Fascinating book: A Voyage for Madmen
Posted: June 27th, 2022, 9:31 am
(Note: this is a companion thread to my July journey towards a Mediterranean Diet. It is no exaggeration to say both obesity and sailing are life and death situations.)
1. A frank and unsparing look at one of the contestants.
2. How this applies to me, my obesity, and the Mediterranean diet.
A frank and unsparing look at one of the contestants.
I'm reading the fascinating 2001 book "A Voyage for Madmen" about an around the world solo sailing competition in the 60's. It is a quick, fascinating read that contains many lessons. I'm about halfway through, and reality (the seas, storms) are already revealing character.
Each contestant is facing a difficult challenge, guaranteed to go through the roughest waters, face loneliness, and perhaps come out the other end as transformed men.
Each man (this was in more benighted days, as far as gender equality) had to sail by himself with no stopping for food, water, or supplies.
There are three types of contestant:
1. Prepared, experienced sailors. They had different kinds of boats, but each man worked with the boat he had. These men, while suffering sometimes to be sure, had a great time and really loved the sea.
2. Overwhelmed brothers who realized they were in over their heads and got out in a timely fashion, failing to complete the race but earning the esteem of their friends for forthrightly facing reality. They lived: a bit chastened, but no one thought any less of them.
3. Donald Crowhurst.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Crowhurst#Crowhurst's_boat_and_preparations
To his credit, he was a smart and ambitious man. He had a big dream.
His manifold errors, stupid pride, and disorganization cost him his ship, his reputation, and his life.
He made several grave errors (which the smart brothers of #1 and #2 above were diligent to avoid):
1. He waited til the last minute for everything.
2. He did not keep the main thing the main thing.
3. He wasn't honest.
4. He did not surround himself with diligent people.
These errors cost him his life.
How this applies to me, my obesity, and the Mediterranean diet.
I don't say this to condemn this foolishness, though he was foolish, but because I realize I have a Donald Crowhurst in me.
I say I don't want to be obese but I love steaks and cake and candy and fries and pizza and whole milk and more pizza.
Obesity and sleep apnea kill just as surely as the sea. Each is impersonal.
Donald Crowhurst, despite or because of all his faults, offers a chilling lesson.
Will I listen?
1. A frank and unsparing look at one of the contestants.
2. How this applies to me, my obesity, and the Mediterranean diet.
A frank and unsparing look at one of the contestants.
I'm reading the fascinating 2001 book "A Voyage for Madmen" about an around the world solo sailing competition in the 60's. It is a quick, fascinating read that contains many lessons. I'm about halfway through, and reality (the seas, storms) are already revealing character.
Each contestant is facing a difficult challenge, guaranteed to go through the roughest waters, face loneliness, and perhaps come out the other end as transformed men.
Each man (this was in more benighted days, as far as gender equality) had to sail by himself with no stopping for food, water, or supplies.
There are three types of contestant:
1. Prepared, experienced sailors. They had different kinds of boats, but each man worked with the boat he had. These men, while suffering sometimes to be sure, had a great time and really loved the sea.
2. Overwhelmed brothers who realized they were in over their heads and got out in a timely fashion, failing to complete the race but earning the esteem of their friends for forthrightly facing reality. They lived: a bit chastened, but no one thought any less of them.
3. Donald Crowhurst.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Crowhurst#Crowhurst's_boat_and_preparations
To his credit, he was a smart and ambitious man. He had a big dream.
His manifold errors, stupid pride, and disorganization cost him his ship, his reputation, and his life.
He made several grave errors (which the smart brothers of #1 and #2 above were diligent to avoid):
1. He waited til the last minute for everything.
2. He did not keep the main thing the main thing.
3. He wasn't honest.
4. He did not surround himself with diligent people.
These errors cost him his life.
How this applies to me, my obesity, and the Mediterranean diet.
I don't say this to condemn this foolishness, though he was foolish, but because I realize I have a Donald Crowhurst in me.
I say I don't want to be obese but I love steaks and cake and candy and fries and pizza and whole milk and more pizza.
Obesity and sleep apnea kill just as surely as the sea. Each is impersonal.
Donald Crowhurst, despite or because of all his faults, offers a chilling lesson.
Will I listen?