Swiss Family Robinson (Great Illustrated Classics)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

read book* *Different edition

Swiss Family Robinson (Great Illustrated Classics)

by Johann David Wyss, Pablo Marcos Studio, Eliza Gatewood Warren

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 39,224 ratings · 979 reviews

A terrible storm strands a Swiss pastor and his family on a tropical island. Luckily, the Robinsons are optimistic and inventive; and with what they salvage from the wrecked ship, and the island's abundant fruits, plants, and animals, they soon adapt -- each day discovering new dangers, skills, and delights in their strange new life.

Hardcover, 238 pages

Published January 2002 by Abdo Pub Co (first published 1812)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Best Literary Fiction

120th out of 576 books — 648 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 23, 2013 Jason Koivu rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: don-t-let-me-down-dangit-you-did

More appropriate title suggestion: SHOOT TO KILL! A less catchy but even more precise title would be We Killed a Lot of Animals: The Story of a Family Stranded on an Island, Who Were Never in Serious Danger and Who - I Believe It Has Been Mentioned, Yet Bears Repeating - Killed a Lot of Animals. The way they hauled off and shot at the slightest movement in the bushes was nearly worse than the drunken yahoos I've known who seemed to be purposefully trying to give hunters a bad name.

Infinite supp...more

32 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2007 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

they kill or enslave everything in sight, whether they need it or not. they pray before they do anything. i'm pretty sure the matriarch of the family was never actually named, but merely called "the mother" or "my wife" any time she was relevant, which was not very often. near the end of the book, the family actually shoots a cachalot. they don't use it for anything, but instead axe the head open and take away buckets of spermaceti. a whole fucking sperm whale had to die just because they saw it...more

28 likes · like · see review

Jun 03, 2013 Daniel Kizlyk rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was almost mildly entertaining until it became disgustingly unbearable. In truth I only listened to half of the book. I decided to listen to it based on fond memories of the tv show from when I was a child, but It was honestly a complete waste of 4 hours of my life... even though I was working...
The writing of this book is completely lost to the ages and changes in societal beliefs

Enter this father that seems to know every little thing about surviving in the wilderness, so much so that...more This book was almost mildly entertaining until it became disgustingly unbearable. In truth I only listened to half of the book. I decided to listen to it based on fond memories of the tv show from when I was a child, but It was honestly a complete waste of 4 hours of my life... even though I was working...
The writing of this book is completely lost to the ages and changes in societal beliefs

Enter this father that seems to know every little thing about surviving in the wilderness, so much so that even though they knew they had a crate full of medical supplies he didn't even need to open it until 2ish years after they landed because he knew how to extract medicines from plants.(and keep in mind he has like 3 young boys)

This douche narrates a story that is almost more like a wilderness survival guide than a story, except for its lack of any pertinent information on how to actually survive a similar situation.

This douche is seemingly the only man in the world that 'god' cares for because every time a situation appears that would pose a massive challenge he simply prays and it magically appears (ie bees hollowing out the exact tree they had decided to use as a tree house from the bottom to the top so that he could simply build a spiral staircase on the inside (good thing that among studying with a surgeon, learning about natural medicines (in this exact climate), learning how natives turned random nuts into bowls and learning how to tan leather, he also studied as a carpenter and a ship builder (fuck))

And amazingly having all these skills going into this situation, this douche still sits there preaching about 'god', as if his douche life of learning completely random skills didn't luckily douche out and douche him into douchery.

But I douchegress, Don't waste your time on this book. it will only leave you wanting for a sweeter time in your life, a time when fairies still danced upon the morning dew. A time when thunder sounded like a brave lions roar. A time when geese flew in perfect V's and not strange Tilde (~) shapes. A time long before you decided to open this book of rank douchery.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 26, 2009 Marty rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: attic-bookshelf

Wow. What a relief to have that out of the way ... I have been painstakingly pushing my way through this book for a while now. Having said that, I always thought that The Swiss Family Robinson was just the type of story that I would like. Going into it, my expectations were high and I think my enthusiasm barreled me past the first few chapters without so much as a literary bump. But just like trying to race up Everest, you lose steam after the first hundred yard sprint and the rest is pure drudg...more Wow. What a relief to have that out of the way ... I have been painstakingly pushing my way through this book for a while now. Having said that, I always thought that The Swiss Family Robinson was just the type of story that I would like. Going into it, my expectations were high and I think my enthusiasm barreled me past the first few chapters without so much as a literary bump. But just like trying to race up Everest, you lose steam after the first hundred yard sprint and the rest is pure drudgery. The unfortunate thing is that there was no sense of satisfaction upon finishing The Swiss Family Robinson as there would be in peaking Everest, only relief.

