Books About Surfing

silveraris's picture
silveraris started the topic in Friday, 6 Jul 2018 at 5:37pm

Hey gang, I've recently gotten into surfing and I am looking to find a good book or two that will introduce me to this world a little better.

It doesn't really matter what genre it is, I'm just keen for any insight into the beautiful and often mystical world of surfing.

Cheers!

overthefalls's picture
overthefalls's picture
overthefalls Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025 at 6:28am

It might be more appropriate to discuss The Callahan Phenomenon in the new thread titled Content Creators and Surf Travel. I think it will be an interesting discussion about the ethics of exposing lesser-known surf spots.

john.callahan's picture
john.callahan's picture
john.callahan Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025 at 4:02pm
seaslug wrote:

This thread is so much better than the vax/covid one :)

Thank You - maybe I should write a book about it.

surfEXPLORE: How to Sell Black Cats to Witches in Spite of Your Haters and Make a Fortune Doing It

Now taking pre-orders!

john.callahan's picture
john.callahan's picture
john.callahan Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025 at 4:01pm
overthefalls wrote:

the ethics of exposing lesser-known surf spots.

I have actually discussed this topic at least 4, 672 times previously, but would be happy to do so yet again for either Stu or Steve in a formal interview context.

The topic IS addressed quite a few times in my book, surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide, now available for preorder on The Nile, Amazon and many other sites worldwide

tearymasseuse's picture
tearymasseuse's picture
tearymasseuse Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025 at 4:10pm

…ummmm

;)

?si=8gZurpMz4dn4Fu6w

tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025 at 9:12pm
john.callahan wrote:

Back to Number #1 on Amazon, New Releases in Surfing -

Thanks for all your preorders, my marketing campaign appears to be extremely effective!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/16672/ref=zg_b_hnr_16672_1

And back to Number#3 today.
The volume of orders on all those books listed must be fairly low at this point to see such fluctuations.

Anyway, I'll sleep better knowing that from now on every time you see a black cat you'll think of me.

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025 at 10:01pm

He’s dropped to 4.
That How To Wing Foil book is really giving him a hiding.

john.callahan's picture
john.callahan's picture
john.callahan Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025 at 11:22pm
AndyM wrote:

He’s dropped to 4.
That How To Wing Foil book is really giving him a hiding.

Happy to see so many folks following the fluctuations of surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide on the Amazon New Releases in Surfing chart -

It is gratifying to see so many of me new best mates emotionally invested in The Book and following every twitch and turn of the progress towards the physical release at the end of October -

Let's get a few more Australian pre-orders and push that Wing Foil book down where it belongs!

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Thursday, 4 Sep 2025 at 4:04am
basesix wrote:
basesix wrote:

30% off 'Life Around the Sea' by Russell Ord & Alex Workman
https://www.booktopia.com.au/life-around-the-sea-russell-ord-alex-workma...

30% off this Jimmy Chin beastie also, will appeal to many on here..
click on the book pick, the photographs are ABSOLUTELY stunning:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/there-and-back-jimmy-chin/book/978198485950...

(nota bene. @john.calhoun)

basesix wrote:

..is that a 'no' on the 'Calhoun' signed copies for charity?

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Thursday, 4 Sep 2025 at 5:03pm
john.callahan wrote:
AndyM wrote:

He’s dropped to 4.
That How To Wing Foil book is really giving him a hiding.

Happy to see so many folks following the fluctuations of surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide on the Amazon New Releases in Surfing chart -

It is gratifying to see so many of me new best mates emotionally invested in The Book and following every twitch and turn of the progress towards the physical release at the end of October -

Let's get a few more Australian pre-orders and push that Wing Foil book down where it belongs!

i just ordered the wing foil book to annoy you.

