Where to start withKon-Tiki
2 versions · originally a book, 1990
Themes: Exploration, Cultural Anthropology, Scientific Experiment, Survival, Human Endurance.
Start with Kon-Tiki (Thor Heyerdahl, 1990) — the book. Kon-Tiki exists in 2 versions across media, beginning as a book in 1990; each is ranked below by what it does best.
Thor Heyerdahl’s audacious 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa raft tests the limits of human endurance.
✦ Most fans start here
Kon-Tiki (1990)
The original novel
✦ Start hereKon-Tiki
Thor Heyerdahl · Book · 1990
The 1990 edition of Kon-Tiki provides a foundational, firsthand account of the voyage through archival photography, serving as an essential resource for students and those interested in historical documentation.
2012 film
Kon-Tiki
Joachim Rønning · Film · 2012
The 2012 film Kon-Tiki offers a cinematic, high-stakes dramatization of Heyerdahl’s journey, effectively capturing the physical intensity and atmospheric isolation of the balsa raft crossing for a modern visual audience.
Common questions
Is Kon-Tiki based on a book or a movie?
The story of Kon-Tiki originated as a book published in 1990. This source material was later adapted into a motion picture released in 2012. Both versions document the same historical expedition across the Pacific Ocean.
Should I read the book Kon-Tiki before watching the movie?
Reading the 1990 book Kon-Tiki before watching the 2012 movie provides deeper context regarding the expedition. However, both formats stand alone as complete accounts of the journey. You can consume either version first to enjoy the narrative of the raft voyage.
Is the 2012 Kon-Tiki movie a direct adaptation of the 1990 book?
Yes, the 2012 movie Kon-Tiki serves as a cinematic adaptation of the source material found in the 1990 book. The film depicts the events described in the text, focusing on the crew's navigation across the Pacific on their balsa wood raft.
How long is the Kon-Tiki movie compared to the book?
The 2012 Kon-Tiki movie is a feature-length film that summarizes the events detailed in the 1990 book. While the book allows for a more comprehensive exploration of the expedition's daily challenges, the movie provides a condensed visual representation of the entire journey.