Here is the problem as I see it, and I will use the narrator's own words towards the end of the novel to explain it: "It is needless for me to continue what would exhaust the patience of the most long-suffering, by repeating monotonous narratives of exploring parties and hunting expeditions, wearisome descriptions of awkward inventions and clumsy machines, with an endless record of discoveries, more fit for the pages of an encyclopedia than a book of family history." Wow. Couldn't have said it better myself, Mr. Robinson--though your realization of those things was about two-hundred and fifty pages too late.

While I can't say it better, I will sum it up: nothing happens. Oh, sure, they keep building these paradisaical, tropical mansions, lacking only in electronics and internet because those things haven't been invented yet, but what--exactly--is happening? Nothing. The biggest conflicts they have are brought up one paragraph and resolved in the next. And then there are the characters. I originally loved the idea of a family being the protagonist, instead of just some single, adult male like in most stories. But I think Wyss could have put more personality into a single, adult boulder than he did in this entire family. That's not to say that there aren't distinguishing personality traits. The chief one of the narrator is that he is annoying, smug, and wholly unbelievable. Every idea he tried, he immediately succeeded at accomplishing, even if the whole human race had been trying the same feat, unsuccessfully, for thousands of years with plenty more resources. Any animal or plant he saw, he immediately knew the scientific classification, background, and general usage for it as if reading out of the page of an encyclopedia (an interesting study would be to find the Swiss encyclopedias of the time and find out which ones Wyss plagiarized from, probably verbatim in most instances, in order to piece together Mr. Robinson's immaculate naturalist knowledge).

Perhaps I am being harsh ... okay, yes, I am being harsh, especially for a book meant for children. But I think that even children have a right to expect simple things like PLOT or DEVELOPED CHARACTERS as part of their reading experience. However, I realize that the book is up against some pretty stiff prejudices of mine. You see, before reading this, I had also read The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. This one also has castaways on a destitute island who are able to create amazingly advanced machines, technology, and shelters with very limited resources (more limited than the Robinson family's, even). Yet, I did not balk at incredulity when Cyrus Harding moved from one advancement to another, or accessed astonishing amounts of information using his memory alone. The reason why? I believe it is because Verne actually knew what his characters were talking about. Rather than slapping something from an encyclopedia entry and passing off haphazard hypotheses, Verne had actually thought these things through, understood the implications and context of each thing, and put forward a fascinating, but credible solution.

Besides The Mysterious Island, I had also seen the Disney movie, The Swiss Family Robinson. Such a great, great movie--one of my all time favorite, in fact. How did it attain that status? It made realistic characters that you could believe in and distinguish, one from another. It truly made the family the protagonist. It cared about the characters first, and the cool treehouse secondary (although, you have to admit, the treehouse in that movie is AMAZING). And finally, there was a plot! The characters were constantly working with an underlying conflict, and it culminated in a worthy climax. In short, the movie fixed everything that was wrong with the book ... and they excelled at the few things the book got right (such as the treehouse, the appearance of another character later on in the story, and the references to pirates). Going into the reading with these expectations, it is little wonder that Johann Wyss is getting the brunt of my frustrations here, but in reality the book is harmless. Long, boring, and redundant ... but harmless. It is a great idea, some unique settings, and some simple fun. It is just a matter of sifting through all of the drudgery to get them.(less)

13 likes · like · see review

Sep 24, 2008 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read this a couple times to the boys. As a mom of boys, I loved it. It is fun to read of the ingenious solutions for survival, and I love their constant reliance on and gratitude to God.

And Eric says:

I love the many passages of the book that go something like this...After my wife and children had expressed their ideas, I explained the folly of their reasoning and they rejoiced in my knowledge and wisdom.

Dream on ER.

