Priviliged EveryMan
As every Buffett fan knows, the title of this book is a play on a title of one of Jimmy Buffett's most popular songs, "A Pirate Looks At Forty." For him and many of his fans, the fact that they even made it to 50, is still a wonder. This is a travelogue of a long trip (or many trips) Jimmy took with his family. He wanted to go around the world, but he setlled for just seeing a lot of it instead. He flies from obligation to obligation while his wife and children meet up with him or vice versa in some exotic location to celebrate the holiday and his birthday, which coiincidentally happens to be December 25th.
If you are a Buffett fan or parrothead, as I am, this is like getting a chance to travel and talk with the man about regular stuff during the holidays as he lives his life as a pop/country/reggae/rock&roll star. As such, for me it was interesting and a lot of fun and a pretty fast read. If you're not a parrothead or are a little cynical, as you read this you will wonder why he gets to have so much fun and spend so much money on airplanes and hotel stays for a gaggle of people as a slightly better than average singer and songwriter and why did I pay him (again) to read about how he is spending my or his fans' hard-earned money.
He has fatherhood issues like many of us, tries to remain cool to his kids --and fans-- and make the most of special though rare moments with them while ensuring his priviliged children don't grow up too fast. He goes out to dinner with friends and family and has good hotel stays and not so good and ponders life as an aging pilot/father/husband/iconic celebrity.
If you are looking for a lot of deep introspection about turning 50 here, you will be disappointed, but it's otherwise a very pleasant read with some good stories and travel tips and a good inside look at the distant and recent past of the man behind the performances as well as the time he spends with his family.