Cool Runnin - Softcover

Spiegel PhD, Dr. Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1469937271 ISBN 13: 9781469937274

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012

Synopsis

DISCOVER the adventure and innocence of the 1970’s Caribbean smuggler’s ‘dream time.’ Follow the failures and triumphs of a most unlikely scientist smuggler.
JIM MIRROR grew up as an Orthodox Jew on Miami Beach. At university, his passions become beautiful Jane, his wife to be, and the world of science and ideas. Imminent fatherhood intrudes on his plans to complete his doctoral dissertation in physics and lead him to Miami’s ‘regional opportunity,’ a Jamaican ganja run. We watch his brilliant, but cloistered mind adapt as he embarks on a graduate course in Caribbean smuggling.
JOIN THE ADVENTURES of this rogue physicist, starkly depicted with an uncompromising realism drawn from that special time. We are a part of our captain’s steep and painful learning curve. Watch as he learns to incorporate an ‘intuitive truth’ with his tutored analytic background. He learns to meet and deal with street-smart dealers, finds the value of a serious look, and a solid handshake. See him learn to measure men by recognition of personal honor, and adapt, to earn that recognition.
EXPERIENCE Captain Jim’s roller coaster ride: as he is seriously injured in Nassau; learns to bully politicians; navigates the culture of reggae drenched ‘70s Kingston; negotiates with stoned out machete wielding ganja men; joins a Rastafarian cult ritual; endures a ‘soon come’ tragicomedy of loading ganja; and struggles to survive an existential storm in his crippled boat.
JANE, smart, vivacious, and pregnant, is a central presence throughout this adventure. She plays a real, and ethereal role throughout. Jane is the pole star about which Jim revolves and his love for her is the compass by which he steers his life.
FEEL Jamaica’s stark amalgam of joyful innocence and razor-cutlass reality. Discover a world filled with arcane rituals, strange rules, and rigid codes of honor. Be a part of this Odyssean Quest as Jim stumbles on unexpected enlightenments, discovers honor-bound friendships with risk taking men of action, and survives to matriculate to the smuggler’s dream of ‘Cool Runnin.’

In the mountains above Kingston, Jim concludes a tense ganja negotiation

THE HIGGLER, Gordon, was the headman who bargained for all the ganja in that area. He sat and figured in his head for a moment. The room seemed to get very quiet and the machete men looked to their leader as their muscles seemed to tense up. Then, he looked at Jim real steady and said, “Ya know that ya can’t never comeback ta this island if you don’t pay me proper?” Jim looked straight into the big man’s eyes and said, “I am a man of my word. The only way I won’t pay is if I’m in jail or dead. You’ll read about me in the papers. I won’t forget. I will pay you all that I owe.”
GORDON stood up and his posse of machete men all stood. It was a moment when the smell of fear would have ended any deal. Jim stood up and stuck out his hand. Gordon gave him another long look, then grasped the extended hand. He held it and exclaimed, “Bumbaclot, ya OK! But I’m go’in to give ya a new name. Ya’re now called Dr. Scrooge, fo ya are one tough higgler youself.” As he shook Jim’s hand, he laughed at his joke. The machete men laughed with him. The tension everyone felt flooded out of the room.

About this title

About the Author:

Michael Spiegel is native to South Florida with a lifetime’s experience on the local waters and extensive cruises throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean. He has a doctorate in physics with both experimental and theoretical interests. He is the holder of multiple patents and is Vice President and chief scientist with a medical device company currently developing a unique new electrical therapy. He has had numerous magazine articles published covering his eclectic interests, which range from the sciences, yacht design, wind surfing, and boating stories. He is the author of Reality in Transition, a non-fiction book that examines global problems and offers analytic solutions. Years of encouragement to “tell his stories” resulted in this novel, Cool Runnin. It is drawn from his relationships and personal knowledge of that time and place.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1469937271
• ISBN 13: 9781469937274
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 222