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Adrift: The Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea
In 1997 sixty-two containers fell off the cargo ship Tokio Express after it was hit by a rogue wave off the coast of Cornwall, including one container filled with nearly five million pieces of Lego, much of it sea themed. In the months that followed, beachcombers started to find Lego washed up on beaches across the south west coast. Among the pieces they discovered were octopuses, sea grass, spear guns, life rafts, scuba tanks, cutlasses, flippers and dragons. The pieces are still washing up today.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2022
33 people are currently reading
1688 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
April 9, 2024
Šīs grāmatas nosaukums ir kā viduslaikos, pati par sevi visu pastāsta. Man gan pirms lasīšanas šķita, ka šī būs par jūras straumēm. Vajadzēja izlasīt nosaukumu kārtīgāk. 1997. gadā no kāda konteineru kuģa nobira pāris konteineri ar Lego produktu. Gāja gadi un Apvienotās karalistes pludmalēs sāka parādīties zaļie Lego pūķi.
Izrādās, ka ir cilvēki, kuriem patīk lasīt lietas pludmalēs. Tā kā man arī patīk vazāties pa pludmalēm es viņus pat nedaudz saprotu. No grāmatas var noprast, ka dzīvojot okeāna malā ieguvums būs kaut kas vairāk nekā mūsu Jūrmalas izsmēķi. Te cilvēki, bez Lego atrod zobu birstes un ja paveicas pat priekšmetus kuru vecums mērāms gadu tūkstošos. Grāmata gan vairāk orientējas uz Lego un, manuprāt, lab''akās lietas tādēļ palikušas aiz borta.
Neteikšu, ka grāmatai ir kaut kāda nopietna struktūra, tiek konstatēti fakti, plastmasa okeānā slikti, Lego iespējams saglabājas 1000 gadus, ne visi Lego peld un neviens nezina, kas noticis ar dzeltenajiem lego glābšanas plostiņiem. Bildes smukas. 7 no 10 ballēm.
Izrādās, ka ir cilvēki, kuriem patīk lasīt lietas pludmalēs. Tā kā man arī patīk vazāties pa pludmalēm es viņus pat nedaudz saprotu. No grāmatas var noprast, ka dzīvojot okeāna malā ieguvums būs kaut kas vairāk nekā mūsu Jūrmalas izsmēķi. Te cilvēki, bez Lego atrod zobu birstes un ja paveicas pat priekšmetus kuru vecums mērāms gadu tūkstošos. Grāmata gan vairāk orientējas uz Lego un, manuprāt, lab''akās lietas tādēļ palikušas aiz borta.
Neteikšu, ka grāmatai ir kaut kāda nopietna struktūra, tiek konstatēti fakti, plastmasa okeānā slikti, Lego iespējams saglabājas 1000 gadus, ne visi Lego peld un neviens nezina, kas noticis ar dzeltenajiem lego glābšanas plostiņiem. Bildes smukas. 7 no 10 ballēm.
April 3, 2022
This book is absolutely wonderful, I haven’t stopped talking about it the whole time I have been reading it. It’s fascinating to discover what happened to all the Lego in 1997. Not only that, it really opens your eyes to what is happening in turns of plastic in the ocean, I had never really thought about this deeply until now. I know next time I’m at the beach, I will be doing my bit to collect up the plastic off our beaches. A highly recommended read.
March 4, 2023
I really liked this one. A quick read with photos, poems, history and interesting facts about lego and the plastic we all live with.
October 12, 2024
A fantastic book telling the story of a container of Lego lost off the Cornish coast in the late 90s and how pieces have washed up all over the place since then. There are really interesting explorations of related topics but it’s the main story and Tracey’s researches that make this so brilliant. The photos throughout the book are charming and insightful. A very special book.
April 12, 2022
This book is absolutely amazing. Poetically written with beautiful photography and illustrations and full of information and facts. Not just about the Tokio Express lego spill but about plastic in our oceana.
I read it myself and was frequently stopping to share extracts with my family. My 2 primary age children were enthralled and shocked. We enjoy beachcombing and "treasure hunting", but it has given us a new insight into just what is in the oceans and scarily, how long it has been there or might be for years to come.
You can pick this book up, open it up at a poem, a photo or a chapter and start reading or you can read it from start to finish.
Really thought provoking.
I read it myself and was frequently stopping to share extracts with my family. My 2 primary age children were enthralled and shocked. We enjoy beachcombing and "treasure hunting", but it has given us a new insight into just what is in the oceans and scarily, how long it has been there or might be for years to come.
