Hound of the Sea

Wild Man. Wild Waves. Wild Wisdom.

By: Garrett McNamara, Karen Karbo

Narrated by: Rudy Sanda

Big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara set the world record for the sport, surfing a 78-foot wave in Nazare, Portugal, in 2011, a record he smashed two years later at the same break. Propelled by the challenge and promise of bigger, more difficult waves, this adrenaline-fueled loner and polarizing figure travels the globe to ride the most dangerous swells the oceans have to offer, from calving glaciers to hurricane swells.

But what motivates McNamara to go to such extremes - to risk everything for one thrilling ride? Is riding giant waves the ultimate exercise in control or surrender?

Personal and emotional, this book will help listeners know McNamara as never before, seeing for the first time the personal alongside the professional in an exciting, intimate look at what drives this inventive, iconoclastic man. Surfing awesome giants isn't just thrill seeking, he explains - it's about vanquishing fears and defeating obstacles past and present. Surfers and nonsurfers alike will embrace McNamara's story, as they have William Finnegan's Barbarian Days, and its intimate look at the enigmatic pursuit of riding waves big and small.

©2016 Garrett McNamara (P)2016 Tantor

Good story but Garrett should have read it himself.

I really enjoyed the story. I do wish Garrett would have read it himself - or him and Nicole together. I didn’t enjoy the overly dramatic (slightly offensive) accent imitations. Loved learning more about Garrett’s childhood.

Fascinating Life Storyy

I enjoyed this crazy tale of Garrett's life story. This is a story of a time in the US when kids could raise themself while their parents focused on "finding themselves." My only criticism is that the narrator cannot pronounce Hawaiian names. I lived there for a time and he botched pronunciation of so many well known names of Hawaiian towns and surf spots.

Who knew McNamara could write!

This guy shreds giant waves! All I wanted to do was surf after reading this and find bigger and better waves. Big wave surfing is crazy and this book lets you in the mind of one of the greatest.

Great story; excellent narration

I was told about this book from a girlfriend I surf with. I'm really glad she told me about it because I found it very enjoyable and great storytelling about an upbringing, striving, surfing, and just general life as someone seeking their purpose.

Great story, just wish Garrett would have presented it himself

This book is a beautiful, entertaining, and a great life story to hear. However, Garrett should definitely have presented it himself, he’s a great speaker. In fact, every author should present their own story. Another persons lackluster voice inflection and untimely energy can never compete with your visceral memory and dramatic influences. This presenter’s cringe worthy pronunciations of Hawaiian words is brutal and borderline disrespectful, especially for someone born and raised on Kauai. Might be fine for you, but just know, that is not how the town names and surf breaks are actually pronounced. Unfortunately, it took an amazing book and made it almost unlistenable. I battled through because I know Garrett and Liam are legends, but I hope he reads this and thinks better of it next time.