Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers

By: John Gierach

Narrated by: David Colacci

In his latest fresh and original collection, Gierach shows us why fly-fishing is the perfect antidote to everything that is wrong with the world.

In Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers, Gierach looks back to the long-ago day when he bought his first resident fishing license in Colorado, where the fishing season never ends, and just knew he was in the right place. And he succinctly sums up part of the appeal of his sport when he writes that it is "[A]n acquired taste that reintroduces the chaos of uncertainty back into our well-regulated lives".

Lifelong fisherman though he is, Gierach can write with self-deprecating humor about his own fishing misadventures, confessing that despite all his experience, he is still capable of blowing a strike by a fish "[I]n the usual amateur way". He offers witty, trenchant observations not just about fly-fishing itself, but also about how one's love of fly-fishing shapes the world that we choose to make for ourselves.

©2020 John Gierach (P)2020 Tantor

Never get tired of his stories

I look forward to the next book. As a fisherman I can relate to so many things.

Great variety of short personal experience stories

Very nice collection of personal trip experiences that have a good mix of location, fish and tactics - with JG’s unique and subtle flare for brief character development - just enough to picture the situation.

Just from listening

You feel like you are on the water. The personal relationships are similarly heartening. Like poetry, meant to be experienced more than just read.

A long time reader...

first time listener. It's great to hear each story unfold and go along for each cast and character.

As good as all his books

I listen to his books while driving to go fishing and they always remind me why I love being in a river.