Morning Glass: The Adventures of Legendary Waterman Mike Doyle

by Mike Doyle, Steve Sorensen (Contributor)

"Eccentric characters shuffle and strut in and out of Doyle's tale and breathe life into this unusual history of surfing." - Honolulu Star Bulletin"Full of humor and inside stories that capture the youthful joy and innocence of the formative years of the California beach culture." - San Diego Union-Tribune"Morning Glass is a thoughtful portrait of a man enthralled with the ocean." - Orange County Register"Mike has an incredible story to tell and every surfer who believes surfing is more than just a hobby must read it.” - Surfing Magazine"He came from a period when surf heroes were individuals, each with a distinct personality and character.... I suspect his revelations may ruffle a few feathers." - Steve Pezman, Surfer's Journal

302 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1993

Reviews

[Luke Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morning Glass: The Adventure of Legendary Waterman Mike Doyle is an autobiography of Mike Doyle, who is known to be one of the greatest surfers and watermen in history. Doyle grew up in Southern California with his mother and stepfather. At about 13 years old, Mike had seen surfers off the pier of Manhattan Beach and that instantly hooked him. When it became necessary that all he wanted to do was surfing, he got a ride from his step dad to the Malibu beach everyday where Doyle would spend time with his surfing gang. In Malibu he idolized many professional surfers, including Mickey Dora. The boy instantly began to focus all his days on surfing and other water sports, including: paddling, rowing, and swimming. Throughout the next couple years, he began gaining more respect in the surfing world and moved up the ranks to be considered one of the best in the world. His surfing career brought him to Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, and Peru and led him to be on the cover of Surf Magazine and multiple appearances on surfing films. Throughout his lifetime, he influenced and was included in the birth of major companies today as well as being the face of several companies that he was sponsored by. During his youth, he was a lifeguard, worked in a surfboard shop, toured the USA for an apparel company, and even started a surf wax business to support his lifestyle. Following his surfing career, he began an adventure to find his ideal lifestyle, by the means of moving around the country several different times including a brief stint of trying to manufacture a single ski for the snow, which failed. The book ends with Doyle having survived a near death experience in the water near his residence in the Baja Peninsula where he continues to surf, swim, and draw. Doyle’s adventures in this book reflect a true surfing icon and lifestyle in the 60’s and 70’s.

I enjoyed this book because I can relate to the surfing and action sports scene because I love doing outdoor activities and sports; this book connects to me personally. My personal reactions throughout events in the text were somewhat mixed, but in most cases I believe the text was interesting, funny, and well written. My reactions to Mike’s initial decision of reaching the water in any way possible was connection as I can connect to my personal passion of trying to reach the mountains. I also reacted well with one of his main values of exercising and working hard to achieve status within sports because I think you must outwork the competition to become the best. The way Mike rose to popularity in the book intrigued me as well because he never endorsed competitions and wanted to keep the soul surfing idea in the sport. However, although I deeply understand his passion for the sport and wanting to stay in his current lifestyle, I did not react well with his decision to evade the Vietnam Draft because I believe if you are chosen to serve you must honor that decision. Nevertheless, I reacted well with the book in many specific instances, including: the times when he surfed the craziest waves in Hawaii, never giving up on his dream lifestyle, not conforming to mainstream society, and for working hard to reach the point he is today. I liked reading this biography of Mike Doyle because it explained to me the start of modern surfing and how Mike Doyle had a large impact on it for years to come.

I would encourage reading this autobiography to learn about the origins of surfing and the way this legendary watermen influenced change within the surfing community forever. Doyle tries to keep the sport as close to the soul as possible and keep the negative effects of competition out. This book explains that is ok to not have your whole life planned out and be in the never ending cycle that end up taking over your lives. He shares that it is acceptable to follow your passions no matter how far they may lead you (for Mike it was Hawaii, Peru, Sun Valley, etc). Doyle uses well thought vocabulary and book structure that allows you to immerse fully into the surfing scene of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. This book has times of heartbreak and times of triumph and I recommend to everyone as it is extremely well done. By the end of the 1st chapter, you can feel and hear the waves of Southern California crashing as if you were on the beach with “Tiki Mike”. The author uses real dialogue in his biography to further explain his interactions and adventures along the way. This is a must read for anyone to further their knowledge on action sports and learn the ideas of one legendary surfer.

[Dr. Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an easy read. Some books read like you’re from the outside looking in. This read like I was there. I was born in 1948, 7 years after Mike, but I lived the entire SoCal culture and knew all the names and every inch of beach he talked about. Much more than the history of surfing, this book can reignite one’s humble attachment to the spirit of the ocean.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Doyle was at San Diego State when I was going there. He is a few years older, but we basically entered the surf scene at about the same time. His perspective struck some chords in my memory of the early days of surfing.

He was from an inland city, just as I was. The cool surfers were from La Jolla, PB or Del Mar in the San Diego area. Surfers are very clicky and being from "the flatlands" or hodad country incited localism and bad vibes. Whereas Mike found his place at Malibu, my buddies and I found it in Imperial Beach. We were among the first of the younger surfers to try out the sand bars after the jettys were built.

Mike's transition to the Hawaiian big wave breaks was notable. His depiction of how he came to be a world class surfer and waterman were so much fun to read. He knew all the great surfers of the late 50's and 60's. Just like the spate of "tell all" books by aging rock stars, a personal viewpoint adds so much to the story of surfing's transition from a lifestyle/art form to a mass culture corporate component.

I especially liked the personal perspective of turning to Baja California to capture some of the solitude and sharing that were a part of the early surf scene. Mike Doyle is a true waterman and a unique person with wide ranging interests and friends.

[Cooper Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this introspective and inspirational autobio ends up in the hands of young watermen and waterwomen. As a young swimmer, surfer, and junior lifeguard, this book made me reflect on my relationship with the ocean and showed me how far human limits can be pushed with the aid of passion, curiosity, and desire for adventure. I still think back on story of Mike swimming for days along the coast of Kauai as an example of what can be accomplished when perceived limitations are discarded.

[Cash Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about Mike Doyle's life. From his first trip to the North Shore, to riding a big wave at Y-Mesa, Mike Doyle's life was thouroughly interesting and amazing. It surprised me that he moved to Cabo, but then again, it is a place seemingly made for him. I was amazed by how he used his boat as a sail to get back to land alive, after remembering his whole life.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just fun to read. I read it during my second West-Pac deployment in the Navy somewhere between Australia and Hawaii. It chronicles his life growing up in Malibu and surfing around the world, not to mention some other things.

[Ig-88 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly beautiful soulful biography