#8 Adrift by Steven Callahan
Seventy-six days lost at sea, alone on an inflatable raft, can unavoidably feel monotonous at times — ditto for any account of that incredible feat. Adrift can get lost in the details but is enthralling when the author steps back to reflect on what his experience meant.
Seventy-six days lost at sea, alone on an inflatable raft, can unavoidably feel monotonous at times — ditto for any account of that incredible feat. Adrift can get lost in the details but is enthralling when the author steps back to reflect on what his experience meant.
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A fascinating look at how Kublai Khan forged the largest navy in history and, arguably, the world's first maritime superpower. Full of colourful details about traditional Mongolian attitudes toward water and boats. Read my review in @asiancha.bsky.social!
A succinct account of a short but historic encounter: WWI’s 1st Anglo-Japanese op and its only battle in East Asia, plus Tokyo’s 2nd triumph over a European power. It also set the tenor for regional tensions that exploded in WWII and still seethe today.
A beautifully illustrated ode to junks up and down the Chinese coast and along her rivers, Donnelly’s work is perhaps second only to Worcester of the Maritime Customs. It may be asking too much but I wish these books included boat plans!
Building on his documentary of the same name, Schwankert’s newest book dives into the lives of the six Chinese survivors of history’s most famous shipwreck, using their stories to explore broader themes. Read my interview with the author for @asiancha.bsky.social ⬇️
For readers who know the broad strokes of Macanese history, the latest of French’s “Destination” books fills the gaps with a line of pen portraits and vignettes that put you on the ground, making its dauntingly long story feel immediate and real.