wide.'"

It's books like these that make me wish I had a boat. I do not have a boat, and I know that boat ownership is exponentially expensive, and yet this book made me want to hop in one and go sail for the horizon.

This is a travel memoir of a guy with a boat, the Spray, where he gets it into his head to sail around the world in 1895. He encounters standard seafaring things: pirates, storms, fishing, and nonstandard seafaring things, such as his mental encounter with the ghost of the captain of the Nina, who saved his ship while he was sick abed. His tongue-in-cheek humor in these encounters is really what makes this book shine, though. He makes repeated jokes about his "crew" (of only him), makes astute and humorous observations about lands and people he comes across, and all-in-all maintains high spirits throughout his journey. I appreciated being along for his historic voyage.

My only (minor) gripe about the book was its nautical terminology -- which is to be expected in a book about, y'know, maritime adventure. There's enough ship terminology to maybe make you Google a word or two, but I felt like I got enough of the jist just from larger context in most places. 

All in all, a pleasant, easy-to-read adventure classic.

James Brady

Jayme Cochrane

A classic tale of the world's first solo circumnavigation. Must read for all wanderers, sailors, and lovers of adventure.

Sailing Alone Around the World

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