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Amy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, fiction

Stop right now! Before you read this book, I must warn you! The back of the book is a LIE! All of that "they must rely on their wits, the strength that comes from family ties, and the bounty of nature to survive" is all a crock of baloney. Complete fabrication. They're stranded with enough supplies to start a small colony. Guns & timber from the shipwreck I could understand, but butter, livestock, tools, *blacksmith* tools, fishing hooks, needle, thread, extra clothes, enough seeds to start...more Stop right now! Before you read this book, I must warn you! The back of the book is a LIE! All of that "they must rely on their wits, the strength that comes from family ties, and the bounty of nature to survive" is all a crock of baloney. Complete fabrication. They're stranded with enough supplies to start a small colony. Guns & timber from the shipwreck I could understand, but butter, livestock, tools, *blacksmith* tools, fishing hooks, needle, thread, extra clothes, enough seeds to start a garden if not a farm, and a complete working boat with a CANNON!?! Not to mention an island so hospitable it has salt for preserving, cotton, flax, rubber, and an overabundance of game. It would be more surprising, if they all died. Not to mention, that every chapter reads like a how-to-book. I can almost hear the conversation with the publisher.

Publisher: Johann, no one wants to read this how-to-manual. It's boring. And there are dozens more just like it. It's needs something extra, a hook, some zing.
Johann: But this is useful!
Publisher: I know, put it on a desert island! Forced to rely on their wits alone! They'll have to do everything with the bounty of nature. No modern tools!
Johann: No! How can I do that?
Publisher: They'll love it! Go on.
Johann: Fine.
Ten days later
Publisher: What is this?
Johann: You said put it on a desert island. They're on a desert island.
Publisher: But you gave them everything! Where's the hardship? Where's the people starving? Where's the adventure?
Johann: This is adventure! It's hard work to start a village! They work hard in almost every chapter, plus I added games and parables for the little children.
Publisher: Fine, fine, but I can't guarantee that anyone will buy it.

Seriously, if you want a cute story about people starting a colony on a desert island (with all the necessary tools) go for it. Personally, I think it reads like a how-to-manual, but if you like that, then this book is for you. I'm not saying it's poorly written, or that it's not a cute little story, but it's not the adventure it's made out to be. Hell it doesn't even have much of a plot. So if you're looking for an island adventure book, find a different one.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2013 Fernando rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Empecé este libro con las expectativas equivocadas. El mejor rato que recuerdo haber pasado en una sala de cine en toda mi vida fue a los 10 años, cuando mis padres me llevaron a ver Los Robinsones Suizos. Pensaba que la novela original se parecería a esa adaptación que hizo Disney para la gran pantalla, pero no tiene nada que ver. Según dice wikipedia, Johann David Wyss la escribió para sus hijos, para inculcarles buenos valores en relación con la familia, la responsabilidad, el respeto por la...more Empecé este libro con las expectativas equivocadas. El mejor rato que recuerdo haber pasado en una sala de cine en toda mi vida fue a los 10 años, cuando mis padres me llevaron a ver Los Robinsones Suizos. Pensaba que la novela original se parecería a esa adaptación que hizo Disney para la gran pantalla, pero no tiene nada que ver. Según dice wikipedia, Johann David Wyss la escribió para sus hijos, para inculcarles buenos valores en relación con la familia, la responsabilidad, el respeto por la naturaleza y la importancia de ser autosuficiente. Y ahí reside el principal problema, que parece más un manual de supervivencia que un trabajo de ficción. Hay cero conflicto. En Robinson Crusoe, la novela en la que está parcialmente inspirada este libro, el protagonista lucha para sobrevivir y pasa muchas penurias a las cuales se sobrepone gracias a su ingenio y al trabajo duro. En el libro de Wyss parece que los personajes estén de vacaciones en un spa en la Ribera Maya y no expresan anhelo alguno de ser rescatados o de volver de a la civilización. Todo les va de cara y no paran de hacer un descubrimiento útil detrás de otro. La isla es como Carrefour del siglo XIX el el que se encuentra de todo: sal, algodon, patatas, caucho... También hay animales de todos los colores y procedencias: osos, serpientes, cóndores, avestruces, lobos, leones, tigres... Wyss se pasa el rigor científico por donde Rajoy se pasa los derechos sociales. Entiendo que el propósito del autor es transmitir la abundancia inherente en el mundo natural, pero sin conflicto no hay historia. En la película, hay una tensión constante en la familia. La madre detesta la isla y las incomodidades y peligros que acompañan a su súbito cambio de vida, y el padre se esfuerza por hacerle ver el lado positivo de su situación y mostrarle las posibilidades que les ofrece ese nuevo hábitat. Al final de la película se les presenta la oportunidad de volver a la civilización y la madre sorprende a todos al expresar su deseo de permanecer en la isla. Esa evolución del personaje está completamente ausente en el libro y se la echa de menos. La historia es muy repetitiva, al vigésimo descubrimiento oportuno seguido de la trigésimo encuentro con una animal nuevo uno está ya hasta la coronilla. He de admitir que no me aburrí leyendo este libro, pero me lo podría haber ahorrado. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 27, 2011 Patty Jansen rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love the good classics. For example we have all books in the Anne of Green Gables series. They are obviously written in a different time and in a style that was common then: lots of description and day-to-day happenings without a strong plot. But these books give a beautiful and interesting flavour of times past.

