Why read Kon Tiki?

Book cover of Kon Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft

Book description

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The Pacific Ocean

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Why read it?

1 author picked Kon Tiki as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Richard Feinberg

Author

This book is Thor Heyerdahl’s account of a 4,000-mile voyage, in 1947, on a balsa-wood raft from Peru to French Polynesia. Heyerdahl hypothesized that Polynesia was originally settled from the Americas. When supposed experts responded that Indigenous people lacked the technology to make such a voyage, he set out to prove them wrong. Evidence now makes it clear that Oceania was populated from Asia rather than lands to the east. Nonetheless, Heyerdahl demonstrated that humans can safely traverse the open sea using small craft built from natural materials.

Heyerdahl’s book sold millions of copies, was translated into dozens of languages,…

From Richard's list on Pacific wayfinding.