Product Description

Martin Strel looks like your typical middle-aged bloke. He likes a laugh, a drink and the sight of a pretty woman. But put him in water and he turns into a swimming machine.In April 2007, after 66 days, he became the first person to swim the Amazon, 3,272 miles from the Peruvian Andes to the Atlantic shores of Brazil. On this extraordinary journey he dodged piranhas, sharks and river pirates, met indigenous tribes who either revered him as a god or chased him with machetes, and swam from dawn to dusk for 60 miles every single day. Like pioneers before him who first climbed Everest or explored the poles, Martin shifted the limits of human capability.His story - of endurance, of determination, of dehydration and exhaustion, of illness and blood pressure that reached heart-attack levels - is an inspiration to people everywhere.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3551 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
`an engrossing profile in courage.'
--Afternoon Despatch and Courier (India) August 31, 2009

About the Author
Born in Slovenia, adventurer Martin Strel is the holder of four Guinness World Records in long distance swimming, and was the first to swim from Africa to Europe in 1997, the first to swim the Danube from source to estuary in 2000 and, the first to swim the entire Mississippi in 2002. He swims to promote peace, friendship and clean waters. Writer Matthew Mohlke from Minnesota, USA, has paddled the length of the Mississippi twice and was a river guide on Martin's Amazon team.

Customer Reviews

Live the amazing adventurer stroke for stroke!
Live the amazing adventure stroke for stroke with the fishman of the Amazon. Fifty something Strel attempts the impossible. Some say he's crazy. He's certainly driven. He's a world record long distance swimmer who has conquered most of the major rivers of the world; but this is exceptional. The Amazon conceals deadly creatures within its murky banks, all along its shores, in the insects and reptiles that inhabit this area and in the human encounters as well. This page turner takes you deep into the jungle without the shots and meds you'd need to survive. Feel the heat, the fear,and the agonizing pain. Hear the jaguar and howler monkeys, the cheering throngs along the river and also the frightening hum of a boat motor in the dark of night as pirates or drug runners come too close for comfort. Prepare to dodge vampires, pirates, drug runners, anaconda, candiru, killer mosquitos, and native nymphs. Not one day goes by without adventure. You will be behind the scenes with the movie crew and telemedicine team as Mohlke takes you along with the master.

can a tale about swimming the amazon be boring....
yep!!
i was really excited when i saw this book in my library.I love travel/adventure stories- man against nature. This looked promising but i really struggled to get into it and gave up half way thru.

Unlike others who have reviewed it I didnt feel the author brought the story to life or evoke the amazon. It is an amamzing story of endurance in a harsh climate but its let down by poor storytelling in my humble opinion.

Amazing!
Spent a few months travelling around South America last year so was of course interested in this book- truly amazing story- highly recommended read.