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First You Have to Row a Little Boat: Reflections on Life & Living
by
Richard Bode
Now with a brand new foreword from New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Zaslow.
FIRST YOU HAVE TO ROW A LITTLE BOAT first hit shelves in the mid 1990s and has been inspiring readers ever since. Written by a grown man looking back on his childhood, it reflects on what learning to sail taught him about life: making choices, adapting to change, and becoming his own perso...more
FIRST YOU HAVE TO ROW A LITTLE BOAT first hit shelves in the mid 1990s and has been inspiring readers ever since. Written by a grown man looking back on his childhood, it reflects on what learning to sail taught him about life: making choices, adapting to change, and becoming his own perso...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
June 1st 1995
by Grand Central Publishing
(first published May 21st 1993)
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Feb 19, 2013
Mik Hetu
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
definitely NOT ONLY sailors, but all parents and all young adults!
A man’s reflections on what sailing has taught him about living life, without the cliches.
This may not be one of the best books ever written, but it is one of the very best books I’ve ever read! Once, at a booksale, I met a guy who was buying several copies of this book, as I was, for gifts, for recipients yet undecided.
There are many cliche life lessons in sailing — how you often have to trade off speed for direction; prepare your gear; etc. — but I didn’t find any of these in this book. Ric...more
This may not be one of the best books ever written, but it is one of the very best books I’ve ever read! Once, at a booksale, I met a guy who was buying several copies of this book, as I was, for gifts, for recipients yet undecided.
There are many cliche life lessons in sailing — how you often have to trade off speed for direction; prepare your gear; etc. — but I didn’t find any of these in this book. Ric...more
A pleasant sojourn while away for a week at an intensive training course. I missed my sailing on both of the Saturdays so this book was my way of making up for it.
In some ways I was surprised how much it did. While there were a few details about learning aspects of boats and their movement, it was the friendly life advice that I so appreciate that this book also provided. It is so much easier listening in to other’s mistakes and learning from them. Yet somehow we still need to make mistakes of o...more
In some ways I was surprised how much it did. While there were a few details about learning aspects of boats and their movement, it was the friendly life advice that I so appreciate that this book also provided. It is so much easier listening in to other’s mistakes and learning from them. Yet somehow we still need to make mistakes of o...more
I'm not a sailor and don't aspire to be one...deep black water is always a bit frightening. However I can understand the allure and magic of it through the eyes of a young boy needing an outlet for grief at losing his parents, and the usual growing pains of any adolescent boy. Learned some sailing lingo I will never use and months from now will not remember port from starboard (again!). But something beautiful lives in the wind, the waves, the freedom of sailing and the knowledge needed to do it...more
I am in love with this book. Happened across it in the self-improvement section of my local bookstore while searching for books on recovering from childhood neglect. As someone who had no meaningful role models to provide me guidance, wisdom or love as a child, I cherish this little book for its easily digestible, immediately applicable nuggets. Every page seems to contain some kernel of indispensable insight on how to approach life's ups and downs, ins and outs. Bonus, it's poetic - the author...more
As a boy, Richard Bode is enthralled with the boats that glide through the bay near his home. His first boat is nothing more than a dinghy, which he dutifully rows out of the creek and across the bay, each stroke bringing him closer to harnessing the power of the wind. As he learns about sailing, he learns about himself. He describes the lessons he learns while growing up and the sailing masters he meets along the way — the men who guided him at sea and in life.
I sympathized with the young boy...more
I sympathized with the young boy...more
I love this little book. It is a pretty little read about how to approach life one step at a time and how small steps can make a big difference. It could be called the Zen approach to living although it does not purport to be anything Buddhist or philosophical. This is a lovely book for a day in the doldrums that will certainly pick you up and give you life-affirming perspective. Read it.
I thought this book was more of an autobiography than anything. Beautifully written. I really love sailing and this book was wonderful. Very poetic. I highly recommend this book. I finished it by book light during Hurricane Sandy.
I loved this book. I read it about two weeks after a big heartbreak and it helped ground me and look forward agai. And no matter the state if mind I started the book, its a quick, heart warming read.
I was sent this book as a gift from a friend in preparation for my first sailing trip. At fist I thought it was a guide on the basics of sailing, it was nothing of the sort! Instead it was a book that relates many of life's lessons to the lessons and passions of sailing. The book helped me get my sailing jargon down and learn a few basics things around the boat which was helpful, but it also helped me look at sailing as not something you just do, it is something that you experience and apply.
Tha...more
Tha...more
I think this would appear more if you are a sailor, but it's a lot of great advice on how to focus on what's important in life, not getting distracted, knowing when to act and when not, etc.
Highly recommended (and really short!).
Highly recommended (and really short!).
A wonderful book on how the author used sailing lessons as life lessons.
Read on my ipad where I made little notes of some wonderful things he said.
Read on my ipad where I made little notes of some wonderful things he said.
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A great book about life's lessons and truths, very profound, yet incredibly simple. I'm a sailor, so the book especially appealed to me.
Love this metaphor of sailing....for the family love of sailing...and for my love of applying the lessons of sailing to strategy:)
This was one of those keepers I loaned out and never got back but many of the stories and words have stayed with me.
"Zen on the water"
"Zen on the water"
I really like this book. What a great little book on life using sailing as it tool.
Excellent Read. I loved every minute of this book. have now read it twice.
One of my favorite little books, good to read time & time again.
This is a excellent book, very motivational! A quick read.
Quite possibly the best of the "what's it all about?" genre.
This is a treasure. A young boy dreams of sailing while the old sage of the harbor, whom the boy has watched from afar for months - places him in a row boat - much to the young dreamer's dismay. The sage advises him as the boy finds his way to balance, rowing, taking the waves, docking, etc until he advances the boy to an actual sailboat. Each new chapter brings the young boy another lesson in the skill and art of sailing and seamanship, which he later draws upon as a man. A wonderful story in a...more
Really nice read......
Jul 20, 2012
Steve Hodge
added it
Great book.
This book got me through a summer of selling books. Actually, it helped keep my mind off the misery I was in. When I think about taking on an enormous challenge, I understand that I have to work away at it a little at a time.
This book gives a great picture of how that process works and there are wonderful little stories that the author writes in regards to his own experiences as well. I liked it a lot.
This book gives a great picture of how that process works and there are wonderful little stories that the author writes in regards to his own experiences as well. I liked it a lot.
A lovely little book of essays, though I think you have to have some sailing experience to appreciate it.
Read this while doing SEA Semester on a huge sailboat...loved the simple lessons it teaches and I vowed to teach my kids to sail one day:)
OK, I am really enjoying this book. Just past halfway through and it is both beautiful and thought-provoking which is always a good combination! I will wait to rate it on the star scale until I'm through, but so far I'd give it four stars!
Thought provoking application of sailing lessons to life's lessons.
This is my go to book when I am feeling overwhelmed with life's struggles. Love the visual writing, a;ways next to my bed.
I loved this book. It was an affirmation of principles I already knew and it was very uplifting.
Occupies a special place in the desk I inherited from my great grandfather.
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“For the truth is that I already know as much about my fate as I need to know. The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze.”
—
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