This book, however... I completely fail to understand why this ever became a classic.

It starts well, but soon the book gets bogged in chapter after chapter of problems too easily solve...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 08, 2008 Jack Wang rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who just love a warm story for entertainment

Recommended to Jack by: I did

It was awsome like a family of Robinson Crusoes shipwrecked and living on an unknown Island But wait there is more they might not be they only human inhabidance on the island. are they friendly are hostile read and find out!

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2007 Christie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, personal-library, favorites, classics, read-aloud-to-family

I absolutely loved this book, and have read it again and again. I also read it to my family and we all had goosebumps during the passage about the large snake eating the donkey.

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 05, 2013 Elizabeth L. added it

I am almost finished reading the book The Swiss Family Robinson By: Johann Wyss I have really been enjoying this book because it is very interesting and really shows the characters feelings and thoughts. The main idea of this story is about a family who was on a cruise and the ship wrecked and every one was split apart but somehow the Robinson family managed to stay together. They where stranded on an island. It is interesting to see all the adventures that they go through like making there own...more

1 like · like · see review

May 26, 2008 carrie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*****SPOILER ALERT *****
I've read it now, and it does not measure up to the Disney movie. It was so ridiculous! The boys shoot every animal they see, which range from inhabitants of the African savannah, Australia, and the American northwest -- yes, hippos, rhinos, lions, tigers, kangaroos, bears, elephants, the duck-billed platypus, you name it, they're on the island. The father knows absolutely everything about every plant and animal, and sums up every situation correctly before it happens. He...more

8 likes · like · see review

Jul 05, 2008 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(I never read this as a child) A novel set sometime in the mid 1800s. An immigrant family is shipwrecked somewhere in an isolated area, possibly an island off the coast of Africa or in southeast asia. The book is never specific about it. All the crew deserts the ship and are presumably lost. The family of mother, Father and 4 boys ages 15 to 7 are able to get to shore and set up in building a place to live. They are able through ingenuity, to get all usable things off the ship including animals....more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 01, 2008 Sarah rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have great memories of Dad reading this to us as kids, it was so hoplessly archaic and ridiculous that his rendition quickly became sarcastic. We all ended up in fits of laughter each time they found ANOTHER useful thing washed up on the beach/growing on the magic island, and/or shot ANOTHER hapless animal/person/moving object that crossed their path.

14 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Two Bibliomaniacs rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ugh, what happened to Roberta, coconut bombs, family animal races, and pirate alarms? Seriously, how did they not get incorporated into the novel? Someone get Johann David Wyss on the phone!

Shipwrecked off the cost of a tropical island, the Robinsons must forge an unlikely partnership with nature and circumstance to ensure their survival. They must utilize every bit of their intellect to conquer, build, gather, plant, and tame. Not only does the family survive, but they find a way to thrive, whi...more Ugh, what happened to Roberta, coconut bombs, family animal races, and pirate alarms? Seriously, how did they not get incorporated into the novel? Someone get Johann David Wyss on the phone!

Shipwrecked off the cost of a tropical island, the Robinsons must forge an unlikely partnership with nature and circumstance to ensure their survival. They must utilize every bit of their intellect to conquer, build, gather, plant, and tame. Not only does the family survive, but they find a way to thrive, while at the same time constructing an epic tree house. But, like anyone who’s ever spent time marooned on a deserted island knows, the next catastrophe is always right around the corner...

Okay, so it took some time to adjust to the fact that the novel doesn’t contain certain really cool elements included in the Disney movie. Less of the action and more of the categorizing every specific plant and animal species on the island, which as it turns out, was quite extensive. We can appreciate the fact that the novel was written as a journal and that given a similar fate, our own journal might attempt to capture much of the same information. Unfortunately, the plot struggled to hold our attention.

