Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.80 You Save: $8.15 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.12 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Wind, Sand and Stars
Book Review: Flying is just the cover theme
Summary: 5 Stars
Having just finished this book I feel compelled to write a review. This book is about more than flying and the adventures of the French Airmen of that era. This book is a flight into the author's views of self-fulfillment, discovery, and his opinions on humanity, specifically the willingness of certain individuals to sacrifice themselves for a cause. The author relates tales of near misses with disaster and the feelings of redemption and a renewed sense of appreciation for life. There are also times when he feels himself completely isolated from the world below since he is constantly teetering on the brink (naturally, flying was much more dangerous back then)
One theme that is constantly brought up by the author is the value of human relationships and the constant struggle to make them work. The only thing truly valuable we attain in life are hard-earned friendships, especially those that share a common sense of hardship.
Overall this is a very insightful book with a lot of truth. Flying is the cover theme, but the pages and words reveal so much more.
Book Review: A beautiful series of tales/essays by a man who chose to live a life less ordinary
Summary: 5 Stars
As an office worker I often find myself escaping to books of adventure and travel. Amongst such books the works of Antoine de Saint-Exupery are amongst the finest. Saint-Exupery was a pilot in the fledgling airline industry in the 1920's and 1930's flying mail routes in exotic locales such as Spain, France's African Colonies and South America and then an officer in the French and Free French Air Force during World War Two. But equally importantly Saint-Exupery was an amazing storyteller and philosopher who between tales of plane crashes and amazing escapes reflects on questions such as why do men put their life at risk, when can we say that we truly experience what it means to be alive and what is mans relationship with technology and progress.
If you are interested in the 1920's, aviation or simple want to read the thoughts of a man who led an extraordinary life, you will enjoy Wind, Sand and Stars.
Book Review: Just Superb
Summary: 5 Stars
A short review.
You can't walk away from this true adventure book without feeling great about mankind, its accomplishments and its future.
Every young man with a future ahead of him should read it (and any young woman who can stand a book without any female characters).
The prose is simply beautiful, and I never thought I would say that about any book. The translator deserves a prize.
A second shorter piece at the end talks about the authors experience in observing the 1930's Spanish Civil War, between the fascists and the nationalists / socialists.
Shorter, as emotional and more readable than Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" - it deals with the same civil war. The fascists won.
Book Review: Fabulous adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading this thrilling autobiographical account of the authors adventures it is easy to understand why this book has been rated by National Geographic as one of the top 10 adventure books of all time. The reader is treated to a series of dangerous adventures including airplane crashes, desert survival in Libya, flying a mail plane above and through the Andes and Pyrenees mountain ranges, visiting inhospitable regions of Chili and Argentina, and observing up close the Spanish Civil War.
All the way through the book the author gives us his thoughts about men and mankind and what drives some to risk their lives for their beliefs, and how that impacts all of us.
A great read. Highly recommended.
Book Review: A wonderful read and a remarkable work of literature
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently read Exupery's Wind, Sand and Stars for a survey course in world literature. Initially, I was concerned that my lack of interest and background in aviation might limit my enjoyment of the book. However, that was not at all the case. Saint-Exupery masterfully brings to life the excitement of aviation and the craft of piloting. Through his series of essays, I gained a great deal of appreciation for his profession, its place in European culture and was captivated all the while. I would highly recommend Wind, Sand and Stars for both young and old.