Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit

by Jesse Martin, Ed Gannon

On October 31, 1999, schoolboy sailor Jesse Martin completed one of the last great adventures of the 20th century. At 18 years of age, and after 11 months at sea, he became the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world. This is the story of why Jesse set himself such an astonishing task and how he managed to make his dream come true. A story of courage, loneliness, and danger, it also is an incredible, gripping, true-life adventure.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure, Biography

253 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

Reviews

[John Collee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesse is a friend of mine. His single mum mortgaged the house to buy his ocean going yacht, and he was taught to sail by an old sea salt with post traumatic stress disorder who had never - as a result - been outside the bay. Everyone though he was mad to try this voyage and a number of experienced sailors though his mother was criminally irresponsible for letting him go, but they went and did it anyway, and they succeeded brilliantly. When Jesse first described this voyage to me I asked him whether honestly, it wasn't just bloody awful at times he said "Yes, but if you never wished, at some point, that you weren't doing it, then it wouldn't be a proper adventure." That quote has stayed with me and sustains me when everything feels like its all going to sh*t.

[Alison]

I had to read this for English, and it's such a bad book.

[Deborah Rawlinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

A great opportunity to write an adventurous tale of endurance and audacity has been abysmally lost. Boring, juvenile and I just couldn't finish reading it no matter how hard I tried. May appeal to the very young, or those with an interest so great in sailing that they don't mind the appalling writing.

[Srisurang · Rating 5 out of 5]

ชอบมากค่ะ เป็นคล้ายๆ บันทึกของเจสซี่ ที่เริ่มจากเล่าเรื่องราวตั้งแต่ภูมิหลังครอบครัวของเขา สาเหตุที่เขาอยากออกทะเล การศึกษาหาความรู้ และประสบการณ์ที่จำเป็นในการเดินเรือ ตลอดจนการเตรียมการ ซึ่งอาศัยความรัก ความร่วมมือ และสนับสนุนของพ่อแม่อย่างเต็มที่ (แม้ทั้งสองจะแยกกันอยู่แล้ว)

ต่อด้วยบันทึกเหตุการณ์ที่เขาเผชิญในทะเล คนเดียวในเรือใบลำเล็ก ทั้งการกินการอยู่ ธรรมชาติที่สวยงาม และเปลี่ยนแปลงอยู่เสมอของท้องทะเล ทั้งเวลาลมสงบ เวลาที่มีคลื่นลม เวลาพายุบ้าคลั่ง การพลิกคว่ำแล้วลุกขึ้นมาใหม่ รวมทั้งการแก้ปัญหาที่เกิดขึ้น ด้วยมุมมองของเด็กวัยรุ่นคนหนึ่ง ซึ่งไม่มีประสบการณ์อะไรมากมาย แต่มีความตั้งใจ ความพยายาม ความไม่กลัว และอารมณ์สดใสของผู้ที่มีความหวัง

ชอบตอนที่บรรยายการพบเจอปลาวาฬ ปลาโลมา หรือแม้แต่นกอัลบาทรอสที่มีพฤติกรรมตลกๆ ไม่เหมือนที่จะได้เห็นตามชายฝั่ง

ท้องฟ้ากว้างที่มีขอบฟ้าจรดขอบฟ้า และดวงดาวไม่สิ้นสุด

ความเบื่อหน่าย ความร่าเริง ความกลัว และความกล้าที่เกิดขึ้นในใจ

ความเงียบสงบ และเสน่ห์ของการผจญภัย

อ่านแล้วรู้สึกว่า คนบางคน เกิดมาในโลกนี้ แล้วใช้ชีวิตได้คุ้มค่าจริงๆ

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it might get boring because being stuck in a small boat in the middle of the ocean for eleven months, what could there possibly be to write about!!! But I wasn’t bored at all. Jesse has a great flair for writing. He was very raw and for someone so young (he was only 17 at the time), articulated himself very well. To sail around the globe, alone and unassisted was a huge undertaking. He admitted to many tears, the feeling of loneliness and bouts of depression but he never gave up. He fought heavy seas and wild storms along with dead calm. A very inspirational young man who proves that you can do anything when you set your mind to it.

[Seamonster Jelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great biography about a teenager attempting to sail solo and unassisted around the world. Unlike most biographies, this one was VERY interesting and was a really great read. I am now a Jesse Martin farn for life! xD I recommend it to any of you guys who absolutely love sailing or if want to know what to do to be able to sail around the world (which is one of my many goals in life) :)

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Unfortunately, not as interesting as the sailing books in which the sailors stop off at different places and describe those places... but this kid was sailing nonstop so that's not his fault. Inspirational.

[Corda-lily]

I thought it was a pretty deep book, a little boring I must admit but still moving.


I thought that the journey itself was amazing but I could have done with a little more excitement. It probably was a thrilling journey, with lots of action but that was never really portrayed....

[Sophie Hogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super interesting read.
The prose isn't super polished, as is expected. I did like the touch of including some diary entries and back and forth emails in amongst the normal sequential storytelling.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cool book about a kid sailing solo around the world

[Chanamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the best inspiration book for a young reader. It's a local hero of Melbourne and truly an Australian treasure.

[Vicki Busse · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favourites. Read it years ago. Brave brave kid

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book, insight into what it would be like to sail around the world!

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and inspiring travelogue by a thoroughly likeable and modest character.

[Dave Talaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account spoken in a simple, transparent and non ostentatious manner.

[Venise :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice tri

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptionally easy to read and likable little book about a boy who sails around the world without stopping. What is not to like?

[Sydney Steenland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Getting to read about one of the most incredible achievements by man through the experience of an Aussie teenager both inspired me and brought me down to Earth.

[Karl Kämpargård · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fin biografi. Blev mycket sugen på att segla runt jorden!

[Lisa Jo Frech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting story and hugely inspiring for me.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to lacking in so many areas. Obviously, it was too short. I think Jesse talked too much about trying to encourage others to fulfill their dreams rather than what he did on his yacht.

3/5

[Whiteroses · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible... currently reading this book for Advanced English and I'm in a hurry to finish it because it's driving me mad. Too much details and rambling on various stuff makes this book a pain to read :P

[Natt · Rating 4 out of 5]

อ่านในโครงการ To Be Read Challenge 2008
ฉบับแปล โดย พุทธิพงศ์ จิตรปฎิมา
ชื่อหนังสือ : พิชิตฝัน
สำนักพิมพ์นานมีบุ๊คส์ พับลิเคชั่น
พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 1 : มีนาคม 2548
จำนวน 352 หน้า

อ่านความเห็น : http://www.bloggang.com/mainblog.php?...

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finnished the review here::

http://nursepastorfatherhusband.blogs...

[Jen Roe · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book

[Toesnorth's mom]

I don't like him

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know much about sailing but was intrigued after I saw a film by this author. Wow - what an amazing (and scary) journey for such a young determined person.

[Mz Niu booty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book.

[Jeff Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

inspirational story of an ordinary person doing something extraordinary