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First You Have to Row a Little Boat: Reflections on Life & Living Paperback – June 1, 1995

by Richard Bode (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 310 ratings
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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 person. The book is filled with the spiritual wisdom and thought-provoking discoveries that marked such books as Walden, The Prophet, and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. For nearly twenty years, it has enchanted and endeared sailors and non-sailors alike, but foremost, anyone who seeks large truths in small things. This refurbished edition will find a place in the hearts of a whole new generation of readers.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.5 x 8.13 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0446670030
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0446670036
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bode uses his great love of sailing as a metaphor for the tides of life... Determinedly inspirational, this book will appeal to admirers of Robert Fulghum." --Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

"Bode is adept at pulling messages out of ordinary experiences. The images he creates are simple and clear, and so are the lessons he derives from them." --Kirkus Reviews

"If you feel lost on this great sea of life, this book is a compass. Its powerful words will carry you like a gentle breeze toward companionship, toward love, toward the deepest self you are called to be. It will ultimately lead you home." --Regina Brett, author of God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours

"This is a wonderful book, warm and thoughtful and beautifully written. It has a great deal of practical wisdom to offer us all in our complicated lives, but beyond that it is a work of sheer grace. No one who reads it will ever forget it." --Reeve Lindbergh, author of Forward from Here

"What a wonderful book it is! Pure Joy." --Walter Cronkite

"Even without knowing a lot about sailing, I was charming by its wisdom and passion." --Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"Such an imaginative way to compare our sport of sailing to life. I really enjoyed how Richard shares his experience of sailing and how subconsciously it was preparing him for growth. Keeping life simple and appreciating the little things rather than getting caught up in the race or the idea of the adventure is an aspect of life that is easily forgotten these days." --Anna Tunnicliffe, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in sailing

"Richard Bode's writing is effortlessly sublime, like ghosting along on a smooth sea on a sunny day towards a destination even more rewarding than one had imagined. First You Have to Row a Little Boat reveals the most powerful but rarely discussed lures of messing about in boats. In Bode's fine memoir, sailors and landlubbers alike discover how sailing can transcend sport to shape our lifestyles and philosophies, and how the exploratory machines people use to venture upon the sea are not just playthings but powerful tools with which we plumb the depths of ourselves." -Steven Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea

"Richard Bode uses his lifetime knowledge of sailing to steer his personal ship to a new port through a stormy time of life. Literally a voyage of discovery, he takes his silent desperation to the sea for solace. A must read for men stalled in "irons" and for the women who love them." --Joan Anderson, author of A Year by the Sea

"A simple title leads to an inspirational story. All of us can live better lives thanks to Rick Bode's narrative." --Gary Jobson, America's Cup winner and ESPN sailing commentator

"Leaving you inspired to follow a path of which you decide to take in life. Rick Bode allows the reader to ponder with his view, 'So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time.' The question for the reader then becomes do I stay onshore or embark on a journey into the unknown sea of life?" --Zach Railey, 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist in sailing

About the Author

Richard Bode worked at McGraw Hill and was editorial director and chief speechwriter at Burston-Marsteller. As a freelance writer, he contributed to Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, Sail, Sports Illustrated. He is also the author of Blue Sloop at Dawn (1979), which was excerpted in Sports Illustrated, Newsday Sunday Magazine, and Sail, and wrote the award-winning essay "To Climb the Wind." He died in 2003 of liver cancer.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition (June 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0446670030
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0446670036
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.5 x 8.13 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 310 ratings

