WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT
'THE OARSOME ADVENTURES'

"I started to read it and I'm glad that I did: this is one of the best sports books of the year... Surprisingly the at sea half isn't at all boring and that is because Biggar is such a good writer ... He has written a superb book" - Warwick Rodger, North and South Magazine

"Your book was BRILLIANT!" - Michael Hill

"Blimmin great!"

"The book is so good I want to give it away to a few people over here in the UK. Can I order 10 more?"

"Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your book. Am a little relieved to have finished it actually as it was un-put-down-able and I have other things to do! I'm not usually a fan of the non-fiction, sports genre but your book was just so funny and compelling. Congratulations!
p.s. My boyfriend has just started reading it and I know he's enjoying it too as he's insisting on reading every second line aloud to me!"

"Well done you! I couldn't put it down. Funny, entertaining, and inspiring!"

"I have just finished your book, it's excellent!"

"It is fantastic! I was really really impressed. You did an amazing job of it - it is definitely a 'page turner', the word imagery and your use of humour is very impressive."

"Very very very good book!"

"I loved the book - I am recommending it to everyone I know, and I can't wait for the next one!"

"I CANNOT put this book down! Best thing I've read in ages. I'm going to buy some copies for the family!"

"Really inspirational. Made me want to get out there and do something special for a bit!"

"It is a great book and I recommend that anyone who wants a bit of a laugh to read it. When is the one on the South Pole coming out?"

"Fantastic read!"

The book is brilliant - well done. One of the most enjoyable I've read and would rate it ahead of "It's not about the bike" by some unknown cyclist. I hope your book is paying you off as well as Armstrong's did him!

"My husband is an avid reader and ploughed through the book within 3 days. He was very impressed with the quality of the writing. Congratulations! My turn to read it next!

"Just read your book and LOVED it! What an awesome writer. And it was such a joy to go to bed and know I could sleep for as long as I liked, my bed wasn't moving, I wasn't too hot - or too cold - and I was dry. You really give the reader a taste of what your trip across the Atlantic was like!"

"Just finished the book - could not put it down. Bloody good read. I don't read non-fiction as a rule ... very glad I did now. When's the next one coming out?"

"Just finished reading your book. I enjoyed it hugely - you had me in stitches from start to finish - simply fantastic!"

"This is a very funny book. Couch potato or endurance athlete - you will find this an entertaining read." - Wild Tomato, November 2006

"I really enjoyed your book and the guy who sold me the book runs a nice little bookstore in Cambridge and raved about how much he enjoyed it too."

"I've just read your book and it was great, really funny, warm and well written - even the difficult bits. I'm sure there was more to be said about the tuff times but you handled it beautifully. I'm wondering when your book will be out about going to the south pole? If it isn't done yet then I'll look forward to it. Thanks for the inspiration and the laughter!"

"Just a quick note to say What a Great Read your book is! Hugely inspirational – it would have to go down as one of the best books I've read this year!"

"I've just finished reading your book. I loved it! I hope to read about your adventures to the South Pole and await another fabulous book! "

"A short note to say how much I enjoyed your book on the atlantic row, which was given to me as a Xmas present by my long suffering Kiwi girlfriend. It was superbly written, very amusing!"

"What a great book! It was non-put-down-able to the last page. I hope I can get my non-reading husband to read it too. I loved the humour. The whole adventure and the way you've written about it are both very inspiring - especially about taking big hard jobs one step at a time. Thanks so much for living your life to the full and showing others that anything is possible"

"I finished the book on the weekend and it was so great! I confess I did not like the title so disagreement on that aside, the book itself is really wonderful and hooks you from the beginning. It's laugh out loud funny in some places and I love laughing out loud, so thank you."

"Just wanted to say great book well written and great stuff ... well done, your book was an inspiration and very entertaining."

"I've just read your book and it has thoroughly entertained and inspired me. Fantastic read"

"Just finished reading your book... honestly the best thing I've read! Your story was gripping, motivating and bloody hilarious! I couldn't stop laughing out loud at some of your hallucination experiences. Your witing is pure genius!"

"Inspirational!"

"Very nicely done!"

