Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers

by John Gierach

Witty, shrewd, and always a joy to read, John Gierach, “America’s best fishing writer” ( Houston Chronicle ) and favorite streamside philosopher, has earned the following of “legions of readers who may not even fish but are drawn to his musings on community, culture, the natural world, and the seasons of life” ( Kirkus Reviews ).

“After five decades, twenty books, and countless columns, [John Gierach] is still a master” ( Forbes ). Now, in his latest original collection, Gierach shows us why fly-fishing is the perfect antidote to everything that is wrong with the world.

“Gierach’s deceptively laconic prose masks an accomplished storyteller…His alert and slightly off-kilter observations place him in the general neighborhood of Mark Twain and James Thurber” ( Publishers Weekly ). In Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers , Gierach looks back to the long-ago day when he bought his first resident fishing license in Colorado, where the fishing season never ends, and just knew he was in the right place. And he succinctly sums up part of the appeal of his sport when he writes that it is “an acquired taste that reintroduces the chaos of uncertainty back into our well-regulated lives.”

Lifelong fisherman though he is, Gierach can write with self-deprecating humor about his own fishing misadventures, confessing that despite all his experience, he is still capable of blowing a strike by a fish “in the usual amateur way.” “Arguably the best fishing writer working” ( The Wall Street Journal ), Gierach offers witty, trenchant observations not just about fly-fishing itself but also about how one’s love of fly-fishing shapes the world that we choose to make for ourselves.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Outdoors, Sports, Nature, Essays

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

John Gierach was an American author and freelance writer who lived in Larimer County, Colorado.

Reviews

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just have to love John Gierach! After reading a dozen of his books, I still look forward to his next one.. Be it on the stream, in the truck on the way to the stream, or just listening to him describe a setting or unique personality; I always feel like I am standing next to him as I read the stories. Especially now, when we are all quarantined in our homes (here in Washington they have even closed fishing season!). Just the escape I needed!

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, disappearing into Gierach's fishing world is just what the doctor ordered! The usual fun and funny observations from flyfishing trips around the midwest and the west, with a very special chapter on the unique fishing at Pyramid Lake for Lahontan cutthroats from a stepladder, one of the wonderful experiences shared with my gang in the California years! Thanks for the gift, Wily!

[Trevor Seigler · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I feel it's good to get out of your comfort zone as a reader from time to time, and pick up something that you may not otherwise try to read because it's not something that you usually care about or try to get into. In this case, I know nothing about fishing. Never been fishing, never made it through more than a few minutes of any fishing show on TV (my apologies, Bill Dance), and never had much interest in fishing. But I found this book for cheap at a local bookstore and was intrigued enough to give it a try.

"Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers," by John Gierach, turned out to be my kind of book, for the most part. It's an essay collection (always a bonus when dealing with a subject I know next to nothing about), breezy and entertaining and pretty light overall on the technical aspects of fishing (though those are here, and confusing enough to leave me scratching my head at the terminology). Consisting of various travels Gierach has undertaken to pursue his love of the sport, it's more a travelogue than anything else, and I enjoyed that aspect of it the most. I also found Gierach to be a witty, entertaining writer.

Am I going to suddenly embrace the notion of fishing as something to do? Eh, not really. But I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, as a non-fisherman. I feel like even books about the most obscure stuff I've never gotten into can be good if they'r well-written and engaging, and "Dumb Luck" is just that. I have no doubt that an avid fisherman or -woman would rate this a lot higher, but I think three stars is good enough for a book about a subject I'm not well-versed in.

[Lynn G.]

Pleasant enough, good narrator, I'm just not interested in a 7-and-half-hour long book about fly fishing.

[Gerald Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good writer. One of the first chapters gives the reader more details of the author's development and why he has settled in Colorado.
He certainly travels to fishing destinations all over North America and takes us along for the ride.
I really enjoy the cover of this book. When he writes about all the various trout he has pursued and how he is mostly a catch and release angler, it encourages the reader to go and do likewise for the good of the resource.

When he writes about muskies and other species that will take a fly he seems to be apologizing because his real interest is trout first and foremost. An excellent book for anglers and conservationist to enjoy.

[Paul Kulyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life, ageing, McGuane, Muskellunge.

[Richard Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you do not know the vocabulary of fly-fishing, this is a great book about life from the eyes of a wise man.

[Keenan Bartlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a masterclass in storytelling, weaving humor, insight, and nostalgia into tales that feel as alive as the streams he fishes.

Gierach’s descriptions of the natural world are unparalleled. His ability to capture the serenity of a quiet morning on the water or the thrill of hooking a fish brings the scenes to life. His dry wit and humility shine through, making the book both entertaining and deeply relatable—even if you’re not an avid angler.

The only reason I’m not giving it a full five stars is that a few sections felt a bit meandering, but honestly, that’s part of Gierach’s charm. His writing mirrors the unpredictable flow of a fishing trip, with moments of stillness and surprise.

