Beachcombing at Miramar: The Quest for an Authentic Life

by Richard Bode

Bode went to a California beach to discover the truth about his life. Contemplating the sea & the shore, tuning in to the rhythms of the tides, he observed, he experienced, he remembers. This book has the power, like the sea, to reshape our lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Memoir, Short Stories, Travel

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Steffany Cartellone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this while hiking through the Grand Canyon. Spent 3 nights down in the Canyon and then hauled my ass out and finished reading on the drive back to Iowa. The pages are highlighted, underlined and torn. I think I've read this book 4 or 5 times. I love it and love his words. I read it at a time I needed it. As the saying goes, "Sometimes we don't pick books; sometimes they pick us." This is one of them for me.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Richard Bode seeks to find the meaning of his life - a common theme in the human saga. In this particular case, he leaves a successful good paying job in New York City, leaving family behind, and goes to a beach in California to figure things out. Living in a beach house along the shores at Miramar, Bode appears to read and journal and observe the people and, particularly, the beach area around himself and try to figure out who he is and what he is about. And, some of his reflections are insightful; others not so much.

Without disregarding the insights Bode discovered, my lack of enthusiasm overall for the book comes from the fact that his example can not be replicated by most readers. Without immense savings upon which to survive while not really working and figuring things out, most readers cannot connect to this experience. Without wanting to sound to crass, this came across as a rich guy's story of trying to figure out that life is more than making money. And, perhaps that is an unintended insight a reader could make - as most people who do not have a lot of money already know this fact.

In fairness, there is nothing really wrong with the book, or the insights Bode shares. Hopefully readers can gleam something with which to connect to their own life and journey.

[Robin Zia · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I believe the desire for beauty is built into me, as it is built into everyone, and that our lifelong quest for it is our greatest and most important morality play.”

[Bartholomew Timm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, insightful and thought-provoking, but not nearly as good as First You Have To Row A Little Boat. Written post-divorce, there are depressing and self-pitying moments which run counter to his "quest" for an authentic life. Still, it was worth reading.

[Ash Hiebert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uuuuugggggghhhhh! I read this about a decade ago, in my early 20's and loved it. Reread it thinking it would give me the same experience and I couldn't get over how high and mighty the book felt. There just seemed to be so much judgement on other people's lives throughout the whole book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I were a writer, this is what I would write ... and how I would write it.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this while beachcombing on the Gulf of Mexico, and appreciate the synchronicity of his mentioning sandpipers and then seeing several; limpets and then seeing them; and the tides and waves wash over both of us through time. I lived along the Gulf many years ago, and was the beachcomber there, nearly every day or every evening in the long languid days of summer, and I miss the me there every day. Life swirled around me, and it wasn’t easy, and dragged me down, but the waves and the light, my god, the light brought me through and I cherish it all. The author is seeking an authentic life, and love, and has insight into the hermit view of life, which I can appreciate but can’t make my own. Lovely read, and captures the life of the beachcomber I was.

[Maryam Nawaf]

never been this heartbroken for finishing a nonfiction book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man moves to Miramar Beach to find himself and an authentic life.

[Keen Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I had earned the money, but I didn’t need it. She hadn’t earned the money, but she did need it…she acquired financial security; I purchased my freedom, which was more precious to me than breath itself.”

This is a bit of a gem, I unearthed, after being buried beneath the stacks of my books for years. Bode isn’t a name I knew anything about before, but this really pulled me in early on and the quality and the power of the writing really filtered deep into me.

“Now I see that to be confused is to be strong. Confusion forces me to assess my situation, to move with care, to evaluate my progress and correct my course as I go along.”

You always run the risk with books like this of falling into self-indulgent pretentiousness and you can use a lot of words to say very little of substance and dress up clichés as profundity, and I have to say that Bode and his book are a refreshing exception, there is some really interesting ideas in here and they are explored in some really satisfying ways.

“I have now reached a point in my life where I regard silliness as a virtue, perhaps the first sign of sanity.”

“But my enemies aren’t your enemies, I tell her. My enemies are those who want to defend me by destroying what I love.”

“Two individuals who are together but not together, who don’t respond to the world about them in the same way, are by far the loneliest people of all.”

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes for a contemplative vacation read or perhaps when one is pondering a transition or life change (e.g., going from school to work, changing jobs). The musings by the author make for a good framework in prioritizing one’s life, but it is at times overly simplistic (e.g., just breathe, ignore the negative, don’t worry) and a little focused just on the self rather than including how to reconcile one’s life with others.

[Earthwatchaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine is on a quest for meaning in his life and doing a lot of reading. In talking about books he might want to read, I remembered Richard Bode's First You Have To Row A Little Boat. In looking for it, I discovered this gem. It is a book that can be a very quick read but benefits from consciously slowing down and savoring it.

[Becca (This book could have been shorter) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this book after listening to Andrew Ranells talk about it in his. I think I missed the point. Either that, or society is so laden with influencers who preach these concepts all the time that it’s already been heard.

[Anakah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay- so I only read half...it was that good.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat pretentious paean to s simpler life.

[Sadie Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one (subjectively) correct way to write a think-piece. So many good lines in this. It’s just the perfect amount of descriptive. It communicates important concepts in an interesting and engaging way. Every chapter is based on some sort of overarching metaphor. I think that is such a simple and beautiful way to write a book that makes you think. A hard pill to swallow, but easy to digest.

A couple excerpts I liked:

“The tide is rising. In a little while the waves will wash my mark away. But right now I am overcome by a need to assert my presence so the world will know I passed that way.”

“I realize now that I have a task that is greater than all the labors assigned to Hercules. It demands that I live in the richness of this moment because that is all I have or will ever know.”

“Gay men and women talk about “coming out of the closet,” as if they are the only ones too ashamed to show their true selves. But since the suicide of my friend I have come to believe that many of us would sooner die than remove our masks and stand barefaced before the world.”

[Joseph Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book and have also read Bode's other two books: First You Have To Row A Little Boat and Blue Sloop at Dawn. Loved all three. Couldn't find a biography anywhere. So in the spirit of 'If not me, then who?' I culled everything I could find - mostly from Bode's own words, book forwards and book jackets, plus a little bit online - and wrote this brief biography at my blog, which also includes book excerpts:

***** RICHARD BODE BIOGRAPHY *****
https://josephgunnwriting.wordpress.c...

This blog post gets hits from all over the world every single day. Richard is still reaching a devoted audience, and it is my pleasure and honor to contribute in my own small way to his legacy.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book for its simple message of hope in a world full of social anxiety & despair...although this was published in 1996. A writer finds personal salvation on a beach in California by his interactions with the sea, the beach & the people who frequent the sand & pebbles...many troubled souls looking for quietude & rest from the modern world.
Richard Bode writes sensitively about the human need for solitude...but not to the exclusion of other souls...& he finds his soul-mate close by.
If only more of us could touch souls more than touch bodies,eh?!

[Athena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maudlin, self-involved whining disguised as wisdom. Richard Bode apparently spent his time passing judgment on other people's marriages, jobs, beliefs, and hobbies. Bode comes across as an insufferable man-child who believed anything that cramps his style is evil and he is justified in everything hurtful he does to other people because the only thing that matters is pursuing your own happiness, regardless of the consequences. #noragretsnomesayin

I go on about this a bit at my blog: https://notmytypee.blogspot.com/2021/...

[Mary Padron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touches your soul and makes me wish I had a little beach house

Richard writes lines that are a lifeline to what we all want, peace within and to live our true authentic life versus living the life that we think society wants us to live. If you are a seeker or one who contemplates, you will like this book and maybe take a step closer to living your true authentic life. At the minimum, it will make you question, why do I stay on someone else's hamster wheel?

[Vicky Stanifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I just finished reading it for the second time. It reminds me of some of my favorite beaches, isolated places I love to be. The book is calming and hopeful. - - I don't agree with everything the author says, but that doesn't matter.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice quiet book to read at bedtime. Each chapter is a self-contained unit, a diary of a day or happening and the thoughts and memories evoked as they relate to the author's quest for renewed meaning in life.

[Marcia Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and reread it every couple of years, curious to see what new insights I can pull from its pages. It's like sitting with a dear old friend and talking about life, love, sadness, loss, and redemption.

[Susan Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sort of book that is easy to read but hard to truly embrace. Striving to an authentic life is like that. I have a feeling that I could and will read it again and find different feelings, different passages that touch me, and different thoughts to apply to my own life.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are excellent points to reflect on in this book. I feel many will find it more personal then most in this genre.

[Lisa McQuarrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in 1997. This is my third read through and each stage of my life offers a new set of insights. It’s a wonderful read.

[James Easterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“First You Have To Row A Little Boat”, (a book I love), together with this book spans the lifetime of Richard Bode the author. A man I respect and who’s wisdom strikes true to me. I wish I knew him.

[gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

rip richard bode u rly understood

[Trần Văn Tiến · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done <3

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure to revisit as often as possible. So many reminders of beauty and authentic life in here. I hate to devalue my love for this book with too many words. So. That’s it.