Reviews

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan

chirpn's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective medium-paced

3.5

juliuszesa's review against another edition

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adventurous informative slow-paced

3.5

tintinintibet's review against another edition

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5.0

Here's how I think this gets scored. +1 if "off the beaten track" is a good thing, -3 if that's pejorative. +0.5 for interest in each of the following: South Pacific, Hawaii, Malibu, San Francisco, South Africa, Portugal. Give another point if you've lived in any and another if you've driven cross country. +2 if you like the New Yorker, +2 if you're a surfer, -1 if neither applies. +2 if "camping" sounds annoyingly fancy, +1 if it makes you think of a bear canister, -1 if it means a kitchenette in the room. +1 for actually doing that math, since you'll probably also be willing to go along for the ride in this book.

bdja2018's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

davidlane47's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

brendanb11's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

djr100's review against another edition

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3.0

I really wanted to love this book. Excellent writing and the passion Finnegan had/has for surfing came through loud and clear. I simply couldn't live that passion with him and found this a bit long for my taste.

bkh8's review against another edition

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3.0

Really enjoyed the beginning of the book... dragged a little in the end

ariqbailey's review against another edition

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4.0

Beautiful, touching, and introspective enough to almost make you forgive how boring it can get at points. Either way, a special book.

schneid100's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

3.5