It was pleasant to read about a family that actually respected one another and pulled together for a common purpose, however, certain character talents were a bit hard to believe. The dad was pretty much master of everything, whether it was lassoing animals, identifying countless edible plants, or whittling little whatevers. The mom was a world class gardener and chef – she figured out how to make a porcupine soup that was apparently to die for. Plus, the children needed no more than one or two tries before they were experts. Fine, we might be over dramatizing things just a bit, but the Robinsons were more a cross between the Crocodile Hunter and Survivorman than a family of missionaries.

Okay, let’s get to what’s really bothering us... How could the Robinsons decide to live in the cave over the tree house (As readers, you have the “Two Bibliomanics Iron Clad Promise” that the aforementioned fact isn’t central to the plot)? We’ve heard all the problems related to personal safety and the other immaterial arguments. We still want to know how someone could possibly not decide to live in a tree house if they had the opportunity. Where’s the romanticism in that? At least tell us where’s the awesomeness?

We’re a bit all over the place on this review, so in summary: glad we read it, but it could have been better. Thank you.
(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 Joel.i rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann David Wyss
352 Pages

The The Swiss Family Robinson is a book about a Swiss family called the Robinsons who are shipwrecked and they have to learn to survive on the nearby desert island with only the supplies found on their abandoned vessel. The father was very knowledgeable about the arts of survival and soon their family florished on their desert isle living in the top of a giant tree to a grotto dug in rock. The father teaches his four sons Fritz, Ernest, Jack,...more

like · see review

Apr 06, 2013 Gale rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-in-translation, children-s-classics

“Father Knows Best--Even in a Tropical Paradise”

Johann Wyss’ beloved classic (inspired by Daniel Defoe’s ROBINSON CRUSOE) has delighted literary audiences for several centuries, despite its many versions, translations and editions. This implausible tale of survival has captured the imagination of generations of armchair explorers; We cheer them on as they conquer shipwreck, four months of rainy seasons, a vast array of dangerous wild animals and inevitable boredom. Educated readers will recogni...more “Father Knows Best--Even in a Tropical Paradise”

Johann Wyss’ beloved classic (inspired by Daniel Defoe’s ROBINSON CRUSOE) has delighted literary audiences for several centuries, despite its many versions, translations and editions. This implausible tale of survival has captured the imagination of generations of armchair explorers; We cheer them on as they conquer shipwreck, four months of rainy seasons, a vast array of dangerous wild animals and inevitable boredom. Educated readers will recognize the impossibility of any island or continent capable of hosting such a vast array of animal and plant life, yet we admire the ingenuity of man when thrown into a challenging, primitive situations.

After a terrible tempest which wrecked the ship and took the lives of the entire crew, this family of six were able to fashion their own flotilla to reach shore in safety, with much of the livestock on board. Fortunately, in an era of Imperialism the ship was laden with animals, seeds, grain and various tools to establish a viable colony in a warm climate. The father and one or two of his four sons made many trips to the wreck to salvage the last portable vestiges of civilization, before sinking her for good. It is remarkable that no one in the family became seriously ill or even broke a limb. Papa, with his encyclopedic knowledge, and Mama with her “enchanted bag” were able to preserve both physical and spiritual aspects of human life.

This edition is free from savages or pirates—with just a capable English girl discovered near the end. One wonders if she speaks German or if the entire family had to use English with her all the time. In book after life we hope/assume that Fritz, the eldest son, will marry Emily in Europe. But then, that is just one version. Many underlying themes emerge: gratitude for the providence of God who preserves them countless times, man’s obligation to cultivate the soil and tame/use all manner of animals, and the civilized man’s duty to transplant his culture in to primitive regions.

Papa is always right—even when he pretends to be a sorcerer—and Mama is expected to fulfill the role of the perfect helpmate. The four sons mature during their ten years of exile, but the moment of their ultimate, long-desired deliverance is bitter sweet as the family is separated. Despite the moralizing tone and cavalier attitude of white man’s civilizing burden, this story holds up well, and has inspired other Robinsonian spin offs. Even though it may be considered more of a children’s story, it continues to delight audiences of all ages. Great Survival lore!

