What Others Are Saying
The Thermal Podcast
Amazon Customer Review
captain railroad
A BOOK WITH A VIEW…AND SO MUCH MORE
This is a superb book on so many levels: growing up, learning the art of gliding from a careful, instructive father whose shadow was a dominant factor in the author’s growth into manhood, becoming a marathon runner over time, and traveling all over the country in pursuit of his love for soaring…and running.
FROM: Sarah Arnold (U.S. and World Gliding Champion)
RE: Couldn’t Put It Down
I finished your book today. Couldn’t put it down. Certainly because it’s about soaring, but I don’t think that’s the only reason. Your story is compelling. The audience doesn’t have to care about soaring or running. It works because you’re vulnerable and raw and honest. The humanity.
Amazon Customer Review
STAH
LINGERS BEYOND THE FINAL PAGE
“Goodbye Papa Golf” was recommended to me by a fellow runner, and what a discovery it has been. I started with zero knowledge of gliding, but Chip Bearden’s storytelling made it a seamless and captivating introduction. The intricacies of gliding were described without being overwhelming or condescending, allowing me to dive into a world I knew nothing about.
The inclusion of images and charts adds a visual dimension to the engaging storytelling. What sets this book apart is the raw emotion embedded in every page, prompting reflection on the importance of treasuring moments with loved ones. The balance between cinematic style and modern philosophical insights creates a unique reading experience that lingers beyond the final page.
This is a superbly crafted and captivating book that transcends the niche of gliding, appealing to a diverse audience.
Amazon Customer Review
allson
A STELLAR STORYTELLER
Although I am neither a marathon runner nor glider pilot, I can honestly say it was riveting, engaging and heart-warming. The author draws you into his very personal feelings about challenges, disappointments, joys, and heartbreak. You may find, as I did, that you re-examine your own growth and development through insights the author shared. I highly recommend this book to anyone who values personal growth.
Amazon Customer Review
Luke S. (Canada)
A GRIPPING TALE OF PERSONAL GROWTH
Through the highs and lows of competitive soaring, marathon running, career, and family adversity Chip tells a tale of true grit and perseverance. Inspirational.
FROM: Mitch Hudson
I’M NOT SURE ANYONE HAS EVER DONE IT BETTER
I loved it! The way the stories are woven together, the way you can feel yourself growing up and getting older throughout the book, and the perspectives looking back are priceless. I could hardly put it down.
Also, the emotions, and feelings from inside the cockpit are so incredibly spot on. Like perfect descriptors of the feeling and tensions, and anxiety, and jubilation that go into each race. I’m not sure anyone has ever done it better that I have read.
Bravo sir. Thank you for putting the time and effort into this.
FROM: Jim Lee (former U.S. National Soaring Champion and U.S. Team member)
OPEN[ED] MY EYES
I recently read Chip’s book on my Kindle and man did it open my eyes to the internal struggles of a man I have flown with in competitions of which I had no idea. By that, I mean that we get caught up in our little worlds of sailplane flying, often without knowledge of what our fellow pilots have gone through/are going through. I have had occasion to want to look deeply into the eyes of my friends and ask, really ask, “HOW IS IT GOING?”
Thank you Chip for sharing your very personal life travels with us. I enjoyed your book very much, and I look forward to seeing you down the road at some flying site or other so that I can thank you in person.
FROM: Hank Nixon (former U.S. National Soaring Champion and U.S. Team member)
RE: Finished in Two Days
Great book – not for everybody.
It took real guts to write it.
I will enjoy it again in the future.
Amazon Customer Review
GOOD FINISH, JULIET BRAVO!
This book can be described as a thorough exploration of an individual’s lifelong path, highlighting the exhilarating moments of victory, the profound challenges of defeat, and the essential sacrifices made to pursue life’s grandest ambitions. A shared characteristic of successful people is that their victories in one area often resonate across different facets of their lives. While these achievements are attainable, they frequently come with a cost. From the very beginning, the author shares his experiences, contemplates his performance, adjusts his approach, and finishes strong.
FROM: Peter G H Purdie (U.K.)
RE: The First Piece of “Fan Mail” I Have Ever Sent To An Author, And That Is An Indication of How Your Book Resonated With Me
I have quite a collection of books by and about pilots, soaring and competition flying. Yours is the first that really captured what I have experienced over 60 years of flying.
Amazon Customer Review
Terry G.
EXCELLENT READ
If you are a soaring pilot or just interested in flying, this story will hold your attention and keep you flipping pages right to the end.
FROM: Jimmy Hamilton
It’s That Good!
