Cork Boat

This is one of those stories you wouldn't think was true if you didn't see the pictures. That someone would take the time and energy to build a boat from wine corks is incredible, but to read what happens once the boat has been built is even more unbelievable. Although I'm usually too practical to support wackiness just for the sake of it, I couldn't help but be swept up in this adventure, if only because so few people take a childhood dream and run with it. The begining of the book, dealing with time spent in Washington DC, didn't interest me much, but once the boat began being built, I was on board.

A fabulous story of a childhood dream come true. This book is partly a family biography, partly an autobiography, partly the history of corks and rubberbands, partly a story of how Washington DC works, and an incredible story of the first trip of the cork boat in Portugal. Extremely well written. This is a good read for adults as well as teenagers. Hightly recommended.

In addition to fulfilling his childhood dream of building and launching a boat made of corks, Pollack describes a range of fascinating experiences including working for President Clinton, assisting his geophysicist father in Botswana and other far-flung places, winning an international pun competition, touring the untouched 1912 cabin in Antarctica left behind by Captain Scott's ill-fated expedition, and evacuating Capitol Hill on the morning of 9/11. This book would be the perfect gift for a graduating high school or college senior, and will also appeal to wine lovers, sailors, the unemployed, fans of Portugal, and those with an interest in politics. Pollack's writing flows. He slips in the occasional gentle pun as he tells his story, and briefly shares historic or literary footnotes to further enrich his tale. His appreciation for people and human nature made this book a standout in the adventure travel genre, in my mind, in contrast to the sneering superiority that has disappointed me in travel books by Paul Theroux or Bill Bryson.Cork Boat leaves the reader feeling that life is interesting, varied and that anything is possible. Pollack finds this richness and achievement by reaching out to others, and letting them contribute to the fulfillment of his dream. It reminds me of the children's story of Stone Soup: "Never had the peasants tasted such a soup. And fancy, made from stones!" (Imagine: a boat made from corks!)

This is the best book I've read in a long time. It was one that you couldn't put down. I kept picking up the paper, expecting to find updates about the exploits of John Pollack and the Cork Boat. It's well written and a great tale. Read it, enjoy it, recommend it to your friends.

This is a terrific book written by the ultimate story teller. John Pollack draws his readers into his experience and vividly describes the many challenges and adventures he faced to achieve his childhood dream. I highly recommend this book and couldn't put it down.