In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road

In Search of Captain Zero A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road by Allan Weisbecker (based on 64 customer reviews)

(Paperback)
Author: Allan Weisbecker
Publisher: Tarcher

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Most useful review as voted by customers:
19 out of 21 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 7/4/04

More than the sum of its parts

First let me say that I have never surfed, and other than watching Point Break, am ignorant of surfing culture. Likewise, I have never journeyed south of the border, and I certainly never was an international drug smuggler (though I have been known to inhale). That said, Mr. Weisbecker's writing put me right there, and made me feel that I was participating in these adventures. He vividly and viscerally described surfing to the point that I felt the rush, and almost tasted salt water. His recreation of a sense of place when describing Mexico and Central America reminded me of Mark Twain's best travel writing. And his recollections of his outrageous adventures in his youthful bandito smuggling days made me cry from laughing.(Even if these tales are exaggerated, as well they may be, only someone who knows what he is talking about could exaggerate so effectively.)
Beyond all the surfing, adventuring on the edge, and bandito hilarity, this book has a strong undercurrent of melancholy, a deep sadness that adds depth and realism to this rollicking adventure. Someone has complained that this book is just about a self-indulgent mid-life crisis. The author himself has admitted as much in his book. Yet the emotions and circumstances that bring a man to what we have chosen to call "mid-life crisis" are real, and nearly universal. Weibecker's genius is in the brutal honesty in which he communicates his own ambiguous emotional turmoil. Past a certain age, we all must find a way to live with the choices that we have made, and the bridges that we have burned, and that, at its core, is the heart of this book.
In Search of Captain Zero is engrossing, invigorating, hilarious, and sad. It is a swift read, and I was sorry when it was over. All in all, it is more than the sum of its parts, and I highly recommend it.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 6/23/01

Fantastic book even (especially) for non-surfers

I bought this book on an impulse after reading some of the reviews on this site and it thoroughly surpassed my expectations. Weisbecker strikes the perfect note between the description of his adventure, reflections on his life and some absolutely hilarious and jaw dropping stories about his past endeavours in drug trafficking. I found myself getting lulled into his reflections in a very peaceful way then suddenly breaking out in laughter at his past adventures. At one point, I shook my head at how much this guy has actually lived. I've never surfed in my life and wouldn't be inclined to buy a "surfing" book however I found this part of his story to be really entertaining and completely in line with the rest of the story. In fact, it makes you want to get out a surfboard and give it a try.

If you're looking for both a hilarious and thoughtful read I highly recommend this book.

Also, as someone who currently lives in Mexico and who has lived in Latin America for 6 years I found his take on the people/country to be thankfully devoid of the typical generalizations and stereotypes associated with the area.

5 out of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 4/2/01

A Thumping Good Read!

To borrow a phrase from "The Common Reader," Allan Weisbeckers' book, "In Search of Captain Zero," is a thumping good read! I laughed, I cried, I worried, I was ultimately very satisfied. Weisbecker is one of a rare breed who can tilt at windmills and win. And even rarer, Weisbecker is a boy whose crazy journey makes him a man. I loved this book!

For some extra fun check out this guys web site at ............................ . He is a prize winning photojournalist whose fantastic pictures taken during his two years in Mexico and Central America greatly enrich the spirt of the book. If you haven't read the book (shame on you), the web site provides a stunning virtual vacation!

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