Amazing first hand accounts of the Hebrides Revival
357007
This book entranced me from start to finish. Each page is filled with passion for God and passion for the lost. I only pray that I live to be part of so great a move of the Holy Spirit. Anyone who loves revival and/or revival history will love this book!
2615919
This book takes many historical sources and weaves a very believable and enchanting story that makes the early history of New Zealand come to life. The writing style is fluid but compact. It pulls together our contemporary concerns for over-development and gives them a compelling historical context. I highly recommend this even if you're not specifically interested in New Zealand.
3551198
I was lucky enough to see the Cromags and this was a must read. Little did I know the extent of hardship and trials faced by John in his life and the interresting tales of the Krishna's. Several exerpts had me literally laughing my arse off soo loudly that I woke my wife up from a sound sleep. Non-Fiction excitement!
710583
I have been fascinated with Pitcairn Island since I first saw Mutiny on the Bounty. I had visions of an island paradise.  I then heard about a sexual abuse scandal on the island at one point but the news did not spend much time on it so I did not learn much. Then I saw this book.

While Lost Paradise first and foremost is a book about  the horrible sexual abuse and child molestation scandal  that occurred on the island it also gives the reader an understanding of how the mutineer's legacy led to this modern day tragedy. The author does a great job in interweaving the stories of a modern day trial on an isolated, remote island of approximately 50 people, most of who were relatives of the mutineers who decided to make the deserted island their home in 1790.

In a moving  chapter called "Reaping a Sad Legacy Since Bounty Times" the author explains that after the mutiny Christian returned to Tahiti. After inviting some Tahitians (mostly women) on board for a party Christian cut the anchor cable. One woman jumped overboard and six older woman were left of on a nearby island but a dozen women including a girl of 14 were left for 15 men. She writes "Such is the basis on which Pitcairn was established: women abducted and shared out like rations of rum, then held captive, effectively, on a remote island 1,300 miles from home."  Some 10 years later only one mutineer was left alive (as well as most of the women and the children fathered by the other men) because of infighting and illness.

In another chapter called "Lord of the Flies" the author looks at what happens when a small group of people create their own society on a deserted island. She compares the culture to other isolated islands.

I want to stress that this information is intertwined with the stories of those on trial and the victims as well. The information about the trial and life on modern day Pitcairn Island is well documented and seemingly fair.

In order to make this book as good as it is the author needed to be part criminal trial reporter, part historian and part anthropologist. She was all three and more. This is a fascinating book about a terrible abuse scandal on isolated island founded by famous mutineers.
2849740
This book was recommended to me during a tour of Scotland, as I told a Scottish couple that I enjoy mysteries. This one did not disappoint. The book was well written and captured the atmosphere of the Outer Hebrides and life in a harsh restricted island environment. The plot like that of many mysteries was a bit convoluted, but if you are a mystery fan, I assume you are capable of the suspension of disbelief. The main character Fin was engaging and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Another interesting cultural aspect of this book is the key roll the traditional guga harvest plays in lives of the island community. Gory to be sure but informative for us sheltered liberals.
2082008
Tim Severin and his intrepid crew recreate Brendan and his fellow monks' voyage in the 6th century from Ireland to North America in a small ox-hide boat (curragh). The natural materials and traditional techniques that Brendan used are authentically utilized to make the Brendan voyage a successful historical re-creation and a thrilling sea adventure.

Tim Severin is a born storyteller. As far as a historical re-creation event, this voyage has some parallels to the Kon-Tiki expedition. The reason for making the Brendan voyage was to answer the question: Did Irish monks sail across the Atlantic centuries before the Vikings?

This book relates an amazing seafaring adventure. There is one scene where the sea is calm when a pod of orcas spot the Brendan (boat's name). The orca alpha bull comes full tilt at the boat, dorsal fin eight feet above the water line. The crew holds their breath as the bull whale swims under the boat, checking out this strange thing. After an eternal minute of silence, they watch the bull surface and swim back to the pod. High drama indeed.

Tim Severin and his crew are the very definition of intrepid. Severin's level of enthusiasm is amazing; it is never diminished by the cold, wet, and treacherous sailing conditions. His composure as the captain of this little boat is compelling and inspirational.

I would also suggest getting a copy of the hardbound edition, which unfortunately is out of print. The photos of this voyage tell every bit as much of this story as does the text.

Highly recommended.

