...Funny, surprising, honest, and inspiring. Their spunk and humor as they cope with everything from a broken leg in Switzerland to a broken-down truck in the middle of the Bolivian salt flats are amazing to behold. But what I really love about the Higham family is how normal they are. They prove that average people can have outsize adventures if they dream big, plan carefully, and have faith that even if nothing goes according to plan, everything will (eventually) turn out OK. These are great lessons for traveling and for life.--Nina Martin, San Francisco magazine 360 Degrees Longitude redefines family travel. It's also a fantastic read, whether you're considering an around-the-world trip--with or without kids--or not. Higham uses humor and insight to weave together stories that entertain as well as educate. Part travelogue, part how-to guide, the book is an inspiration--for what is possible on the road, and in one's life.--Donna Airoldi, TravelMuse

When you picture yourself quitting your job and going on a dream vacation, four bikes, one moody eight-year-old, and a precocious preteen may not be exactly what you envision, but for John Higham, his wife September, and their children, it's exactly what they had always wanted and saved for.

In June 2005, John, September, Jordan, and Katrina packed up and began a fifty-two-week adventure, visiting thirty countries on five continents, and crossing twenty-four time zones. They stayed with friends, strangers, college girls on spring break, and Polish shipyard workers with a penchant for striped boxer shorts and little else.

As they made their way across the world, the Highams found out about more than just food and culture; they learned that fish can easily mistake nipples for a snack, that a Chilean mall isn't the best place to get your ears pierced, and that elephants appreciate flowers just as much as the next lady.

But more importantly, they learned about each other, and just how much a family can weather if they do it together.

Something to read with your kids, your parents, or perhaps en route to your own adventure, 360 Degrees Longitude is filled with funny stories, incredible pictures, and a whole lot of sunshine.

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Much more than a travel narrative 360 Degrees Longitude: One Family's Journey Around the World is a glimpse at what it means to be a global citizen--a progressively changing view of the world as seen through the eyes of an American family of four. After more than a decade of planning, John Higham and his wife September bid their high-tech jobs and suburban lives good-bye, packed up their home and set out with two children, ages eight and eleven, to travel around the world. In the course of the next 52 weeks they crossed 24 time zones, visited 28 countries and experienced a lifetime of adventures. Making their way across the world, the Highams discovered more than just different foods and cultures; they also learned such diverse things as a Chilean mall isn't the best place to get your ears pierced, and that elephants appreciate flowers just as much as the next person. But most importantly, they learned about each other, and just how much a family can weather if they do it together. 360 Degrees Longitude employs Google's wildly popular Google Earth as a compliment to the narrative. Using your computer you can spin the digital globe to join the adventure cycling through Europe, feeling the cold stare of a pride of lions in Africa, and breaking down in the Andes. Packed with photos, video and text, the online Google Earth companion adds a dimension not possible with mere paper and ink. Fly over the terrain of the Inca Trail or drill down to see the majesty of the Swiss Alps--without leaving the comfort of your chair.John Higham is an aerospace engineer with an expertise in satellites. He is also an avid traveler, frequently writing and lecturing on his own experience traversing the globe. The Highams live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit him online at www.360DegreesLongitude.com.

When you picture yourself quitting your job and going on a dream vacation, four bikes, one moody eight-year-old, and a precocious preteen may not be exactly what you envision, but for John Higham, his wife September, and their children, it’s exactly what they had always wanted and saved for.

In June 2005, John, September, Jordan, and Katrina packed up and began a fifty-two-week adventure, visiting thirty countries on five continents, and crossing twenty-four time zones. They stayed with friends, strangers, college girls on spring break, and Polish shipyard workers with a penchant for striped boxer shorts and little else.

As they made their way across the world, the Highams found out about more than just food and culture; they learned that fish can easily mistake nipples for a snack, that a Chilean mall isn’t the best place to get your ears pierced, and that elephants appreciate flowers just as much as the next lady.

But more importantly, they learned about each other, and just how much a family can weather if they do it together.

Something to read with your kids, your parents, or perhaps en route to your own adventure, 360 Degrees Longitudeis filled with funny stories, incredible pictures, and a whole lot of sunshine.

John Higham is an aerospace engineer, with an expertise in satellites. He is also an avid traveler, frequently writing and lecturing on his own experience traversing the globe. The Higham family currently resides in Mountain View, California.

 

In June 2005, John Higham quit his job as a rocket scientist, and along with his wife (who also quit his job, packed up their home and for the next 52 weeks visited 29 countries on five continents, and crossed 24 time zones.