You can pick this book up, open it up at a poem, a photo or a chapter and start reading or you can read it from start to finish.
Really thought provoking.
April 21, 2022
An eye-opening and detailed insight into Lego (and many other items) lost at sea. Fascinating and horrifying in equal measures. A beautifully designed book including maps, artwork, and detailed arrays of found objects. Thank you to the author and all involved for the incredible (and ongoing) amount of time and effort taken to collect, catalogue, and educate others.
February 21, 2022
What a great lil book… certainly a sad eye opening to the amount of plastic floating around in our oceans.
February 20, 2024
What a fantastic and curious little book. This one was a Christmas present from my wife and I must admit that although thrilled and curious I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
The book begins by telling the story of a shipment of Lego that fell off of a ship off the coast of Cornwall in 1997. People have been finding pieces of the shipment washing up on shore ever since.
In the beginning the book is focused solely on the lego shipment and which pieces are deemed to be good finds by the beachcombing community but it soon goes on to discuss a number of other things such as the nature of sea currents, the durability of plastic, the many other things found washed up on the shore and the problems of plastic pollution.
The book is also interspersed with photos of the lego and other finds, gorgeous artwork and infographics and even poetry all relating to oceans and beaches.
All in all an informative and entertaining read that both endorses the activity of beachcombing and serves as an important reminder of how durable plastic truly is and what impact it can have on our oceans and wildlife.
The book begins by telling the story of a shipment of Lego that fell off of a ship off the coast of Cornwall in 1997. People have been finding pieces of the shipment washing up on shore ever since.
In the beginning the book is focused solely on the lego shipment and which pieces are deemed to be good finds by the beachcombing community but it soon goes on to discuss a number of other things such as the nature of sea currents, the durability of plastic, the many other things found washed up on the shore and the problems of plastic pollution.
The book is also interspersed with photos of the lego and other finds, gorgeous artwork and infographics and even poetry all relating to oceans and beaches.
All in all an informative and entertaining read that both endorses the activity of beachcombing and serves as an important reminder of how durable plastic truly is and what impact it can have on our oceans and wildlife.
February 7, 2023
"As I turn on my computer one night, there's a message waiting for me. It's from a trawler fisherman. 'Found this chap last trip. He's 'armless, so won't bite.' In the accompanying picture is a sea-weary Lego man, missing an arm and his legs, the letters 'TV' on his chest.
I recognize him immediately. he's from the Crisis News Crew... For a fleeting moment, I wonder if they were filming as the container fell off the ship. Have they been reporting from the depths of the ocean ever since?" (Williams 59)
I thought this book was fantastic, Tracey Williams writes a fantastic book about the pollution she has witnessed and the culture of beach combing. I was drawn to this book by a YouTube video (that I will link at the bottom) that reveals the extent to which pollution in the sea has an everlasting effect. I was astonished to read that pieces of LEGO from a 1997 derelict were still washing on U.K. shores. Williams isn't necessarily a researcher either which makes this book more accessible to the general audience while still teaching them from the research she did do to write this. While the writing is base level, the book makes up for it with stunning, colorful diagrams and graphics that make you realize just how full the ocean is with human litter from old Monopoly houses to actual artifacts.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants a beginners look at oceanic pollution. This book is not too overwhelming, but does not water down it's subject, pun intended. This book doesn't blame the reader, but warns them of the harmful effects of plastic waste.
https://youtu.be/3FxfXVuHRjM
I recognize him immediately. he's from the Crisis News Crew... For a fleeting moment, I wonder if they were filming as the container fell off the ship. Have they been reporting from the depths of the ocean ever since?" (Williams 59)
I thought this book was fantastic, Tracey Williams writes a fantastic book about the pollution she has witnessed and the culture of beach combing. I was drawn to this book by a YouTube video (that I will link at the bottom) that reveals the extent to which pollution in the sea has an everlasting effect. I was astonished to read that pieces of LEGO from a 1997 derelict were still washing on U.K. shores. Williams isn't necessarily a researcher either which makes this book more accessible to the general audience while still teaching them from the research she did do to write this. While the writing is base level, the book makes up for it with stunning, colorful diagrams and graphics that make you realize just how full the ocean is with human litter from old Monopoly houses to actual artifacts.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants a beginners look at oceanic pollution. This book is not too overwhelming, but does not water down it's subject, pun intended. This book doesn't blame the reader, but warns them of the harmful effects of plastic waste.
https://youtu.be/3FxfXVuHRjM
October 29, 2023
I picked this book up, thinking it would be a funny and cute read. I was surprised at how educationally dense this little volume turned out to be! Fascinating stuff. Do you know how old plastic as a material actually is? Or the difference between flotsam and jetsam? Or why objects that sink wash up on beaches? Yeah, me either. Now I know. I very much enjoyed the many collage photos that make up over half of the book, with explanations and discussion. I'm really impressed.
