TOM NEALE: AN ISLAND TO ONESELF (SUWARROW ATOLL)

[@ultrasonika9]

This has been the best book I have ever read. So very captivating. The book is a true escape . I collect the book whenever I see it in an old book store. I have many copies. A very interesting New Zealander was Tom. It would make a great movie. I want to go there one day and stay a night or two if it is possible. I often wonder now though with Rising water levels and global warming just how the little island is doing. A history channel documentary would be very good as well.

[@a.n1111]

I absolutely agree with you. I have read my copy signed by Tom himself three times. A movie would absolutely be amazing

[@JohnSmith-tw3rw]

Wow how did you get a signed copy?

[@JohnSmith-tw3rw]

Hi, I am like you but you have more copies. When the humdrum of life gets to me I read his book. Its one of the few books I have read more than once. However I picked up another book which gives a different story of Tom. I cant remember its name it was by the Government printer who set up a printing shop in Raro. Very revealing. Tom's book is a romanticized view of things. Who actually wrote the book Tony Barber or Tom? I actually went to Raro in 2006 as I had won a free ticket after doing 27,770 kms with United Airlines. The book only covers his 6 years there. However all credit due he was very capable of living that kind of life. Aitatuki Lagoon is a real treat too. I have been to Fiji and Western Samoa but there is something different about the Cook islands.

[@a.n1111]

@@JohnSmith-tw3rw my great aunt who is from the Cook Islands knew him. When she passed away I inherited it

[@a.n1111]

John Smith, his daughter Stella Neale wrote a epilogue to his book. Sisters in the sun is another book that has a bit about Tom in there. I believe he book was composed mainly through his journals he wrote in daily. Whilst in Rarotonga he married a local lady, mother of Stella Neale. They had 2 children and were very young when Tom returned to Suwarrow. They are still alive today, and so is their beautiful mother.

[@musicguy3725]

Stumbled upon Tom's book in the high school library in 1976, and it greatly broadened my thinking and provided terrific escape from teenage tribulations. Best book I read that year, besides Atlas Shrugged.

[@williampercival7662]

Read the book 🌤️ Sisters in the Sun 🌤️ by A.S.Helm and W.H.Percival it's about Tom Neale and William Marsters. W Percival from New Zealand gardenia band 🇳🇿 Kia Orana

[@parkesterling337]

Great book and a great character, need more Tom Neale's in the world

[@williampercival7662]

Read the book 🌤️ Sisters in the Sun 🌤️ by A.S.Helm and W.H. Percival it's about Tom Neale and William Marsters W Percival from New Zealand gardenia band 🇳🇿 Kia Orana

[@tomspeed2000]

I was 18 when I read his great book, its my dream to live at the beautiful warm 🌴

[@JohnSmith-gy4qj]

We don't have to go to Suwarrow to live the dream we can do it anywhere by adopting a simple lifestyle.

[@portcityrulez]

This man is such a person the insulate. I love that life he choose

[@williampercival7662]

One outstanding exception to his general rule is a lean , rugged , leather skinned new Zealand called Tom Neale Thomas Francis Neale , to give his full name. It was in June 1945 that Tom Neale , then engineer on board the Cook Islands trading schooner, Tiare Taporo, saw suwarrow for the first time. Tom was captivated by the peace and solitude of the place. The still was then occupied by coast watchers, and the vessel stayed three days. Tom had first heard tales of the island over a bottle of whiskey at Captain Andy Thomson's home in Rarotonga when the American author , Robert Dean Frisbie, enthused over the atoll. Frisbie longed to return, but was unable to save enough money to do so. Neale was a realist and knew the Pacific Islands well. He had served as a stoker in the Navy, and later spent time in Tahiti, Moorea and the Cook Islands. But he had never seen anywhere quite like Suwarrow before. He vowed to return and live there as soon as possible. William Percival New Zealand Gardenia Band 🇨🇰 Kia Orana

[@coconutjenn4]

Thanks for this wonderful information William. I have read Toms book many years ago and always wanted to visit Suwarrow myself but don’t think I ever will.

