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

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)

Such insight about the sea! And funny!

This book is many things, both a wild hilarious journey with a marijuana smoking gentleman surfer, and a verbose and articulate traveler's perceptive account of a giving and taking ocean.

Great listen.

If you like Barbarian Days, you’ll enjoy this. Love all the back stories and can relate to the adventures.

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.

Adventuring surfers of this era have some amazing stories.

Great story, I love books that tell the harsh truth of adventure travel. Surf travel has many faces and this story tells some history and has real characters that you come across when traveling.

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!!

Great read about adventure

What made the experience of listening to In Search of Captain Zero the most enjoyable?

The sense of freedom you get from the book and the insight into the surfing lifestyle.

What other book might you compare In Search of Captain Zero to and why?

The Motorcycle Diaries.

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

Nothing that I can speak of but it was read well.

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

No.

Any additional comments?

Great read for someone into surfing or adventure seeking.

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.

Love Weisbecker

Although he's sometimes a little brash and comes across a bit sexist in regards to his view on women- I love Weisbecker. He is a true character and writes with integrity and truth. His accounts are amusing, well written and occasionally very profound. I read a lot and he really stands clear to me as a truly unique and brilliant contemporary writer for those who appreciate things a little gritty.

Great story great narration!

I never get tired of this endless summer genre .... As long as they are good. This one does not disappoint. Maybe I liked Barbarian Days a bit better but super solid. Makes me miss Mexico and CR

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.