NB: Obviously ROBINSON is hardly a Swiss surname, but it become a literary fad to name characttrs castaway on tropical islands after the most famous litearary castaway: ROBINSON Crusoe.)

(Feb. 1, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

(less)

like · see review

Mar 30, 2013 Me rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I hate this book. There's only a few books that will come to mind when I'm asked about a book that I hate. Swiss Family Robinson is high on this list, and a few others come to mind (Robinson Curosoe, 20,000 Leauges Under the Sea, Three Musketeers, Catcher in the Rye, and Not Suitable for Family Viewing). Of course there are other bad books, but Swiss Family Robinson is just really terrible. Screaming, book banning, putting in the fire kind of horrible.

The first thing isn't really the books faul...more I hate this book. There's only a few books that will come to mind when I'm asked about a book that I hate. Swiss Family Robinson is high on this list, and a few others come to mind (Robinson Curosoe, 20,000 Leauges Under the Sea, Three Musketeers, Catcher in the Rye, and Not Suitable for Family Viewing). Of course there are other bad books, but Swiss Family Robinson is just really terrible. Screaming, book banning, putting in the fire kind of horrible.

The first thing isn't really the books fault, yet after 20,000 Leagues it has become a pet peeve. Listing plants and animals that don't exist. The family's trapped in the Carribean, so the plants and animals would be similar to that of the neighbouring islands. It does not take a genius to figure this out. So then the animals there could have been realistically like the animals in the Caribean. All the animals on the island are stolen from other parts of the world, none of which make any sense based on the climate of the area. I'm perfectly fine if there's three-headed flying horses. However when you try to pretend to e all factual to some obviously wrong facts it's stupid. You look like a fool.

Log books were invented for a reason. Log books is where you'd record your endless tasks. Log books is where you'd describe the island. Log books and maps is where you'd describe the different places on the island. Books are meant to have a purpose. This "book" does not have a purpose. This is simply a fact after fact on how this family acted and "bettered" their life on a fictional island that could not exist.

The characters are really bad. They're very impressed with theirselves with their inventions and thoughts. It's painful to read.

Also I hate stupid spiritual realizations. Bad things always happen when they don't pray, and good things when they devote themselves to God. I hate when this happens. Maybe bad things happened because you weren't doing and work? Maybe. I hate stupid spiritual realizations.

I think I should just avoid island books. I haven't read a good one other than Gordon Korman's Island trilogy. I'm interested in the survival techniques, but these books come with stupid spiritual realizations and a factual voice that is obviously wrong.

I hate this book. (less)

like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Jama rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-alouds-for-a-m, read-alouds-for-m-e

This is a book for kids, and my boys really like it a lot.

Many of the negative reviews posted about this book are totally correct. The Swiss Family is a product of its time. They treat the island like their playground, killing and domesticating everything in sight. They mention god a lot. They never name the mother, and she stays in the background cooking and mending things while the father and boys go out adventuring, but in all fairness, none of the characters have real fleshed out personali...more

like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Christine Gaskins rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: away-from-civilization, survival, ship-wreck, didn-t-like, movie-was-better

This is one of the worst books I have had the displeasure of reading, or rather listening to. If you are considering this as your next story then heed my warning. I suffered 12 hours to complete it when I could have enjoyed any of the movie adaptions and have been satisfied.

The accurate synopsis should read:
The year is 1812. A pious Swiss family, both parents and four boys, is marooned on an island so fertile and abundant with animals and plants from every continent, they are completely care f...more

like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Victor Atkinson rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No one

Shelves: worst-10, classic, adventure

This is undoubtedly the worst book I have ever read. The entire plotline is absolutely boring and unimaginative. It is as if Wyss combined Robinson Crusoe, a horribly overly optimistic Mormon family, and the Viva Pinata video game and the product was the worst book ever written. The real title of this book should have been "How to build your own Menagerie - For Dummies." That is all that happens, unless you truly want to start a zoo, do not read this book. And even if you do I am sure there are...more

like · see review

Oct 29, 2012 Amanda Radak rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Listened to the audiobook. HATED it. Dad's like MacGyver, but instead of duct tape he can just find debris or make anything he needs. (rain boots, we'll just paint sap on ya, and voila we peel off boots) Stranded on a remote island, but we won't do with out. {and somewhat like Gilligan thye can make anything they need, but don't even try to get off the island}

So the ladies chose it for book club, I asked them why I should read it I needed the inspiration to give it another chance.

