Over a year ago (now several years ago), writer Ed Robinson sent me an email, asking if he could send me a review copy of his book, Leap of Faith: Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat. Knowing that a fair number of TBG readers are trying to do just that, I figured that there was no harm in looking. But, I warned Ed, I’d give an honest review — no special treatment just because I’d gotten a free book.
He agreed and a few days later I received the book. And I enjoyed reading it. He’s on a mission to make others realize that you don’t have to be a millionaire to head off cruising. You just have to get more disciplined with your finances.
Leap of Faith has 25 chapters, each 4 or 5 pages long and presenting either a slice of life aboard a boat or a piece of the plan to make it come true. If you’re just starting to explore the dream of heading off into the sunset on a boat, it’s a nice road map of the nuts and bolts of how to actually make it happen.
On the other hand, if you’ve been reading up for a while, you may have already heard some of the advice other places — but hearing it again can’t hurt, right?
The real difference between this book and others I’ve read is that by alternating chapters on how to do it — which admittedly involves giving some stuff up — with bits of what cruising is like, the tradeoffs become real. You see what you’re gaining in exchange for what you’re giving up. Keeping the end in sight is key for making the decisions every day to make it happen.
And as it says on the back cover: They gave up everything and now they have it all.
Where to get it —
- $3.99 for Kindle (you don’t need a Kindle; there’s a Kindle app for most laptops, tablets and smartphones)
- $11.95 list (but sells for less) for print copies at Barnes & Noble and Amazon
UPDATE: We spent several months last winter on a mooring ball next to Ed and Kim. Wonderful people who really do things they way they tell others. Ed has now written a series of fictional cruising stories called Trawler Trash (the Breeze series) — as I write this, he just published the seventh book in the series. Fun read . . . and if you’ve cruised in SE Florida and the Bahamas, you might just recognize a few places!
- Trawler Trash series on Amazon – first in the series with a link to the next 9 books
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Elizabeth Aristeguieta says
I’m reading this now. Love it.
Terry Simmons says
The kindle version has a lot of mistakes.
Ed Robinson says
So nice to be reviewed by TBG. Thanks so much.
Cris Johnston says
Go to http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Quit-Your-Live-ebook/product-reviews/B00F3PE5W6/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0/?tag=theboagal0a-20
if you’re interested in why I respectfully disagree that this book is well written, edited and proofed.
Michael R Miller says
Wow…this post is eerily timely…
Kate Barker says
Fun read too.
Kasi Leigh McCain says
Love it! My inspiration. Will put it in place ASAP!
Tracy Dorman says
my husband and I just read this book while on vacation last month… We came home and made a plan!!! a great quick read!!!!
Lupari Sue says
Reading about how other boaties do it is always interesting.
Moyia Clark says
Loved this book!
Sheryl Shard says
I enjoyed this book. It’s one of the few that outlines a clear plan for getting out of debt, saving money and making a cruising life a reality. A good read.
Sheryl Shard says
Yes, how come? He can be a bit preachy but he so clearly wants to convince people that it’s possible to go cruising.
Casey Westenrieder says
I just read this book and I really liked it. It didn’t tell me anything more than I already figured, but it was good to hear I was on the right track. It’s sad so many people are bashing it because of the typos. Yes, it has some. I am a former English teacher, so they did not get past me but I didn’t pull out my red pen. I bought the book for information and it provided me with what I needed in a well-written, thought-out way. Yes, there are some typos but if I was sitting on the back of a boat drinking beer and writing every day, I’d have typos, too!! Thanks for the book review and thanks to Ed for sharing his advice!!
Dana Miller says
Great read
Susan Spiller says
Jim, have you read this?
Lisa Rae Presley says
Awesome book!
Karen Bueby says
Great book to get one thinking… And planning…. And doing it!
Jimmy Swindler says
getting it. 🙂
Kay Humphrey Bueby says
Great book!
Carleen Hone says
Great read and inspiration.
Sandra Varney Camp says
Awesome book the man knows how to do it.
Don Bruce says
6 years and counting