I bought the book from Amazon, received it three days ago and finished reading the 380 pages tonight. It’s that good! I highly recommend it!
Amazon Customer Review
Mike Morgulis (Canada)
A CANDID LOOK AT SOARING, RUNNING, FAMILY, AND GRIEF
I’ve read Chip Bearden’s name in many issues of SSA’s Soaring magazine. A club mate recommended the book and I devoured it. The loss of a parent is pivotal in anyone’s life, but to witness the accident itself is scarring. As I read Chip’s account and emotional response, I couldn’t help but recall the dual fatal I witnessed almost 19 years ago (thankfully I didn’t know either pilot that well, unlike Chip). Marriages don’t often co-exist well with flying; that also hit the nail there. It was refreshing to read all the mental and emotional stresses Chip endures when low, in turbulence… nobody talks about it for fear of ridicule, but it’s finally there. Thank you for that, Chip. The book is an amazing insight into competitive thinking, flying, running, aging, and changing gears with life’s demands. Admittedly I was uncomfortable reading some parts, because they hit close to home. We all know someone, and we’ve all received ‘the call’ to tell us that the someone’s gone down. It’s all fuel for thought, in 2 months it will be time to get back in the air.
Amazon Customer Review
James L.
AN OUTSTANDING READ
I’ve never been a runner but I am a glider pilot and have flown many contests over the years. You don’t have to be either to really enjoy this book. It’s a story of life and extremely well written. Kudos Chip!
Amazon Customer Review
mjb
YOU’VE MANAGED TO ELOQUENTLY EXPRESS THINGS THAT OTHERS OF US CANNOT PUT INTO WORDS
I think the totality of your treatment is fantastic. And you’ve shared some deep and personal things in it – but that’s a bold thing to do. I agree with the review Sarah Arnold gave – it’s raw and human. I know a bit about soaring, so I had a point of common access there, but hell – I couldn’t run around the block. However, I really liked the material dealing with running, and the tie-in with your soaring outlook was very interesting. Also – your writing style made it easy for me to keep going. The book is humorous, poignant, tragic in places, uplifting in others … that’s life, innit?
FROM: Wallace Berry
RE: Touching and Impactful
Just finished reading your book, Chip. I found it touching and impactful, and not just from the perspective of a glider pilot. There is much in your book that will resonate with anyone with strong family attachments, but especially so for those who are also strongly driven to achieve. Many thanks to you for Goodbye Papa Golf!
Amazon Customer Review
Charles M.
GOOD READ EVEN IF YOU DON’T FLY OR RUN.
I will start with, I have known Chip for decades flying at our field and contests. I knew a lot of his history but this book fleshed it out and revealed new things.
There is enough discussion/info so you can follow the flying and running without being burdensome to those that know about either.
As to the bulk of the book, I can see parallels to my own life, both in events and feelings. This made me reflect on what each of us did with similar events. This also meant I read it a couple times.
Share in the joys, sorrows and events of another human being.
Amazon Customer Review
John
A GREAT AVIATION READ
While I don’t think of soaring as dangerous, Chip’s account of his life in the sport has sobered me up to the realities of our time in the air. As the poster says “Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.” (Captain Alfred G. Lamplugh)
Chip has shown us more examples of the effects of those three deficiencies than I was ready to acknowledge. And has also shown how they effected his life, especially the passing of his father.
If you fly sailplanes this is all you need to read to know just how important it is to follow all the safety protocols. If you don’t this is a great read into how to cope with a devastating loss in an activity you love and enjoy. And it is well intertwined with Chip’s other sport’s love, Marathon running.
Amazon Customer Review
Gary F. Kemp
PERSEVERANCE
Chip had a way with words, much better than I in writing your “story”. I passed through some similar areas, I was at Minden as asst CD when he was there. I knew many of the same people. His writing, particularly of his soaring life led me to not put the tome down. Good job Chip.
Amazon Customer Review
Rand Baldwin
A FASCINATING TALE OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH
“Goodbye Papa Golf” is a fascinating account of author Chip Bearden’s love affair with the sport of soaring. There are very few books I’ve read cover-to-cover with few or no breaks, but this is one of them.
Chip is not only a skilled glider pilot, but a gifted writer. You don’t have to fly gliders or be a pilot of any stripe to enjoy this memoir. His account of failure and triumph will speak to anyone who has overcome adversity in pursuit of a dream. If you’re simply curious about the somewhat arcane sport of flying gliders, or need an uplifting tale to inspire and motivate you to pursue your own dreams, read this book.
FROM: Chris Behm
The chapter (21) that has the description of what soaring is like must be one of the best descriptions for non-flying folks that I have read so far.
