Description
Anyone who has found Dave Gurman’s recent offerings in The Rider’s Digest amusing, interesting, informative, or just plain infuriating, is guaranteed to find this collection of his early contributions exactly the same – only more so. Whether he is joking about the diabolical danger of distractions and the bad old mad old days of despatch riding; discussing the serious moral issues involved when you contemplate allowing a child on a motorcycle; presenting his own bastardised version of an ancient eastern philosophy; or proffering his take on the September 11th attacks (published a fortnight after the event), Dave has never been short of an opinion, nor the ability to express it in an engaging and entertaining manner.
- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Digest Publishing; First edition (10 Nov 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0956086306
“Each story will have you nodding furiously in agreement, reaching for your pen to underline sentences that speak to your soul, and laugh out loud at life’s little truths that we just never thought of in that way before, until Dave spelled them out so eloquently.”
Harriet Ridley, Trinity Mirror Group newspapers
“Dave Gurman is blindingly honest, funny, never PC. He writes with a refreshingly thought provoking style that has you constantly skipping back a page, to make sure that you did read, what you thought you just did! When I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down.”
Sam Manicom
His charming turns of phrase and effortless bonhomie stand in stark contrast to so much contemporary motorcycle journalism. Dave Gurman makes you glad that you’re riding and glad that you’re reading.
Austin Vince
“Dave himself is intelligent without any side, a self taught literate, and funny. Opinionated definitely but not bombastic or rude, and never p.c.”
Ian Dunmore
“The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles ranks right up there with Running out of Road, way above the ramblings of Comrade Clarkson. An ideal present for any biker with more than half a brain.”
Paul Blezard
From the inside cover:
“At last, a British author comparable to those American greats, Cook Neilson & Kevin Cameron. Dave Gurman is an inspiration to riders everywhere.”
John Chatterton-Ross, Director of Public Affairs, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
“Dave Gurman is blindingly honest, funny, never PC. He writes with a refreshingly thought provoking style that has you constantly skipping back a page, to make sure that you did read, what you thought you just did! When I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down.”
Sam Manicom, Into Africa/Under Asian Skies/Distant Suns/Tortillas To Totems
“A genius friend of mine once said: “It’s a shame that nowadays bikes are boringly perfect and Bike mags are perfectly boring”. Naturally, he wasn’t referring to the fabulous Rider’s Digest! Dave Gurman’s contributions to this landmark publication remind one of the simple joys of motorcycling. His charming turns of phrase and effortless bonhomie stand in stark contrast to so much contemporary motorcycle journalism. Dave Gurman makes you glad that you’re riding and glad that you’re reading.”
Austin Vince, Mondo Enduro/Terra Circa/Mondo Sahara
“Even allowing for the veneration of diversity and the zero-tolerance of stereotyping that our multi-cultural paradise so stupidly insists upon, the concept of a rabidly socialist, moderately literate and occasionally thought-provoking hairy biker is sufficiently novel to justify perusal of his prose.”
Alan Ainsworth, Professional courier & occasional Digest contributor
“Dave Gurman is a natural writer, a natural philosopher and a thoughtful and thought-provoking biker to his bones.
Like him, I was once a Mercury despatch rider, so his reminiscences of the joys of being a DR in the 70s and 80s rang many a bell for me, but I guarantee that you will enjoy this fine collection of his musings whatever you ride, and no matter how long you’ve been riding. It’s a mighty fine read.”
Paul Blezard, Motorcycle Journalist & Photographer, (Mercury 603, 1974)
“A chuckle-inducing catalogue of nostalgic sketches from a back streets biker with the skills to put on paper what most riders can only recall over a pint.”
Ian Mutch, MAG President, Editor of The ROAD magazine
Harriet Ridley’s review in full:
By Harriet Ridley for Trinity Mirror Group newspapers
THE CHRONICLES OF A BIKER.
I HAVE three words for Dave Gurman’s book, The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles – I love it!
The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles is un-put-down-able, and I don’t care if that’s not a word. It’s the most delightful, thought-provoking and entertaining collection of thoughts and experiences of motorcycling I’ve read in a long time. And so beautifully written…
Anyone who shares Dave’s love of a life filled with bikes will instantly relate to The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles. And if you’ve ever worked as a courier in London, then you’d be mad not to read them.
But the essence of the book is not only bikes. Indeed, you don’t even have to enjoy motorcycles to relish The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles.
Each story will have you nodding furiously in agreement, reaching for your pen to underline sentences that speak to your soul, and laugh out loud at life’s little truths that we just never thought of in that way before, until Dave spelled them out so eloquently.
Dave’s unique take on life shines through this collection of his early contributions to the magazine he now edits, The Rider’s Digest.
I was captivated by the story of the motorcyclist clutched from the jaws of death by the Heart of Gold Vehicle, engrossed by the Ducati 900SS that saved a young Dave from the depths of despair brought on by modern living.
His love of red heads and youth spent racing around town delivering packages are recounted with a sharp insight into life itself that makes this book a must-read, and leaves you yearning for more when you finish that final story.
TRD –
Check out the 31 reviews on Amazon averaging 4.8 stars
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0956086306/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Phil –
Great read when you’re on the bog – good stuff going in bad stuff coming out! A very easy going and enjoyable book, not just for bikers.
carl –
This will always my all time favrouite book..Having once met Dave 2/3 at the Ace cafe..Dave comes across as a all time origanel biker having been a dispatch rider Film etc traveled..I would put Dave next to Paul simon..Henry cole & Guy Martin.
Jon –
A great read. I took it on a biking holiday and it was a way feeling like you were still riding when you were resting up at the end of the day. Love all the various adventures and stories. Well written. Thoroughly recommend it and not just to bikers.
Kirsty (verified owner) –
Excellent read, had me laughing out loud on the Caledonian sleeper train! Really took me back to 80’s/90’s London, despatch central. Reminiscent if you were there, probably an eye opener if you weren’t! I’d highly recommend it to anyone.
Martin Haskell –
Before I got my copy, I was a seven stone weakling. Now, I’m two separate gorillas!
andy –
A great read, . Harking back to the glory days of the London Despatch riding scene.
Billy Burke –
A thoroughly enjoyable read and great insight into the London dispatch scene, well recommended.
Blez (Mercury 03) –
Well-told and often hilarious tales from Dave’s despatch riding days in the capital with Mercury Despatch but there are others on subjects as diverse as parenthood, further education, depression, Ducatis and ‘9/11′. The addition of excellent cartoon illustrations by TRD regular Simon Kewer is a major plus compared to the original columns, which appeared in early editions of the magazine.
The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles ranks right up there with Mark Williams’ Running out of Road, and is way above the ramblings of Jeremy Clarkson IMHO. An ideal present for any biker with more than half a brain.
Anthony edgecombe –
Dave is an old friend of old friends of mine, so, he’s my ersatz old friend but a relatively newish new friend, and like his book title, he’s caring, sharing and ironically, a bit chronic, as in time, read above again I can’t be bothered to explain! 🙂 So, after being blackmailed to write a review with the promise of a signed copy of said tome, here goes! I suppose I should have read the whole book first! But I have had a bit more than a cursory glance at it so I’m not expecting the hardback version! So a quick bullet point review is appropriate here I think!?It is a compelling read, from what I read! I can describe it as descriptive! Funny and familiar to anyone that’s been on a bike! Alarming at times, as in “Ron’s story!” Old hippy? I am! There’s something there for you! Bit spiritual? Ditto! Just like bikes? The perfect book! Bored? Here you go! In short and it can’t get shorter than this, just buy the book, I only get 10%!