A Splendid Madness: A Man, a Boat, a Love Story

by Thomas Froncek

A highly entertaining account of a middle-aged man's love affair with sailing, an elegant and introspective meditation on the nature of obsession, and an insightful reflection on the years of learning and practice that molded author Tom Froncek into an expert sailor.

210 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2004

Reviews

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest and at times humorous account of the trials and tribulations of an amateur sailor. Deeply appreciated the storytelling and Froncek’s ability to balance the complexities of sailboat terminology for the layperson.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read because I'm about to embark down the same path as the author (learning to sail at mid-life after years of putting it off). So, it was pleasant to read about Tom's ventures into the sailing world and eventual sailboat ownership. I learned some lessons along the way as well.

[Cory · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did finish but felt like I had to force myself to do so. Some interesting parts, for someone new to sailing I did learn a bit in the beginning. However, as a whole, was a pretty boring read.