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Recommended Reading

200K views 557 replies 257 participants last post by  Gaudrx3 
#1 · (Edited)
This site could benefit from a "library" or a recommended reading link. I know that suggestions have been made many times in various threads but who wants to go hunting for them? I thought that if I start a thread then we would all know what to look for when we were looking for recomendations for a good sailing read.

I have taken the liberty of cutting and pasting books that I am aware of that have been recommended in other posts and tried to give credit where it is due to whom it is due.

Perhaps the Administrator would make this post a sticky so as not to be lost until a link could be added to the resources section - if that is what is chosen to be done.
 
#303 ·
Did not read them all but what about ....

In the fiction section,

Jack London, "Sea Wolf" reportedly one of his best (at least the first half- then he goes a bit soft abaft the mizzen mast.

Quite enjoyed the Hornblower and Jack Aubrey-Maturin series, do you guys have any other suggested reading (sailing fiction?)

Non-fiction, Sailors Bible, and a Practical Guide to Keelboat Sailing, as well as Ridpath's book on the stars/planets would seem essential;

there is a true account about the whaling ship Essex, which Melville later made famous in Moby Dick, which is haunting- I cannot think of the title but am sure of you do an internet search you'll come accross it . as they say reality is stranger than fiction !- wouldn't recommend this for those with weak stomachs....but alas it's sailors whom I address!

M.
 
#304 ·
there is a true account about the whaling ship Essex, which Melville later made famous in Moby Dick, which is haunting- I cannot think of the title but am sure of you do an internet search you'll come accross it . as they say reality is stranger than fiction !- wouldn't recommend this for those with weak stomachs....but alas it's sailors whom I address!
In The Heart Of The Sea by Nathaniel Philbrook.
Great Book
 
#309 ·
Most of the books I would recomend have already been listed except

"An Island to Myself" by Tom Neale

Not a sailing book exactly, but the autobiography of a person who voluntarily stranded himself on a deserted island.

I have a hard back copy from an old library that closed down. In the back, just inside the cover, is a hand written message from a cruiser who read the book and decided to find Tom. He visited Tom on his island several times over the course of several years. He said that Tom died some years back. That message made the whole book much more personal to me.
 
#310 ·
Southwest and by West of Cape Cod is a WONDERFUL book -- and not just for Cape Codders or just sailors. It's about a boy's growing up on the seashore and in boats under the loving eye of a father figure we'd all adore. I was lucky enough to be asked to write the foreword for the most recent edition, now out of print but available (like most new books) at AbeBooks Official Site - New & Used Books, New & Used Textbooks, Rare & Out of Print Books.

John Rousmaniere
 
#311 ·
The three books I'd take if that was the limit:

Calder: Boatowners Manual for Mechanical and Electrical Systems (2nd edition - far superior to the text in the newer 3rd edition)

Calder: Cruisers Handbook

Letcher, John: Self Steering for Small Craft

(I haven't read all 32 pages of this topic, could be repeats)
 
#312 · (Edited)
Lemming

Like everyone else, I'd like to tell you about the great books I've recently read, and can't help myself. Someone... stop...me...

"North to the Night": Only 2 or 3 people have mentioned this one. Why? True, I closed the book not sure if I liked the arrogant sob or not, but it was a fantastic and intelligent tale.

"Der Orkan": Arrogant sob (me) didn't bother to look up title in English. Great reporting of the Sydney-Hobart disaster caused and endured by a bunch of.. well, you get it.

"Over the Edge of the World": Read it. More sobs than you can count.

"The First Voyage of the Joshua": Great read. Did I mention the author is an arrogant...hmmm...

"Voyage to Juneau": Painful but beautiful. Author shows his pain but hides behind his arrogance.

So is it just me, or do I only read (and enjoy) sailing books by... jerks? Maybe it is more evidence that most of us sailors are antisocial loners who just want to belong.

Hi, everybody!:D
 
#314 ·
more bombast



"Thunder and Lightning" is probably the best translation of the intent of the phrase, but "Storms and Desire" works for me too.

... or, you could say "bombast(ic)"

Did I mention my wife liked "An Embarrassment of Mangos"? As a book, a bit on the weak side, but as a way to get the better half dreaming, much better!
 
#316 ·
Score

Just picked up a copy of Dougal Roberson's Sea Survival: A Manual from a local used bookstore. Hopefully pick up a few tidbits from someone whose been there done that. It was alot less than I could have gotten it on Amazon.

Sam
 
#319 ·
Sturmundrang.....I know its a month since your last post but should you read this, and presuming you meant "Passage to Juneau" by Jonathan Raban I'm gobsmacked by your suggestion that Raban is arrogant. OK, maybe I am biased cos he is one of my very favourite authors and yes he does have that very English stiff upper lip reserve about him but arrogant ? I think not.

That said PTJ is a treasure. Along with Raban's "Coasting" it is one of my all time favourites and is responsible for kick starting my long distance love affair with the Pacific North West.
 
#322 ·
Racing Through Paradise, and Airborne, by William F. Buckley. Have a dictionary handy. No matter what you think of the man's politics, he was a balls-to-the-wall sailor with a true joy for cruising. And I'm not kidding about the dictionary; the man uses words that I have never seen before.
 
#550 ·
I'm trying to make my way through Airborne, and I need reasons for continuing to the end. While I appreciate the vocabulary lessons and his command of English, I find it difficult to keep the idea out of my head that I'm reading something by an elite snob with too much money and nothing better to do than write about how he spends his free time.
 
#551 ·
I was once out sailing my first boat a Bristol 24 late in the season on Long Island Sound. I was alone and came across another boat also sailing that late fall afternoon. I recognized the name as Buckley's boat at the time and could see him looking at me through binoculars. A some time later I met him backstage of a TV show. I introduced myself and mentioned our paths had crossed out on Long Island Sound. He responded "My Gawd I hope I didn't run into you." :)
I did enjoy his book Atlantic High.
 
#323 ·
Sail trim

Guys,

From a previous post we have managed to come up with a system that means we don't loose too much speed on our tacks and we have even managed to sort out our tactics for starts! It is now time for me to concentrate on what I am really on the boat to do - pull various colured ropes when told to do so. Or for you more expereinced people man the sheets and trim the sails.

I realise that I do not know enoungh about sail trim and would like a not too technical book on sail trim. I have a preference for more recent books but if there is a classic than I am happy to put it into my library. Hopefully the recommended reading will also discuss the use of tell tales.

I am lucky that the Skipper of my boats wife, and sometimes chief tailer, is the Yacht Clubs librarian so I might ask that the club adds it to the library for all to enjoy.

Looking forwrd to expanding my knowledge.

Ken
 
#327 ·
Guys, 70% thru Madmen and what can I say.

Around the world non-stop in plywood boats!
Wooden boats that leak!
Guys that have never sailed before!

Jessica had it easy.

I've also just downloaded Josh Slocum's book (for free) and will read it this weekend.

Hopefully I will write some more detailed reviews.
 
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