Full Circle: My Life And Journey

by Ellen MacArthur

In October 2009, Ellen MacArthur, one of the greatest sportswomen in the world, announced her retirement from competitive sailing. How could the woman who had fought so hard to set so many records give up racing? This title reveals about her last ten years, including the trip which changed her life.

Genres: Travel, Biography

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It makes me smile when famous personalities are writing their autobiographies when barely through the third decade of their lives. Footballers and vacuous 'pop' star memoirs being cases in point.
Ellen MacArthur's 'Full Circle' is not just a Goodread, but a great life journey. I take my ship's officer's cap off to this brave little sailor with the very big heart.
After having had the experience of arctic seas, force tens, icebergs, mountainous seas, blizzards and frozen mast climbing, I can fully appreciate her daring exploits in tiny sail boats around the globe, particularly in the Southern Ocean. If 'Full Circle' just documented her maritime voyages it would be worth reading, but her life and journey provides something more. Inspiring, thought provoking and a human story.

[Heloise Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Ellen's book, Taking on the World and enjoyed it. This book was riveting up to a point and then I thought she should have had a ruthless editor. But having said that I still found her inspiring and I take a lot with me from this book.
I read this book up to where she had passed Cape Horn and then I had to put it down as I went on a long trip which included hiking with a very difficult fellow hiker. Every day away from the book I was wondering how she was doing (even though I had read the whole solo journey before). One the hike these words kept me from losing my patience with this difficult person: Ellen controlled what she could and did not waste energy on the things she could not control, like the weather etc. That inspired me to just control what I could on the hike and I had a great time and guess who did not?
A good read but not a book I would pick up again. Taking on the World yes, that I could read again.

[Isabella Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellen is an awe-inspiring force - most impressively she sailed a 70ft trimaran around the world single-handedly at just over 5ft high; she also had the fastest lap time on Top Gear. Its definitely interesting finding out how she thinks and what inspired her drive.

I give it 3 stars because I agree with comments below, its a long book, it needed some tight editing to make it more reader-friendly for the non-sailors among us...... what an amazing lady!

[Russ Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, with a surprising change if direction. This book kind of crept up on me. What started of feeling a bit unusual as an autobiographical voice ended up feeling like letters from a dear buddy. Bits of this book stayed with me in unexpected ways...

[Malcolm Waddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly inspiring

A truly inspirational read, exciting at times, thought provoking at times, and very well written. Humorous, tender, compassionate, driven, I have loved sharing Helen's exciting life and thoughts.

[Huw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

[Wendy Leo-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible story of one invincible young lady. Amazing what can be achieved if we set our minds to it.

[Alex Laycock · Rating 5 out of 5]

not sure why i bought this book as i do not like boats or going on them HOWEVER it was a real page turned, read endlessly well into the night,as compelling, WOW what a woman and wow endurance way beyond my capabilities! all that lack of sleep ,all she achieved and all she has given to the world and all those she has helped AND enjoyed doing so,shares her vunerabilities too and overcomes them READ IT