April 30, 2022
This book is fascinating and easily one of my favorites of 2022.
April 10, 2024
This book was fascinating and horrifying. I'm not a beach person but this book made me want to go clean beaches and breathe in English sea air (while also finding a black plastic dragon). My only star decrease is because I wish this book had action items/answers for the readers. Like, are there any places I can donate for beach cleanups? If I find beach plastic, what's the best way to dispose of it that won't end up back in the ocean? And what was the 1 unidentified Lego piece from the cargo hold manifest??
May 12, 2022
A beautifully presented book, Adrift entertains with its story of an unlikely cargo spill without making light of the very serious problem of plastic pollution. Read my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2022...
January 15, 2023
There has to be a more convenient way of transporting lego???
April 6, 2023
Ducked in and out so took a while to read. Interesting book, more environmental science than I was expecting but a good read.
April 21, 2023
Fun and interesting, and shines a light on the problem of plastics in the seas.
November 4, 2024
What a beautiful book!
January 12, 2025
I don’t usually like non fiction but I loved this. Perfect balance of facts and nice pictures !
January 25, 2025
Fascinating. At first it was just about the beachcombing and Lego for me . Then it became about the sea.
December 30, 2024
Well researched, well presented, and well worth a read if you're interested at all in the state of plastic in our oceans!
October 25, 2022
Borrowed from mum while on hols. Super interesting and reveals just how much plastic we use ends up as rubbish in the sea.
April 4, 2023
Somehow this book is fascinating, gorgeous, and totally distressing. The story of the lost Lego cargo is so intriguing, especially because so many of the pieces were nautical themed. What it tells researchers about ocean currents and cycles is also really fascinating. The data about plastic in the ocean, though, is sobering and defeating. It gives a very tangible snapshot of just how much plastic has dispersed literally everywhere, down to a plastic bag sighted in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean. This book is short, entertaining, and really important.
April 13, 2022
The book is very beautiful, both the writing and the illustrations. I found it very soothing.
January 23, 2025
This book really shows how one incident continues to last for decades. In 1997 61 containers fell off a ship during a storm. One of the containers had nearly 5 million pieces of Lego. This book tracks pieces that have been found, and continue to be found even today. You’ll learn about how long plastic really does last. Very well researched, includes poems and loads of awesome pictures.
June 25, 2024
A fascinating beachcombers tale. I enjoyed this lay-person’s exploration of what happened when containers of Lego washed overboard, and the broader pursuit of further knowledge on the topic of plastic pollution at sea. A book that gores by quickly and is well worth your time.
February 9, 2022
What a fabulous book. So interesting to find out what gets washed up on our shoreline
November 28, 2023
A fascinating book by Tracey Williams that explores the world of flotsam and jetsam, with its starting point being the Lego that washed up on the shores of Cornwall and other parts of the UK, the Channel Islands, the Netherlands, and as far away as Texas, after 62 containers topped off the Tokio Express during a storm off the coast of Cornwall in February 1997.
Some 5 million pieces of Lego were lost at sea, including such unusual pieces as octopuses, green dragons, life jackets and scuba tanks. Many of the pieces were being sent to North America to be made into kits such as Sting Ray Explorer, Shark Cage Cove, Diving Reef Expedition Explorer, Scuba Squad, Deep Sea Bounty and Witch's Magic Manor.
But beyond Lego, Williams introduces us to other finds that beachcombing can reveal, some natural (like "by-the-wind-sailors" or Velella velella, sea beans and ambergris), or more often than not, less natural. We learn about all the different kinds of plastic found in the sea and washed up at shore; some are from cargo spills, some left behind or tossed away at the beach/sea, some that had been trapped for decades in dunes and sand banks and released when storms or high tide pound away at these features, and yet others that might have been flushed down the pipes and eventually pumped out to sea (think bits of plastic in aquariums).
