Dreaming of Jupiter: In Search of the World--Thirty Years On

Excellent read. Much better I felt than the original Jupiters Travels and its sequel Riding High. Having said that you need to read them to put this book in context. I even bought the photography book to go with the original to see how the photos matched the descriptions.This book seems more personable; Ted gets angry at border officials, frustrated by bad road congestion in cities, road works in Africa and South America, breaks a leg, yet still sees much of a positive nature in the world around us. I have been to many of the places Ted describes as an Afro/Asia overland tour leader, starting ten years later in the 1980's, and noted even then how some countries were changing even over a period of 6 months. Many of the roads in Africa were near impassable even in a 4wd truck let alone a motorbike and the queue at the Iranian/Turkish border hadn't changed since Ted was there in1977. Nairobery has got worse as have the roads. Lots of poor everywhere, I was shocked to see beggars in New York city.I bought these books thinking of heading off again on some travels and perhaps by motorbike ( a really great way to experience the world and all its smells and sights and cultures) but think I might stick to 4 wheels after being reminded of the gear you need for long distance on a bike.Travelling is definitely a bug, and once you have it is very hard to give up.Totally agree with Ted that humans are a cancer on the planet and are somewhat overdue for extinction. But hey, until then, get out there and live life, because you are a long time dead, and no one gets out of here alive !

The author wrote this book as if one had already read his notes/journal/website and just needed an outline to remember what the reader already knew — much seems skimmed over or broadly outlined. That said, the observations and anecdotes add up sufficiently to tell a good story, one worth reading without further knowledge to go on. Although RTW motorcycle trips are fairly common these days, few in their 70s are probably completing them. May we all have the impetus and good health to complete such trips at the author’s age.

Ted Simon and the world he rode through have changed...and not necessarily for the good. That was the message I got.While Jupiter's Travels was an amazing enchanted ride through a time now long gone..."Dreaming" is more of a slog through an over-crowded, disappointing, sense of the loss of youth and place. Everything has gone or changed for the worse. Damned depressing. Its an interesting book and I suppose you should read it if you are a fan of Simon or of motorcycles, but it has very little of its predecessor's magic qualities.Simon is to be applauded for even attempting to recreate his epic circumnavigation at his tender old age. Unfortunately, Ted knows he is now a "commodity" and his prose reflect this knowledge. That, and his "Global Citizen" philosophizing, grew tiresome. This is not the young Ted Simon who left on a rainy London night in 1972 and returned almost 4 years later a changed man. Like Simon's second time around, I might have been better off not reading this sequel and living in the nostalgic glow of Jupiter's Travels.

Mr. Simon is a down to earth writer. He writes what he experiences and has a way of sharing his emotions through his writing. The people he encounters, the sights he views, the feelings associated with traveling alone around the world. My only regret is not reading Dreaming of Jupiter sooner. It has inspired a generation from the 70s-80s. Now this should hopefully inspire this generation to get off their butts and get out and explore this amazing planet we live upon. Put your innate fears aside my friends, buy whatever motorbike you can afford and go for an adventure.

This book helped me to appreciate why my son would want to take up motorcycle touring again after a near fatal accident. It really is a good read. I started with this book sequel, wanting to get the perspective from someone in my age range. I got my feet wet by watching Long Way Round and Down, but this narrative seems more authentic. There is no caravan of over-sized support vehicles. Now, I understand and fully support my son and his adventures.

Well written as you would expect. Excellent story.

I bought the audio version and enjoyed hours of listening pleasure in my car. The writing is wonderful, engaging and adept. The narration is also spot on, without the cringe-worthy moments I experience with audio books these days, especially when the narrator attempts foreign accents.Overall, just terrific on every level.

Once again, Ted recounts a story not just of riding a bike around the world, but of the state of humanity in so many corners of the world. Its a human interest story which will remain with all who read it.

Ted Simon is fantastic.The only reason that I put 4 and not 5 stars is that the first book is even better.

Good second book going over a trip made years earlier. ted Simons traveled roads that we joined him in his minds eye.

Sad, just sad...only did like 40 pages then trashed it. This one is again the story of a man who travels the world alone, only accompanied by a van with a mechanic and spare parts and a van with a film team (so like Ewan McG, who only had three vans...loneliness can be real hard). His bike is like him, just includes security electricity and laptops and GPS and smartphones and additonal fuel capacity. So the worst thing ever that can happen to a man so far out on his own happens: batteries empty, the "heatable Gerber Jacket" provided by sponsors doesn't get warm any longer etc pp... catastrophic.You get it, this time is sponsored, perfectly prepared, there are websites and online facefux ever hour and the crew films all the loneliness and adventures. What did i expect? Having enjoyed the real book back then I looked for the man traveling and talking about things he remembered, things that he recognizes or are gone. He a simple writer, me a simple reader. But this is a party, millenials on the go. Go get lost.