Review
WL Rating
If you read enough surfing books, you’ll notice that there are a lot of similar stories about empty warm barrels, idyllic settings, romanticized simple living, big wave bravado, etc. As someone who reads most of these books, I can say that it does, at times, get a bit monotonous. So, when Sweetness and Blood came out I assumed this would be a rehash of material previously visited. I’m happy to report that I was quite wrong. Michael Scott Moore’s book is an original look at how surfing, like some type of happy-go-lucky virus, managed to infect and ultimately thrive in some pretty unusual (and borderline dismal) places. Moore’s extensive research across a wide range of geographies is truly impressive. He meanders across the globe, touching down in Gaza, Germany, Japan, Cuba, Morocco, England, and West Africa. In each location Moore crisply defines its origin of surfing, peppering his story with historical anecdotes and colorful characters. Unless you are some sort of hardcore surf history junkie, this will all be new material. To be clear, I don’t think this is a light and lively summer read. Rather, this is a thinking surfer’s book that will force you to look differently at the sport you thought you knew. In the end, however, you’ll be better off for having read it. (June 2010)
Sweetness & Blood - Michael Scott Moore
