Celestial Navigation for the Complete Idiot

A Simple Explanation

By: Gene Grossman

Narrated by: Gene Grossman

Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

Celestial Navigation for the Complete Idiot is groundbreaking not because of what it has, but what it doesn't have:

• no mathematics problems
• no astronomical talk
• no big words you've never heard of

Sailor-author Gene Grossman finally breaks this wonderful subject down into plain English and explains it in such a way that you will no longer have any excuse to claim that you know nothing about the valuable boater's subject of celestial navigation. And as for the validity of the book's content, you should know that it was inspired by Gene's DVD program of the same title, which has gained worldwide popularity and is being used by the US Navy, DEA, Coast Guard, and sailing schools, and by sailors all over the world.

Even though we feel that the explanations in this audiobook are easy to understand, the old saying about a "picture being worth a thousand words" applies - especially when trying to describe what things like a nautical chart or a world with lines showing latitude and longitude does to help find a destination. So Magic Lamp Press has created a website with a few simple graphics that we suggest that you print out to make reference to occasionally as you listen to this book. The URL of the page of graphics will be given to you by the book's narrator.

Once you have finished this book, its title will no longer apply to you, because by the information you will have learned, your status description will have been updated to "novice." And with an understanding of what celestial navigation is and how it works, you will be in an excellent position to continue your practice of the subject, and become a sailor capable of sailing around the world without getting lost...so as a start, please remember the three most important rules of boating safety: Keep the water out of the boat; keep the people in the boat; and don't get lost.

©2009 Gene Grossman (P)2017 Gene Grossman

Interesting, Author's Story & Technique

Where does Celestial Navigation for the Complete Idiot rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the upper middle. Since this is not a novel, it is hard to compare a guidebook to other audiobooks

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

In addition to the theory of navigation, One thing that was unexpected and good was the author's personal story of learning navigation,

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

no

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Celestial Navigation for the Complete Idiot?

Well, the simple answer is how to use a sextant!

Any additional comments?

Learning celestial navigation is a two-step process: first you have to
learn what a sextant measures, what to measure, why you measure it, what to
do with the measurement, and what the answer tells you – and this audiobook
does a really good job of explaining all of the theory involved in a simple
and easy-to-understand way. Second is the easy part: how to use the sextant
- but it’s also almost impossible to do in an audiobook, because without
being able to look through one, adjust the mirrors, and make some minor
adjustments to the instrument itself, it’s a lot like flying a plane… to
really get to know it you have to physically do it because it’s tough to
describe in a book. This author does a great job with the theory of what it
does and how it works, He also touches upon some things you should know
about using a sextant, so that when you finish this book all you have to do
is find an inexpensive plastic beginner’s sextant and practice, practice,
practice.

5 stars except for...

I enjoyed this and would have given it 5 stars except for the 30 or so minutes of the author talking about all the mystery books he wrote. I would have much rather had 30 minutes more of the celestial navigation.

Too confusing

I appreciate that he tried to make a book to make it less confusing to understand celestial navigation, but his explanations sound a bit all over the place. He elaborates too much on a topic like longitude and latitude to the point where you find yourself overthinking it. I stopped at chapter 2

Some clever "AH! I Got It Now!" moments

The book promises to give you an insight to celestial navigation without the complexity of the maths behind it. It delivers on that promise in 20 minutes. Honestly, some really good insights delivered in a personable, easy to comprehend, colloquial style. He offers any/all useful diagrams on his website for the asking - and honestly, not needed as he explains the visualizations eloquently. But, the other 2.5 hours are not relevant, and detract from the value of the audio book. Hearing about a drive-in-movie date with a near-sighted lady isnt helpful. Nor was a discussion on how to navigate from California to Hawaii. Or how much water the cockpit of his friend's sailboat could discharge per minute. A new edition would do well to drop all the anecdotes, and instead focus on a walk through several practical examples & gotchyas of celestial navigation - a new edition is worth because his style of delivery is good, and the insights are very good. Also, I expected a few plugs for his DVD series - if he cut 1/3rd of the plugs it would feel less 'sales-pushy'.

Well done

What did you love best about Celestial Navigation for the Complete Idiot?

I've read the readers' comments below, but some of them are about years-old print and eBook versions. I've just listened to this newly-released audio version and it appears to have been updated, so that the previously complex theory of the subject is made extremely understandable - and just the chapter on avoiding seasickness was worth the price of the book.

Any additional comments?

Concerning the author's mention of the mysteries he's also written, he described just a few of them at the end, but there's probably a reason for that: most boaters interested in Celestial Navigation are cruising sailors with plenty of time to listen to books, and mysteries are a popular favorite.

And as for another comment suggesting Bowditch as a good source, yes... he was the accepted expert on the subject, but he wasn't expecting his works to fall into the hands of idiots like me... and even if he did, none of his books are available in an audio format, making this the only one on the subject you can listen to, and I recommend it as a starter if you're interested in the subject.

no pdf on his website anymore

I didnt listen to the whole book yet, but the website he mentions doesnt have the downloadable/printable pdf.

Not great

In terms of the story telling about crime cases I’d rate the book as good. However it’s about navigation and only really a few chapters cover this.

I bought this with a view to learn more about celestial navigation and although I’d say it did improve my knowledge marginally I don’t think it was enough.

Quite a lot of sales patter to buy more books.

I wouldn’t buy again but I will relisten to the relevant couple of chapters as they were well explained.

Gene Grossman advert for idiots

Disappointing. It is billed as being for idiots, but it touches on only the most basic techniques. Gene’s homely delivery style is quite engrossing though.
I’ve aware that the book deals with basic safety steps when considering an ocean crossing and 30+ minutes is spent summarising the plots of his Peter Sharp novels.

Love Gene Grossman's voice

He sounds like Sterling Holloway, the original voice of Walt Disney's Winnie the Pooh. One of those books that you need to listen to again and again, so good value. Need to print out sheets from website to truly benefit, not done so yet.