So I can tell the author is a fantastic writer.

The way they craft the story and develop the characters is truly remarkable.

However, I just can't get with all the surfing.

It seems to be a major part of the plot, but it doesn't really appeal to me.

It won't keep me interested enough to continue reading.

As a result, I threw in the towel.

I feel a bit disappointed because I know the author has great talent, but this particular aspect of the story just doesn't click with me.

Maybe if there were more elements that I could relate to, I would have been more engaged.

Oh well, there are plenty of other books out there to explore.

An Entertaining Travelogue of a Surfing Ex-weed Smuggler

The travelogue of a surfing ex-weed smuggler is truly entertaining. It makes one wonder what it would have been like to undertake that journey when he did it, perhaps around 30 or 40 years ago. Back then, there were still numerous off the beaten track locations waiting to be explored. This account has raised some interesting questions about my own lifestyle. It has made me reflect on the many decisions I have made to leave and go explore instead of staying and adapting at home. Do I have the same courage and adventurous spirit as this ex-weed smuggler? How have my choices shaped my life so far? These are all thoughts that this captivating travelogue has inspired.

This book was truly excellent.

It provided me with a beautiful and profound insight into the mind of a man who was deeply in love with the ocean and surfing as a means to find himself, yet ultimately not achieving that goal.

He learns that he is alone and not the man he had imagined himself to be, constantly questioning life and the universe.

The book is not only funny but also incredibly well-written, taking the reader on a wild ride.

There is a touch of sadness to it as well.

In my opinion, it is better than Barbarian Days and on par in terms of prose.

If you have a passion for good surf reads, this one is definitely at the top of the list.

I highly recommend that you read it and judge for yourself.

You will be captivated by the story and the author's writing style.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

So, don't hesitate, pick up this book and embark on a journey with the protagonist.

You won't be disappointed.

It is truly interesting to learn the first-hand account of the surfing lifestyle. The author's vivid descriptions and detailed narratives bring the surfing world to life. All the flashbacks of the lot dealing past add an extra layer of intrigue and make the story even more captivating to read. The book has a certain charm that stirs the reader in some way, evoking emotions and a sense of adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself completely immersed in the surfing culture and the experiences shared in the book. It is a great read for anyone interested in surfing or looking for an exciting and engaging story.

**In Search of Captain Zero: A Captivating Adventure**

In Search of Captain Zero by Allan Weisbecker is a remarkable true story that chronicles Allan's journey to find his best friend Christopher. Before embarking on this adventure, Allan makes a bold decision to sell his house. He then sets off with his dog and his truck, which has a camper he affectionately names “La Casita”, traversing through Mexico and Central America. The story is told from Allan's unique perspective and is filled with surf slang, adding an interesting flavor to the narrative.

During his trip to Costa Rica, Allan spends a significant amount of time surfing. However, the journey is far from easy. His truck breaks down multiple times, forcing him to leave it behind and rely on public transportation and other means of travel. This story offers a different take on our discussion question. Allan's road trip wasn't a typical vacation; it was a mission to find his friend. He could have easily taken a plane to locate Christopher, but he chose the road less traveled. So, does a road trip always have to be fun?

I found this story truly fascinating as it keeps you on the edge of your seat, not knowing what will happen next. Unlike most books, it is not overly wordy; instead, it is straightforward and to the point. I thoroughly enjoyed the many suspenseful parts that made me constantly wonder about the outcome. Although the beginning was a bit slow, it quickly picked up pace after a few chapters. However, I don't think this book is for everyone. Some people might get bored during the sections where Allan talks about surfing, especially if they can't relate. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this book to those who have a passion for adventure books.

Allan C. Weisbecker’s memoir In Search Of Captain Zero has recently found its place in my surfer’s library.

For reasons that remained elusive until the very end of the book, Weisbecker is extremely eager, almost bordering on desperation, to track down an old friend and former drug-running partner who has vanished in South America. He tosses his surfboards into a camper, calls his dog, and embarks on a drive down the west coast all the way to Costa Rica in search of his friend, catching numerous bitchin' waves along the way.

The bare facts of this journey make for captivating reading. However, while Weisbecker’s capital-A “Alpha” male credentials provide the impetus for both the trip and the book, they too often present a rather narrow perspective. Any novice who spends some time among drunks, druggies, religious fanatics, and/or surfers will quickly realize that the conversation repeatedly cycles back to the arcane. And any insight that can be discerned by outsiders is gleaned with great difficulty. Weisbecker does manage to reach some insights, but for this reader, who has neither surfed nor been involved in drug-running, there was a significant amount of arcana to wade through. I rate Captain Zero well above Daniel Duane’s Caught Inside, but decidedly below Thad Ziolkowski's On A Wave, which, for me, is the benchmark to strive for.

Yes, this is a surfer book.

It contains the anticipated passages that wax philosophical on the beauty and power of the ocean, as well as the purity of the act of surfing. However, these passages are not excessive.

The story progresses smoothly without getting bogged down. In the end, I was more deeply impressed by what it reveals about friendship and self-awareness than by all the travel and surfing and gonzo story detours.

If you have any personal connection to the ocean, this book is definitely worth reading. It offers not only thrilling accounts of surfing adventures but also profound insights into the human spirit and the relationships that form in the context of the ocean.

Whether you are a seasoned surfer or simply someone who loves the ocean, this book will capture your imagination and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the power and beauty of the sea.

I could not put this book down from start to finish.

It was truly captivating and engaging from the very first page. To borrow from Neil Peart, it's the kind of book that "leaves you kind of glad when dinner with friends is over because now you can get back to your book".

