Ed Robinson’s first book, Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat, was an Amazon best seller in multiple categories. Now he’s back with this hilarious look at the nautical lifestyle. From Poop to Booze to Bikinis, he covers the funnier side of the issues encountered by boaters all of types. With chapters like Signs You Live on a Boat, Stupid People on Rental Equipment, and Zombies Can’t Swim, you’ll find plenty of laughs. There’s even a chapter for Tim Dorsey fans. If you are a liveaboard, cruiser, weekender, wannabe boater, have boating friends, or are just a fan of Ed Robinson’s wit, you will enjoy this light hearted romp through many maritime topics.
What an incredibly distasteful cover. I'm generally fan of all things to do with yachts and sailing, but the title and cover made me think that rather a lot of this book, described by a reviewer as "low-brow" were going to be extremely sexist. I don't mind the odd sexist joke, the blonde ones are generally fun, but not when they are semi-serious.
I had a very bad experience with a captain, a woman and an author. I was in the Caribbean and needed a job and a charter boat was advertising. At the time I weighed about 140lb. The woman was very blunt as she saw me, she said, not bothering to cover the disgust on her face, "I don't want anyone on board who doesn't look good in a bikini. Most of my charter are men and they expect it."
Revenge is a dish best eaten cold they say. Mine came many years later when despite blandishments from the author, her best friend and numerous fake requests from people asking for her book in the shop I refused to carry it. I gave it a crap review on Amazon too. (I don't normally review books by any authors I know on or off line, but this was an exception!)
Another time one of the world's biggest trimarans was going to sail to the Galapagos and charter there. I so wanted to do this and went to see the owner, a couple I knew quite well. I'd even had lunch with wife who was the business brains. I didn't get the job. The wife wasn't sailing out to the Galapagos, her husband instead was captaining the boat, and she said, again not bothering to cover her hard face, "You're too pretty. I'm not having anyone my husband might fancy on board."
I never got back at Jannie. In fact I remained quite friendly with her for years and I never ever told her that it was young cabin boys that her husband really liked and that's why they always had a poor young Asian boy around usually a refugee who had no one to complain to.
Several crew positions I did take from men always involved me having to leave the boat because I wouldn't screw them. The problem is that it is mostly older men who own boats and quite a number of them (all?) think that the is enough of a lure to get a young woman whose pay will include them having to be a whore to the wrinkly old guy. I like sailing, I like boats, I'm not a gold-digger so I'm not screwing them. I lost one circumnavigation like that.
Yes, I do judge a book by it's cover, all bookshop people do. And I'm not reading this one. How in this day and age someone can put a cover on a book like that I don't know.
Ok, first I will admit the author has a sense of humor and someone I would have no problem sharing a beer with. But I didn't feel the book had a lot to offer - I felt it was more like reading about funny past times in the cruising lifestyle without any real plot. Thank you for a few laughs - but I wouldn't recommend.
Number 1 Bestseller at Amazon for Boating. Top Ten in 6 different categories; Adventure, Travel, Specialty Travel, Sports, Outdoor Recreation, and Boating.
Number 1 Hot New Release in all six of those categories!
Funny, very low brow book. An insider's view of the live aboard life of boaters. This short book is written in mostly one line sentences so it's like reading a list rather than reading a book. Lots of corny jokes and observations.
The best and pretty much the only way to read this book is to picture it in your mind as a stand up comedian talking to you. This is the funniest book i have read in a long time. The content it covers and the way the author writes is just like having a conversation with someone about poop, booze and bikinis. That's not the only thing this book covers though. I recommend this book to anyone that need a good laugh. Whether your a boater or not this is some funny sh*t!
I just finished both books and have read all of his books since. Ed is easy to read and holds your interest. If you Love boating or, as in my case, the dream of living on a boat. If it were my life I would probably go for a little larger boat or maybe even a big sail boat. With more comforts, like air, more modern electronics. So follow Ed’s advice if you are younger and get totally debt free. Ed, have you read Charles Daugherty’s blue water series. His adventures are sail boats in the Caribbean. If you are a boat bum or desire to be a boat bum, read Ed’s books. You won’t regret it.
Ed’s observations are definitely inline with what I have seen around the marina. I haven’t taken the leap to full time live abroad yet but enjoyed the stories in the book. I do agree I hate poop.
This book was a very funny look at the finer aspects of living aboard your own yacht. Lots of laughs, a must read if you are thinking of changing your living arrangements.
Entertaining and light hearted but thought provoking
This book is a collection of observations from a man who has been living on a boat for several years, and let's face it, that sounds pretty interesting by itself. Robinson writes in short witty stories with plenty of humor and style, making the book easy to read I short grabs kid reading time. The only drawback is that it's pretty short compared to what I imagine he could have put out. If it were half again longer I would have rated 5 stars.
Another interesting book by Mr. Robinson. Tales of boating triumphs and tribulations, but mostly living a life he and his wife enjoy. A fun read that I would recommend to the dreamers and adventure minded.
I read this book cover to cover twice last year. The stories in here make me laugh. The characters, including the author, remind me of some the people I encounter in my boating "adventures." I re-read a story or two when I am missing the water.
This is the second book in this series and as soon as I finish this review I am downloading another one to my Kindle! I guess it is true that truth us stranger than fiction and funnier too!! Keep the stories coming!
Great book! Very similar style to the author's book "Leap of Faith", but much more enjoyable. Funny, informative, makes for a great short light read for those love the water and wish to run away from the world one day.
A book that every boater or boating dreamer that doesn't take themselves too seriously should read. A book for everyone's on board library that fills an evening with us laughing at ourselves and about our passion...boating.