Near Death on the High Seas: True Stories of Disaster and Survival    edited by Cecil Kuhne Order:  USA  Can Vintage, 2008 (2008) Softcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Alex Telander The sense of adventure is one facet of humanity, and while some choose to ignore it, others indulge in it: dabbling with the dangerous, playing with the portentous, and facing their fears. Near Death on the High Seas is a collection of real life stories about people who strive for thrill and adventure, through the medium they love: a boat and the open sea. The book opens with an inspiring Foreword from the late William F. Buckley Jr.. Then the first story begins simply about a man and his boat. Having traveled the seas many times over, he is a skilled seamen but on this particular day a storm will give him a run for his money and leave his beloved boat in pieces, while he barely escapes with his life. The stories are provocative, descriptive, and well-written. The important thing to remember is that each of them actually happened. While at times they seem similar, these are real lives lived close to the edge. In some cases not all survive - real people have sadly died in catastrophic events. Near Death on the High Seas also includes memorable and renowned high seas stories from Thor Heyerdahl on his Kon-Tiki journey to the Polynesian islands, as well as Sir Francis Chichester circling the globe on his Gipsy Moth. Near Death on the High Seas is a book that will take you across the icy cold seas of the world, through torrential storms and typhoons, daring the horrors of the deeps; all from the comfort of home. And remember that while these are well written accounts of daring and destruction, they are also about real people who faced real dangers for the thrill of being on the open water in a boat. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Travel books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews