ALL OUR WAVES ARE WATER

All Our Waves Are Water is such a wonderful book. I have read it through more than once already. I loved Jaimal's first two books so much, but this one is different. I could feel that he wrote from a deeper, wiser place while still sharing his adventures in a humble, often innocent voice. Perhaps viewing his early adult life and precocious radar for self-discovery through older eyes lends even greater insights and wisdom to his words. Jaimal is still so young but has seen and experienced so much. I believe that I and other readers have much to learn from the tales of his journey. He also shares accessible information about meditation and Buddhism in a straightforward, modern and often humorous way. I found this to be an enjoyable memoir and a practical guide for living in the modern world as a fellow surfer, an adult looking for meaning in often bittersweet or painful life experiences, and a person with an interest in living a kinder, more compassionate life. I must add that the passages about being beaten up by the surf at San Francisco's Ocean Beach, being one with the energy of the ocean and keeping a good attitude in the line-up really resonated. His loyal, insightful, longtime friendships with unlikely characters also really struck a chord. This is the stuff of real life and good people. I wouldn't know what to do without books like this on my shelf.

I've read all of Jaimal's books, and love them all. His new book "All Our Waves Are Water" is a must-read for anyone looking for a sense of balance and self-discovery in a chaotic world--meaning, it's a book that everyone can and should read and love. For those who know his writing, you'll be delighted that he continues with many of his greatest qualities as a writer: gorgeous prose on surfing and nature; accessible, insightful interpretations of spiritual texts and teachers; light-hearted self-deprecation where you least expect it. But what makes "All Our Waves" Jaimal's most ambitious (and I think most rewarding) book is his focus on relationships. None of us is an island, and Jaimal ponders that deeply with the hard-earned wisdom that our paths of self-discovery are shaped by those who show us the way. Beautiful book by a special human being.

Another entertaining, insightful and all-around excellent book by Jaimal Yogis. If his first book "Saltwater Buddha" is "Intro to Jaimal Yogis 101", then AOWAW is the 200-level course, as Yogis expands upon several of the religious, philosophical and travel/surfing themes that he first raised in SWB.What makes Yogis's work exceptional is that he tackles many of life's biggest questions and delves into dense philosophical and religious topics in an engagingly fun and readable style. Yogis describes his own personal journey (spiritually and literally-- Yogis takes us along on his travels from Tibet to California to NYC to Islands of the South Pacific) in a fun and self-effacing manner. It's easy to forget that you're reading about such lofty topics as the differences between western and eastern theologies because you're smiling at the author's stories of hanging out in a Franciscan friary in New York or living in a hut in the himalayas with a practicing buddhist monk.And in addition to learning a lot about buddhism on this fun romp across the globe, I found some nuggets that I believe will last me a lifetime. His description of a Columbia University religion professor's debate with an atheist is the best argument for the existence of a deity that I've ever read. His brief paragraph towards the end of the book about the importance of "storms" in our lives is an insight I've reminded myself of several times since and will always carry with me.And while there's plenty of surfing in this book, don't be afraid to share it with your non-surfing friends. I have recommended it to several non-surfers and all of them have enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a fun and thoughtful read.

I loved this book because it felt like I was reading Spiritual Travel Writing, the quest to get "tubed" paralleled with religious experiences from the Franciscan monks to the Wailing Wall made this a very pleasurable read.

This book along with Saltwater Buddha have changed my attitude to life. Thought provoking, you begin to question not only what you are doing with your life but also why; sometimes it may take a whole chapter to challenge your mind but more often than not Just a single phrase from Jaimal hits home. This book won’t make me or anyone else a better surfer, but you will become a better person for reading this book.