[@therespectedlex9794]

Over a bottle of rum with Frisbie, a man who tied his children to the island's palm trees during a hurricane, the deal was made. I'm surprised there's not a bit more dirt on both of these guys, to be honest.

[@abaddonaskap]

awesome video,ive read the book and its nice to see the island now

[@douglassims8199]

What a great book and escape from the reality of crazy modern life where we live to work in the U.S.A until we die. Someone needs to get Tom's memoirs of the 10 years he spent on the island during his third stay and put it into a book format as well. I would pay to read that new book.

[@bigben1986]

wow this is awesome. I had no idea about Tom until i went to google sightseeing and it spoke about him. i did the search on youtube and bang, I find this. thanks for posting and teaching me more.

[@internatianil]

I just finished reading the book and it was awesome. He later returned to the island and lived out the remainder of his life. On his third and last stint (this is not in the book), he spent the longest amount of time at 10 years there. I only wish we knew what it was like in that stretch!

[@williampercival7662]

Read the book 🌤️ Sisters in the Sun 🌤️ by A.S.Helm and W.H.Percival it's about Tom Neale and William Marsters. W Percival from New Zealand gardenia band 🇳🇿 Kia Orana

[@OkkieTrooij]

Nice. A really happy man so to see.

[@andymartin2571]

Dear Hajnács Tamás --this is wonderful--thank you--just finished reading "An Island to Onseelf" and wish that it was a 1000 pages longer. And your pictorial with the laid back polynesian based music in the background is a very satisfying dessert. My guess is that some of the structures that you show were not there when he was living on the island, correct? I wonder why Tom Neale's story is so captivating?

[@SmithJohnZ]

I stayed in Auckland after having 8 months in Western Samoa back in 1975 where I picked up a paper back of Tom's book. Finally I went to Rarotonga in 2006, and bought a book about people from the Cook islands. It was very revealing. Including Tom Neale. It gave some more insight into his personality. Very interesting reading. Went to Aitutaki lagoon as well. Both these places are pure paradise. I think the tourist bureau could make a lot more out of Toms time there. As to getting to Suvarov from Rarotonga that was a mystery too. Still don't know.

[@therespectedlex9794]

Actually An Island to Oneself (correct title?) I would say doesn't say an awful lot about Tom Neale. He doesn't talk that much about about why he was alone, what he found difficult (about not being), much about his parents, or early life... Interesting character (you might say), who he met, who lived on Rarotonga before him as well. He wore a pareu a lot too, which basically looks like a thong. Erm...

[@goodgoing2334]

Just found out about Tom and his book from another book, shrimpey by shane acton who sailed there from the UK in an 18 foot yacht, he met and stayed there with Tom for 1 week in July 1976.

[@tomspeed2005]

I Love this book

[@manfredamann137]

I read that book long time ago...

[@Hecbertgg]

RIP him

[@williampercival7662]

Read the book 🌤️ Sisters in the Sun 🌤️ by A.S.Helm and W. H. Percival it's about Tom Neale and William Marsters . W Percival from New Zealand gardenia band 🇳🇿 Kia Orana

[@Mila2themax]

Sadly I cant find the book; SISTERS IN THE SUN at a decent price. Do you have any connections? I would love to read it.

[@gaborcsehi980]

Szia Tamás.....épp most olvasom a könyvet....a 155 . oldalon tartok... látom akkor neked is bejött a könyv....köszi h feltöltötted ....ha ezt TOM tudná h a google térképpel pár másodperc alatt eljuthatott volna ezekre a helyekre.....:) hát lehet hogy most nem olvasnánk ezt a könyvet...üdv ffészbukon fentvagyok ISLANDS HAWAII névvel... további szép napot:)

[@aryadimasdzakyanto4755]

2021

[@beverlyhills7883]

Tom Neal's book is being republished, according to his daughter

[@SomethingSoOriginal]

Pictures are going too effing fast

[@Le_Comte_de_Monte_Felin]

How many versions of this video are there? How about something that actually tells us about the author instead of some youtube half-wit's hopes for ad-revenue?

[@Le_Comte_de_Monte_Felin]

... and I use an ad-blocker specifically for people like you.

[@yz125ryder]

@@Le_Comte_de_Monte_Felin not anymore you dont! lol