If you appreciate sharp observation, vivid imagery, and the kind of storytelling that reminds you to slow down and savor life, this book is a fantastic read. Gierach’s love for fishing and the outdoors is infectious, and his ability to find meaning in the simplest of moments is truly inspiring.

[Joeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank-you, John Gierach, for another page turner that I thought might never come. I’ve found myself selfishly praying more for your general health & no more writers block, than your casting elbow. While your life essays may be based on your progression from Midwestern bait fisherman to High West fly fisherman, they seem to have been cosmically extracted from the cumulative memories of the greater conciseness of all fishermen. As we both know there is a lot of subject matter in between to humor us readers. “Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers” may very well prove to be your best work yet... Loved the more fish content. When I read thru it again I’m tighten up the disc drag a bit.
Kind Stranger

PS, Not serious about strapping you to a drift boat in your golden years... I do wish you & all your joints the best!!

[Jack Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to give it a three, but all in all it's just another Gierach book. Stunningly similar to all the others.

I found one chapter to be really touching. The rest were just fishing stories told as he tells them.

I probably would have been just as satisfied had I picked up one of his classics like "Sex, Death and Fly Fishing" or "Trout Bum."

The book isn't bad, it's well written. His dry approach to writing is what has made him successful and that pulls through in this book.

I don't regret buying it and reading it. But I suspect this will be my last Gierach novel (to buy). If I want a nostalgic story about trout streams and tight lines, I'll just pick up one of his older books already on my shelf.

Side note - who the hell has that much time to travel and fish? It truly is amazing.

[Jack Bartell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s the first time I have read John Gierach, and I’m pleased to say that I will definitely be reading more. I really enjoy his style of writing, and the format of the book. It seems to be a collection of essays, each chapter being a new “topic” or location. I’ve read similar books in the same category and been unimpressed despite the hype, however I found this book really easy to read and get into. I think one of the things I enjoy most about this book is how a lot of it is just about fishing. Sure, it involves lessons of life we get from fly fishing experiences- but much of the book is relatable to fly fishers which I love. I also really enjoyed that we travelled all over the country in this story. I think I’ll be reading Troutbum next!

[Thomas DeHart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was very good at times, at other times repetitive, which at this point John Gierach probably struggles not to be, he has been doing it so long and is such a master of the craft. I don't know why there were so many stories on Musky fishing, I felt that they were scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill out pages with those. And at times I feel like John Gierach is becoming the very thing he swore to destroy as a Trout Bum, rule determined and confined to his lawn and yelling at others to get off of it.

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dole out Geirach's books to myself, one story at a time, trying to make them last. Read over the winter, as my mind turns to warm weather and fishing Geirach's books leave me contemplating much more than the coming fishing season. It's the characters and the brief glimpses of human behavior, both expected and unexpected that make the story. Well done again!

[Matt R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a decent book. I've read many of fly fishing books, and this was a nice change from the "This is what you do". I do love me a good fishing story, and this book is full of them. It wasn't hard at all to visualize then when's and the what's. I will probably try and hunt down some of his other books.

[C.F. Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gierach does it again with a series of hilarious, and enlightening, essays on the life of a fly fisherman. I always leave his works with a smile on my face and an itch to catch a trout. It might be time to hit the river.

[Patricia Tennesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most definitely for flyfishers only. Anyone else would be bored. I was not at all bored, but I could see that only those crazy enough to flyfish (a frustrating sport) would enjoy endless tales of flies, rods, destinations, and lodges. Oh, and then there is the fishing.

[Jen Hoggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first but not my last Gierach book, and I know nothing about fishing. well, I guess I'm learning! But his humor is gentle and dry, his wordsmithing is beautiful, and his love of humanity and the great outdoors comes through in every line.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Sparse prose that tells you exactly what you need to know but nothing you don't...

[Zane Hesting · Rating 5 out of 5]

His two books prior to this were really good, but this one was better. It's moved into my top three favorite Gierach books alongside "Sex, Death, and Fly Fishing" and "The View from Rat Lake"

[Aron Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always think Gierach's next book can't be as good as his last, I'm always wrong. Another great read from the Godfather of fly writing.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a treat to read Gierach. If I had to offer criticism (why only 4 stars), it would be that too many chapters were about fish other than trout or salmon. Otherwise, excellent as usual.

[Bob · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading p77. Very fly fishing focused and his travels with/or meeting others.

[Gary Chorpenning · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely reflection on life, fly fishing, and the world around us.

[Nasim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never enjoyed fishing, but this book made me want to try it out. I like his writing style and found it interesting even when previously the subject was 'meh' to me.

[Stephen Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One star deducted for the unnecessary ad hominem directed at the good people of Cleveland, myself included. Otherwise another great read for Gierach.

[Richard Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a joy to read John Gierach!

[Brian Grouhel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Gierachs' stories never fail to entertain and evoch memories of our own fishing adventures both past and future yet to come. Already looking forward to my next book of his!

[Johann Rossouw · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Gierach may just be the best in this genre!

[Dave Hudak · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Gierach is my FAVORITE fishing author - this is his second newest (I think), and I am very much looking forward to this.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This motherfucker don’t miss