• The Longest Silence

  • A Life in FIshing
  • By: Thomas McGuane
  • Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
  • Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (15 ratings)

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The Longest Silence  By  cover art

The Longest Silence

By: Thomas McGuane
Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
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Publisher's summary

From the highly acclaimed author of Ninety-two in the Shade and Cloudbursts comes a collection of alternately playful and exquisite essays—including seven collected here for the first time—borne of a lifetime spent fishing.

"Thomas McGuane writes about fishing better than anyone else in the history of mankind." (Jim Harrison, New York Times best-selling author of Legends of the Fall)

The 40 extraordinary pieces in The Longest Silence take the listener from the tarpon of Florida to the salmon of Iceland, from the bonefish of Mexico to the trout of Montana. They introduce characters as varied as a highly literate Canadian frontiersman and a devoutly Mormon river guide and address issues ranging from the esoteric art of tying flies to the enduring philosophy of a 17th-century angler to the trials of the aging fisherman.

Both reverent and hilarious by turns, and infused with a deep experience of wildlife and the outdoors, The Longest Silence sets the heart pounding for a glimpse of moving water and demonstrates what dedication to sport reveals about life.

©1999 Thomas McGuane (P)2022 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Longest Silence

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

Good

Good stuff. My favorite was about the long fight with the salmon. Good narrator. Glad I listened.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Like great company during great fishing

Mr McGuane was able to bring me along with him on a lifetime of fishing & companionship & I especially enjoyed his unabashed joy of his youth & kindling mine as well as the wisdom that comes in our “ mature” or older years.

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

Love the book but not the narration

I’ve read this book several times. It is by far the best book on fly fishing I’ve ever read. Had some audible credits to burn, and though it should have this in my library. I don’t know what the narrator is trying to do, but it just doesn’t work. This is not a book that needs something added by the narrator. The writing is sufficient on its own. The narrator just needs to read the book and get out of the way. Unfortunately, this narrator didn’t do that. Stick with the written version of this book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good story but tough listen

The story was ok. I didn’t enjoy much of McGuane’s thoughts on fishing or the world of fishing. The fishing stories themselves would be enjoyable if you read the book. Listening to this was challenging as the narration was downright bad.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator had to catch a train

Stories were great. I slowed the playback to. . 85 speed to understand what he was saying.

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1 person found this helpful