"Just finished reading your book. Initially I thought this would be some motivational, feel good story which I am particularly immune too. However, much to my pleasant surprise I busted a stitch from a recent back operation laughing. The stories about the pitfalls of sleep deprivation had me in absolute fits of laughter. A well written book mate and glad to see you have landed on your feet. Unfortunately I won't be climbing Everest after your book but I will be recommending it to all and sundry who want to see the umderdog win!!"

"I have just started your book – it is very funny and brilliantly written!"

"I really enjoyed the read and the original language... sometimes staying up til 1am, it was quite a page turner. It's so nice to be able to laugh out loud!"

"Just wanted to say what a great read your book was. Thoroughly enjoyed it mate, hope there are more books to come with your adventures ahead! "

"... both agreed that it is one of the best of that genre that we have ever read. Not only could we not put it down but it made us laugh a lot!"

"I took your book out, finished it last night, and I have to say that it was the best book I have read in ages. I just want to say, thanks for your inspirational book, and I look forward to reading the next one, and the next one. After all, 'we can't have just two books on the coffee table. Let's make it three in a row!'

"I've just finished reading The Oarsome Adventures of a Fat Boy Rower and I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it. It's brilliantly written and so inspiring. I can actually picture myself competing in future trans-Atlantic rowing race...although strangely enough I feel no pain, my hair is blowing gracefully in the light ocean breeze, I'm neither too warm nor too cold and it seems I've had both the time and stability to apply my make up with uncanny finesse...um, I think I may some more work to do on my mental preparations... your book has made a huge positive impact on my outlook. I have a belief that perhaps I COULD actually make real some of those thrilling dreams that I've previously confined to my imagination.

Ps. If I ever do anything that deserves a book of it's own, you'll find your name under Acknowledgments - Inspiration :)"

"Wow!! Just finished reading your Oarsome Adventures. Great read and could not put it down for the last third ... An inspiring book and wish I was twenty years younger ... but if you want a companion to paddle down the Amazon! Many thanks, a great read, will have me thinking and chuckling for days!"

"I just needed to say that I am only 60 pages into your book and am convinced that it is my new favorite. You have a teaching/speaking/writing style that is similar to some of the greatest people I've known in this lifetime. People I wish I could seek advice from but are unfortunately exploring worlds further than our own! I hear a lot of my own thoughts and reactions coming through your words, and must say that I thought I must be crazy being the only one thinking that monotony and cookie cutter lives just AREN'T the way to go! ... Believe it or not your book explained my chaotic brain more clearly in one sentance than I've been able to sort out in 25 years. Picking one...whether it be the perfect one or not...is better than reaching the end having never done any of them. So, thank you for the inspiration! Its just what I needed...a bit of an extra kick in the butt to get out of my self made rutt!"

"Just a quick comment to say that your book has been the most amazing thing I have ever read! It is a true insight into competition, compassion and hard work. Your book is very motivational and shows everyone that they can and should be thankful for that fact that they are on solid land with a warm stable bed to go home to."

"Just writing to say I absolutely loved your book, and as a rower myself I found it particularly applicable. Wondering if you will be writing a book about your and Jamie's adventure to the south pole? I would love to read another story from you"

"Thanks again for signing your book. I had it read in about six days whilst continuing around the country. Inspirational - it really was. Hugely funny and a tale one won't forget having read it."

"Just want to say hi! cos I really loved your book! (especially your hilarious ravings when trying to make the time pass faster!)"

"Have only just put your book down, its an awesome read, really good stuff!"

"I just wanted to say what a stunning and witty book you have written outlining your exploits!! You have certainly inspired me and maybe I'll do the race when I retire from here in ¾ yrs!!"

"You have such a talent as a comic writer! I want more!"

"Just finished your book and thought it was fantastic! Thanks for the read!"

"I bloody loved it! the best sports book I have read since 'ultramarathon man'. The book was an inspiring read but full of kiwi modesty that I really respect. Anyway I'm sure you have another book coming from the south pole expedition , right?"

"... there is only one word for it - Oarsome! My husband started to get embarassed at me laughing out loud on the beach as I was reading it. It was a lovely combination of humour and more serious comments."

"Have just finished your book. Bloody good read - loved it. Had been sitting next to the bed waiting for a quite moment (for far too long...) - picked it up and could't put it down. Great story, and so well written. Most impressed. Now compulsory reading now in the house. Will never complain about being woken up early by the kids again, or feeling a little bit tired!"

