Great

Dear Christian, thank you for taking me along on this trip, and for making it such an entertaining one. I was in good hands and I am glad you shared so much of your experience while underway - I hope you did not not mind that I said so little preferring to listen to that great voice. I would be thrilled to get another invitation should you set out again to distant shores.

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Outstanding tale well told

The laconic and often truculent internal monologue of the author is translated as an hilarious, moving, informative tale of a solo adventure. An brilliant listen, highly recommended.

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You Are Not Alone

Relaxing, educational, thought provoking. Im not a sailor, yet, but Christian takes you with him across the Pacific ocean with his friendly and unusual story telling style.
I listened to his later book on his second crossing first after finding his YouTube channel.

highly recommended,

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How the man utilises all his strengths and past experiences in one solo adventure.

I liked it all , the story the adventure and the man . I’ve listened to this repeatedly all month and after five hearings I could listen again.

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Excellent

Having first listened to A Philosophy of Sailing, also by Christian Williams - and which is a marvellous listen - I gave this a try. It's an excellent book; combining interesting reflections and philosophical musings with moments of genuine laugh out loud humour. And a good adventure to boot. He also has a great reading voice. You'll enjoy it!

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I love this book

Love the way the author speaks direct to you.
And the way he narrat it.
Can't read to many times.

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excellent....

After watching u-tube videos I felt drawn to purchase the book, excellent work, will recommend.

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If you like the sea, sailing or adventures...

This book is about Christian's solo sail to Hawaii, it's planning and execution. If you like the sea, sailing books or adventures you'll probably enjoy this.

There's no plot, there's not really any tension but in the end I found it quite compelling.

I expected more descriptions of the sea, instead we are given expansive and detailed descriptions of the mechanics of the yacht and it's preparation. I quite enjoyed these, although occasionally his voice (and I mean narrative voice) seemed a bit whiney - many of us would give our eye-teeth to have the chance to do a trip like this, so when he's moaning about an inconsequential leak he can't find or some other small problematic detail with the boat it does get a bit tiresome. There are few passages where Christian seems to be really content, perhaps this is a reflection on the inner 'us' we take with us wherever we travel and whoever we are with.

I expected more philosophy. 'Alone together' is the paradox at the heart of the Northumbria Community and I was expecting some deep reflections on the state of aloneness which he experienced. There is a bit of this, but actually the 'alone together' is a device in which the author keeps talking to you as though you were on the boat with him. Truly I found this immensely annoying and distracting and his assumptions about what I may or may not want to do patronising. This is the principle reason for dropping two stars. However, having paid my money I pressed on and like the leaks it seemed to disappear as the book went on and although the philosophy was not explicit, there is a wonderful connection with the sea and his life on it which does have impact.

Do I recommend it? Yes, of course: four stars is a hearty recommendation.

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A book greatly improved by the narration.

I loved listening to the story of Mr Williams' sail to and from Hawaii. It isn't edge of your seat drama and not much really happens, but the author's style is convivial and inclusive.

I genuinely felt I had sailed there and back to Hawaii with the accompanying philosophical insights and occasional related stories.

I can't say I've heard or read a book quite like it before and I heartily recommend it to those who sail and those who don't.

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1 person found this helpful

Enjoyable journey

No need to be a sailor to today enjoy this story from a fearless sailor

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