Catch and Release: Trout Fishing and the Meaning of Life [Paperback]

Mark Kingwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2005

Part memoir, part travelogue, and part reflection on the deep truths of fly fishing, this original and free-wheeling book brings a philosopher’s (actually a philosophy professor’s) mind to bear on an avocation that turns ordinary men into philosophers. As he relates the progress of his yearly fishing trip to British Columbia with his father and brothers, Mark Kingwell considers everything from work, procrastination, and the way of manhood to the wet vs. dry fly debate and the best ways of fooling a fish. Sly in its humor, unassuming in its erudition, Catch and Release is a perfect book for anyone who loves fishing—or anyone who’s perplexed by it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Using a family fishing trip as a catalyst for this memoir, Kingwell reflects on the actions and ideas that the rhythm of "casting and reeling, casting and reeling" conjures up in his mind. Kingwell is only a novice fly fisherman, so his thoughts on the oft-written-about sport stick to the ABCs, but are filled with a sense of joy and awe, so they can hardly be considered basic. Ever the philosophy professor (he teaches at the University of Toronto), Kingwell's musings on angling inevitably lead to in-depth essays on the inherent nature of and reasoning for various aspects of fishing, such as casting, killing, patience and outdoorsmanship. To flesh out his theories, Kingwell quotes from a varied list of sources including philosophers (Aristotle, Nietzsche), writers (Tom Wolfe, Hemingway) and fishing scribes (Izaak Walton, John Gierach). Thankfully, the author never forgets that, despite its philosophical characteristics, fishing, even fly fishing, should be fun. To that end, he livens up his prose with humorous tales about his family (his battles with his brother Sean will speak to anyone with a sibling), Canadian men (a "weird conjunction of manliness and dandyism") and the undeniable virtues of the "boat-beer" ("well known to tone you up and improve both coordination and judgment"). Though, in the end, he gets skunked in his fishing expedition for the meaning of life, Kingwell does create a book that finds a nice balance between the meaningful and the meaningless. Illus. not seen by PW.
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Review

Illustrates deep thoughts on truth, beauty and thinking itself with laugh-out-loud yarns of male bonding. (The Boston Globe) Filled with a sense of joy and awe. (Publishers Weekly)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (April 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143035142
• ISBN-13: 978-0143035145
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,018,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book isn't about fishing, February 23, 2007

By 

Philip E. Nast - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Catch and Release: Trout Fishing and the Meaning of Life (Paperback)

You don't have to read very far before Kingwell tells you his book isn't about fishing. In fact, it's as much about fishing as Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is about motorcycle maintenance. It's more about what Kingwell takes to the water, other than gear, when he goes fishing. A large part of what he takes is family. Maybe if he were a more serious fisherman, his mind wouldn't wander as much. But he isn't, and he doesn't pretend to be. In any case, the wandering offers a lot of fun.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The New Male Status Symbol, July 16, 2004

By 

Virginia C. Selanik "Virginia Selanik "li... (Indian River. Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Catch and Release: Trout Fishing and the Meaning of Life (Hardcover)

"Catch and Release" is supposedly a book about trout fishing. That it is; however, much more is contained in this book by Mark Kingwell. I bought the book for a friend, thinking he would like all the fishing information. But as I leafed through the book, I found much more information on various subjects....cooking osso bucco, the measure of a martini glass, golf, writing and wrtier's block, philosophy, and Canadian masculinity. Canadian masculinity by the way, seems to be a cut above that of the US fisherman.It was rather neatly summarized with Kingwell's comment re: Cary Grant."If Cary Grant isn't man enough for you, there's something wrong with your picture of manhood." This was in reply to some men or women who think of Grant as effeminate. And as did also the previous reviewer think of Kingwell. So the Canadian fisherman is more like Cary Grant than Ernest Hemingway.....and I'll drink to that!!!
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unfulfilled Title and Story, May 28, 2005

By 

D. W. Hollis "Reader Writer" (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Catch and Release: Trout Fishing and the Meaning of Life (Paperback)

This entry in the new genre of "fly fishing and the meaning of life" breaks no new ground; not interested in sibling rivalry and the author's fascination with drinking. In fact, it sheds no light on fishing nor on being a man in the 21st century.