The Rapture of the Deep: And Other Dive Stories You Probably Shouldn't Know

Rating:
Summary: Terrible!
Review: I can't believe I actually bought this book and finished reading it. It is very poorly written. It promised great stories of diving adventures. Most of the stories were about the authors drunken antics and sexual adventures. What a rip off!

Rating:
Summary: Kerouac of the Deep!
Review: I could not put this book down! Zinsley lives the Kerouac-ish lifestyle that many of us would love to lead. His descriptions paint vivid images of scenes that most people can only dream of visiting. Not only does this book capture the essence of diving and travel but it also explores the humorous differences in cultures that one could expect to experience in world travel. I have one question though...who was the unidentified diver mistaken for the American Divermaster? BRAVO to Zinsley on Rapture of the Deep! I would like to see him possibly write a book on his mountain climbing adventures!

Rating:
Summary: Rapture of the.. : And other stories You Don't Want To Know
Review: I feel this book was minimally entertaining and not very informative. The title really does not describe well what the book is really about. The title should be Zinsley's almost amusing bar stories, or Zinsley's love conquests. Maybe it is a book more designed for men. I was expecting more interesting dive stories and not so much how to kill a rooster in a tree. I think the book is worth reading but not at the price tag it carries. If it were 6.99 I would recommend buying it - maybe?

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining perspectives
Review: I found this book to be very entertaining and somewhat informative, couldn't put it down until I was finished. There is good insight into the culture and the behavior of different peoples, but its primary objective is to entertain.....mission accomplished. Michael Zinsley did something most of us only dream about; how many of us have actually acted on the impulse to write down our funniest and most entertaining adventures for others to enjoy? Don't expect highly technical jargon about diving, there are enough books on that subject. If you've been to these destinations, you'll know what he means. If you haven't, enjoy them first through Mike's eyes instead of the travel brochures. Share the book with a friend who doesn't dive, they'll enjoy it too (if they have a sense of humor).

Rating:
Summary: It wasn't exactly what I have expected, but it was very good
Review: I got this book to read some diving adventures, and stories. The book is more about the stories of a Diving Instructor in many places in the world, rather than Underwater. It is written in a way that is very easy to read and has a lot of fun in it.
Despite what I have expected, it is very good book to read, if you want to travel around the world. You can learn about places that you'll never be there in a way that not any tourist guide can do it. Everything in this book is personal opinions.

Rating:
Summary: I don't mean to be a party pooper, but...
Review: I had expected the stories to be more focused on diving rather than the author's romantic adventures or nights on the town. It would have been nice to hear more about what went on underwater...

Rating:
Summary: Rapture of the Sheep
Review: I have been a diver for 45 years. This book isn't informative at all on the diving side and is marginally entertaining from the land-based side. Did Zinsley self-publish to get this into print? Admittedly, there are only a few good books about scuba diving. This isn't one of them. About drinking, debauch and a totally dissipated life style, perhaps I could up the rating.

Rating:
Summary: What's The Deal?
Review: I ordered a copy of 'Rapture' excited to read some dive stories. What I read about was drinking and more drinking. This book is more about alcohol comsumption and pot smoking than it is about diving. I was disappointed by the book. Don't you be fooled if you really are looking toread about diving adventure. On ther other hand, if you are looking for drinking and diving...this is your book.

Rating:
Summary: The Young Man and The Sea
Review: I read this book and passed it on to a friend and she passed it on again and now it has been passed out of my circle. I was hoping to get it back! It is a good quick read, and hard to put down. The prose is contemporary, muscular and salty. It sings of the both the beauty, rapture and humor in these many far flung settings, and the gritty realities and occasional real dangers this man experienced. Zinsley's portraits do concentrate more on the culture(and his partaking of those offerings)and a bit of the history of these places, than a pure guide book to the undersea marvels that he sketches out. It can be read either way, which is the reason I think I won't be seeing my copy again. After hundreds of dives, I think he properly put emphasis topside, where strange situations make for good stories. Still, I have been into serious adventure sports for 25 years, but never felt inspired to investigate scuba diving until I read this book.

Rating:
Summary: very entertaining
Review: I thought this book was very entertaining. It also had light humor and occasional insights.