Recommended byPaul Graham
About This Book
"Barbarian Days" by William Finnegan is a captivating memoir that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the author's life as a surfer.
Spanning four decades, Finnegan's heartfelt narrative chronicles his relentless pursuit of the perfect wave across the globe. From his early days as a teenager riding the powerful swells of Honolulu and California, to his adventures in far-flung destinations like Australia, Indonesia, and South Africa, Finnegan explores the unique beauty and challenges of each surf spot.
But "Barbarian Days" is not only about chasing waves. Finnegan delves deeply into the subculture surrounding surfing, offering keen observations on environmental concerns, the impact of tourism, and the tight-knit community of fellow surfers.
Intertwined with his captivating surf stories are personal reflections on love, friendship, and the delicate balance between passion and responsibility. Finnegan's introspective writing style effortlessly brings to life the exhilaration and inherent risks of living on the edge, both on and off the water.
With its poetic prose and vivid descriptions, "Barbarian Days" is a must-read for surf enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Finnegan's ability to transport readers to the ocean's edge, to capture the essence of the waves, and to illuminate the complexities of the human spirit makes this memoir a timeless classic.
Spanning four decades, Finnegan's heartfelt narrative chronicles his relentless pursuit of the perfect wave across the globe. From his early days as a teenager riding the powerful swells of Honolulu and California, to his adventures in far-flung destinations like Australia, Indonesia, and South Africa, Finnegan explores the unique beauty and challenges of each surf spot.
But "Barbarian Days" is not only about chasing waves. Finnegan delves deeply into the subculture surrounding surfing, offering keen observations on environmental concerns, the impact of tourism, and the tight-knit community of fellow surfers.
Intertwined with his captivating surf stories are personal reflections on love, friendship, and the delicate balance between passion and responsibility. Finnegan's introspective writing style effortlessly brings to life the exhilaration and inherent risks of living on the edge, both on and off the water.
With its poetic prose and vivid descriptions, "Barbarian Days" is a must-read for surf enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Finnegan's ability to transport readers to the ocean's edge, to capture the essence of the waves, and to illuminate the complexities of the human spirit makes this memoir a timeless classic.
What People Are Saying
More Praise
Paul Graham: "If you read books, read William Finnegan's Barbarian Days. It's one of those rare books that divide your life into two parts: before you read it, and after."
Revisit Your Highlights, Deepen Your Understanding
Import your Kindle highlights to review, organize, and share the ideas that matter most to you.
Get the free browser extension
Share This Book
More Books in Sports
View More
The Score Takes Care of Itself
Bill Walsh

The Sports Gene
David Epstein

Endure
Alex Hutchinson

Trading Bases
Joe Peta

A Most Beautiful Thing
Arshay Cooper

A Sense of Where You Are
John McPhee

Billy Martin
Bill Pennington

Bravey
Alexi Pappas

COAN
Marty Gallagher

Chess Fundamentals
Jose Capablanca

Every Shot Counts
Mark Broadie

Fast-Track Triathlete
Matt Dixon

Ford vs. Ferrari
John Starkey

Gridiron Genius
Michael Lombardi

Hagakure
Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Hold 'em Poker
David Sklansky

Lasker's Manual of Chess
Emanuel Lasker

Leading
Alex Ferguson

Letters To A Young Athlete
Chris Bosh

Levels of the Game
John McPhee

Michael Jordan
Roland Lazenby

Mint Condition
Dave Jamieson

Relentless
Tim Grover

String Theory
David Foster Wallace

The Boys in the Boat
Daniel James Brown

The Essential Wooden
John Wooden

The Hot Hand
Ben Cohen

The Professor in the Cage
Jonathan Gottschall

The TB12 Method
Tom Brady

Zen in the Art of Archery
Eugen Herrigel
Popular Books Recommended by Great Minds 📚

Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari

The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Ben Horowitz

Zero to One
Peter Thiel

High Output Management
Andrew Grove

Principles
Ray Dalio

Shoe Dog
Phil Knight

Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson

Meditations
Marcus Aurelius

Originals
Adam Grant

Poor Charlie's Almanack
Charlie Munger

The Innovators Dilemma
Clayton Christensen

The Lean Startup
Eric Reis

The Sovereign Individual
James Dale Davidson & William Rees-Mogg

High Growth Handbook
Elad Gil

Influence
Robert Cialdini

Principles for Dealing With The Changing World Order
Ray Dalio

Rework
Jason Fried

Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman
Richard Feynman

The Ride of a Lifetime
Bob Iger

The Three Body Problem
Cixin Liu

Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Kahneman

7 Powers
Hamilton Helmer

Antifragile
Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand

Blitzscaling
Reid Hoffman

Dune
Frank Herbert

Foundation
Isaac Asimov

Good To Great
Jim Collins

Hopping Over The Rabbit Hole
Anthony Scaramucci

Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl
