Island Story: A True Story of a Never Ending Summer
Author
Ayumu Takahashi
Publisher
One Peace Books
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After returning from a trip around the world, best-selling author Ayumu Takahashi was up for another adventure—this time in his own backyard, the southern island of Okinawa, Japan. But this adventure proved to be one that would change his life. Takahashi set out to build a self-sustaining island village, and Island Story is a photographic journal of his eight-year-long quest to create this new green living environment. Resplendent with vibrant, lush, and breathtaking photographs, Island Story chronicles Takahashi’s dream to build a paradise out of nothing. From enlisting the aid of friends to help make this dream a reality, to the incredible opposition along the way, Island Story is an extraordinary, inspiring tale about hope, dreams, and the power of the human spirit. So much more than a typical travel book, Island Story is a true, photo-documented tale of how one man’s dream became an actual self-sustaining village, which is now enjoyed by visitors and volunteers alike.
Reviews
After returning from a two year low budget honeymoon around the world, Ayumu Takahashi decides to have the next adventure in his homeland, on the island of Okinawa, in Japan. The adventure is one that will prove to be both exciting and challenging, ultimately changing his life. His goal was to build a self sustaining village on the island. Island story is a vibrant, photographic journal of his quest. The process took eight years, however the self sustaining village is a paradise, lush, green and vibrant! Amazingly, it was built from nothing. Island Story chronicles Ayumu’s journey along with his friends who set out to help him. This small group of friends created shops, an Inn, and a place where visitors and residents could spend their days with the spirit of fun. Using only the resources around them, they accomplished their goal. It is a paradise that will inspire you, as it has inspired the world. This book is amazing. It was hard to overcome my difference in personality and way of thinking, at first. Our personality traits are so different, that it was almost too difficult to open my mind and think as Ayumu does. Once I did, it amazed me. The feat of what these people have accomplished against all odds and negativity thrown towards them, is inspiring. Their determination to be independent and rely only on themselves and the land is eye opening. It took hard work, effort, determination and the good will of others who could share and envision the dream to make this island possible. I realized that this book is much more than adventure and fun. The experiences in this book and the eight years chronicled are what has made Ayumu and his friends who they are today. Ayumu was basically like a freshman in college. He was not sure who he wanted to be, or what job he wanted to have. He was full of life and wanted to dream big and accomplish something. He put his mind to it, and he did accomplish his goal. This experience molded him and help him discover these parts of himself. Today is he successful and still sharing the dream with others all over the world through his book and his island. The book was wonderful for just the pictures and beauty of the island of Okinawa, the story was just a second amazing part to this book.
Reviewed on 06/04/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Tiffany Schlarman