Adrift looks less like a non-fiction book and more like a lovingly curated scrapbook. The text is interspersed with gorgeous watercolours, wonderful images and photo spread of the objects that beachcombers and beach cleaners have found, and quotes and poems about the sea. It's peppered with interesting facts (I got a better understanding of terms that I've often heard and had a rough idea of their meaning); like jetsam refers to goods cast overboard to lighten a vessel in danger of sinking, and flotsam refers to goods lost from a ship which has sunk or otherwise perish. The goods must be recoverable because they float. Meanwhile, lagan refers to goods cast overboard from a ship which afterwards perishes and the goods are buoyed so that they can be recovered.
Adrift forces us to reflect on how the plastic we use casually and heedlessly remains intact decades after it is first produced and it leaves us with this parting thought - might a beachcomber of the future comes across our plastic waste, across a piece of Lego - a legacy of the Plastic Age - and regard it in the same way as a beachcomber today coming across some 11th century object?
Some 5 million pieces of Lego were lost at sea, including such unusual pieces as octopuses, green dragons, life jackets and scuba tanks. Many of the pieces were being sent to North America to be made into kits such as Sting Ray Explorer, Shark Cage Cove, Diving Reef Expedition Explorer, Scuba Squad, Deep Sea Bounty and Witch's Magic Manor.
But beyond Lego, Williams introduces us to other finds that beachcombing can reveal, some natural (like "by-the-wind-sailors" or Velella velella, sea beans and ambergris), or more often than not, less natural. We learn about all the different kinds of plastic found in the sea and washed up at shore; some are from cargo spills, some left behind or tossed away at the beach/sea, some that had been trapped for decades in dunes and sand banks and released when storms or high tide pound away at these features, and yet others that might have been flushed down the pipes and eventually pumped out to sea (think bits of plastic in aquariums).
Adrift looks less like a non-fiction book and more like a lovingly curated scrapbook. The text is interspersed with gorgeous watercolours, wonderful images and photo spread of the objects that beachcombers and beach cleaners have found, and quotes and poems about the sea. It's peppered with interesting facts (I got a better understanding of terms that I've often heard and had a rough idea of their meaning); like jetsam refers to goods cast overboard to lighten a vessel in danger of sinking, and flotsam refers to goods lost from a ship which has sunk or otherwise perish. The goods must be recoverable because they float. Meanwhile, lagan refers to goods cast overboard from a ship which afterwards perishes and the goods are buoyed so that they can be recovered.
Adrift forces us to reflect on how the plastic we use casually and heedlessly remains intact decades after it is first produced and it leaves us with this parting thought - might a beachcomber of the future comes across our plastic waste, across a piece of Lego - a legacy of the Plastic Age - and regard it in the same way as a beachcomber today coming across some 11th century object?
January 25, 2023
I only just learned about the infamous incident that result in millions of LEGO pieces being dumped into the sea near the southeastern coast of England a handful of months ago due to a catchy YouTube video by Tom Scott. And in that video, Tom promoted this book that he had the chance to speak with the author herself to give her side of things for the video. I was captivated by these amazingly weird phenomenon and wanted to know more.
This was an extremely charming and fun little book. Williams does a fantastic job at mixing together plenty of information about the storm that caused the shipping accident as well as the development of both the scientific and widespread knowledge that spawned from it. You learn about why only certain pieces have ever been found and where, how this has helped influence sea current charting and where other possible places might be, and even how LEGO responded to the event. But this book is also a great piece of literature to bring awareness to the polluted sea and coastline problems at large in our world by even just focusing on this tiny slice of our giant living marble. Firsthand accounts of beachcombing and cleaning, secondhand reports from skippers and haulers, scientists, and other reputable organizations on just how much of an issue this all is. And the best way this is also shown is in the beautiful photography and artistic displays of all the beach/sea trash and debris that’s been gathered from various sources over the years. It doesn’t try to scare you into the harsh reality we live in, but how people have transformed or presented their findings in order to display just how much and varied things have been found. It reminded me of the animal sculptures I saw at the John Ball Zoo last year from the Washed Ashore project and team, showcasing the beauty that can come from us all doing our part.
It was also a very quick, short read, taking me barely more than 2 hours to get through, so I would recommend this to everyone! Even if you don’t have such a deep interest in LEGO like myself, or in beach/sea preservation like Tracey, this is a very unique book to showcase a very unlikely event that has been used to help spread the word for more and better representation of the unknown or background devastation that is unfortunately happening all around us. Give it a read or at least a little look through if you get the chance. I think you’d enjoy it.
