Customer Reviews

Jupiters Travels

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As someone who managed to put 36000 miles on his BMW motorcycle in two years I was interested in the story of a man who took it beyond the "next level". I enjoyed the book, but thought that Ted did not always get to the point and got sidetracked in his thinking process. Ultimately it boils down to his style of writing and a matter of personal taste... I recommend the book, but keep in mind that there will be pages one has to just chew through...

This is a very interesting and inspiring book to read. Just to think that at the age of 42 (I wonder what Douglas Adams would say about that), with no riding experience, no cell phones, Internet, GPS, not to mention using one of the less reliable machines in motorcycles history, the author sets out on a motorcycle journey around the world. Considering those facts alone made me want to do it as well, right now! :)
The descriptions of the world that was are lively and realistic and I have identified with many of the writer opinions.

I recommend this book to any motorcycling and / or adventures enthusiast.

Having been a motorcycle rider for most of my life, (many years of it spent as a Motorcycle Patrolman,) I was naturaly interested to see what Ted Simon originally had to say about his long ride.
The book kept me fascinated throughout, - his calm, unhurried 'matter of fact way' of relating his adventures kept me absorbed for many an hour. His story was read and read again, and often shared with others. I also decided to purchase a copy for a friend and give it as a gift. To my surprise and delight, although still in paperback format, it was a larger size, and even contained more photos than the original. An enjoyable read, and well worth the time and money spent.

I've read a few travel books - Miles From Nowhere (a brilliant book in its own right), 10 years on 2 wheels etc... but there is something my limited vocabulary will simply fail to explain about this book - something intangible. Perhaps it's something that cannot really be put into words - more of a feeling - how finishing the book makes you feel (almost as if you were there with Ted).

Anyway - make your own mind up but don't pass this book over it is truly great.

Good travels - Steve

This book is the next best thing to being there, all over the world. Another good one, with great, coffee-table sized photos though less text: 20 Years On Two Wheels, by Helge Peterson

Good book with lots of adventures and mishaps including being in a couple of jails through no fault of his own. Found myself looking forward to getting home so I could read it. Pretty courageous guy.

I have to put in my plug if you are only considering this book. If you love adventure stories about people who REALLY do "stuff" get this. I love stories from the heart about normal people who just one day decide to do a remarkable something with their life. You will remember his "journal-type" story forever. I read this over 10 years ago. I flash back all the time on Jupiters' journey, as it was physical but went deeply into into his purpose and sense of self. Gosh, I think he meant to take us all willing to go too, WITH him by writing this like a gift. I don't think he wrote this thinking "oh I better not talk about God becasue there might be non-belivers out there who won't like me anymore". I think he wrote this as it was nessary for someone like ME to KNOW someONE was talking RISKS somewhere out in the huge world even if I wasn't. Sit back and enjoy this ride! If you like this kind of thing and it not a motorbike fixtation only,- try; In Praise Of Older Women" too. It has no Motorbikes at all, (ha!) but is a deep real entertaining and sexy story of the remarkable life of one Man reaching his own vision of life, by bumbling thu a bunch of women. Now thats a journey too. And Its just cool. If I haven't lost you yet another to look at is Iron and Silk. And I think theres even a motorbike in that one, and a few Chinese proverbs to ponder.

Looks like a book about a guy riding a motorcycle around the world, doesn't it? Well, Jupiter's Travels is that and a whole lot more. It's an inspiring object lesson in turning a dream into reality. It's also a reminder that there are more good people than bad people in the world. Ted Simon's experience shows what wonderful things can happen when you finally realize you can't have a contingency plan for everything and that if you embrace risk and the unknown, you'll be the richer for it. I've ridden more than 200,000 miles on motorcycles, but I am in absolute awe of Mr. Simon. Now, at the age of 70, he's retracing his route - this time on a BMW. He broke a leg in a spill last summer in Africa and had to spend a couple of months in Nairobi recuperating. At last report, he was heading north through Colombia. The guy is a living legend and a helluva writer, too.

I haven't even finished reading the book yet, actually Ted has only reached Cape Town. But his journey down the African continent has already left a deep impression on me.. how huge is the power of the human spirit.

On page 178 he writes "I am learning as I make my way through my first continent that it is remarkably easy to do things and much more frightening to contemplate them."

As I negotiate the various obstacles that I find blocking my own journey I hope these wise words burn long in my conscience. Fantastic reading!

JupiterŐs Travels stays with you long after you close the book. it is a classic travel narrative which belongs with the finest: ThesigerŐs Arabian Sands, NaipaulŐs An Area of Darkness, ChatwinŐs In Patagonia. Ted SimonŐs motto should be Carpe Diem. One day he decided to stop what he was doing to travel around the world on a Triumph motorcycle. The trip took him four years to complete. Ted shares with us his thoughts and feelings during the journey and his insights into many different cultures. What impresses me most, however, is TedŐs openness towards the people he meets and their different modes of life, and his honesty with himself and with us, his readers. Best of all, before our eyes, he grows and becomes a wiser person. He changes and so do we!