A poignant coming-of-age story… It’s 1966. Adrift and haunted by the question of ‘who am I’ and ‘what am I to do with my life,’ Susan thrust herself into the precarious unknown, hitchhiking on sailboats—an exhilarating worldwide quest in search of her future and ultimately herself. Transformed by heart-wrenching losses in her teens in the Midwest and her mind-expanding years in free-wheeling 1960s Berkeley, filled with cries of equality and freedom for all, Susan felt compelled to seek a consequential life. Her odyssey is an initiation into the global shift toward a new world order: the end of colonialism and establishment of independent governments in Papua New Guinea, overpopulation, and advances in birth control, and women’s rights in India and the US. She returned feeling herself a citizen of the world. As we emerge into adulthood, many of us have no idea what direction we should take. View From the Crow’s Nest is one woman’s pilgrimage to find a relevant sustainable life for herself. "Although few people have undergone the experiences that Bradford did in sailing around the world, she also writes about matters that everyone can identify with, such as the heartbreak she felt after the end of a romantic relationship. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-written, honest, compelling story." --Joe Wisinski, Readers' Favorite "Reading View From the Crow's Nest made me feel like a time traveler. The emotional ups and downs that Susan Bradford experienced on her journey led to her growth and independence. Sue changed from a girl who wanted to spontaneously abandon her crew to a woman who appreciated life and fought for other people's rights. The author gives eye-opening experiences about racism, colonialism, war, and political unrest." -- Luwi Nyakansaila, Readers' Favorite "Susan teaches a much wider lesson about grabbing life with both hands and finding out what it is you were put on earth to do." --KC Finn, Readers' Favorite "...an engaging, enlightening, inspiring read. It goes the extra mile by centering its experiences with social political and cultural encounters of the 60s." --Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review "The meandering memoir View from the Crow's Nest is filled with a youthful sense of longing; it covers inspiring travels across the world." --Clarion "The journey to the Old World proved transformative as she started to answer questions of identity and meaning in life. As a result, you feel emotionally invested in her journey; a lesson for anyone searching for purpose and meaning." --Maria Victoria Beltran, Readers' Favorite "Her adventures gave her a yearning to have a purposeful life that would enable her to serve others worldwide. Her desire to help others became a reality partly because she followed her heart and learned firsthand that many suffer." --Philip Van Heiden, Readers' Favorite