Apparently, it...more

like · see review

Oct 13, 2012 Lindie O'toole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was an engaging and challenging read, and I enjoyed the adventures, and the great amounts of ingenuity used by the characters. Although this story lacks the usual structure of a novel, in that there really isn't a climax but rather a series of challenges overcome by the characters, these qualities make it a great choice for a story to pick up now and then. I can see why others may not have enjoyed it if they approached like any novel written in this time period. It has been criticized...more

like · see review

Oct 13, 2012 Hobby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, family, owned-a-copy

Judul Asli : SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
Copyright © Johann David Wyss
Penerbit Bentang
Alih Bahasa : Tisa Anggriani
Editor : Nunung Wiyati
Ilustrasi Isi : Bara Umar Birru
Cetakan I : Oktober 2011 ; 538 hlm
Apa yang terjadi jika Anda berada di tengah lautan bebas, berada di atas kapal yang terombang-ambing dalam badai dahsyat, hingga akhirnya kekuatan alam menang, menghancurkan serta membanjiri kapal tersebut, menyapu habis isinya – makhluk hidup maupun benda mati. Dan hanya segelintir yang selamat ...
Pem...more Judul Asli : SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
Copyright © Johann David Wyss
Penerbit Bentang
Alih Bahasa : Tisa Anggriani
Editor : Nunung Wiyati
Ilustrasi Isi : Bara Umar Birru
Cetakan I : Oktober 2011 ; 538 hlm
Apa yang terjadi jika Anda berada di tengah lautan bebas, berada di atas kapal yang terombang-ambing dalam badai dahsyat, hingga akhirnya kekuatan alam menang, menghancurkan serta membanjiri kapal tersebut, menyapu habis isinya – makhluk hidup maupun benda mati. Dan hanya segelintir yang selamat ...
Pembukaan kisah yang mengerikan, apalagi diriku agak ‘fobia’ dengan bayangan berada di tengah lautan badai serta terancam tenggelam, membuatku bergidik seram (apalagi membacanya saat malam hari, tambah dag-dig-dug ... jadi jangan ditiru jika penakut ya). Tiada yang selamat, hanya satu keluarga yang terdiri dari ayah, ibu serta 4 orang anak lak-laki yang ‘secara kebetulan’ justru tertinggal di kabin kapal saat semua awak kapal melarikan diri dengan sekoci penyelamat, atau tenggelam tersapu ombak yang ganas.
Ketika akhirnya badai reda, dengan kondisi kapal yang rusak parah, tak mungkin digunakan berlayar, maka alternatifnya adalah mencari daratan untuk mengungsi. Syukurlah kapal besar itu karam di kumpulan karang-karang, dekat wilayah daratan tropis yang tampak asing bagi keluarga ini. Sang ayah segera mengkoordinasi istrinya Elizabeth, dan putra-putranya, Fritz, Ernest, Jack dan si bungsu Franz untuk membuat rakit darurat, membawa serta barang-barang yang dibutuhkan untuk mendarat di kepulauan terdekat.
Perjuangan serta petualangan mereka, mulai menemukan hewan-hewan serta ternak yang selamat dari kapal, kemudian membawanya ke daratan, mencari makanan serta sumber air, membangun tempat peristirahatan sementara, serta ekspedisi untuk mengeksplorasi kepulauan itu, membuat kisah ini sangat menarik dan penuh berbagai kejutan untuk disimak. Bagaimana mereka belajar membuat masakan dengan bahan-bahan yang ditemukan di sekitar kepulauan. Bagaimana menangkap hewan ataupun makhluk-makhluk yang bisa ditemukan di wilayah tersebut.
Belajar mengenali berbagai jenis tumbuhan serta manfaat masing-masing. Bahkan membangun wilayah pemukiman berupa rumah di atas pohon, rumah di dalam gua yang terbentuk dari garam-garam yang mengkristal hingga membatu. Menanam dan membuat lahan perkebunan serta peternakan berbagai hewan peliharaan yang beraneka ragam. Menciptakan dan membuat berbagai alat bantu seperti persenjataan, pelana, sepatu, pakaian, topi, piring dan gelas, alat penggilingan, bahkan kaca jendela dari bahan-bahan yang bisa diolah dari sekeliling mereka.