Supafreak's picture
Supafreak's picture
Supafreak Friday, 5 Sep 2025 at 6:19pm

Showbag is stoked that we take an interest in his marketing expertise and where his books at . Today it has taken another dive and is now wallowing at number 5 . What goes up must come down, or so they say . https://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/16672

Supafreak's picture
Supafreak's picture
Supafreak Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 6:19am

Pride before the fall . IMG-3083

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 8:34am

Geezus, getting owned by Rooster Tail, which is horribly written if the author's blurb is anything to go by..
https://www.amazon.com/Rooster-Tales-journal-Gary-Fowler/dp/B0FNTM8J85/r...
Though a quick look for Gary Fowler (I hope the book's title is a conscious pun) on the internet, it might be a deserving everyman's once-in-a-lifetime go at humbly telling his story.. good luck to him. https://www.facebook.com/groups/304115574729830/posts/1057555189385861/

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 9:42am
basesix wrote:

Geezus, getting owned by Rooster Tail, which is horribly written if the author's blurb is anything to go by..
https://www.amazon.com/Rooster-Tales-journal-Gary-Fowler/dp/B0FNTM8J85/r...
Though a quick look for Gary Fowler (I hope the book's title is a conscious pun) on the internet, it might be a deserving everyman's once-in-a-lifetime go at humbly telling his story.. good luck to him. https://www.facebook.com/groups/304115574729830/posts/1057555189385861/

Hahaha, how's that blurb?? Fuckin hell, that's hilarious.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 9:52am
AndyM wrote:

Hahaha, how's that blurb?? Fuckin hell, that's hilarious.

astonishing, hey, I was too incredulous while getting through it to laugh!
(adds weight to @calhoun's distain for self-publish..) : o

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 10:03am

described above, below is some @john.calhoun-beating prose. Literally knocked him off his soapbox. Have a good read if you're on the sidelines of kid's sport, or somewhere with 5 minutes to donate that you will never get back. This paperback would be a good gift for a father-in-law that never approved of you leading his little girl astray, despite surfing himself, as would the surfX book, but this one is sure to be funnier and certainly more price-appropriate:

[buckle up, and tighten the straps. verbatim (capitals and punctuation inc.) author blurb from amazon]:

"Rooster, tales - a surf journal by gary fowler 1969 - 2023

Welcome to the tome. This book is from the lips of ocean peaks. They speak volumes. From flights of fancy to local tribalism of indigenous culture. Complete with embellished dissension and glorified ascension. From petty to grand, experience builds character. The water man tries to verbalize a heartfelt journey.

Thoughts evoked by pitch and woo of the ocean from steel pier to cape canaveral. Hints of san diego, santa barbara, california and la liberdad, el salvador. Hats off to those that forego creature comforts for exploits of international travel. For me one stamp in my passport was the cure. Prefer to enjoy local break over exotic fair abroad.

Inlet flair of diversity helped me appreciate beach break at the pier. Learning to read water surface, ocean shoals, sandbars, wind, primary and secondary swell, long shore current and rip tides most helpful. The mountains, valleys and flat lands provide diversified challenge and interest.

Where did title rooster tales come from? When a surfer does a hard cutback on a wave, he throws a splash of water into the air, that is the rooster tail. When shower a fellow surfer, a feather for the ole head dress. Ole salts gather tales. Herein are scenarios from may 1969 to 2023."

[take a deep breath, safe to now release the clasp]

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 10:10am

Surely only an American would think it was a good idea to publish that.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 10:19am

now, now, @AndyM.. we of the tall-poppy-less fields wouldn't understand the wonderous machinations that lead gary's friends, family and community to buoy him up to set free this blue-sky dream.

blackers's picture
blackers's picture
blackers Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 9:42pm

It's not about surfing but it is a book of interesting photos. Capturing moments of a disappearing way of life.
https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/beyond-suburbia-97...

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 6 Sep 2025 at 10:06pm

that looks cherry, @blackers..
just ordered one for my mum for xmas,
hopefully brings some nice memories for her,
she likes looking through books..
I'll have a good peruse prior, cheers.