An Extravagant Life: An Autobiography Incorporating Blue Water, Green Skipper

by Stuart Woods

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stone Barrington series tells the story of his own life from childhood to the present, and chronicles the journey that made him the writer he is today.Over the last forty years, Stuart Woods has written more than ninety novels of suspense and intrigue, beginning with the award-winning Chiefs. Featuring iconic crime-fighting and jet-setting leads, the plots are masterfully conceived and wonderfully escapist.  What many readers don’t know is that Woods's very own life was filled with similar stories of adventure. Born in Georgia, Woods worked in advertising in New York, served in the US Air Force, and had a short stint as an advance man. At the age of 37, he found himself in a transatlantic sailing race, and pursued writing as a full-time career shortly thereafter. Along the way, Woods has lived all over the world, from New York to London, Santa Fe to Ireland. Incorporating his iconic sailing memoir Blue Water, Green Skipper, this is the story of a life well-lived, and a special inside look into the beloved author’s many exploits.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

476 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2022

About the author

Stuart Woods was an American novelist best known for Chiefs and his long-running Stone Barrington series. A Georgia native, he initially pursued a career in advertising before relocating to England and Ireland, where he developed a passion for sailing. His love for the sport led him to write his first published work, Blue Water, Green Skipper, about his experiences in a transatlantic yacht race.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t waste your time or money. The first hundred pages are just a list of names and facts about people we never heard of which turn out to be Stuart’s relatives. Boring.

The next 250 pages are the book blue water, green skipper a non-fiction book he wrote a long time ago about sailing. Horrible, only got through part of it then skipped over to last section.

Finally these last 100 pages were more interesting. At least it was a little more than listed facts. Lots of it is listed facts with no connection between them. He bills it as an autobiography yet it only covers a small portion of his life and he doesn’t connect the pieces.

There were a few paragraphs that were interesting out of 450+ pages where you go to to know the real Stuart Woods. He bragged about getting out of bed at 11 each morning and writing for an hour. He could finish so much in this short amount of time as he didn’t go back and reread what he wrote and he only did a little editing.

I think his publisher doesn’t care what he puts out anymore and they just print and publish whatever pages he turns in. He’s done 90+ books so far as looking to get to 100, I guess not caring about the content.

[Julie Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story about sailing the Atlantic in a one man sailboat. Author seems full of himself and tries to impress the reader with all the “famous” names he continually drops. As far a memoir goes this one is very strange. Not really impressed.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of time. 1st part of book - boring, 2nd- part - more boring and 3rd part - you get it. I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank goodness I didn't pay for it. I would have been angry. Do not waste your time.

[Wendell Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished this last book by Stuart Woods, and gave it five stars out of respect for his overall work. I will miss the hours of entertainment he has provided to me through these 90+ books. I had read “Blue Water, Green Skipper” many years ago, and it’s inclusion in this book was repetitious, as well as confusing for those of us not familiar with sailing terms and ways. But a great writer has passed on, and made Georgia proud that he graced our planet and our bookshelves for so many years. RIP Stuart!

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!! It was interesting to learn about his life!! Starting to love this author’s books!!

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to claim that I read this because I only read the first 20 or so pages and then the last 100. I'm a recovering Stone Barrington fan. Last summer, the fever of my sickness of reading the books broke, and I've been free of his lame prose every since. I was a big fan of the first 15 or so, but the quality went down as it so often does in a long running series. "Writing" four books a year doesn't make for intricate plots or character development. His schedule is to write one hour a day, seven days a week with no rereads or editing. Explains a lot. A library friend had put this autobiography on reserve for me, partly as a favor and partly as a joke, as she knew I had stopped reading his books.

When I received the email saying the book was waiting for me, I thought, how bad can it be? The Barrington books ran barely 300 pages and were nearly large print with lots of white space. They are easily read in an afternoon. I actually laughed when I picked up this 465 page book with normal printing. I thought he must have saved his real writing for this.

Wrong. I'm not sure how much of this book is true, but suffice to say, Mr. Woods is just as shallow and uncomplicated in thought as Stone has become. If you want a listing of the real estate, automobiles, and planes he has owned, this is your book. He even throws in a list of his wives. If you wanted a little insight into anything else, sorry.

Don't waste your time. Never waste your money on his books. Visit your local library.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuart Wood’s book an Extravagant Life is supposed to be an autobiography. However, it includes the iconic sailing memoir Blue Water, Green Skipper, which is boring and full of names and boring. Jump to the last part where he talks/brags about his life. There are some background stories about his family and life which I found interesting. He has lived all over the world and writes about his life before writing became his main occupation. His life is interesting, and you can see where sailing and flying are drawn upon in his novels. After reading some memoirs you feel a closer connection to the author in this case just meh. Having said that I am still a fan 

[George · Rating 1 out of 5]

14 hours of boooorrrrrrrrriiiiiiinnnng. I only got a couple of hours into it and had to put it down because it was not my kind of thing. I understand that there are two more parts to the book but I never got there. In the parts that I did read, he had a childhood in America...suspect an autobiography. Not my kinda book. I recommend that you not bother with this one. DNF. Concur with other reviewers, don't waste your money nor your time.

