REVIEW - AROUND AMERICA - WALTER CRONKITE

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
100+ Challenge
20 in 2009 Challenge


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"Around America: A Tour of Our Magnificent Coastline" by Walter Cronkite
(from the back cover)
America has nearly five thousand miles of coastline, and almost half of all Americans live within a half-day drive of it. A large part of our prosperity depends on it, and much of our history belongs to it. In this wonderfully written volume, Walter Cronkite becomes our trusted and erudite guide to the places and people, past and present, that shape our country. From the islands of rock-ribbed Maine to the stepping stones of the Florida Keys; from the spectacular cliffs of the pacific Northwest down to the enticing beaches of Southern California; and around the Gulf Coast, where the nation's great rivers drain to the sea, we can almost her Cronkite's voice spinning stories about the coastline he loves.

MY THOUGHTS: Little did I know when I picked this book out way back at the beginning of the year, that Walter Cronkite would leave us. I grew up with Walter Cronkite at our home. Then a round screened black and white t.v. Every evening we would watch the evening news and there he was as big as life.
This book takes you on a wonderful journey around the United States by way of sailing. Mr. Cronkite is sailing his ship Wyntje and stopping at a lot of ports, filling you in with history and stories told. In the Forward of the book there is a paragraph that I really liked and will put it here.

"One of the great mysteries, unsolved as far as I know, is the answer to that question of when a boat is a yacht. The best answer that has crossed my ken is the one delivered to me by a salty Yacht salsman on the Annapolis harbor.
"If a man thinks his boat is a yacht, it's a yacht," said he."

As he takes you through the different ports he tells some of the stores from the folks that live there along with the history of the place. I hear him in my mind telling these stories, and see all these places with my eyes. This is a very visual book. It's like I made this trip with him. I will end this review with his now famous quote that most people know Mr. Cronkite by. "And that's the way it is." If you would like to know some more about Walter Cronkite you can go here to read some more about his amazing life and work.

MY RATING: 5