Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook

Rating:
Summary: Enjoy the book - ignore the details
Review: Dugard's slightly fanciful account of Cook's voyages certainly makes for an entertaining read - I read it cover-to-cover on a recent trip to Hawaii.

However, despite the lively, engaging style, it is a bit scant and even sloppy in some areas - particularly the account of Cook's interaction with Australian Aborigines near present day Cooktown and the Easter Island encounter.

That said, I enjoyed it.

Rating:
Summary: THE STORY OF A MAN WHO MADE THE WORLD HIS OYSTER
Review: FARTHER THAN ANY MAN is an engaging biography of Captain James Cook, arguably the greatest explorer ever. The book covers Cook's humble beginnings as an ordinary seaman, his progress up the ranks of the merchant marine and his unlikely ascension to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy. The account of his major voyages is a spellbinding narrative that explains clearly that Cook's contribution to world discovery remains unparalleled.

An excellent history, FARTHER THAN ANY MAN tells both sides of the Cook story; his cartographic genius--creating maps and charts that remained the standard well in the twentieth century, his unflinching courage and determination, his boundless vision, and his dominating ego that ultimately led to his untimely death in Hawaii.

FARTHER THAN ANY MAN is a page-turner that you won't be able to put down. Read it, as I did, prior to a trip to New Zealand and the Cook Islands or, perhaps more realistically, next week to learn more about the world we live in.

Rating:
Summary: Sweeping exploration, intimate portrayal
Review: Farther Than Any Man sheds new light on a ubiquitous, if underappreciated name: Cook

Relegated to a line in a textbook and the label of cheap champagne, "Captain Cook" still maintains a toehold in our knowledge, but it took this book to explain why, and why Cook the man should hold a far greater place in our estimation.

Dugard's book is commendable in that he not only narrates with a brawny and active prose, he also brings to life a man who led an extraordinary life. Cook was completely self-made, absolutely driven, more canny and political than I had imagined and yet also possessed of a loyal and loving side.

The accounts of his explorations are gripping, particularly if you know of his grisly end. And the summation of his encounters with the natives of the Pacific are illustrative of the West's dual colonial role of custodians and oppressors.

This is a great book, hugely informative, and I recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: What is adventure and what makes an adventurer?
Review: I loved "Farther than any man". I am not a history buff, so I read the book solely because it was about Captain Cook and it was somewhat a psychological look at the adventurer. I am also fascinated by New Zealand and have been to several of the places in New Zealand that Captain Cook visited.

According to the author, Captain Cook was addicted to adventure. What started out as a way to move up in the Navy became a way of life. He wanted (maybe needed) to travel, to be at sea, to get away from the daily routines of land. Of course, being at sea was also a routine. He understood his men and at least till the end was a much better captain than his contemporaries.
The author also makes the point that Cook was always faithful to his wife. Even in Tahiti, where his men found paradise with the Tahaitian women, Cook himself remained faithful, mostly I feel because he had better things to do with his time. I like that! As one who is married and travels a lot, I understand that being away from a partner does not mean automatic unfaithfulness.

New Zealand was Captain Cook's favorite place. I understand that too. He used the later trips to go back to New Zealand. In those days, Air New Zealand was not yet in business so to go back to New Zealand, he had to organize the whole trip.

If you are fascinated with the South Pacific, read the book.

Rating:
Summary: Four Stars
Review: I really enjoyed this book, although it could have used some portraits of the people involved, and maybe an index. So often we read about someone famous and find out that he had serious character flaws and end up feeling disappointed. It was refreshing to find out that Captain Cook was a man of integrity & conscience who tried to do what was right. Although he became grouchy in his later years, which perhaps contributed to the circumstances of his horrific death on Hawaii, he was for the most part an admirable person. I have always admired his courage to "go where no man has gone before" but I didn't know 'til I read this book the exact circumstances of his voyages; the many dangers, the hardships and risks of life at sea, etc. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: GOOD OVERVIEW - WELL WORTH THE READ
Review: If you are a history buff, amature psychologist, or professional traveler, this book is easly trashed. It's inconsistencies, geography and attempts psychoanalysis are sort of sad. That being said, it is a fine book! Read it for what it is - a nice yard about a real individual who greatly influenced our history and use it as a launch for further, mroe indepth studies of a fastinating man and time. I like the author's style. He is actually readable. There is no attempt to come across as a great historical guru who happened to take World History 101 while in college. I get quite sick of "academics" who just hate for their territory to be tromped on, and their freshman following, who after reading one or two history texts, are experts. Certain reading should be for pure pleasure, other reading for serious study - lets not mix them up. Her we have a book that is a pleasure to read, and we can even learn a bit from it - what more could you want? Buy it. Read it and enjoy. He Martin, lets have some more! Don't let the History Grunts get you down!

