[In The Ra Expeditions Heyerdahl's] narrative—and some of his more provocative theories as well—unfold with deceptive ease. The book is an effortless read and has an old-fashioned adventure story quality that sweeps it along as inexorably as the ocean currents which Heyerdahl believes were the conveyor belts of world culture. Anyone who enjoyed the vicarious thrill of riding them in a balsa raft, will take nostalgic pleasure in this papyrus venture, the cruise of the "paper boat." (p. 9)

Timothy Severin, "Place Your Trust in a Broken Reed," in Book World—Chicago Tribune (© 1971 Postrib Corp.; reprinted by permission of Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post), October 3, 1971, pp. 7, 9.