The Encyclopedia of Surfing
- ISBN13: 9780156032513
- Condition: USED – VERY GOOD
- Notes:
Each year, the surf industry brings in .5 billion, and more than two-and-a-half million Americans, from California to Delaware, have caught the wave. The Encyclopedia of Surfing is a book that no surfer-or armchair adventurer-will be able to resist.
(20031001)What’s that sound coming from the beach? That’s the rustle of pages turning, as would-be immortals look themselves up in The Encyclopedia of Surfing, surfing’s first comprehensive reference book. The Encyclopedia of Surfing chronicles nearly every bit of wave-riding–its history, places, mythology, champions, tragedies, in-jokes, and minutiae. Author Matt Warshaw, former editor of Surfer magazine, and his fellow researchers took three years to put together this prodigious tome. The most surprising thing about the book is its terrific readability. Though the 1,500 entries are organized in typical encyclopedic style, one after the other alphabetically, none of them–not a single one–is completely boring. Not even the one on the technicalities of fin placement. In fact, the book is a trap, leading unsuspecting readers on a wandering journey from pioneer surfer Duke Kahanamoku to the development of hollow boards to the lifeguards who used them to lifeguard Eddie Aikau to his home in Waimea Bay to…. Suddenly, hours have gone by and there’s still the huge entry on Gidget to read. Illustrated like a dictionary, this book has only one or two small black-and-white photos every couple of pages. A history of surfing introduces the entries; at the end, a bibliography, round-up of surf contest results, and lists of movies, magazines, and music provide the big finish. Though Warshaw’s first three books (SurfRiders, Above the Roar, and Maverick’s) were entertaining looks at surfers and surfing, this one makes him the official Kahuna of surf lore. Surfing is a multi-billion-dollar industry, flinging hordes of people and buckets of money into the waves each year. The Encyclopedia of Surfing is its new bible. –Therese Littleton
Rating: 
(out of 16 reviews)
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Review by for The Encyclopedia of Surfing
Rating:
This is the ultimate surfing book for both the hard core surfer and the wannabee. Everything under the sun (and surf) is covered and presented in an interesting and informative way. The book is big so you definitely get your money’s worth. I haven’t finished reading all of it–but I’m not sure that even possible. It’s the kind of book you can pick up and spent 10-15 minutes reading a few entries and then come back to it later. I liked Warshaw’s other books, particularly Mavericks, but this is a really different beast. An ambitous attempt to cover the entire scope of the sport in detail. He pulls it off totally.
Review by A Stoked Surfer for The Encyclopedia of Surfing
Rating:
I think it must be. This massive book (800 pages plus) covers everyhing about this great sport. But what is most amazing, is that the writing is so excellent–all of the characters, surf breaks, technology, competitions, movies, music, really come alive under Warshaw’s unique eye. All the facts are there in excrutiating detail, but the way they are presented makes reading the book addictive. This has got to be the new bible for the sport.
Review by for The Encyclopedia of Surfing
Rating:
I surf almost every day and can never seem to quench my thirst. My favorite read, by far, of all books and periodicals is The Surfers Journal. It truly captures the many angles of the sport. This book is somewhat in the same vein. It’s exhaustive, comprehensive and true to the roots. If you love the history of the sport buy it. If you read Surfing, have never ridden more than one type of board or never traveled to pursue a new wave… don’t (do those things instead… THEN buy it). Good bedside book… alongside my Bible.
Review by for The Encyclopedia of Surfing
Rating:
Just got the book and I’ve barely put it down. The book is enormous–there doesn’t seem to be anything Warshaw hasn’t covered. What is great about the book is that it not only does it have every fact you’d ever want to know about the sport, but the writing is so interesting that the facts really come alive. Who’d ever thought that the history of surf wax could be so fascinating??
Review by Midwest Book Review for The Encyclopedia of Surfing
Rating:
Matt Warshaw’s Encyclopedia Of Surfing is a top pick for any interested in the fine art of surfing. From different surfboard developments and the history of different cultures involved in the surfside sport, to legendary surfers and their achievements, the Encyclopedia Of Surfing is packed from cover to cover with “user friendly” A-Z reference material.