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Richard Bode

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
310 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dr. Erin Sepic
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, in every way.
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
I adore this book, and it’s romance with sailing. But I am a sailor, and so extra appreciate how Bode uses sailing as a metaphor (crazy skillfully) for life and living.
I was in tears a couple times, at the sheer truth and beauty of some of his shared epiphanies. If you appreciate thoughtful, whole-hearted and skilled prose, you can’t miss. I’ve shared it so many times!
One person found this helpful
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Edwina Booth
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
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One the finest books I’ve ever read…..
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Judith
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple little book with so much meaning...
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019
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I love this little book so much that I've sent it as a Christmas gift to my two adult children. The author correlates learning to row a little boat with sailing. He wishes he had taught his children to sail. I did teach my children to sail when they were young and I think it taught them independence, courage, and gave them a good foundation for life. This book will mean more to people we have already learned how to sail. For those who think they might like to learn to sail I suggest they take some lessons and get a little experience, and then read the book. Learn to Row a Little boat presents so many learning situations that can be translated and transferred to learning to sail as well as thrive in life.
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Jason Foss
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book About Life!
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2014
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This book was recommended to me by a physician who couldn't really decide what to do with his life. This book is a great book that uses sailing as a way to describe life. The author explains his childhood story and how he got into sailing. He says that he wished that he taught his kids to sail because sailing creates a way of thinking that can be directly used for managing your life. If you want to change your life and push yourself in a different direction then this is the book to read. It isn't very long, but it has a lot of great information in the pages that it has. I recommend this to any person whether it be an adult trying to figure out what to do with his or her life, or even a college student who wants to decide what career they are interested in.
4 people found this helpful
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joe cook
4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing back the memories of a similar childhood.
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
Richard's story is a familiar one. My childhood was ingrained with time spent with boats. Either building, dreaming or sailing them, it was a means to an end and a beginning. This story adds the mirrored side of th meanings to our youth. It is different for all but has similar and common experiences. I enjoyed the flow and style in which Richard portrayed his life growing up and the association with something such as a boat to focus it. I would recommend this to anyone to read. One need not be a sailor or boat owner to enjoy the journey...Joe C
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jay
5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful mix of the highs and lows of life.
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2021
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This little book struck a chord with me in many ways. I did have to learn to row a little boat as I saw the neighbors out on their powerboats. Then I learned to sail with my dad on an 11foot boat. We sailed until I was 16, and I could drive. Things with engines took over my life for 10 years, but with a failing marriage, and everything getting expensive, I started sailing with him again. I found this book and the part about the accidental gybe really connected with me. When life is on cruise control, and the wind changes just a little it slams you back to reality. Stay alert and realize that life is short, so take control of what you can and let the rest go. I wish I could read the book again, but I gave it to my Dad before i moved out of the country. One day I will be back to sail with him again.
One person found this helpful
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colleen wareing
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book of simple wisdom
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2020
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So often we forget the simple thoughts that guide our lives towards gratitude, joy and peace. This wonderful little book about a little boat took a complex skill of sailing which is like life and made it easy to find the complex yet simple joys of life. I am a sailor and a person who loves life and this book is perfect in every way. Inspirational!
One person found this helpful
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Jane
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2015
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A nice, "feel good" book with some sounds truths; nothing obscure or profound, but an easy read.
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Top reviews from other countries

Azizza
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in Canada on June 14, 2020
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Very cute read
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Sabine
5.0 out of 5 stars A small book about sailing - and lessons in life
Reviewed in Germany on December 19, 2014
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Richard Bode is one of the main sailing authors I know. Far from being the adventurous sailor on ocean regattas Bode is one of the few authors I would always carry with me as a sailor. And as a spiritual leader guiding people to the essence of themselves. A wonderful book that will always have a place on my bookshelf.
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Anders Persson
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is not a technical book. It's about sailing from a more philosophical angle - or perhaps one could say 'applied living'. It's a great read, somewhat in the same vein as Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance by Pirsig.
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sian reading
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2019
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Read this book it is charming and full if good advice.
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Jeanne Ainslie
5.0 out of 5 stars How to live your life
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
Delightful! As a sailor, I can relate to the magic of sailing. Richard Bode's integration of the life lessons and wisdom he learned from his sailing experience are so true.
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