7 Sheets to the Wind

An Unauthorized Maritime Chronicle of Sailing, Navigating and Surviving Wild Adventures and Misadventures at Sea

By. Dr. John E. Martin

EARLY REVIEWS

“It is evident that God created the heavens and the earth filled with conscious interactions with our five senses. He did not leave behind a sailing handbook, so Dr. John has provided the reader with applicable scripture, relevant stories and best practices. Whether you laugh out loud or shed a tear when reading this book, the memes will impact your heart and soul. I know you will want to reference many lines and will re-read this book again.”

Dr. Robert J. Adamik, Human Resource Consultant, AVA Personality Analyst, US Navy-Viet Nam Veteran and USC Professorurce

“Captain Martin’s story and latest book maybe was not intended to be autobiographic, but he explored 'growing up' stages from babe-chasing, to boat buying, to more adventures on sea, to goofy professoring sea-side, Bible teaching, and recognition as Captain Martin, friend and willing participant to 'bring more people' to Jesus. Now our goofy professor and Sea captain is all grown up, boatless, and happy in marriage and land-lubing fun and life adventures.

-K.D.

“My boats were not built to catch fish, though sometimes I would drop a line over the side or stern. But many of the lessons learned across my voyages had to be caught, as if they were fish. Just like when fishing, I never knew what (or who) would get hooked.

Some life lessons must be patiently waited for, even when you use the best bait. You may plan for a certain kind of "experience", only to come to some great surprise, blessing, or stormy affront. The true purpose of a boat is not to sit in the harbor, as most boats seem to do, but to head out to the high seas, storm notwithstanding.”

(Excerpt from 7 Sheets to the Wind)

ABOUT THE BOOK

I’m Dr. John, your "neighborhood" psychologist next door and a self-described "baby captain." Most of my professional life has been spent in the dour halls of academia or clinical research, but my real education happened on the water.

7 Sheets to the Wind is a book about a sea captain who happens to be a psychologist.

It’s the story of my life told through the seven sailboats I’ve owned. From the teenage embarrassment of the Babe Magnet to the final surrender of New Heart. It’s part maritime memoir, part "Lifeboat Lesson," and part survival guide for anyone who feels like they are currently drifting on a sandbar of their own making. I’ll talk about psychology, sure. I’ll even discuss the rotating crew of salty pets. But I will also talk about my faith and how the Great Helmsman used the wind and the waves (and my own goofy mistakes) to guide me toward a peaceful harbor.

Whether you’re a fellow "old salt" who knows the sting of salt spray or a landlubber who gets dizzy in a bathtub, this book is an invitation to look at your own misadventures through a different lens.

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

The Novice Navigator. You’ve never touched a tiller but you’re currently facing a "storm" in your personal life and need a map that makes sense.

The Old Salt.You’ve spent your life on the water and want to laugh at someone else’s "Captain’s Waterlog" of errors.

The Spiritual Voyager.You’re tired of preachy sermons and want to see how faith and psychology actually intersect in the messy reality of a life lived "sheets to the wind."

The Autodidact. Like my brother, you don't normally read "dour" books, but you appreciate a good story told with a bit of "stupid humor" and self-deprecation.