Mi padre, el capitán Jacques-Yves Cousteau

by Jean-Michel Cousteau

Jean-Michel Cousteau inicia esta exploración con una interrogante sobre su padre: «Si nunca pude entenderlo del todo cuando estaba vivo, entonces ¿qué me hace pensar que podré lograrlo ahora que se ha ido?». Con esta premisa, el hijo del legendario Jacques-Yves Cousteau emprende un viaje en el que arribará a diversos puertos en la vida de su progenitor: su infancia, su familia, los momentos de celebridad, los de revelación, también los de naufragio y tempestades. Una travesía a la vida del hombre que le mostró al mundo las profundidades de nuestro planeta. Esta biografía y bitácora de navegación nos muestra al célebre capitán del Calypso fuera de su inseparable cámara y, cuando es posible, en tierra firme. Es la postal más íntima de Jacques-Yves Cousteau, configurada en la pluma de quien lo miró como leyenda, como genio, como celebridad y como padre.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2004

Reviews

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un gran libro, yo no sabía quién era Cousteau, su vida y su trabajo me inspiraron a descubrir más sobre el mundo. Además está escrito revelándonos las dos caras de la moneda de su personalidad, también vemos como la familia siempre está ahí, en los momentos de felicidad o tristeza de los protagonistas de la vida.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a big fan of the Cousteau films and books when I was a youngster, so I thought I'd pick this biography up to find out more about him. Ends up this book is more, or at least as much about his son, the author Jean-Michel. And you do learn a lot of the interesting family history. Then you hit a point about 4/5 of the way through when the bottom falls out of the family, through death and indiscretions. This must have been a hard book to write. The ending explains why the beginning felt a little flat at times. Two things I noticed. First, the book, especially in the early part, is very redundant. An idea is expressed, then expressed again a page later in a slightly different way. If Jean-Michel, who is an architect, designs the way he writes, he must put together some safe buildings... Second, the author mentions a common phrase in French that means "the future can be yours". That's quite a bit different than the American phrase "the future is yours". I appreciate the French for their take on the subject.

[Alejandro Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creo que esperaba una biografía de Cousteau al estilo de Walter Isaacson que son muy entretenidas y lo que encontré fue una biografía mezclada con autobiografía del autor (hijo de Cousteau) que aunque da un punto de vista muy intimo se queda corto en cuanto a anécdotas y aventuras de este pionero de los mares.

[Joe Spoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance I thought this was a biography of Jacques Cousteau. As the title says, however, it is also about his son Jean-Michel. It is an easy read and probably could be read in a day or two, if you have time enough to sit still. I remember as a kid eagerly awaiting "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" on television so I thought this book would be interesting. It was almost more of a memoir than a biography, however I thought it was well-written, and it did not include a lot of irrelevant details. I would recommend it.

[Iulia Streanga · Rating 3 out of 5]

We get closer to the man behind the icon by means of the countless experiences shared by his eldest son in this emotional and inspiring biography of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Although the writing style can feel a bit artificial sometimes, the book succeeds in making the reader more familiar with the passionate, determined, perseverent, creative, but also sometimes perceived as irresponsible adventurer who left a permanent mark on modern oceanic exploration. We get to know him as a human above all, and it is a greatly enriching process.

[Hunter Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s hard to put a full remark on this. Generally, I have to say that this novel is a testament to the saying “don’t meet your heroes”. The ending is the main reason behind this feeling. Otherwise, the book was a soft journey through time and though the focused seemed better to term “The Cousteau Family” instead of just on JYC, it was inspirational. JYC is a man, a human man. That is humbling. The book made that clear. We all know of him behind his historical endeavors, this shedded more light on the intricacies of who, what, and when shaped his path.

[Greyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quasi-memoir with a focus on Jean-Michel's relationship with his father, dating from the halcyon days of his childhood--despite the war--and closing with a frank description of their relationship in "JYC"s last decade of infidelity. The ending portions where he addresses his mother's illness is devastating.

[Linda Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book because when I was younger I loved Jacque Cousteau from watching his amazing shows on sea life. The book was great and I learned a lot of things about the man and his family. I realize he was someone who wanted people to be more aware of taking care of the seas and our resources. Truly a great man and a great read!

[LALO CARAVEO · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro mezcla la vida de Cousteau y la de su hijo mayor, una especie de biografía doble.

El autor hace reseña sobre su vida y la de su madre en torno al padre.

El libro es ameno pero creo que pudo ser más abundante.

