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Adrift  By  cover art

Adrift

By: Steven Callahan
Narrated by: Steven Callahan
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Publisher's summary

Before The Perfect Storm, before In the Heart of the Sea, Steven Callahan's Adrift chronicled one of the most astounding voyages of the century and one of the great sea adventures of all time. In some ways the model for the new wave of adventure books, Adrift is now an undeniable seafaring classic, a riveting firsthand account by the only man known to have survived for more than a month alone at sea, fighting for his life in an inflatable raft after his small sloop capsized only six days from port.

Racked by hunger, buffeted by storms, scorched by the tropical sun, Callahan drifted for 1,800 miles, fighting off sharks with a makeshift spear and watching as nine ships passed him by. "A real human drama that delves deeply into man's survival instincts (Library Journal), Adrift is a story of anguish and horror, of undying heroism, hope, and survival, and a must-read for any adventure lover.

©2002 Steven Callahan (P)2007 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"An utterly absorbing saga." ( Newsweek)

"Fascinating...a clearly written ocean yarn in which the stakes are high and a brave man wins through." (Wall Street Journal)

What listeners say about Adrift

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    506
  • 4 Stars
    204
  • 3 Stars
    73
  • 2 Stars
    19
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    9
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    160
  • 3 Stars
    72
  • 2 Stars
    25
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    22
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    467
  • 4 Stars
    122
  • 3 Stars
    47
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    7

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I listened all the way through

One of the rare audiobooks that I couldn't stop listening to. The details and story is what was missing from the other sailing books I've heard. The addition of the interview with the author was a great surprise.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Story

If you could sum up Adrift in three words, what would they be?

Wow

What was one of the most memorable moments of Adrift?

The guys ability to keep living.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I couldve.

Any additional comments?

Gods hand was on him all the way!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I am struggling to finish

I like to listen to audio books as I do chores around the house, and this book seems to be too mundane even for that. I made it to the chapter where he's rambling on about wanting to bang a fish, but her parents wouldn't approve. I bet the author really loved the movie the shape of water

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing True Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Adrift to be better than the print version?

I believe both versions would have been equally good but I enjoyed the Audio version

What other book might you compare Adrift to and why?

Life of Pi

Which scene was your favorite?

There were so many!!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Nope

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Book

The story keeps you listening from start to finish. I would recommend as an excellent book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

Gripping book. Amazing detailed and fascinating account of this guy's ordeal lost at sea. Highly recommended.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Poor narration

I can see why this is a popular story and it is well written. It is so strange that the author chose to read it himself. To be fair, he does a decent job reading it - but he is literally just reading it. Remember in school as a kid, when teacher would read a story or a chapter of a book? It's like that. When people perform a book, as many of the professional narrators do, it feels like they are the character, and are speaking to you. Obviously some do a poor job, and some are (like actors can be) hams who overdo it. But there really is a big difference between how we speak and how people read aloud. It is why people memorize speeches or at least practice them rather than read them. The cadence and rhythm of how we say the sentences are completely different when reading aloud than when we speak. And there is only so much of that "being read to" feeling anyone can really take at a time, I think, since it doesn't engage you the way the performed books do.

Part of what has made audible books popular is that they are not just books read aloud, but are performed. that does not mean a big dramatic thing and over performing can wreck a book too - but the professionals can avoid that teacher-reading-to-the-class sound.

This sounds like how I would read it if you handed me the book and said read it. I think most people would sound like this. He did a good job reading it, he tries to be a bit more dramatic at the important parts, but is not a professional narrator, and it has that reading a book to you feel. I found it hard to engage as this was distracting since I have gotten so used to professional narrators. This would be a better one to read yourself I think.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

To test oneself...

...to the limit cannot really be done in a training scenario no matter how serious the situation. It is only when death threatens around every corner that human ingenuity and the will to survive can be truly revealed. Callahan depicts these qualities in graphic brilliance and forces the listener to experience at least a little of what he went through.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Where do I start?

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A decent narrator!

What did you like best about this story?

The survival element.

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrator’s performances?

Absolutely not.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Adrift?

His describes a lengthy fantasy/dream at one point. Made me wonder if he was "all there."

Any additional comments?

One of the worst books I've purchased with a credit. Terrible narrator. He has a STRONG Midwestern type accent, sounds nerdy, and talks way to fast, (this is the only audible book I've listened to where I had to run my iPod in slow mode.)
The book itself is poorly written. Overly dramatic. One gets the impression that the subject is reveling in recounting his adventures and that he actually enjoyed every minute of them.
Terrible, terrible, terrible!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

i don't know if the story is any good or not, but this guys narration is so dull he puts me to sleep every time i try to listen. excellent 4 insomniacs.

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2 people found this helpful