In the bestselling tradition of Harold Kushner and Robert Fulghum, this inspiring little volume uses sailing as a metaphor for embarking upon the journey of life. Sailors and non-sailors alike will be enchanted by this simple yet compelling book which sheds a magical new light on the age-old search for self.

Richard Bode left an unfulfilling career and an unhappy marriage to seek the truth about his life. On a California beach he contemplated the sea and shore, and tuned himself to the rhythm of the tides. His authentic self emerged. And in this remarkable and beautiful book, he shares the lessons he learned about the art of living. What does it mean to be a husband and a father? What does it mean to be a success, to be someone's lover, someone's son? Bode finds surprising answers in surprising places: in a sunset, in a piece of beach glass, in conversations shared and conversations overheard, in memories of his father. Beachcombing At Miramar is filled with unforgettable moments: a funeral for drowned fishermen, birds at dusk, and constellations in the night. And with each word picture, painted with the passion and clarity that Gauguin sought in Tahiti, Bode shows us how to see with new eyes the choices we make - from relationships we choose to relationships we flee, from careers we pursue to the ones that consume us.

Now with a brand new foreword from New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Zaslow.
FIRST YOU HAVE TO ROW A LITTLE BOAT first hit shelves in the mid 1990s and has been inspiring readers ever since. Written by a grown man looking back on his childhood, it reflects on what learning to sail taught him about life: making choices, adapting to change, and becoming his own person. The book is filled with the spiritual wisdom and thought-provoking discoveries that marked such books as "Walden," "The Prophet," and "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." For nearly twenty years, it has enchanted and endeared sailors and non-sailors alike, but foremost, anyone who seeks large truths in small things. This refurbished edition will find a place in the hearts of a whole new generation of readers.

Also Available as an eBook

"Heaven in a grain of sand...heavenly wisdom is what Beachcombing at Miramar is all about."

The Quest for an Authentic Life
M. Scott Peck, M.D., said of Richard Bode's First You Have to Row a Little Boat, "elegant as a clipper and practical as a tug, this brilliantly written elegy teaches the fundamental principles of life and how to navigate its shoals." Now this extraordinary writer presents a new book that challenges us to open horizons within ourselves.

Richard Bode went to a California beach to discover the truth about his life. Contemplating the sea and the shore, tuning in to the rhythms of the tides, he observed, he experienced, he remembered. With each word picture, he uncovered another piece of his authentic self. This remarkable book, filled with unforgettable moments, has the power, like the sea itself, to reshape our lives. Gradually, if I go with courage and wisdom, I arrive at my destination, a place called paradise. It is not a land free of struggle, a realm devoid of pain or grief. But it is the place where I feel at home, where I am supposed to be. -- from Beachcombing at Miramar.

"Bode creates one of those small miracles of writing able to pierce the heart."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Beautiful, sensitive and mindful...I was enchanted."
-Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., bestselling author of Your Erroneous Zones

"Lyrical...with contemplative intensity...In sculpted, resonant prose, Bode tells of soaking up natural beauty...It's a common enough fantasy, moving to a hut on the beach, but Bode lives it."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A restful book...about the companions we choose and the pace at which we live our lives."
-Los Angeles Times

"I felt as if Thoreau and Emerson were back writing for our time."
-Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., bestselling author of Your Erroneous Zones

"Invokes the examples of Thoreau and Gauguin, men who had to step outside the mainstream to realize their greatness."
-Boston Sunday Globe

"An eloquent and reassuring memoir...Bode's clear, well-reasoned prose uplifts."
-Fort Lauderdale Herald

"A marvelous little book that one can't set aside for very long. Once you start reading you'll want to not only finish the book quickly but you'll find yourself picking it up and randomly rereading various chapters."
-Monterey Herald

"A book about life, yet [also] a book of poetry. Eloquently written, it is a lesson to be learned and a pleasure to read."
-The Light Connection

"A fine example of how a spirituality of place can lead to enchantment."
-Cultural Information Service (NY)