100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

New on the blog! ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต Japanese Healing Fiction & โ˜• The Perfect Winter Reads

The Starship and the Canoe

4.14 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 587 ratings, 71 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Starship and the Canoe by Kenneth Brower explores the fascinating dual life and dreams of Freeman Dyson, a renowned physicist, and his son, George Dyson. The narrative delves into their contrasting ambitions; Freeman's visionary work on space travel symbolised by the 'starship', and George's quest for simplicity and connection with nature through his adventures in a hand-built canoe. Their journeys reflect a profound meditation on science, exploration, and the human spirit.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3600
Elsewhere:
$5500
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by the fascinating contrast between the grand ambitions of space exploration and the simple, harmonious life close to nature. It offers an engaging narrative about a father and son with divergent visions for the future, blending adventure, science, and personal introspection.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

"Brower's superbly written book clutches at one's imagination." --Publishers Weekly

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Starship and the Canoe is neither a wilderness survival manual nor a book of blueprints. It is another of those rare books impossible to define: the kind that seeks you in time. And you will know it, live it, and consult it thereafter simply by name." --Chicago Sun-Times

"In the tradition of Carl Sagan and John McPhee, a bracing cerebral voyage past intergalactic hoopla and backwoods retreats." --Kirkus Reviews

Originally published in 1978, The Starship and the Canoe is the remarkable story of a father and son: Freeman Dyson is a world-renowned astrophysicist who dreams of exploring the heavens and has designed a spaceship to take him there. His son George, a brilliant high school dropout, lives in a treehouse and is designing a giant kayak to explore the icy coastal wilderness of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Author Kenneth Brower describes with stunning impact their lives and their visions of the world. It is a timeless tale framed by modern science, adventure, family, and the natural world.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781680512786

Publisher: Mountaineers Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 March 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Mountaineers Books

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Neal Stephenson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 213.0mm

Weight: 363g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Kenneth Brower's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Audubon, National Geographic, The Paris Review, Smithsonian, Sierra, and numerous other magazines. His other books include Wake of the Whale, A Song for Satawal, The Winemaker's Marsh, The Wildness Within, and other titles about the environment and natural places. He lives in Berkeley, California. Neal Stephenson is known for his speculative fiction exploring areas such as mathematics, cryptography, philosophy, currency, and the history of science. He is the author or co-author of more than 15 books, including Anathem, Snow Crash, and most recently, Fall, or Dodge in Hell.

More from Uncategorised

View all
  • Gift Wrap
    Transform any book into the perfect gift with Book Hero's premium gift wrap! Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply surprising a loved one, our gift wrap adds an extra layer of excitement to your thoughtful gesture. Features: Elegant Design: Our gift wrap features a timeless design that complements any book, making it ideal for birthdays, holidays, or any...
    From Free
    (3)
  • Shadows of Navarre (Fourth Wing) Bookmark
    Rebecca Yarros reignited the romantasy genre with the release of Fourth Wing (2023), the first book in her Empyrean series. Centered around 20-year-old dragon-rider recruit Violet Sorrengail, the series defies traditional fantasy tropes by offering readers a female hero who is both formidable and deeply human.
    Miscellaneous print
    $795
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Tell Your Life Story
    Everyone has a life story. This is your chance to share yours. The Official Hear Your Story Collection Everyone has a life story. This is your chance to share yours. Leave a legacy with this guided journal to sharing your cherished memories, hard-earned wisdom, and proudest achievements. From bestselling creator of the Hear Your Story series Jeffrey Mason, Tell Your...
    Paperback
    $2099
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Hunger Code
    From the author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Obesity Code comes The Hunger Code. For generations, we've accepted the story that weight loss never lasts - that as soon as you go off your diet or stop taking your medication you will revert to your old self and regain weight, and the dieting journey will start all over again. But...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • My First Ikura
    A gentle and powerful story that reclaims the sacredness of a girlโ€™s first ikura (period) through a Mฤori lens โ€” celebrating connection, ceremony and whakapapa. Rooted in te ao Mฤori, My First Ikura and the reo Mฤori translation Taku Ikura Tuatahi is abeautifully illustrated childrenโ€™s book that follows a young girlโ€™s first period, guided by the support of her whฤnau....
    Hardback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Shadows of Navarre (Fourth Wing) Midi Lined Hardcover Journal
    Rebecca Yarros reignited the romantasy genre with the release of Fourth Wing (2023), the first book in her Empyrean series. Centered around 20-year-old dragon-rider recruit Violet Sorrengail, the series defies traditional fantasy tropes by offering readers a female hero who is both formidable and deeply human.
    Hardback
    $3295
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Dazzas Cooked
    This book is a celebration of Darrenโ€™s biggest hits, the recipes that put Ashby Pies on the map. Inside Dazzaโ€™s Cooked you will find chapters including: โ€“ Pies: beef cheek and cheese, roast lamb and rosemary, smoked fish pie.โ€“ Corner Bakery: bacon, beer and cheese scones, cinnamon buns, apple turnovers.โ€“ Snacks: sticky chicken nibbles, fish crudo, lamb ribs.โ€“ Meat: pork...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Kara-ori (Japanese Kimono) Bookmark
    Showcasing silk dyed with beni (the pigment extracted from safflower petals) and lacquered in gold, this kimono design dates to the Edo period (1615โ€“1868), when it was used as a costume for the theatrical style known as Noh. Kara-ori refers specifically to the exquisitely embroidered women's kimono that traditional Noh theatre was known for.
    Miscellaneous print
    $795
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Magic of Wicked (Wicked Collection) Bookmark
    Miscellaneous print
    $750
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Kim A Journey Between Worlds
    Born Mฤori (Ngฤtikahungunu), raised Pakeha, Kim Rangiaonui Logan's father was commander in D Company, 8th Mฤori Battalion, but returned from war a damaged man, unable to cope with his children. But this is no misery memoir. Kim climbed away, literally - Everest, Aorangi Mt Cook, anywhere, to love and contentment, and in the process reconnected with his Whakapapa. Now living...
    Paperback
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 2025 New Zealand Cricket Almanack
    The 78th edition of the New Zealand Cricket Almanack, and the 43rd under the current editors, covers a year of almost non-stop activity for New Zealand teams. The Black Caps were involved in 36 matches during that period, with the historic 3-0 test series win in India being the undoubted highlight. They also took part in series in Sri Lanka...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • What We Did to Survive
    A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens' sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Megan Lally! What We Did to Survive follows Hannah, who can't wait to spend spring break with her best friend, Emmy, and her family. A week at a resort in Mexico is...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.