"I met a fan of yours in the weekend - at my husband's work do. This guy said 'I read a really good book this year' and he proceeded to tell me it was by you and it was so good he couldn't put it down. In fact he's bought a few to give to people for Christmas!"

"I just wanted to write you and say how much I enjoyed your book. Your story was humble, candid and hilarious and really inspirational in a variety of ways. From dealing with the confusion and depression of not knowing what you want to do with your life and craving challenge and adventure - to dealing with the monotony and reality of training for and completing the enormous challenge you committed yourself to. I still can't believe you took that on after having no background in rowing at all. It is a wonderful feeling to know that such amazing feats can be achieved by people just down the road living in Howick with their mothers. If you can do it, so can many other people. Thank you for your humility and courage in writing a such an enjoyable and inspirational book."

"What a cool book! I started reading your book last night and finished it this morning unable to put it down."

"Thank you so much for your book. I read it in about 3 days. I couldn't put it down. I was laughing out loud at so many things that I was getting funny looks from people. My boss is reading it now!"

"Just wanted to say my mother and I read your book and were blown away. My god what an adventure! We both felt terrified when you were amongst the big waves at sea and couldn't believe the problems when you got home. Amazing journey and have passed the book on to friends and others who need to know that nothing is impossible. Thank you for making this journey. Our imagination went berserk reading about it."

"Fantastic book and achievement. For a world champion rower - you write pretty damn well too!"

"This book was one of the best I've read in a long time!"

"I have just finished The Oarsome Adventures and just wanted to say I was absolutely gripped by it, what a fantastic achievement you and Jamie did. I am really looking forward to reading about your Antarctic adventure, do you have any idea when it will be published?"

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

In February 2001, Kevin Biggar, a management consultant, ordered a pizza and it changed his life.

"500 pizzas to choose from and the guy at the counter already knew the one I was going to pick. It made me think about how much of my life was already chosen for me."

Two years later, having been told by all but one of his friends that he was insane, he got into a 7m plywood boat at the Canary Islands to row in the 2003 Trans-Atlantic Rowing race.

The story traces Kevin's journey from couch potato to world record holder. Unconventional, hilarious and controversial, this is a story of the ups and downs of preparation and how bad jokes, show tunes and german accents get two strangers across the Atlantic.

"This is more than a book about rowing the Atlantic, its about someone going through a quarter life crisis and coming out the other side. Its a story of transformation, if I can do it, than you can too."

If you are in a hurry here are the contents of this book in 150 words or less.

“I have a traumatic pizza ordering experience and stop being immortal. I quit my job, leave my girlfriend, sell my house and go live with Mum. I watch a lot of daytime TV. The ‘How's Life' show decides that I row the Atlantic. I team up with the original Naked Rower, we struggle to raise money and start building the boat, I start training insanely and nearly lose the plot. Find another rower, lose another rower, get another rower. Start the race (badly). Row into storm. Take the lead. Row. Lose the lead. Row. Row harder. Nothing happens. Row until we hallucinate. We start to close in! Seats break. Rudder breaks. Another storm. Neck and neck as we sprint to the finish. Capsize and thrown out of the boat. Get back in. Get to Barbados first! Yay! Get protested a gainst. Boo! Win at the protest hearing. Still living with Mum.”

Extracts from 'The Oarsome Adventures of the Fat Boy Rower'

From Chapter 1. An unexpected swim

"The bow starts to tilt down again. Then more and more, like the front car on a roller coaster, until we are plunging down the wave face. I crouch down in the footwell to stop from toppling forward.

But we aren't square to the wave. As we drop and accelerate the boat begins carving to the right and the port side becomes lower and lower as the boat starts to roll. Where the starboard horizon should be is now the upturned deck of the boat, where the deck should be is now the Atlantic. It is like being in a chair that has been suddenly been twisted and tipped up. There is no time to brace.

Then the port rail digs in near the bow and a great slab of the Atlantic surges into the boat and towards me.

I'm swept away, twisting and flailing – my outstretched hand manages to connect with the hatch to try and slap it shut the last inch.

