The Old Folks in the Boat

Becky Coffield's quest to master rowing and practice in wild places yields many adventures which she details with humor and verve, especially her detailing of the preparations - mental, physical and material - that rowing requires. The author also provides an excellent account through photographs and description of the creative adventure of her husband building the boat and its trailer.

Coffield writes with a strong, clear voice. That alone would separate The Old Folks in the Boat from most new books. Her blending of anecdotes, history and technical information makes her effort a superior one.

Most interesting, however, is the presence of an unspoken theme which emerges in the book's last sentence. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Life is a journey, not a destination," and Coffield galvanizes the complacent person with a simple question that has subtly teased the reader throughout the book: What Are You Waiting For?