The Boy Behind the Gate

This book changed my life

Would you listen to The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love again? Why?

YES! In fact I plan on bringing it with me when I eventually depart on my own multi-year sailing journey...which I finally have decided to do BECAUSE of this book. I expect to listen to this book many times, especially once I go off cruising. There are so many important lessons in here for a sailor, and many of them I don't think I can fully appreciate until I get out there and do it myself.

What did you like best about this story?

Larry's perseverance in pursuing his dream, his never-give-up spirit even in the most challenging circumstances, and the moving humanity of the key players. I felt that I came to know Larry, Ken, and the other people in the book, and I was sad when the book was over - I wanted to keep them in my life and continue experiencing their adventure through his words. What I finally realized is that I CAN experience this adventure, by doing it myself! I would not have had the nerve to even consider it had I not heard Larry's story. Now, my husband and I are planning our own multi-year cruise on our own boat. And I have Larry and this book to thank for it.

What does Larry Jacobson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His passion, his melodious voice, and knowing that I was hearing the story directly from the person who lived it, not just in his words, but from his own mouth.

Any additional comments?

Since my husband and I first started kicking the idea around of quitting our jobs and sailing around the world, I've been consuming books written by sailors who did this as fast as I can find them. This must be the 5th or 6th book I've read that was written by sailors who've done this type of journey, but NONE of them moved me like this book, nor gave me the final push to actually resolve to do it. This book is a perfect combination of useful information for boaters, along with a powerful, moving human story of a man who not only finds happiness at sea, but learns that he actually had everything he needed for happiness within him to begin with. The love story between Larry and Ken is slow to build, and in the end this is what makes it so beautiful - it wasn't a fast-moving, rushed romance but a lovely, unhurried, deepening relationship that developed during the course of an incredible adventure. I enjoyed the in-depth view into the personal life of someone I'd never met, and I ended up feeling like I'd known him forever. As for the adventure itself, I can't think of a single book in which I felt quite so much like I was WITH them. His descriptions of the exotic places he visited are evocative and rich with detail. I lived every experience, I saw it through his eyes, heard it through his ears, smelled the pungent smells, felt the fear and the elation. As an avid scuba diver myself, I felt like own my lungs were about to explode during the dive incident when Larry got twisted up in line and almost ran out of air (and I wanted smack him for breaking so many basic rules for divers!). I titled this review "This book changed my life", and I truly mean that. It is this book that convinced me that we can DO this - and that we SHOULD do it, sooner rather than later. Larry is imperfect, he made mistakes, he offered many cautionary tales - and yet he succeeded in living a dream that only a tiny fraction of humans will ever get to experience. Well, thanks to Larry, I intend to be one of them. But even if you never intend to do this yourself, listening to this book will serve as the closest thing to it.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Wonderful!!!

What made the experience of listening to The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love the most enjoyable?

Larry's book will transport you to another world, through a range of emotions, highs and lows....what an amazing gift!!!

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Fantastic Journey!

Where does The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right at the top. I couldn't stop listening...What an amazing tale of an ordinary guy who followed his heart into a world class adventure.

What other book might you compare The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love to and why?

Stones into Schools, the book about an American mountain climber who brought education to women in Afghanistan

Have you listened to any of Larry Jacobson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first, so I really cannot compare to any of his others.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!

Any additional comments?

Larry's brush with Pirates and the difficulties they encountered around keeping the boat repaired and functional had me thinking I'd have quit the trip many times over. His courage in the face of tall odds was very impressive, especially during some of the horrendous storm crossings.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Optimistic, Realistic, Fantastic.....

Where does The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the top! Definitely one of the best.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love?

When Ken decides to stay ;.)

Which scene was your favorite?

Do I have to list just one?! I love all of the open-water swimming scenes..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I hope Larry decided to write more books! Larry is an inspiration.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Education of a Journey

What did you love best about The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love?

The story and how one learns to deal with and adjust with the adversities and challenges of life

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love?