more about this book, check on my review at here :
http://my-classic-books.blogspot.com/...(less)

like · see review

Aug 10, 2012 Bookworm rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know that there's ALOT of more hate on this book than love. Oh well. I, for one, LOVED it! I mean I know it sounds COMPLETELY unrealistic and just plain baloney, but I was just engrossed in these pages. The first few pages, I had to push myself through them, but soon I was just flipping the pages nonstop. I admired how the family stuck close together and how they built shelter after shelter after shelter, or should I say, mansion after mansion after mansion. LOL. I was surprised at myself for...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Emma rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

No, I am not a hater of classics. But, if you are spending several chapters at a time describing the makings a simple slip knot, I can't hang on any longer. I didn't finish this book, because I thought I would surely cry with boredom.
My mom gave me the challenge of reading five classics one summer. Swiss Family Robinson was my first. Not only did I not finish it, I put it back on my shelf, shuddered, and I do believe my bookmark is still in there to this day. That was two years ago.
If you ar...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 02, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had so much fun reading this book. That said, I don't know that I'd be in a hurry to re-read it. It's quite an investment of time (at least it was for me). I just marveled page after page at the ingenuity of this family. The knowledge that they had that allowed them to basically build their own colony is a far, far cry from the kind of intelligence that is common or even valued today. If my family and I were ever shipwrecked on a deserted island, we would last probably 8.2 seconds. This family...more

like · see review

Jul 27, 2012 Joel Neff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is not a review.

***

As a child, The Swiss Family Robinson was one of my favorite novels. I loved reading about how resourceful they were and how they were able to make everything. I loved reading about their amazing discoveries even while I wondered how they managed to find all that stuff on just one island. I had a copy of the Penguin Classics version of the novel, which was written from an 18XX translation.

What I hadn’t known as a child and only found out via Wikipedia, was that the novel...more

like · see review

Jul 19, 2012 Joceline Foley rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I feel a tiny bit terrible giving a classic novel only one star, but this book is a tiny bit terrible itself, so I think it all evens out.

This book lacks two integral elements of a novel: plot and characters. All six members of the family are apparently robots who exist only to shoot animals unnecessarily, do everything perfectly the first time, and speak like a bunch of old-fashioned Christian computers. Also, Mr. Robinson (did he have a first name? I never caught one) berates his children for...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Will rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Robinson Crusoe has nothing to worry about.
While reading this book, I half expected (hoping, actually) to turn around and see John Cleese sitting behind a desk and saying, "and now for something completely different," or, more appropriately, "the BBC would like to apologize for the following." I think that would really have improved things. Minimal story line, characters that have all the development and personality of the average brick, animals from all over the world that pop up on this tiny...more

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Good family read!	7	30	Jun 04, 2013 05:20am
I love this book!	2	12	Nov 12, 2007 10:25pm

combine
Other Editions (70)

More editions...

Genres

Classics

925 users

Adventure

171 users

Childrens

148 users

Young Adult

96 users

Literature

53 users

Historical Fiction

48 users

Adventure > Survival

30 users

Classics > Classic Literature

26 users

Childrens > Juvenile

24 users

Fantasy

24 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Johann David Wyss

From Christian Classics Library

Wyss is best remembered for his book The Swiss Family Robinson. A pastor with four sons, it is said that he was inspired by Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, but wanted to write a story in from which his own children would learn, as the father in the story taught important lessons to his children. The Swiss Family Robinsonwas first published in 1812 and translated into Englis...more

More about Johann David Wyss...

Books by Johann David Wyss

Children Classics: Swiss Family Robinson

Companion Library: The Swiss Family Robinson / Robinson Crusoe

The Illustrated Classics: The Swiss Family Robinson

Šveices robinsonu ģimene & Jūras vilcēns (Sprīdīša bibliotēka #14)

The Swiss Family Robinson, Or, Adventures of a Father and Mother and Four Sons on a Desert Island Volume 1

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Swiss Family ...

1 quiz

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Swiss Family Robinson

“It was one of those happy days that God grants us sometimes on earth to give us an idea of the bliss of heaven.” — 1 person liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Swiss Family Robinson
avg rating	preview: Swiss Family Robinson Goodreads rating: 3.88 (39224 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3778463-swiss-family-robinson?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331971958l/3778463.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3778463-swiss-family-robinson?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss[/url]

Swiss Family Robinson (Great Illustrated Classics)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website