The rushing water rips the boat from my grasp and I tumble backwards. As I fall away from the boat I see the deck perpendicular to the water and continuing to roll. It looks as if it is going to land on top of me. I can't see Jamie. Then I am thrust under the warm, dark water and I cannot see anything at all."

From Chapter 2: The Fall

"I am young. I have always been young. I will always be young. In fact there is nothing the least bit mortal about me.

I have a steady relationship with a wonderful woman. I live near the centre of Auckland in a funky apartment with an enormous balcony with views from the Harbour Bridge around to the Waitakere ranges. I brunch at cafes where I drink decaf soy mocachinos. Sometimes, I go surfing on the weekend, at least when I have time – which is rarely. But there will be time for other things later. I am still young.

I work in an office in the city. The hours are long nearly always until late at night, at home and in hotels during the week and often on weekends. When I am not working I am thinking about work. And worrying. Fridays I go out, and drink.

Partying is done at a frenetic pace in snatches between periods of highly stressful work assignements. It is an exhausting demanding lifestyle, but fortunately I am young. I am only about 25, which I suppose is curious because I have been twenty five for a while, some years anyway, and so I have no reason to expect that I won't be 25 for some years to come.

Then one day in the mirror I find a grey hair. I pull it out and forget about it. A few days later there is another. Then another. I start to have strange dreams about going bald.

I go to a new gym. The young woman trainer tells me that I will be doing a fitness test where I run on a treadmill and they wire me up to an ECG.

“Oh you mean like Steve Austin at the start of the Six Million Dollar Man?” I suggest.

She looks at me blankly, 'Like who?'

How to tell that standards are slipping.

•  You put your clothes on back to front

•  It takes until 11am to discover a)

•  After discovering a) you don't do anything about it

•  You watch day time TV shows

•  You don't know what day of the week it is

•  You work out what day of the week it is by what TV show it is

•  The show in f) is a reality TV show

I return to Howick intending to get my life back together, to find a place to live, to get a job. But the weather isn't helping. After the cold and gray northern hemisphere winter the New Zealand summer is intoxicating. Each night I write ‘Find a job' on my list of things to do tomorrow, and each morning I throw open the curtains to another fine summer's day. If it is windy I jump in my sister's old, cranky Toyota Starlet and go windsurfing at Lake Pupuke . If slightly less windy I drive south of Auckland out to the West Coast and go parapenting.

I also seem to have a slight food intake problem. Mum is still cooking for four children and yet I seem to have no trouble clearing the table. It's still just debatable whether or not I'm actually clinically obese. The charts at the GP's office thought so, but they had a particularly anorexic view of the world. They must have been calibrated during some dark period of history when highly processed carbohydrate is not freely and cheaply available. The charts seemed to think that I should be about 20 kgs lighter or six inches taller. If I am 20kgs lighter I would only be 90kgs, I would look like an x-ray.

With my lack of motivation and self-discipline I am appalling myself, but not enough to do anything different. So rather than fight the inevitable I decide to give into it. I will gorge myself on Mum's cooking, watch daytime TV until it's nighttime, immerse myself in the full horror of deep suburban living until I finally touch the hard bottom of the Pit of Self Loathing. Then I will have no choice but to bounce back, bigger, faster and stronger than ever.

So on Friday and Saturday nights I force myself to listen to a radio show on one of the stations that play nostalgic hits from the ‘Golden Age of Radio'. On nights when I should have been giving myself inner ear damage at a nightclub, I instead listen to an elderly DJ croak into the mike, “Here is one that you won't have heard for a while! Max Jaffa and his Palm Court Orchestra with the Palmerston North Pipe Band playing Rod Stewart's ‘Sailing'!”

It's revolting. It's nauseating muzak. It's audio Valium. I struggle but I can't escape. My foot starts tapping, I start to hum along.

What big band sounds can't do maybe partner dancing can. I take Rock and Roll dancing lessons with my mother at the Buckland's Beach community hall. Sometimes at the end of the class they throw in a bit of line dancing just for fun.

Occasionally I go for a jog and drag myself to the top of a small nearby hill. Red faced and puffing I can look out upon an endless wasteland of houses stretching out into the distance But there is no time to linger. I have to get back for Oprah.