The experience in Thailand leading to their fortuitous escape from the devastating tsunami

What does Larry Jacobson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

How there is a lesson with every experience

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

I have listened to Mr Jacobson in a lecture once and found his experiences to want me to set "sail" in my life but then made me realize that I have been at sea, in a boat, but do not have my sail up or going in any direction all the while.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Great writing about a memorable, moving adventure

What did you love best about The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love?

If you enjoy a great story, crisp prose, and a poignant memory then you should put the Boy Behind the Gate at the top of your reading list. The author draws you in and you quickly get to know him and appreciate his courage and his sense of adventure.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the honest self-reflection and the courage the author had.

What does Larry Jacobson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

If you just read the book, you'd be happy to have read it. If you listened to the book, you'll feel even closer to the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The adventure of a lifetime.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Open, Honest and Incredibly Inspiring

Where does The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far one of my favorite audio books as well as one of my favorite sailing books. The author does an amazing job of inspiring all of us to stop dreaming and start living.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love?

I had to laugh at the maintenance stories... cruising really is working on your boat in new and exotic places.

The transit of the Persian Gulf was pretty amazing... I found myself feeling growing anxiety along with Captain and crew as they prepared for their departure.

What about Larry Jacobson’s performance did you like?

It's clear that the author is a sailor's sailor... well prepared and confident. That comes through in this performance. I'm looking forward to his next book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The entire book was a kick in the pants - get up and get moving. The time is short.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Along for the Ride

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and wanted the adventure to continue. I felt I was truly along for the ride, which was FUN and scary at times. The people and places were so colorfully described that again, I was along for the ride, and felt a part of their experiences.

Larry takes us through his decision to make his dream come true with honesty. He proves that with perseverance and determination, anyone can overcome their fear of failure, danger, or the unknown and reach out for whatever it might be that we dream of doing or becoming.

I was inspired by Larry's journey...from decision to execution!

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Absolutely FANTASTIC!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love to be better than the print version?

Definitely! There's nothing better than listening to the author read his own writings...

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to say... it really depends on the situation... By the time the book was finished, I felt like I knew most of the characters as real-life friends. They were so well-defined and the dialogue was fantastic!

If I had to choose a favorite, it'd be a TIE between Femke and Ken. They both just CRACK me up! I love them!

Which scene was your favorite?

I giggle EVERY time I listen to the story about the crew catching all those mahi-mahi on the way to Fiji.

Femke was getting soooo upset over the "murdered" fish... "Ohh, the sweet, dear, poor fish." And, Larry had NO sympathy for them whatsoever. Poor fish!

When Larry accidentally inflated his life-jacket, scared the heck out of himself, and nearly fell out of the boat... it's hilarious. REVENGE! KARMA! Fish=1 / Larry=0

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Wow... when the guys were sitting in the woman's restaurant, having dinner with her & her family after the big Tsunami in Thailand. It was SO sad to get an inside-view of how the victims were feeling, how lives were devastated, how the whole world had changed in an instant for these people...

...yet, they STILL made a couple of "foreigners" feel welcome. And, they STILL gave what little they had to others who had less. People like those give me hope for this craziness we call "society" nowadays.

Any additional comments?

That 'stuff' in our heads... our deepest fears, biggest dreams, most humbling experiences... the vast majority of us would NEVER risk rejection by sharing that 'stuff' with the people around us. We certainly wouldn't put it out there in a book where we'd be subject to judgment by people we don't even KNOW.

But Larry Jacobson did just that. He wrote an amazing book, in which he honestly -- and sometimes humorously -- shared his fears, his dreams, and his most humbling experiences. And what a story it was!

I found myself examining my OWN life -- and that's not a bad thing. Larry has taught me that life IS risky. Life SHOULD be risky. And, if we don't take risks... we're not truly LIVING. Thanks, Larry!

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Live your dream!

What made the experience of listening to The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love the most enjoyable?

Realizing that a middle age man can follow his dreams.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Larry

Any additional comments?

An excellent choice for any adventurer

8 of 8 people found this review helpful