Title: My Life’s Dream Took Me to Sea
Author: Ronald Epner, MD
Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc
ISBN: 978-1684981182
Pages: 451
Genre: Memoir/non-fiction
Reviewer: Aaron Washington
Hollywood Book Reviews
Through author Ronald Epner’s memoir, My Life’s Dream Took Me to Sea, readers sail around the world, experiencing the sea, the adventures, and every challenge which comes with cruising. This book is exceptionally written, with the author narrating his personal experiences in an intimate style, somewhat like a chronicle, which makes the reader feel as if they are part of the story. My Life’s Dream Took Me to Sea is stimulating from the very onset of the book.
Anyone who enjoys tales about traveling will immerse themselves in this book instantly. The readers get to live the author’s life through his words, thoughts and actions. From the time Ronald Epner was a child, the moments his father took him on a sailboat, how he developed his love for the sea, and how life’s turn of events became a destiny for him.
The readers will get transported to a new world where their minds get challenged as they enjoy different cruise itineraries. In My Life’s Dream Took Me to Sea, readers share his journeys. Here is a man who has grown up in a family where the sea was a friend to them, and has grown up to come to love the waters and every aspect of sailing. As a sailor, physician, and surgeon, Dr. Epner has witnessed many electrifying moments. At one point he suffered a heart attack at sea, and being a medical doctor gave him the wherewithal to save himself – a lesson to others who may face a similar encounter while sailing.
Ronald Epner’s book is a beautiful memoir which reads like tales in a storytelling session. The author writes about his immediate family, his friends, career, social life, challenges, and successes. The general discourse in the book is about sailing and the different kinds of sailors, but therein lies critical and lifetime guidance for every adult.
Author Ronald Epner’s writing is unique for multiple reasons; one being his honesty. The chapter on “Homeless, Jobless, and Boatless” was one of the most absorbing as the author laid bare his struggles. This chapter was also great to read as you get insights on financial management, improving your skills, and how to relate with people. Ronald Epner is also an excellent author because of how articulate his words are. This book is a breath of fresh air because the book is written in a personal and friendly tone. Apart from the writing, I also enjoyed going through the images shared. The pictorial content is as great, if not more appealing than the text. The author shares pictures throughout his life of his family, friends, and even colleagues. I mostly enjoyed pictures which had the sea as a background, as they complemented the main theme in the book and the persona the author portrays.
My Life’s Dream Took Me to Sea was written for lovers of non-fictional memoirs and autobiographies. The writing is exceedingly striking, as the author writes from his heart. Sailors, seasoned with salt water in their blood, and landlubbers, emerging from the shore, will both especially enjoy this book. The sailing jargon, discussions about the sea, and technical content about sailing and engineering are enlightening. Through Ronald Epner’s book, you will learn how to navigate the sea when it is stormy and when calm; both literally and figuratively.