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts
887930
This book details a fascinating account of one of the world's largest but little-known voyages of discovery. In 1733 Vitus Bering is commissioned by the Russian government to begin a ten-year journey that eventually encompasses Siberia and the coast of North America. The saga is written in a concise manner, and I learned a lot about Russia of the era, which I found very enjoyable. This was an adventure that I knew little about so nearly every aspect of the journey was a revelation. I had no idea that the men who embarked on it endured so much and suffered so much hardship. The opening chapter foreshadows how it all ends, but I won't  give anything away.

Suffice it to say that if you love historical accounts, especially those such as the journeys of Lewis and Clark, travelogues in general, or accounts of shipwreck and survival against insurmountable odds you will certainly love this book. My only complaint is that at 242 pages it was too short. The author is a fascinating writer, and I found I could not stop reading this fascinating volume.
4001018
A very well written and researched narrative about early New Zealand- colonial South Island life. It was very worthwhile to have read the books in sequence (this is the second of three)  because you had the background from the previous book to fill in the gaps. I highly recommend this book- especially if you are a New Zealander.
4592013
I spent the past year in Oman living with a host family and loved the country and people, their warmth, hospitality, and openness. I don't think any book could capture the incredible history of this gulf country better than Dr. Olson's book. There are very few books available like this that are able to shed light on sociopolitical changes through first hand narratives. The only true way of understanding the rapid progress and change Oman has gone through is by hearing the stories directly from the people themselves. With photos and verbatim narratives, this book allows you a glimpse into a country that you would have to spend years in to fully understand. This book is a rare unique find and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the gulf region or the power of revolutionary sociopolitical change and educational reform. -- T. Wintman
735198
This was a great book, it read like a novel.  It was fascinating and honest, Edward Marriott weaves a mystical story of the indigenous tribespeople of New Guinea, the Liawep.  It at times seems too fantastic to be true, but the amazing thing about it is, that it is true.  I hope he will write a follow up if he ever goes back!  He's a great writer, never lingering too long on any episode, just enough to keep the reader interested.  I read a lot of non-fiction and I must say that I recommend this one highly!  An amazing book!
3791288
As someone who had traveled to Scotland a lot and spent time at Loch Ness and area (without a Nessie sighting), I loved reading about how WWII effected Northern Scotland. Very interesting read.
3021832
Peter May accurately describes life in the Outer Hebrides. My family is from North Uist which my great grandfather left in 1855. I went back in 1995 for a visit. The Hebrides are more of a place to be from than to be. It is a difficult place to make a living or a life. The work is hard, the wind always blows, and joy is fleeting. But people do stay ...and leave.

There is a wide gulf between those that stay and leave and May captures that in this book.  The plot is a bit slow for an American and somewhat psychological than a real mystery.

I will read the other two books in the series but will space them out as I am sure they are just as grim.

May's photographic book of the Hebrides is wonderful. I highly recommend it.
3029869
Based on a real-life Scottish minister and his wife who came to serve in the remote outpost of St Kilda in 1830, this is an eminently readable work, exposing the reader to the primitive conditions endured by the people on this tiny island, whose main source of food is seabirds. Their custom of ploughing bird carcasses into the soil as manure led to 60% neonatal deaths, while the difficulty of reaching the archipelago often meant deliveries of food were rare and the inhabitants nearly starved.
This is not an action novel: the reader imbibes the atmosphere, follows a difficult marriage and the personal struggle of the minister, determined to bring the word of God to a superstitious flock (but whose traditional lifestyle of working together for the common good, ironically enough, could teach the 'civilised' world something.)
I didn't feel I could somehow quite get into Lizzie, the long-suffering wife, as a real person, but the social history was so interesting that I enjoyed reading the book.
4242040
Went to Scotland, sampled the haggis and did ceilidh on.  This little book of Scottish terms and local jargon is a delight to read especially if you've experienced the wonderful country and its people.
3081821
Inspiring!  Awesome historical account of the Welsh Revival where Pentecostal movement of the 19th and 20th Century began....
1723782
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Very interesting and informative. This guy can write and I loved his stories. This is a journal of his family and personal experience living on a homestead in Nova Scotia. The pagan and spiritual experiences are fascinating.  I just sent for his new book and plan to write to this author. I hope he keeps writing. I'll buy anything by him.
3036191
This Is an amazing story of survival in the 1860's.  The island is sub-Antarctic and thus even in "summer" the weather is foul.  A small crew of 5 sailing a vessel on an adventure to mine for silver on an island in this chain, were shipwrecked by a storm.  They got to shore and were there for nearly two years.  Survival, living off the land was a unique experience.  I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history and adventure.  Another, larger ship became stranded on the other end of the island some months after the first.  They never knew about each other.  Only one member of the larger crew survived because of their lack of willingness to work together.  I think others would enjoy this read.