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Summary: A counterpoint to John from Monrovia
Review: A couple of things to consider:As a 22-plus year Navy man, I beg to differ with some points; 1. Chief Harold Dixon was a 22-year Navy veteran, and nearly 20 years older than Tony Pastula and Gene Aldrich. In those days, he would have referred to them as "boys" in either the vernacular, or because of his age difference, or that he held a senior rank. This used to be a term of friendship. The "boys" became fast friends -- speaking from the 1942 version, what do you know that I don't about their later association (or lack of association with Chief Dixon)? 2. Dixon's navigation errors did lead to their ditching -- This has little to do with his credit for their survival. He displayed leadership that led to his being awarded the Navy Cross, one of our country's highest honors. This was awarded not on his word, but with considerable input from his fellow survivors. The Navy does not give out the Navy Cross lightly. 3. I don't think he comes off any better than the other 2 Sailors, in regards his actions. He had 20 more years of experience and had nearly the same amount of leadership experience, but Tony and Gene acquitted themselves well. The story remains one of the most powerful tales of survival ever told. I also highly recommend it! John Bayer
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Summary: Amazing story about the human spirit
Review: From a literary perspective, as tales of survival go, this one is not on top of my list. There's something missing to the story. Maybe it is the fact that the dramatic element is not there (after all, this is a transcript of conversations that the author had with one of the men). The result is that this reads more like a dry account of what happened, instead of the thriller i was expecting. In any event, it is amazing that these poor men were able to withstand the terrible conditions of their ordeal and live to tell. I was disappointed that only the officer received the medal, while the sailors simply got commendations. Well, the officer is the one who got them lost in the first place! This would be a good book for a teenager, because it reads extremely fast (at a good pace, maybe 2 hours), and it tells a story of extreme adversity and resourcefulness, and there's many youngsters out there that could take heed.
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Summary: "A timeless story of courage and the will to survive..."
Review: I am a high school English teacher and have used this book in my classes for over twenty years. This is a story that will capture the most reluctant readers and transport them to the South Pacific of 1942 where, along with Harold Dixon, Gene Alrich, and Tony Pastula, they will fight for their lives in a seemingly hopeless situation: adrift at sea in a four by eight foot rubber life raft for thirty-four days and nights -- an inspiring and memorable read!
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Summary: A MUST FOR DIETERS !
Review: I first read "The Raft" in high school around 1955. Since then, I have reflected on its themes time and time again, marveling at the strength of the human body and mind. If you think you'll die by going without food for a day or two, this book is a must!
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Summary: I'm reliving my youth with this one.
Review: I first read it in junior high school 35 years ago. Took me about two seatings to read it . Very engrossing for a seventh grader.
It is a straight ahead narrative about three ordinary but resourcefull sailors whose plane went down & they were marooned in a rubber raft on the vast ocean during World WarII. They fought off starvation, heat, boredom & all the dangers the ocean affords. Boys will like it even though it doesn't have the violence of most war stories. Tom Parker delivers the telling in a good tight reading style that captures the tone of the story with out adding or detracting from the natural drama. Easy to stay with on a long drive.
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Summary: Fascinating account of survival, raises questions.
Review: I first read this book over 20 years ago as a book-of-the-month paperback selection in jr high school. It is still a fascinating, true life survival story. But rereading it as an adult I find some interesting questions arise that I had not considered back then. Such as, it seems that Dixon is given too much credit for their survival when in fact it was his navigational errors that led to the ditching of the plane in the first place. The story was told by Dixon to a reporter and it is not surprising therefore that he comes off the best of the three. In the story for instance he always refers to the others as "boys" and tends to downplay their contributions. It is interesting that the "boys" became lifelong friends and had little to do with Dixon after the rescue. I think it would have been interesting to hear their version of the story and compare it with Dixon's. Nevertheless, what these three sailors managed to live through and triumph over, is truly inspirational and fascinating reading. I definitely recommend this book.
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Summary: I'm gald I read it!
Review: I'm a freshman at Wayzata High, and a student of that teacher who posted his review in May 19, 1999. He's a crazy one, he is. But to the book, I thought it was a good read. Though I was forced to do a study guide for it...bah... But that wasn't enough to sour my taste of the book. I enjoyed it very much so. That ca-razy grey albatross had me wondering if he really was the essance of all evil. And it was quite a tale, too. To think that it was all true, and was told by some guy who interviewed Dixon. It was so well written in 1st person, I would have thought it was written by the man himself. Definately a good read for those who like a good story. BUY NOW! I COMMAND YOU! OooooOOOooo!
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Summary: As much fun as you can have, and still survive.
Review: My ten year-old son and I looked forward to story time every night for three weeks until we finished this book. The tale takes you from beginning to end, one day at a time. It traces the emotional and physical waves along with endless waves of challenges. Protection from the sun, wind, and storms, struggling for every drop of water and scrap of food, and overcoming the hopelessness of being adrift, day after day after day after day - it is sobering, but tremendously entertaining. It was astonishing that these men were given little choice of survival gear. They had to make use of the few things they could grab from their sinking plane and the contents of their pockets. To read of the grief over their loss of a safety pin vividly punctuated the dire nature of their situation. Their ingenuity proved who is the "mother of invention" without a doubt. The book was not stiff or sloppy, like many historical accounts of adventure (Kon Tiki comes to mind). It was also a good discussion starter for topics like teamwork, values, and God. Fighting the earth to save your frail, floating, flesh is a timeless story line. There are no human villians, moral complexity, or social considerations outside of their bobbing 8-foot raft. It's a classic. Check it out, or buy a copy for yourself, your kids, and generations to come. ...
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Summary: A Classic--highly recommended for all ages
Review: These three men held on to a hopeless cause and came out victorious. They were without food and water for much of the 34 days they were afloat. The answer to how they did it is probably at the heart of man's will to survive and stay alive. This book is easy to read and the kind of story that motivates one to do the best he can and never give up. It also makes one appreciate what he has a little more. We see that everything can be lost very quickly, as in the case of the downed plane in this book, and that we have to have the mental willpower to survive. Read this book and give it to everyone you know.
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Summary: Clearly written, gripping story
Review: This is an account of 3 crewmembers of a ditched bomber surviving for 34 days in a very small, ill-equipped raft. The story is interesting enough to tell itself, so I felt that the straightforward writing style was quite appropriate. Although the book was actually written by a journalist, it is written in the first person as if the pilot, Harold Dixon, were telling the tale. The events occurred in early 1942, and the book was also published in 1942. The edition I read was the original, and did not mention John M. Waters anywhere, so I don't know why his name is listed as an author in the 1992 reprint. The fact that this book was written shortly after Pearl Harbor is borne home by the fact that there are several details (such as the location of the island where they washed up) that the author omits "for reasons of national security". Also, the jacket of the original 1942 edition says "When you have finished reading this book, don't just place it on a shelf. Our men need books as well as guns. Books build morale. Send this book today. Average book requires 6 cents postage." They give the address of the 4th Corps Area Headquarters in Atlanta. If you enjoy this sort of tale, you'll probably also like "Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea", by Steve Callahan, a bit more philosophical account of his more recent lone ordeal in the Atlantic.
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