Captain Phil Harris

Starred review from April 29, 2013
A star of the reality show Deadliest Catch, Captain Phil Harris was, by all accounts, a memorable person, who lived every day on the edge until his unexpected death from stroke and heart failure in 2010. In this engaging, no-holds-barred biography, his sons, Josh and Jake, with the help of Springer and Chavez (Hard Luck), pull back the curtain on Harris's almost-too-wild-to-be-true life. From the family's first forays into fishing with Harris' father Grant, to Phil's own adventures, the authors unapologetically detail all of Phil's excesses, addictions, and quirks; a larger-than-life nautical rock star persona conveyed in a captivating, freewheeling style. His tempestuous marriages, epic parties, run-ins with the law, brushes with death, successes and failures are all here, leading up to his time on Deadliest Catch, which brought him fame, fortune, and a whole new level of indulgence. It's also a fascinating look at the origin and behind the scenes of Deadliest Catch, bringing the open sea and crashing waves to life. Even those who never watched the show will find themselves captivated by these outrageous tales of a man who lived without restraint, like a modern-day mythical figure. Agent: Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic.

February 15, 2012

Star of the Discovery Channel's popular Deadliest Catch, a fisherman for 32 years and captain and co-owner of the Cornelia Marie, which plied the Bering Strait in search of king crab, Phil Harris died in February 2010 from a stroke and heart failure. He was only 53. His sons, who also worked the deck of the Cornelia Marie, tell the story of a tough but loving father and his tough and tempestuous life.

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