South from Alaska: Sailing to Australia with a Baby for Crew

by Mike Litzow, Mike Litzow

When marine biologists Mike Litzow and Alisa Abookire decide to follow their dream and sail from Alaska to Australia, they agree that they won't leave until their son, Elias, is one year old. But when he is just ten months old, they give up waiting, strap him down, and set sail.

In his deeply personal account of their trip, Mike tells the story of the stress and exhilaration, the closeness of family life on board, and the fierce beauty of the open ocean.  Demonstrating a moving affinity with the wildlife, people, and cultures encountered along the way, this is an inspirational tale of a family afloat in the Pacific.

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[OG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simultaneously cozy and adventurous, I really enjoyed! The writing was also vivid and beautiful, with such fun use of adjectives in places you least expect them

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was mildly interesting. The first half of the book was especially slow and the second half picked up for me a bit. It’s an almost hourly account of their entire trip which is both cool but also not super interesting if you are not entirely invested in the story. Probably wouldn’t recommend but I also didn’t have a high level of interest based on the super methodical & detailed style of writing for this specific topic.

I felt like the author was particularly whiny as well. Which it’s all well & good to be honest about hard experiences, but I have zero desire to read a whole book filled with whining.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book--not just an adventure story, but a wonderfully open documentation of the emotional challenges of pursuing a dream. This was a real page turner and I want to buy copies for all my friends for the holidays so we can discuss. It led me to think more in depth about the choices and paths I've taken in life, which was a fun retrospective. Thanks Mike and Alisa, for sharing this wonderful, epic story! When is the second book going to be published!!??

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Full disclosure. I know Mike and his wife, but I haven't seen them since they made this trip. I don't know why I was hesitant to read the book, because I've been reading his blog for years and have loved it. I've loved his blog, not because I know Mike, but because his blog posts were often laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes poignant, and always thoughtful. His book South from Alaska is no different. You do not need to be a sailor to love this book. Have you dreamed of doing something daring with your life partner and possibly kids? Maybe you want to move to a farm, start a business, go on an around the world tour, or any number of adventures, but have doubts and fears that are keeping you from setting out. Mike tackles this big question throughout the book. Their journey is sailing from Alaska to Australia, but I found myself to be inspired to think about my own dreams. Excellent quick read.

[Amanda Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but not the author. I'm a few short months away from embarking on my own sailing adventure, so I have been reading as many sailing adventure stories as I can find. I appreciate Mike Litzow's honest account of life on a small boat, especially the way it balances the idyllic with the "suckfests", but for some reason I just found him to be a whiny human with too many first world problems. Perhaps my view will change once I've experienced the life of a sailor for myself...?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone planning to sail around the world should read this book. True, adding a baby to the mix made it exponentially more difficult, but Mike brings a "you are there" quality to his writing that any sailor would benefit from. Mike doesn't gloss over the difficulties!

[Swazimaci · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointed Waa expecting more about how the babycoped and developed within the confines of the boat and the motion of the ocean. Plus also more sbout the actuall sea experience. Would be very interested in reading a book written by the mother. An enjoyable read nonetheless