This was an extremely charming and fun little book. Williams does a fantastic job at mixing together plenty of information about the storm that caused the shipping accident as well as the development of both the scientific and widespread knowledge that spawned from it. You learn about why only certain pieces have ever been found and where, how this has helped influence sea current charting and where other possible places might be, and even how LEGO responded to the event. But this book is also a great piece of literature to bring awareness to the polluted sea and coastline problems at large in our world by even just focusing on this tiny slice of our giant living marble. Firsthand accounts of beachcombing and cleaning, secondhand reports from skippers and haulers, scientists, and other reputable organizations on just how much of an issue this all is. And the best way this is also shown is in the beautiful photography and artistic displays of all the beach/sea trash and debris that’s been gathered from various sources over the years. It doesn’t try to scare you into the harsh reality we live in, but how people have transformed or presented their findings in order to display just how much and varied things have been found. It reminded me of the animal sculptures I saw at the John Ball Zoo last year from the Washed Ashore project and team, showcasing the beauty that can come from us all doing our part.
It was also a very quick, short read, taking me barely more than 2 hours to get through, so I would recommend this to everyone! Even if you don’t have such a deep interest in LEGO like myself, or in beach/sea preservation like Tracey, this is a very unique book to showcase a very unlikely event that has been used to help spread the word for more and better representation of the unknown or background devastation that is unfortunately happening all around us. Give it a read or at least a little look through if you get the chance. I think you’d enjoy it.
January 3, 2025
To be honest, I would never have picked this book up had it not been for a new book club I just joined. It's non fiction book about 62 shipping cartons one of which contained five million Lego pieces. The cartons slid off the ship during a storm near the coast of Cornwall.
Many of the pieces were searched for, some found and collected by beachcombers everywhere. There are detailed descriptions and photos of the pieces. Sound boring? It isn't because the book is about tides, currents, sea-life and the people that love and study the sea; People who live by or vacation by the sea; children and adults who search for treasures.
There is something light-hearted about the book, but still cautionary. All the plastic stuff in the ocean ( which there's a ridiculous amount) shouldn't be there. It's a problem that impacts the ecological health of the planet and ultimately defines the future of many species, including our own.
This book is worth your attention. It's quick to read. Lots of interesting illustrations and pictures. Maybe a book like this will help us to understand just how even small plastic items like Lego's can impact our oceans and seas.
Many of the pieces were searched for, some found and collected by beachcombers everywhere. There are detailed descriptions and photos of the pieces. Sound boring? It isn't because the book is about tides, currents, sea-life and the people that love and study the sea; People who live by or vacation by the sea; children and adults who search for treasures.
There is something light-hearted about the book, but still cautionary. All the plastic stuff in the ocean ( which there's a ridiculous amount) shouldn't be there. It's a problem that impacts the ecological health of the planet and ultimately defines the future of many species, including our own.
This book is worth your attention. It's quick to read. Lots of interesting illustrations and pictures. Maybe a book like this will help us to understand just how even small plastic items like Lego's can impact our oceans and seas.
August 19, 2022
Incredible book! I learned a lot: about plastic pollution, ocean currents, wreckage (e.g., the difference between flotsam, jetsam, lagan, and derelict), beachcombing... but what really sets this book apart is the stunning images.
It focuses on how the Tokio Express lost 62 shipping containers ~20 miles off Cornwall in 1997, and ever since then, beachcombers have been finding the contents, including millions of pieces of Lego (Lego, it turns out, is the plural of Lego). The Lego cargo happened to be better-documented than virtually any other lost cargo inventory, allowing oceanographers to predict (based on ocean currents & the various specs of each Lego piece-- e.g., does it sink or float?) when and where they might turn up.
When I bought it, I thought it might make a nice "coffee table book" but I wound up reading it cover-to-cover. Found myself talking about it to friends at parties, and later I gifted a copy to a friend. I'll probably buy a few more for the same reason-- it's a gorgeous gift and perfect for anyone who appreciates the juncture of art and science.
It focuses on how the Tokio Express lost 62 shipping containers ~20 miles off Cornwall in 1997, and ever since then, beachcombers have been finding the contents, including millions of pieces of Lego (Lego, it turns out, is the plural of Lego). The Lego cargo happened to be better-documented than virtually any other lost cargo inventory, allowing oceanographers to predict (based on ocean currents & the various specs of each Lego piece-- e.g., does it sink or float?) when and where they might turn up.
When I bought it, I thought it might make a nice "coffee table book" but I wound up reading it cover-to-cover. Found myself talking about it to friends at parties, and later I gifted a copy to a friend. I'll probably buy a few more for the same reason-- it's a gorgeous gift and perfect for anyone who appreciates the juncture of art and science.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews