forever young..Jupiter travels ...still, 31. Januar 2001

First of all I have to appologize for my bad english. It is sometimes difficult to word things right, when you are a german;) I happend to meet this book in the early 80's when it was first released in german language. Since then this book (and the following book of ted simon) was a permanent partner of myself, during my travels with my moto guzzi motorbike through europe and parts of asia. After a longer visit in hospital;), what happens when cars cause accidents with motorbikes, I bought this book and found out that it is the most impressing literature you can ever wish to read, when you are planing to go on long lasting travels, not caring if it is by bike, car or other kind of vehicle. My own experiences very often were similar to what Ted Simon had experienced. What you find is yourSELF, on the long run. Almost 20 years since I bought this book, even if it followed me on my trips for many thousand miles, with now worn off book covers, and a not so nice looking "outfit" this book still has a very special place on my bookshelf..six star rating for this book. Too bad that it is not available in german language anymore as far as i know.

       Oh this is just great~!, 19. Juli 2000

I have to put in my plug if you are only considering this book. If you love adventure stories about people who REALLY do "stuff" get this. I love stories from the heart about normal people who just one day decide to do a remarkable something with their life. You will remember his "journal-type" story forever. I read this over 10 years ago. I flash back all the time on Jupiters' journey, as it was physical but went deeply into into his purpose and sense of self. Gosh, I think he meant to take us all willing to go too, WITH him by writing this like a gift. I don't think he wrote this thinking "oh I better not talk about God becasue there might be non-belivers out there who won't like me anymore". I think he wrote this as it was nessary for someone like ME to KNOW someONE was talking RISKS somewhere out in the huge world even if I wasn't. Sit back and enjoy this ride! If you like this kind of thing and it not a motorbike fixtation only,- try; In Praise Of Older Women" too. It has no Motorbikes at all, (ha!) but is a deep real entertaining and sexy story of the remarkable life of one Man reaching his own vision of life, by bumbling thu a bunch of women. Now thats a journey too. And Its just cool. If I haven't lost you yet another to look at is Iron and Silk. And I think theres even a motorbike in that one, and a few Chinese proverbs to ponder.

       You Need This Book!, 18. Juli 2000

Looks like a book about a guy riding a motorcycle around the world, doesn't it? Well, Jupiter's Travels is that and a whole lot more. It's an inspiring object lesson in turning a dream into reality. It's also a reminder that there are more good people than bad people in the world. Ted Simon's experience shows what wonderful things can happen when you finally realize you can't have a contingency plan for everything and that if you embrace risk and the unknown, you'll be the richer for it. I've ridden more than 200,000 miles on motorcycles, but I am in absolute awe of Mr. Simon. He's currently roving the U.S. on a yellow Triumph Tiger, writing his impressions for MOTORCYCLIST magazine and promoting his books. If he comes to your town, by all means, go to his lecture.

      Not just about motorcycle travel, 13. März 2000

I was thrilled by this book. All the way up until about the last 50 pages, anyway. This book is certainly not just a travel log of the author's exploits across the globe. Mr. Simon tries to give the reader an idea of what he was thinking all the way through his journey. I guess his thoughts were getting pretty weird as he neared the end of his journey. At one point in the book, he actually tells the reader that he thought he was God. I didn't buy this book to read about Mr. Simon's thought on God and all things divine. I wanted to hear about all of his adventures, the people he encounters, the challenges, his attempts to avoid highway robbers, or prison, or both. This book provides all those things with aplomb. Unfortunately for me anyway, it also includes what I think was unnecessary, unrelated, philosophy. A book like this should have a happy ending, and leave the reader bursting with desire to hit the road and get lost in the world. When I finished this book I felt sorry for the author and wished him good luck with all his problems. In short, the book was really good, but it would have been much better if the last 50 pages had been left out altogether.

       Stuck in a rut? Read this book, 30. Januar 2000

I haven't even finished reading the book yet, actually Ted has only reached Cape Town. But his journey down the African continent has already left a deep impression on me.. how huge is the power of the human spirit.

On page 178 he writes "I am learning as I make my way through my first continent that it is remarkably easy to do things and much more frightening to contemplate them."

As I negotiate the various obstacles that I find blocking my own journey I hope these wise words burn long in my conscience. Fantastic reading!