Chris Stewart is the author of Driving Over Lemons, which became an international bestseller, along with its sequels, A Parrot in the Pepper Tree and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society. In an earlier life, Chris was the original drummer in Genesis (he played on the first album), then joined a circus, learned how to shear sheep, went to China to write the Rough Guide, gained a pilot’s license in Los Angeles, and completed a course in French cooking.
"Fans of rock trivia might know the author as one of the founders
of the band Genesis. He was its first drummer, but by his own
admission, he wasn’t very good, and they turfed him out before they
made it big. Luckily, Stewart had other skills, among them a
wicked good ability to tell stories. In this highly entertaining
memoir, set in the early 1980s, the author was offered the
opportunity to skipper a yacht in the Greek Islands. Never one to
let a little thing like a complete and total lack of sailing
ability stand in his way, he jumped at the chance. The book is kind
of the reversal of the fish-out-of-water story (a mammalinto-water
tale, perhaps?), and it’s full of comic elements: finding the yacht
in utter disrepair, working with two boat hands named Nikos,
setting the boat on fire, that kind of thing. Despite his
less-than-stellar performance as a yacht captain, Stewart followed
his Greek Islands adventure by signing on with a cross-Atlantic
re-creation of Leif Eriksson’s original route to Vinland—all right,
he didn’t exactly know what or where Vinland was, but it sounded
like it might be fun. So is the book: Stewart really is a quite
gifted writer, gleefully poking fun at himself and thoroughly
entertaining the reader. — Booklist, starred review
“Stewart's eventual love of sailing translates well to landlubbers,
while sailors will be glad to have missed the winter storms and sea
ice encountered. A funny, appealing read.” –Library Journal
“Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: An Optimist Afloat is Stewart's
hilarious account of exploring the world, and he proves that no
obstacle—seasickness, setting the boat on fire, capsizing—will
stand in his way of exploring the seas.” --National Geographic
Traveler
"Charming, witty, and appealing, this is the work of a gifted
writer who is at the top of his game." --Tucson Citizen
“Three Ways to Capsize a Boat” is a charming and lyrical read,
awash with the joy of discovery, and Stewart is an immensely
likeable narrator…The key to his popularity is his honest and
self-effacing determination - as discussed during a mid-Atlantic
storm - to live a rewarding life.” – Guardian, UK
“Chris Stewart is possibly the only travel writer who is genuinely
funnier than Bill Bryson.” —Traveller
“Exquisite ... the anecdote flourishes once more.” —Daily
Telegraph, UK
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