I'm coming to an uneasy truce with Chantelle The Cat. This cat, which as a kitten is a cute playful little snow white ball of fur, is now a fat neurotic beach ball sized blizzard. The Cat produces so much white fluff that it is difficult to tell exactly where she ends. Snow drift like clumps of hair can be found everywhere. Long white strands cover clothes. Food fresh from the oven is lightly garnished in hair. A few days living with Chantelle and you had fur lined lungs. Spend a week and you will have passively digested most of a cat.

Mum indulges and molly coddles the Cat, and finds excuses for all of its misbehaviour. “Oh the poor thing, it eats its biscuits too fast!” says Mum fetching the mop.

Chantelle has a habit of sneaking up on me while I'm at the dinner table and injecting a tetanus laden claw in my thigh.

“Kevin be gentle she is just asking for a pat!” exclaims Mum. Looking at Chantelle smirk from the safety of Mum's lap I am not so sure. I think she just likes seeing how high she can make the plates jump.

You know there are some countries, with highly regarded cultures, such as Italy , where it is quite acceptable for grown men to live with their mothers at least until they get married. Really it is nothing to be ashamed about. No, really.

At some point though – and it is going to be in weeks rather than months – I'm going to have to get some paid employment, if only to fix the Starlet, which is now producing white smoke at a quantity normally associated with D-day landings. I have played too long. Now I have to get a job. Yes really.

Tonight as usual Mum and I are on the sofa at 5:30 pm to watch How's Life, a daily show where viewers send in their relationship questions to get advice by a panel . But tonight it is different, there is tension in the air. Tonight, it is a showdown, and my fate is in the balance.

Ever since Mum realised that my hypothetical idea has become actual she has become even more vitriolic in opposition. This has led to some major rows and an unpleasantly tense atmosphere in the house. Two weeks ago I suggested a simple solution. We had to present our case to a third party and let them decide. Something as important as this had to go to the highest court in the land. So we agreed that she should write to How's Life and let the panel decide. Whatever they came up with, that's what we would stick to.

The show starts. Mum takes an early knock. Tonight the show is going to have an all-male panel to answer problems sent in by men. There are radio personalities Marcus Lush, and Martin Crump, writer and reviewer Colin Hogg and actor Pio Terei. It is fronted by ‘It' girl Charlotte Dawson.

Charlotte begins. “Our next letter is from a mother who's worried because her son is determined to paddle his own canoe! God bless him!”

“Dear How's Life my 33 year old son has a masters degree and a successful business career. He threw it in to go traveling and now wants to compete in the Trans-Atlantic rowing race next year. This will take up all his time and savings and when it's over he will be 35, broke, jobless and probably still living at home with me. I think he should be building his career, how can I make him see reason! Concerned Mother (by email)”

Marcus! What does he do? Fulfill his ambitions?

Marcus Lush – Just imagine if we are on this show 50 years ago on the radiogram you know? ‘Dear How's Life my son wants to throw in his beekeeping practice to go and climb Mt Everest!' Can anyone here see any problem at all?!!

Charlotte – OK Marcus we've got a gay issue coming up soon so you might want to belt up until that one's on! Pio?

Marcus – Goodness Gracious!

Pio – Yeah… well… I …, she should be celebrating that this guys busting free, I mean how boring would life be if he just keeps going the way he is. 35! I don't know about your fella's culture but in mine that's young! Life's not over at 35 OK? You're just starting to learn anything worthwhile!

Crump – ‘You're looking good Pio!'

Pio - “ Kia Ora brother!”

Crump – Of course he's seeing reason, he's seeing it alright, he's following his heart, He's following his passion…

Marcus – …his spirit!

Crump – Yeah! The adventurous spirit of it all you're dead right Marcus. Yeah and I think that uh.. she's got the problem with this. He's right on track as far as I'm concerned!”

Colin Hogg – I'm concerned about concerned Mother quite frankly. She's got a son here who can take her on a row of an afternoon. Yeah, You know? The guys only 33 he's got his whole life ahead of him!

Charlotte : Even though it's go the rowing! Go for it! Do what you want, you've still got to talk to your mum!

Back in the living room pandemonium breaks out. The phone is ringing, I am screaming and jumping up and down like a wild Indian, “I am concerned about Concerned Mum!”

Mum exits muttering something about not wording the question right.