This statement perfectly describes my experience with this particular book. I found myself completely immersed in its world, eagerly turning the pages to discover what would happen next.

It held my attention throughout, and I was constantly eager to return to it whenever I had a spare moment. That's the highest praise I can think of for a book.

It had the power to transport me to another place and time, and I'm truly grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story and enjoys getting lost in a book. It's definitely one that you won't want to miss.

I received "In Search of Captain Zero" as a gift. My daughter had read it while she was learning to surf in Mexico and truly appreciated all the surfing terms it contained.

However, I was less interested in those surfing terms and more intrigued by the author's reflection on his life as he searched for a surfer friend who had disappeared.

Here was the author, someone who followed his passion for surfing, yet seemed to lack fulfilling relationships outside of the surfing community. It's not entirely accurate to say that. He did have many relationships with his fellow surfers, and there was an unspoken understanding among them, a sort of secret handshake in life that non-surfers couldn't quite appreciate. But his longing for deeper connections outside of the wave made me feel a tinge of sadness.

Two of my favorite lines from the book are: "The enlightening perspective out there is partly a result of the inviolate solitude (interlopers are obvious on approach), and partly the effects of an aqueous environment like and it's security, it's easy, pacifying motion, it's gently calmative murmur; circumstances that I believe put you in touch with the wisdom of the subconscious." And “The water is only the medium that carries the energy that is the wave, much as one’s body is the medium, the carrier, of one’s consciousness.”

As I write my own memoir, I find myself appreciating the author's references to his journals. It would be insane to think that he could remember all those details without keeping a journal. I also respect the way he seamlessly weaved in and out of backstory within the current moment, integrating it into the main narrative in a way that wasn't distracting. Well, except for every time a new name would pop up and you'd wonder if you had to keep track of it for future reference. After a while, I gave up and just took the names and places as a description of a meal I was having. Not necessarily a restaurant I'd rush back to again and again, but still an interesting experience nonetheless.

When a certain kind of friend, intelligent and cool, with her politics, philosophy, and tastes in line with your own, recommends a book to you, you are immediately compelled to buy it. But then, you cower in fear. Maybe you're not ready, or perhaps you'll disappoint your friend with your reaction to the book. So, the book sits unread on your shelf, collecting dust. It looks at you as you choose other newer books, waiting like a burden, guilting you like an uncalled mother, until you finally cave. I know this happens to me. And In Search of Captain Zero (along with Cosmic Banditos before it) is, for me, one of those books.

Of course, now that I've finished it a few minutes ago, I wonder why I ever waited. After all, that certain kind of friend has your best interests at heart. Weisbecker's second book employs what I perceived to be a slow burn. It gradually builds up energy and emotion, like the waves he so meticulously describes. This is good because my experience with the first couple of chapters felt like Weisbecker was teaching me how to read his book. He uses a cadence and syntax that, coming right after reading Franzen and DeLillo, took some time for me to get used to in my head. But it works because the first few chapters are really just setting you up for what's to come and can withstand being read not so well.

Here, Weisbecker, like Kerouac, Burroughs, Butch Cassidy, and The Sundance Kid, shares his experiences of going south in a quest to find something he's not sure exists. That "something" is his surfing friend/partner in crime, Christopher. As the memoir progresses, it becomes clear that Weisbecker is jumping temporal lines, shifting between present travels through Central America and past drug-smuggling adventures, which are awfully similar to those described in Cosmic Banditos. It also becomes evident that Weisbecker is trying to resurrect his own damaged relationship with the ocean and, in doing so, find himself again. Which, along with Christopher, he does. However, the tragic turn comes in the form of Christopher's abysmal plunge into hard drugs and a less-than-perfect ending for these two characters who you really come to care about.

I think what I liked best about this book was the sense that Weisbecker had a lot more to tell than he actually did. Even as a memoirist, he was holding back information that a gossip-inclined reader might describe as juicy. This reservation, of course, only makes you want to read more. And I plan to tackle his next book a little sooner than the last. Read this book and listen to your friends when they recommend things to you. They usually know better than you do.

This is an excellent book indeed.

The storyteller is truly great, capable of captivating the readers from the very beginning.

The way the story is told is extremely vivid, as if the scenes are unfolding right in front of our eyes.

We can easily imagine the characters' expressions, the settings, and the events that are taking place.

The author's writing style is engaging and makes it impossible to put the book down.

Each chapter brings new excitement and keeps us on the edge of our seats.

Whether you are a fan of fiction or not, this book is definitely worth reading.

It will transport you to a different world and let you experience a wide range of emotions.

So, don't miss out on this wonderful literary work.

This is what I attempted to read when Twilight proved to be dreadful, and unfortunately, this one ended up being rather bad as well.

It is a non-fiction account of the author's journey from New York to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, in his truck. He is in search of a friend he hasn't heard from in a long while.

The issue is that he surfs along the way and can't refrain from constantly boasting about how great he is. As a result, there are endless and tiresome descriptions of waves and how incredibly magnificent and significant surfing is.

However, once he leaves Mexico, the story starts to improve a little. I mainly wanted to read it to see what he had written about Costa Rica.

Also, this book suffers from the same problem that many travel books in Latin America have. They take a journey that countless college backpackers undertake and exaggerate it to the extent that it becomes a life-and-death struggle in the jungle where no white man has ever ventured before.

Or the authors will simply state things that aren't true about the places they are in, and the editor doesn't bother to fact-check. Additionally, he really has a negative attitude towards Honduras in the book (for the page and a half that he dedicates to it).