Skinny Dipping at Low Tide: A Saga of Squeezed Shorts, Shattered Dreams, and Embarrassing Riches

by M. F. Hamlin

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Ashley McLain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I savored Skinny Dipping at Low Tide for many reasons: smart writing, great dialog, clever drawings, vivid characters, and a very amusing trip down memory lane. It was a blast to read this roman a clef, having grown up in the same place. Other than hearing the author’s band at one of our high school reunions, I had no idea what the author had been up to as a grown up. I was delighted to discover that his corporate journey, retirement and writing timelines have all paralleled my own (though with huge differences). The music and culture references had me laughing out loud – flashbacks were spot on. And the genuine philosophical self-inquiry is all too familiar. Excellent work F.M., I mean M.F. Hamlin! Keep writing.

[Mary Adair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly adored Skinny Dipping. It was a surprising and satisfying 7-layer dip: memoir mixed with critique of corporate America mixed with satire mixed with gaming history mixed with music lyrics mixed with cultural metaphors mixed with GameStop thriller. And the author's illustrations are impressive, too!

[Brad Bollner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be compelling just for the full access to “the room where it happened”, but it turns out Hamlin can really write. Scathingly funny, he spares the rod for no one, least of all himself. As improbable as the GameStop short squeeze story was, the fact that fate put a true bard in the center of it all for the benefit of rest of us??? Such a fun read.

[Britt Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Skinny Dipping in just over a day (I couldn’t put it down). Loved it as a business book, a stock market book, but also as book about finding meaning in life (family, friends, making your mark, etc).

[Brenk Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining read. The writing is clear and insightful with a heavy dose of humor. The dialog flows naturally and quickly. And I loved the inventive way the author wove musical references into narrative.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story and the narration!

A good insight to corporation mentality when problems have yet to be solved.

Recommend it !

[Nathan Ohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! Wonderful writing, laugh-out-loud stories and characters, and insightful lessons from the business world.

[Tennessee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are both ourselves and of our era. This is a witty inside take on the GameStop short squeeze. It’s also a haunting testimony to the blessings and burdens of privilege.