[Mary Baumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of legendary undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau, spent most of his adult life nurturing the work of his famous father. In an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the legend versus the man, the younger Cousteau writes: “Captain Cousteau was a complicated man. He was a man of many different personalities, many different moods. But this is how it is with all great men, yes? We know the public mask, but it is the private face that reveals a man’s true character. It is the man we know when the cameras are not filming.”

Jean-Michel and his collaborator, New York Times best-selling author Daniel Paisner, offer an intimate portrait of the seminal moments in his father’s legend. Students studying the innovative and passionate Jacques Cousteau will find new material here, but the lack of an index makes pinpointing specific topics difficult -- and this is not casual reading material. The prose is stiff and self-conscious. It is only the innate drama of a fascinating man’s life unfolding, combined with details from the pioneer marine conservationist’s perspective, that propels the dialogue forward. Jean Michel’s disillusionment with his father and his causes as an adult clearly contrasts with his childhood hero-worship. Jean-Michel’s bitterness regarding his father’s mistresses and second wife and family is palpable.

A small section of black-and-white photographs enliven the narrative. 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Jacques Cousteau’s birth.

[Adilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A autobiografia de Jean-Michel Cousteau não me estimulou no início. Achei a narrativa entediante e literalmente transcrita de um caderno de memórias, sem a refinação necessária para um texto atraente. Fui conquistado posteriormente, porque não desisti do livro, com relatos ricos de experiências maravilhosas em terra e mar. A intimidade da vida à bordo do mítico Calypso, as expedições realizadas pela equipe comandada pelo lendário e polêmico Jacques-Yves Cousteau dono de uma desconcertante personalidade, são descortinadas sensatamente por seu filho. Jean-Michel é um dos principais personagens, responsável pelo sucesso das aventuras empreendidas pela equipe, juntamente com o irmão Phillipe e sua mãe, carinhosamente chamada de a Bergère.
Jean-Michel faz um relato honesto e emocionante honrando todos os membros do Calypso, que contribuíram com amor e dedicação e transformaram a The Cousteau Society no mais famoso e prestigiado grupo de exploração marítima do século XX, cujo trabalho pode ser visto nos célebres filmes realizados pela equipe, exibidos no mundo todo - e que, diga-se de passagem, cresci assistindo.

[William Graney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Having grown up with the Undersea World, becoming a diver, and aware of all the great work Jacques & Jean-Michel Cousteau have done in trying to educate the world on the importance of preserving our oceans I was well acquainted with the Cousteau's going in. There were elements of the Cousteau family I was unaware of in regards to certain controversies and living arrangements. Those types of things are not particularly important to me but towards the end of the book these topics altered the tone and Jean-Michel wrote with more feeling than he had earlier in the book. His thoughts on La Bergere were particularly well done I thought. The earlier portions of the book were more of a step by step account of what happened when. It would have been interesting to read more tales from Calypso.

[Elaine Dowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an affectionate look at the life of Jacques Cousteau from the perspective of his oldest son. The book addresses warts and all and appears to do so with both some honesty and some of the spin adult children can use to make the sins of the Father more palatable. It is not a long book, and it cannot be called well written. However, if you grew up mesmerized by the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, it is a fairly brief look an an interesting man.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a kid in the 1970s I was exposed to the great underwater adventures of Jacques Cousteau so I enjoyed reading all the innovative man through the viewpoint of his eldest son. Jean-Michel does a fine job of putting words to the activities of his father known afectionately as JYC. Co-Author Daniel Paisner surely made major contributions to this book which reveals plenty of behind the scenes nuances. Take a look at this book.

[g-na · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there have been other biographies written about Jacques Cousteau, this is the first written by his son, Jean-Michel. It also happens to have been the first one I've read. Although I grew up watching "The Undersea World of Jacques-Cousteau, I knew very little about the man himself, so I enjoyed getting to know him better, so to speak. Recommended for those who like Cousteau, or the ocean, or scuba diving, etc.

[Dave Forcucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean-Michel shares lots of intimate stories about the Cousteau family that would have been lost had it not been for his courage to write them down. Thank you.

I always thought that the death of Phillipe was a huge blow to the Cousteau legacy and Jean-Michel confirms this. It s affected the three remaining Cousteau's in different ways.

If you want to learn the nitty gritty of the Cousteau family, this is a book like no other.

[Henry Luciano · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and honest perspective of the Cousteau family. Renewed my long forgotten interest in "the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" and found some of the earlier works mentioned in the book.

[Chrystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honest biography of the famous Cousteau by the son of his first marriage. Don't read if you are happy thinking he could do no wrong.

[Arnel Bondoc · Rating 3 out of 5]

finished reading