Grandpa lent me his copy of this book when I was twelve. I loved it so much he told me I could keep it. I re-read this recently and it's as wonderful this time as it was the first time.
Learning about explorers and expeditions in school was a bit dry and dusty - this book really sparked my imagination.
The stories are vivid, wonderful and keep the interest level high. When I was younger I found the first couple of chapters a bit less engaging but once the raft hit the water I was hooked!

Thor Heyerdahl conceived of an alternative to the common thought of the day for how the pacific islands and perhaps the Americas might have been peopled. Following through with his ideas, he constructed a raft of the materials that might have been used centuries ago, and using the methods known to have been used then. He then set out on a journey to see if it were humanly possible to make one's way across the ocean in that craft. Though I am certainly no expert in geography, population movement, or other relevant fields, nonetheless I found Heyerdah;'s ideas and efforts compelling and fascinating.

What an epic story. Heyerdahl floated on a raft from Peru to Polynesia to prove that it was a possible route for settlers. Although the theory was debunked decades later, it makes for a fantastic read and travel story.

A grand adventure cheerfully put and a true story.

Kon-Tiki (Across The Pacific By Raft) by Thor Heyerdahl (1950)

I thought this adventure was fantastic! I can only imagine how much better it would have been if I read it as a kid. Somehow this one slipped by me. I have always been fascinated with sailing and these guys really followed through with the ultimate sailing adventure.