Rating:
Summary: ... WELL WORTH THE READ!
Review: If you are a history buff, amature psychologist, or professional traveler, this book is easly trashed. It's inconstancies, geography, and attempts at psychoanalysis are sort of sad. That being said, it is a fine book. Read if for what it is - a nice yard about a real individual and use it as a launch for further, more indepth studies of a fastinating man. I like the authors style. He is actually readable. There is no attempt to come across as a great historical guru who happened to take World History 101 while in college. I get quite sick of "academics"
who just hate for their territory to be tromped on, and their freshman following, who after reading one or two history texts, are experts. Certain reading should be for pure pleasure, other reading for serious study - lets not mix them up. Here we have a book that is a pleasure to read, and we even can learn a little from it - what more could you want? Buy it, read it and enjoy it... Hey Martin, lets have some more! Don't let the History Grunts get you down!

Rating:
Summary: ... WELL WORTH THE READ!
Review: If you are a history buff, amature psychologist, or professional traveler, this book is easly trashed. It's inconstancies, geography, and attempts at psychoanalysis are sort of sad. That being said, it is a fine book. Read if for what it is - a nice yard about a real individual and use it as a launch for further, more indepth studies of a fastinating man. I like the authors style. He is actually readable. There is no attempt to come across as a great historical guru who happened to take World History 101 while in college. I get quite sick of "academics"
who just hate for their territory to be tromped on, and their freshman following, who after reading one or two history texts, are experts. Certain reading should be for pure pleasure, other reading for serious study - lets not mix them up. Here we have a book that is a pleasure to read, and we even can learn a little from it - what more could you want? Buy it, read it and enjoy it... Hey Martin, lets have some more! Don't let the History Grunts get you down!

Rating:
Summary: Adventures of a Real Adventurer
Review: The biography _Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook_ (Pocket Books) by Martin Dugard tells the story of the man who was arguably the greatest adventurer in the world. It is an amazing story of a driven man who repeatedly accomplished the impossible. For instance, it was simply not possible for Cook to become a Captain in the Royal Navy, as he was a farmhand's son with no pull. He worked nine years in the commercial fleet in the North Sea, and against the judgement of everyone, halted a promising career to go to the bottom of the ranks in the Royal Navy. He again worked swiftly up the ranks, but had no chance of becoming an officer. Only the scheming of a scientist, a Lord, and King George III got him a commission, to go on a circumnavigation for a particular astronomical observation in Tahiti.

Cook commanded three circumnavigations, and racked up an impressive record, sailing farther north and farther south than anyone had. He found and charted new islands throughout the Pacific. He was an exemplary commander, a brilliant shiphandler who was reluctant to use the lash on his men. He also pioneered the use of an anti-scurvy diet that kept his men healthy. He kept close notes on the tribes he encountered and in the beginning, at least, had profitable and friendly relations with them. Eventually, worn out from adventuring, and not at home either in England or in what he wished to be a paradise of the Pacific, he became frustrated, and his frustration led directly to difficulties on his command, and in his death at the hands of the Sandwich Islanders.

Cook emerges from these pages as a complex figure, a flawed hero who can justly be called the greatest adventurer in history. The book includes fascinating accounts of naval facts, like what the sailors ate and by what means they were punished at sea. The way Dugard has told the story it is by turns exciting, comic, inspiring, and sad, and the narrative never flags.

Rating:
Summary: Exquisitely written
Review: This biography is phenomenal. It describes the three great voyages of Captain James Cook (no middle initial!) without claiming pretensions as to why he acted in the manner he did. It tells his life story and why he has left an indelible mark on the history of exploration. It also makes strong reference to the 'rags to metaphorical riches' theme.
The biography opens with a quick run through of his early life and then is in three sections, each dealing with the voyages. Interspersed are details about the love of his life - his wife Elisabeth, and his dealings with Sandwich and Banks.
The narrative is superb and you are literally on the Endeavour, the Resolution with the 'People', one of the crew seeing the Pacific as it unfolds. You literally get a sense of the wonder and unknown excitement seeping through the pages.
I couldn't put it down and whilst this is my first foray into Cook and, therefore, I can't compare it to other biographies/histories that deal with him for accuracy and in-depth character analysis, this book is a must-read. It is enormously refreshing and delightful. Perhaps it is a beginner biography for him but it is one of the finest biographies I have read in the past two years. I look forward to the author producing more.