The Boy Behind the Gate

How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love

By: Larry Jacobson

Narrated by: Larry Jacobson

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Larry had dreamed of sailing around the world ever since he first stepped foot into a sailboat at the age of 13. He held onto that dream for 30 years, until one day he realized that "it's now or never". He left his corporate job, trading his comfortable executive life for adventure.

Award-winning author Larry Jacobson brings you aboard JULIA as he embarks on a six year odyssey at sea after leaving everything behind to make his lifelong dream a reality. He and his crew dodged pirates in the Gulf of Aden, battled 30-foot seas and 60-knot winds in the Red Sea, were chased by Komodo dragons in Indonesia, had multiple equipment breakdowns, nearly lost their mast in the Coral Sea, and pushed the envelope with Larry nearly losing his life scuba diving.

A true story memoir packed with lessons from the ocean that served as a teacher of seamanship, personal strength, growth, leadership, and perseverance, while Larry and his crew discovered themselves, and the world. You'll sail 44,000 nautical miles and live the ups and downs of this incredible adventure.

This is not just the story of fulfilling a lifelong passion. It is also a story of absorbing wisdom from the sea, and from the people they met along the way. And it's a deep dive into Larry's thinking as you experience the changes that took place in him, recounted in his very personal journals. Step aboard and share the life lessons earned on the voyage as you sail around the world from the comfort of your home.

This audiobook is life-changing. If you are wondering whether you should start living your dreams, this audiobook will confirm you should. We are each given one great opportunity in life. What are you going to do with yours?

©2011 Larry Jacobson (P)2012 Larry Jacobson

INSPIRING & MOTIVATING!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. I'm not a seagoing sailor, but listening with my eyes closed I was on that boat. Jacobson's got a good voice; could be a radio announcer; made it easy to listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

It's a candid story form the heart of an ambition fulfilled and as they say... How cool is that? Very much liked the author's decision to tell the story from three perspectives... his journal, his emails, and his post adventure thoughts. The format affords the listener a terrific sense of perspective.

Which character – as performed by Larry Jacobson – was your favorite?

Himself.

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

"ADVENTURE WON'T LOOK FOR YOU. GO FIND IT"

Any additional comments?

This was my first ever audio book. Larry sounds like an accomplished guy and listening was a completely satisfying experience.

Was a great story - loved it

If you could sum up The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love in three words, what would they be?

I read the book and now the audio. Larry has the knack for telling a great story. Actually, it's the best sailing story I've read yet. He personalizes it takes you with him as he tells the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Larry of course. He's the one that made it all happen. It was a real sacrifice personally and financially.

What about Larry Jacobson’s performance did you like?

He's an excellent story teller. Very few authors know how to relate to readers like he does.

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

Probably the preparation for the trip and his background before starting the trip. I still think about his trip now and then, especially when I'm on my sailboat.

Any additional comments?

Great read. It showed what excellent person Larry is despite what others may think of alternate lifestyles. We all are different in so many ways, and Larry didn't try to hide himself with a glib story about sailing just to sell a book. He put his heart and soul into it.

For people who love true Adventure and Travel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I listened and bought the hard bound book. Took the trip with Larry and his friends in my armchair by following their adventure around the world with google earth on my ipad or laptop. It was and education and adventure for me discovering ports and lands I would never have the opportunity to visit. I now feel like I'd been there.

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?

If you like Bill Bryson's books. In particular "In a Sunburned Country" and "Walk In the Woods" you will like "The Boy Behind the Gate."

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

The emotion and reality in his voice. It is beneficial when writers can successfully narrate their own books.

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

I'm a sailor. Not a big sailer like Larry. I live on the East coast. I have a small boat but I can empathize with the author.

This is my favorite sailing adventure book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this to a friend because it is a very enjoyable listen that transports you into the 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?

I listen to a lot of sailing audiobooks but can't compare this one to any of the others, it stands alone as both a sailing narrative and a honest human story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Tough to pick out a scene but if I had to I would say the decision to fly out for Christmas and by chance miss the tsunami. Very heavy stuff. The way Larry describes it all and the compassion for these people and this disaster is an inspiring human story.

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

Would have loved to but don't have that opportunity

Any additional comments?

I listen to audiobooks when I go out and run and I enjoyed this one enough that I have listened to it exclusively for a few months probably 3-4 times in it's entirety. Very enjoyable. I would love to go to hear him speak.

A Remarkable Experience!

With Larry’s excellent writing and narration I feel like I was on the journey! The highs and the lows, the scary and the serene.

I can imagine in my minds eye the 30’ waves, the dolphin pods, the crystal clear water and the endless breakdowns and repairs.

I am on one hand inspired to sail around the world myself, but terrified at the thought (and expense) on the other - all at the same time.

I highly recommend reading (or listening) to this book and living vicariously through Larry’s adventures!

Homosexuality

If listening about homosexuality is not your cup of tea, then I’d advise against this book.

Couldn't get myself to finish it

I love books about travelling and finding one's self ... i love books about achieving one's childhood dreams ... i just don't think this book is one of them ... i guess unless you are a sailor who is interested in the subject of sailing this book would seem too far off ... i hardly ever put a book down ... only the one's i cannot stomach ... i wasn't able to go through this audio book ... not because it was bad or anything ... just not for me ...
Lately i am having a hard time finding good travelling and adventure books on audible ... this and "all over the map" which was about a whining single woman dying to find a man and is not REALLY interested in travelling as much as she would like us to think ( i reviewd this book earlier) would top my list of the worst books of the month ...
sorry for being so harsh

Meh...not life changing

What disappointed you 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?

Did not at all live up to the hype of ratings given.

What could Larry Jacobson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Had someone else read it.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Larry Jacobson?

Anyone.

Not much on Sailing

What disappointed you 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?

I am a 50 something and was not prepared for the story as written
I guess I was not ready for hot steamy man love in the tropics, the book is more of a gay manifesto than sailing novel expected from the synopsis

Would you ever listen to anything by Larry Jacobson again?

It didn't

What about Larry Jacobson’s performance did you like?

He has a good voice and knows the material,as the writer who better to read the book aloud

Distracted from the main story

Would you try another book from Larry Jacobson and/or Larry Jacobson?

The core story of this book was very interesting, but it was degraded greatly by the author's insistence to discuss his gay lifestyle in chapter after chapter. I've read dozens of sea stories and have never known the author's sexual preference, but this story over and over makes references to his gay lifestyle which took a good story and created an unnecessary distraction. If he were straight and shared his view of the bodies of everyone that passed the boat and about being naked you would think the guy was just some shallow jerk. It was not being gay that was so much the issue, but that it was so in your face. Now that I heard so much about his wondering thoughts about slender bodies of one and all it make me wonder if all gay people are all shallow and focused on appearance or is Larry just a kind of a jerk and judges everyone by their appearance.

He took a great story of adventure and over coming so many issues and filled it with unnecessary junk. I realize it is his boat, his story and if he wanted to target the gay community then he accomplished his goal. My guess is the general public would not care to know his sexual preference and leaving it out would not have hurt the story one bit.

Has The Boy Behind the Gate: How His Dream of Sailing Around the World Became a Six-Year Odyssey of Adventure, Fear, Discovery and Love turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. I love sailing stories.

What didn???t you like about Larry Jacobson???s performance?

The constant references to his gay lifestyle.

You didn???t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes the discussion about sailing and ports and repairs was very interesting.

Any additional comments?

I've read about Magellan, Cook, Lord Nelson and I never once heard if they were gay or straight. This book spends too much time referencing the gay lifestyle which I did not need to know about or care to know about.