[Barry Martin Vass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more a memoir than an autobiography. Stuart Woods was one of the most prolific authors of our time, often writing a complete novel in as little as thirty days. Before his death on July 22, 2022 (he died peacefully in his sleep), his publisher was routinely releasing five novels from him every year. Born in Manchester, Georgia, on January 9, 1938, Woods was a month shy of his fourth birthday when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He remembers the change in daily life, the men going off to war, and at least one casket coming home. Graduating from the University of Georgia in 1959, this details his time in the Air National Guard, his work in advertising in New York City during the Golden Age of advertising, his subsequent move to London, and then his move to Ireland, where he began work on his first novel, Chiefs. (Chiefs is the story of three generations of lawmen and the murder of a teenager in a small southern town. The winner of the Edgar Allen Poe award for best first novel, Chiefs was made into a CBS miniseries starring Charlton Heston, Danny Glover, Billy Dee Williams, and John Goodman.) But it was while he was living in Ireland that Woods took an interest in sailing. At first sailing only ten-foot dingies, he noticed that a long ocean race was coming up in 1976: the Royal Western/Observer Single-Handed Transatlantic Race. The fact that he could barely sail seemed to make little difference to him, nor did the fact that it was more than thirty-five hundred miles completely on his own: at thirty-eight he was looking for adventure! And boy did he get it. Roughly half of this book is his 1977 memoir Blue Water, Green Skipper about his time preparing, training, and participating in that race. An Extravagant Life indeed!

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Extravagant Life
An Autobiography Incorporating Blue Water, Green Skipper
by Stuart Woods
Pub Date 07 Jun 2022
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons
Biographies & Memoirs | Nonfiction (Adult)


I am reviewing a copy of An Extravagant Life: An Autobiography Incorporating Blue Water, Green Skipper through Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley:




Stuart Woods has written more than ninety novels of suspense and intrigue, over the past forty years. Starting with his the award-winning Chiefs. Featuring iconic crime-fighting and jet-setting leads, the plots are masterfully conceived and wonderfully escapist.




What readers aren’t often aware of is Woods's very own life was filled with similar stories of adventure. Born in Georgia, Woods worked in advertising in New York, served in the US Air Force, and had a short stint as an advance man. When he was thirty seven he found himself in a transatlantic sailing race, and pursued writing as a full-time career shortly thereafter. Along the way, Woods has lived all over the world, from New York to London, Santa Fe to Ireland. Incorporating his iconic sailing memoir Blue Water, Green Skipper, this is the story of a life well-lived, and a special inside look into the beloved author’s many exploits.



I found An Extravagant life an intriguing and fascinating read worthy of five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[Bob Bordonaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good not great. Not what I anticipated from him. There was too much sailing/yachting jargon which got old after a while. Was hoping for more about the writing of all his novels which ended up being only the last few pages. Still gave him four stars because of all the hours of enjoyment he’s giving me with the Stone Barrington series. Not hard to figure out who he modeled Stone from. Women, planes, homes and Elaine’s, they’re two of a kind.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for truly enjoying this autobiography by Stuart Woods. However, while the beginning - recounting his youth in small town Georgia - was interesting, his inclusion of "Blue Water, Green Skipper" did nothing for me. I have absolutely no interest in sailing, racing, etc.

Then he moved on to what he titled "The Later Years" and that, too, was a bit more interesting.

Overall, a mediocre read.

[Carol Irvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started Stuart Woods autobiography the nite before his family announced his passing. I will truly miss my favorite author’s books especially Stone Barrington… I am so glad I was reading his autobiography when I heard he had died - it brought me closer learning about his life. God bless 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[Neil McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was indeed a wonderful life, I read today while looking something up on Wikipedia about Woods that he had passed July 22, 2022 😞🙏 Rest in peace, thank you so much for providing the world your talent.

[Robert P. Baron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I don’t know if a landlubber can appreciate this book as I, an old avid sailor, did. Anything that can go wrong on a sailboat probably will. An amazing life . Now I know where Stone Barrington came from.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this autobiography of Stuart Woods, after all, he is the author of one of my favorite series, the Stone Barrington books.
I was a bit disappointed that he did not really talk about the books or character development, but altogether a great bio.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting way to write an autobiography. Stuart Woods is wrote this in a conversional style… just like he is sitting across from you and having a nice conversation. I liked the format and enjoyed the narration of his life. Thankfully he wrote it in time.

[Deborah Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I loved reading about the lice of Stewart Woods. I love Stone Barriton novels. Know that Woods has incorporated his life in the books. Woods is a very interesting person.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed. The book focused mostly on Woods’ sailing and not on his life.

[Halifax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Beth Sauser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read all of his books, I really enjoyed learning about the interesting life the author lived. He enjoyed life to the fullest. Good for him!!

[Sunnie Trickett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but I couldn't give this book a good review. I loved every Stuart Woods book so when he died I had to get this autobiography. But it's just boring, so so boring.

[Claire Sellers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected, though not sure what I expected other something a little more interesting.

[Elizabeth Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't include much of his life as a writer - mostly about his life as a sail boat skipper. Interesting but also disappointing.

[Ashley Hite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Stuart Woods for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Stuart Woods is one of my favorite authors, and his Stone Barrington novels have been a must read of mine for years so I was very excited to get a glimpse into the author's life with his new autobiography. Sailing, and a nonfiction book about it that he wrote years ago takes the main stage in much of this book, there is some background stories about his family and life that I found interesting. He has lived all over the world and speaks about his life before writing became his main occupation. It is not often that we get a glimpse into the authors real world and it was nice to step out of the fiction and meet the man behind the pen.