• In Search of Captain Zero

  • A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road
  • By: Allan C. Weisbecker
  • Narrated by: Joe Barrett
  • Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (303 ratings)

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In Search of Captain Zero  By  cover art

In Search of Captain Zero

By: Allan C. Weisbecker
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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Publisher's summary

In 1996, Allan Weisbecker sold his home and his possessions, loaded his dog and surfboards into his truck, and set off in search of his longtime friend and surfing companion, Christopher, who had vanished into the depths of Central America.

In this rollicking memoir of his quest from Mexico to Costa Rica to unravel the circumstances of Christopher's disappearance, Weisbecker intimately describes the people he befriended, the bandits he evaded, and the waves he caught and lost en route to finding his friend. Along the way, he shares hilarious stories of his adventures with Christopher in their carefree youth as globetrotting, pot-dealing beach bums.

A tale of lost innocence and enduring friendship, In Search of Captain Zero is a trip unlike any other.

©2001 Allan C. Weisbecker (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[E]nchanting....[Weisbecker's] adventures are as thrilling and as entertaining as any fictional road trip could ever hope to be....This memoir is, like any good autobiography, a journey to the place where memories live, an adventure of the mind." ( Booklist)
"[A] lovely personal reflection that mixes the right amount of dreamy meditation with page-turning allure....Weisbecker clearly delights in storytelling as much as he enjoys language itself." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about In Search of Captain Zero

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Surf Adventure Story

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

The narrator does a wonderful job. If I didn't check I would be sure it was the actual author narrating. Pronounced all the slang and spanish well. Also sounds like a white guy in the 50 year old range.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The end of the search is emotional. Some surprises, and then some mid-life crisis/soul-searching stuff that you can either leave or take depending in your own feelings and views on life.

Any additional comments?

Definitely recommended for anyone who likes surf, travel, or central america. I like all, so it was a great book. Especially for surfing, which is pretty limited on good books. In the world there are lots of magazine articles, movies and pictures on surfing. Even some good biographies, but not all that many great surf adventure tales in book form.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

another poser

this blow-hard makes use of every cliche out there to get us to think he's some kind of Keroac of the sea. He's dull, a bully, an intensely unlikable character with little to say of any meaning. He has the wrong attitude, the wrong state of mind to be so arrogant. not a good read, or listen.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The Surfing Part is Great - Rest not so good

Being a surfer, I can say the author nailed the surfing parts of the book. His descriptions of being in the line-up, catching a wave, riding in the sweet spot and wipe outs were right on. His descriptions of surfing in Mexico sound authentic particularly Baja - I have been along much of that coast.
The rest of the story is gritty and confusing. He is obsessed with finding his old friend Chris. Why, for crying out loud. And it was not clear whether he ever did. Maybe I slept thru that part. The narrator is good from an articulate voice stand point. But his voice is better suited reading a mafioso story. He sounds like a savvy street guy from Chicago, not an aging surfer. It was a very odd choice by the author or publisher or audible for all I know. It did not work in this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn't stop listening

Enjoyed this book a great deal. Great philosophical insight through the eyes of a surfer/writer in search of his long time friend as he traveled to south, deeper... Not a good read for the puritanical type as there are plenty of drug references and nefarious behavior in general so the less than open minded may be offended and miss the point.

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Great story

Narrator okay, I got used to his voice. If you like surfing and living on the edge this book will suit you. Definitely recommend.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One of my favorite books

Style of writing and storyline compliment each other. Love the book, descriptive words written by Allan Weisbecker and Joe Barret did a great job narrating.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Have you seen him?

Read this at least 6x over the year. Love the prose and introspection as a fellow wanderer. Spent time in Saladita because of this book- glad I did/ the people and surf were rewarding. Wish Allan all the best.

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A Classic!!

I read this book when it came out back in the 90s…or early 2000s. I re-read it every couple years, typically, but this time I get it on Audible to listen to while driving. This book captures the spirit of the true vagabond/soul surfer perfectly. It finds meaning where outsiders think none exists. It finds forgiveness and acceptance where some might say it shouldn’t exist. One of my all time favorites!!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Blowhard book

Sounds like a book written by a kook telling his other kook friends and clueless wife how good he is not realizing he’s the biggest kook. So many surf references packed into a sentence that’s already packed with other bullshit. I read the book and thought I’d give the audio book a chance. Both suck. Doesn’t take 16 words to say “I dropped in, caught rail and ate shit” f$cling kook.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

ex drug smuggler surf adventurer on 1 strange trip

its long interesting story, long island ny surfer goes in search of long lost friend in central america. listening to in 2019, interesting tales from back 60s-80s

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