We, the Navigators: The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific (Second Edition)

Brand new condition. Very happy with my purchase thank you!!

This book is fantastic as an overall introduction to Pacific landfaring/navigation. As a standalone book I do not think it is good for learning how to use these navigation systems yourself, but if combined with knowledge from the internet and other books, this book provides a lot of vital details which I have never seen published anywhere else.This book also is unique in the fact that it focuses not on a single system of navigation but the navigation systems of the Polynesians, Carolinians, etc. etc. There are many differences between the systems which is interesting not only from a historical standpoint but a navigational standpoint.Edited to add:This book covers not only "star course" navigation methods, but also methods for navigating by observing general swell patterns in open ocean (Up to 3 or 4), local swell patterns i.e. reflected swell or shadow swell near an island, how to estimate drift due to current or wind, etc. etc. The author also talks about wind compasses which I don't believe has been covered in detail in any other book. Rare information.Many concrete examples are given in great detail, for example how the author aligned specific trees and rocks just before losing sight of the departure island in order to be in exactly the right corridor to start using the star course to the destination. There are very clear diagrams of how particular stars are aligned with particular parts of the boat or canoe in order to maintain the correct direction. He talks about how to deal with bearing error when a "steering star" is too high above the horizon to be perfectly accurate, and he also talks about how to deal with cloudy nights where the star you are heading for is not visible (Aligning stars other than straight ahead of the boat. Very difficult stuff!)The back of the book is full of very detailed star courses with the modern names and the Islander's traditional names for the stars, as well as the declination / right ascension. The author also explains in modern mathematical / astronomical terms why these navigation systems work.Throughout the book there are many well drawn illustrations that make everything clear and easy to understand, as well as photographs of rare traditional boats, construction methods and old navigators.Using techniques I learned from this book (And several other sources), using a simulator I have been able to fly without any navigation instruments and arrive at tiny specs of land with excellent precision. With very good understanding of the principals this book introduces it is possible to create your own star courses at most latitudes on the planet.This is one of the most well researched, well executed books I have ever read in my life. The content is somewhat dry at times, if you are not a navigation freak, but if you are like me, and love to know where you are at any given moment, you'll never get tired of this.Buy this book, you won't regret it.

A great, fun, interesting, read. Tough to slog through at times because this is NOT an adventure tale but a serious academic research. That means at times in the quest for completeness or thoroughness you feel maybe you are getting bogged down in stuff.... but never for long. Because it is part adventure tale too. The author actually goes out and does these passages between islands with some of the traditional navigators. If this sort of stuff interests you this a wonderful book. Definitely now will be counted among my most treasured on the subject of navigation. Fair warning: You will need to brush up on your geographic knowledge of the pacific islands!

In the 1960s David Lewis sailed with his family from North America to New Zealand via the Magellan Straits and Pacific Ocean in a 40' catamaran. Later he spent more time in the Pacific Ocean and later still he sailed down to the Antarctic single handed: as such he is well placed to study the traditional navigation methods of Oceania. This book brings to life the cross cultural connection between mariners and has the reader itching to learn more - provided the reader is themselves a seafarer. We find ourselves utterly in awe of the knowledge and feats of the navigators but I am not sure how much appeal this book would have for landlubbers who have never experienced the phenomena he so comprehensively describes. All in all a scholarly and sensitive work. Vale David - wishing you a fair wind and a star (or rather, succession of stars) to steer her by!

Fun book. This is just what I was hoping it would be. Lots of detailon the various ways the Polynesians likely navigated between islandshundreds of years ago, without any of our "modern" math or technology.

excellent book if you are into the traditions of the south pacific and ancient (non instrument) navigation. in fact, you will see my reviews of a number of other similar books. but the best overall book for an overview is vaka moana. the others i'm reviewing are targeted at the reader who wants more detailed information or specific histories.

This was a fascinating look at an ancient form of navigation. It's just amazing to realize this is how people used to travel, guided by stars and terrain familiarity.

If you were looking for navigation in ancient times this is a beautiful book.

This book is filled with great information, but a word of warning at times the language can get hard to follow but that’s to be expected when dealing with a different cultures.

Simply great how the ancient navigators got around 10/10

This book should be read by all who wish to understand navigation at sea. No charts, tide tables compass or GPS

Faszinierend, wie die Menschen im riesigen Pazifik selbst ohne Kompass diese winzigen Inseln präzise ansteuern konnten. Der Autor hat das immer nur mündlich weitergegebene Wissen dieser Art von Navigation erforscht und zugänglich gemacht. Und auch ausprobiert!

David Lewis' s work is a mark-bench of the restoring of Polynesian navigators culture!Great book to read!An "Aloha" in his memory!