All the Time in the World

by John Gierach

Discover the answer to life’s most pressing problems through the joy of fly-fishing from master philosopher John Gierach.

Once again, John Gierach tells the world why the pastime of fly-fishing makes so much sense—except when it doesn’t. In sparkling prose, with more than a touch of humor, he recalls the joys of landing that trout he’s been watching for the last hour—and then losing an even fatter one a little later. Joy and frustration mix in Gierach’s latest appreciation of the fly-fishing life as he takes us from his home waters on the Front Range of the Rockies in Colorado to fishing meccas all over North America. From fishing lodges in Alaska to memories of the local creek in the Midwest where he grew up, Gierach reminds us about the indispensability of the natural world around us.

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

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2023

About the author

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

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely lovely book and writing. this is how i imagine books would turn out, in an ideal world, where people are free to think and dream and live and write. fishing has never been so #awesome

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the prose of John Gierach. Calm, light fishing stories with a little something more. Always keep one of his book in the truck. If I'm stuck waiting somewhere or just out by a river, I can read a chapter and just enjoy the story.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th John Gierach book I have read this year. It is a perfect companion during the long winter. As stated in All the Time in the world: “A good trout stream is like a good paragraph; linear and recognizable, but with a little surprise around every corner.” Each essay is full of surprises and trout.

[Chaz Contag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impulse purchase and read…. Beautiful. Incredibly thoughtful literature references…. Goofy ending.

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some John Gierach! He is one of the best outdoor authors in the business today. If you have any interest at all in fly fishing, nature, or just good buddy stories, you owe it to yourself to give him a look.
I found this book to be a bit different than all the other (and there are many I have read) author's books. At times you could literally feel that Gierach was a bit morose. Completely understandable, as he wrote the book during the Covid lockdown. For a guy used to traveling all over the place fishing, this is completely understandable, as we ALL felt a bit like we were penned in. And in the process, we had to slow way down, and examine our own mortality. But he manages to keep fishing, taking day trips to some of his more local streams and rivers. And in the process of rediscovering them, he finds a bit of his old self again. He's still the guy you love to fish with, and to listen to his stories around the campfire!
This is excellent writing. As always, I found myself standing alongside the author (although at the mandated 6 foot Covid separation). He points out things I have observed myself while fishing, things I have forgotten about, and things that I should be more on the lookout for.
I felt the same way, being cooped up. During the roughly two year lockdown, I missed the comradeship of my good fishing buddies. And, unfortunately, several of them passed away during the nightmare, so I will never be able to fish with them again.
But things are getting back to normal. I have a bunch of fishing trips scheduled with friends, as I'm sure Gierach does. If anything, we will appreciate the time together, and the experiences had, more than we did before.
There is one quote from the book that really resonated with me, and I would like to share it. "...in fact I was never entirely successful as a hippie. I believed in peace, love, and the simple life in a general way, and still do, but my redneck strain ran deep and the yin-and-yang symbol you saw everywhere then as an emblem of balance and harmony always reminded me of two pork chops in a frying pan". EXACTLY!!!
I cannot wait to read the author's next book. I'm sure he's going to hit the ground at a full gallop, and will have tons more great stories to tell.

[Thomas Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book in the long line that the author John Gierach related to the wonderful world of fishing. There are many adventures told of his travels allover North America some trips with longtime friends and others first time meetings including one trip that included a dog who would go nuts every time he caught a fish. It is amazing to learn that he did not take up fly-fishing until his 20's but it sure seems he has made up for it over the last 50+ years. He not only talks about catching fish, who also discuss the various environments, types of flies, how they are constructed. His discussion of bamboo fly rods was very informative and humorous when he talks about the Whistling Gophers. John even touches on what many would consider a dream job including himself, that being a fishing guide and how that really is not the case but thank God for the good ones. He reminds us that even a bad day fishing is a good day and how many of us would drive for many hours for a chance at just one hour of fishing. You can also find yourself relating to some of the odd ball people you run into who have no clue like the story he talks about the person who ask what kind of uniform does a cattle guard wear. You will not be disappointed with this read.

[Joeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well after all these years of reading Gierach… he’s slowly mellowing into one of us good guys… He’s been there all the time dancing about in that enigmatic rebel costume.. I’m not a big reader… But reading 16 books by the same old dude in 21 years? Come on? Really? Yep it was 2002 when I first discovered “Sex Death and Fly Fishing” tic tic tic. Then a few later the hook was set in “Another Lousy Day in Paradise” I pray for John like he’s a family member.. May God protect his mind and health as long as those carefree antics out in this earthly paradise last. My biggest problem as a retired fishing addict… is finding time to escape with John… It’s that loud battery operated clock tick that keeps gettin louder. It’s real distracting!

[Roger Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Gierach's other books and have reread several of them. This one feels a bit lackluster in comparison. It's not bad, but seems uninspired and in certain chapters, unfinished. Like words got put down, but the idea never got fully developed. I enjoyed the descriptions of how the Covid pandemic brought normal life, including fishing, to a screeching halt in some respects. I think that maybe this book reflects the author's "meh" feeling about that entire experience.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an incredible selection of short stories and recollections. The pacing is reminiscent of a grandfather recounting fishing tales in an easy chair. I picked this up occasionally and would read outside next to the flowing water of my yard’s water feature. This book is one to meditate on and allows the reader ample time to slow down, appreciate nature, and take in life lessons from a man who’s learned many.

[Russell James · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. John of the River only gets better with age, and nowhere is that more true than the last of his works published in his lifetime. His prose has come a long way since Sex, Death, & Fly Fishing or even his classic Trout Bum. It has opened up with the wisdom of age, as has his views on everything from the turbulent politics and environment of 2020. He deftly documents his fishing exploits during that burning pandemic year with a grace his younger self couldn’t have.

What a treasure.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Gierach tells stories about his fishing adventures in the Rockies in Colorado, this is where his home is and in different areas of North America.
It is an ok book. Some stories are interesting, other stories leave you hanging or feel incomplete, but his humor does peek through here and there.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read by a master of the fly-fishing narrative, based mainly on his exploits near his Colorado home (a place he moved for the fishing) and around North America, along with memories of fishing when he was young.

For those who fish or merely enjoy an armchair journey, this is a joyful bit of storytelling.

[Thomas D. Bunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fisherman's dream

John Gierach's writing takes one back to fly fishing adventures with friends on familiar streams. I look forward to each books as a treasure trove of remembering my own adventutes. Thanks for the memories John...........

[Dillon]

No official rating on memoirs/biographies/recollections

A great book filled with wonderful memories of fishing adventures that John had. His writing style is easy to follow and easy to imagine being in each scenario. A fun, quick read.

[Nickle Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this author. I highly recommend any of his books when you need a break from heavier reading. This is similar to his other works. Nothing profound... just a humorous personality telling fishing stories.

[bob teeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story telling

It’s always nice to be taken along on fishing and life trips especially when it’s told in a good, true, and thoughtful way

[Brian Kenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best fishing stories

John tells some of the best fishing stories around. I have read 5 of 20. I am looking forward to the rest.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent collection of fly fishing stories from the original trout bum!

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the name drops, especially for my man Jim H. And the description of the outdoors and joys of fishing is great. Not much tension in the way of a story arc but good stuff.

[Dan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

He's done it again.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of his life very best. A lot of looking back in this book that includes the recent history of the forest fires, the droughts, and COVID. I hope this isn't his last.

[drowningmermaid]

See also: fly fishing

[Aron Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Gierach just keeps getting better.

[Russ Pate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some interesting and witty observations about Flyfishing during the COVID pandemic.

[Katie Haasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

One man’s perspective on how fly fishing is freeing and allows one to take all the time in the world.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice written and nicely told. I guess this will age with other pandemic books.

I enjoyed the stories. Thanks for including the fishing lie and flies used.

Tight lines!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could do without the political commentary (I think most of us seek books like this to escape the mainstream), but great writing nonetheless.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much liberal swill for my taste. He used to be good, got recognized, and then turned into a buffoon. He used to be a favorite. Oh well.

[Chris Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful as always, so sad it's his last. I feel I have lost a good friend.

[Michelle Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soothing and hypnotic, with vivid descriptions of nature and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor.