The Fourth Fisherman: How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage [NOOK Book]

I found the Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack¿s to be an overall e

I found the Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack’s to be an overall exceptional non- fiction book. This adventurous yet inspiring story is written in such a way that readers are able to stay entertained while also being able to take away life lessons. Thoughtfully told with humor and sincerity, the author cleverly weaves together the incredible story of three fishermen adrift at sea for more than 9 months which he parallels to his own life journey as man lost in a world of greed and addiction. As Kissack’s own life bottom’s out with addiction, marriage problems, depression and career failures he discovers (like the lost fisherman) to depend on God for his day-to -day survival.  Kissack’s journey and quest of enlightenment and rediscovery is real and inspirational. The only part of the story that dragged on was when Kissack tells about how he met and finally persuaded the Mexican fisherman to let him write their story. The best part of the book is Kissack’s vivid description of the fisherman’s amazing survival and Kissack’s own personal story of collapse and then transformation. I really enjoyed Kissack’s style of writing as well. And, although it takes a little extra focus, the two stories the book covers makes it extremely powerful and relatable to everyday life. This book is filled with essential life lessons and teaches character qualities that would benefit any reader. I highly recommend this book because it is inspirational, entertaining, and action packed.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Five fishermen set out in a small boat for a few days' fishing t

Five fishermen set out in a small boat for a few days' fishing trip. They run out of fuel and are carried out across the ocean. Two of the fishermen don't make it, but three survive the nine months and are heralded as a miracle when they are rescued thousands of miles from home.

Joe Kissak has it all--or so he thinks. In the race to get ahead, he actually starts a downward spiral to nearly losing everything through drugs and alcohol before "finding God".

I have to admit, I was very disappointed in this book. I was expecting a book on the fishermen's story--with God as the "fourth fisherman", and maybe a couple of chapters or so relating how the story affected the author. It was so very not what I was expecting! Out of forty chapters (not counting the epilogue), only SIX were about the fishermen's story. They were mentioned some later in the book, but very little. The book was mainly focused on the author and his story and the two really didn't seem to relate. Everything was about Joe Kissack and, frankly, he struck me as a very self-centered man. Nearly half the book is about his struggle to connect with the men and get them to sign the papers giving him the rights to their story so he could make a movie out of it--which still has yet to me done.

This story was supposedly about faith, but the "faith" talked about was very vague. Joe's "salvation" experience had nothing to do with the salvation of the Bible: no repentance, no trusting in Christ and his death, burial and resurrection--just a feeling of peace. "Christianity" is reduced to anyone who talks about God, and nothing of his family's view of God or religion is even mentioned that I noticed.

I really, really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, it left me frustrated and annoyed wanting the fullness of the fishermen's story and not so much of Joe.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Life changing

This book changed my life. Forever grateful. Thank you.

This book was actually a disappointment, and perhaps I'm to blam

This book was actually a disappointment, and perhaps I'm to blame for that. I thought the book was going to focus on the story of how three Mexican fisherman survived nine months drifting at sea, but it really focused on telling the changes in how the book's author, Joe Kissack, was transformed. Perhaps I should have recognized that since the cover of the book has "How three Mexican fisherman who cam back from the dead changed my life and saved my marriage" written directly under the title, but I didn't.

The book chronicles the story of Joe Kissack, a man who went from begin a high-ranking executive with Sony Pictures to living like the rest of us. For the first 15 chapters or so one chapter tells his story and then the next tells the fishermen's, and then the final 25 chapters focus solely on Kissack and attempt to use his journey to bring the story of the fishermen's experience to life in a book and movie as an illustration of his own struggles. But it just wasn't very successful. I just expected more focus on the fishermen and was immensely distracted by the self-centeredness of the author in the story. SPOILER ALERT: DON'T READ THE NEXT SENTENCE IF YOU INTEND TO READ THE BOOK. He finally identifies himself as the fourth fisherman, which to me seemed like an insult to the three who did survive. I don't know, I guess I expected the fourth fishermen to be Christ and for the book to focus on the transformation of them through their Christian faith and the miracle of their survival, but it didn't. It basically tells the story of one man who gets consumed with the American dream and then tells how he overcame.


If you're looking for a story that's inspirational to say, "Wow - look how God moved!" then this might be worth your time. If you're looking for a story to read because you're going through struggles and you want to know how other people pushed through them to come out okay on the other side, though, you'll be sadly disappointed. While Kissack shares that he eventually was transformed, it doesn't really talk about how he was transformed, offering no model for others to follow. In fact, I see nothing about the story of the fisherman that related at all to his life at all. He credits his work with them as transforming him, but I just don't see, even after reading the book, how his interaction with them was anything transformative (one might even think, based on how he writes, that it was a distraction from what was really important).


To read the first two chapters for free, visit the book's website and click on "Click to Start Reading"

I'll give t 1.5 stars out of five.

For the record, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest (though not necessarily favorable) review.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The title of this book--The Fourth Fisherman--intrigued me, espe

The title of this book--The Fourth Fisherman--intrigued me, especially since the cover blurb talked about three Mexican fishermen. But the reason for the title becomes clearer as the book progresses.

Joe Kissack was a man who had it all--money, cars, power, the chance to walk on the red carpet...and yet, he didn't. He was missing something very important, something that left a deep hole in his soul, but that he didn't recognize, and that almost destroyed him.

Jesús, Salvador, and Lucio had almost nothing, especially compared to Joe Kissack...and yet, as they survived an incredible ordeal, they discovered that they had one thing that was most important.

These three men, Mexican fisherman, found themselves in an almost unbelievable situation--survivors of a 5-man fishing crew who found themselves adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no food or water. Their families believed them to be dead--until they were rescued by Taiwanese fishing boat after nine months at sea.

The two stories become intertwined in surprising and unexpected ways as both Kissack and the fishermen find healing and wholeness.

It's an easy read, a fascinating story, and well worth reading!

This book was provided free of charge from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for reviewing it.

This book shows how God can interweave the lives of different pe

This book shows how God can interweave the lives of different people for his purpose. It also shows how He can guide an individual along a path and at times give very pointed directions or confirmations of His will. I thoroughly enjoyed both how the story unfolded as well as appreciated concepts it taught me. The book also has reminded me I have not been as attentive daily to His guidance as I should be--but thanks to this book that will change! Kurt Volz

In The Fourth Fisherman, Joe Kissack tells two very different st

In The Fourth Fisherman, Joe Kissack tells two very different stories,
that just happen to overlap. The first story is his own, a television
executive who is living the American dream...yet is unsatisfied and
turning to alcohol and a plethora of antidepressants to cope. The
second story is that of five Mexican fisherman who went out on what was
meant to be a three day fishing trip, but ended up lasting over nine
months after they ran out of fuel and were left to drift around in the
Atlantic. Depleting their food and water supply within a week, these men
turn to the faith of one fisherman and his most prized possession-his
Bible- to cope. Still, only three will survive. Both parties need
rescue: One spiritual, the latter physical. And both end up turning to
the same place to find it...Faith in God. We see how God works in the
lives of Joe Kissack and these Mexican fisherman. Through their
different circumstances, He brings them together into a special
friendship, but also, into a deeper faith in Himself. I thoroughly
enjoyed reading this book. The story alternates between chapters, one
about Joe Kissack, the next about the fisherman. This keeps the it
exciting...and keeps you turning the pages! Joe gives firsthand account
of his story, as well as that of the fishermen. (To know how he found
out about their experience-which was not covered heavily by US media- in
the first place, you'll have to read!) This book will leave you inspired
by their faith, as well as reminded of the awesome power of God, in even
the darkest circumstances. I do have two little issues, I guess. First,
in describing his conversion, Joe makes no mention of Christ, the cross,
the gospel, or repentance. All he says that God came into his life one
night. The End... Now, I'm not doubting that he was saved, based on what
he writes throughout the book. He describes definite changes in his life
and a new desire for God's word, which are true fruits of salvation. And
I understand that everyone's salvation experience is different. I just
personally think he could have elaborated a little more on what exactly
coming into a relationship with God means. Second, though it is
explained in the very end (and not what you'd expect), I really don't
understand where the title (The Fourth Fisherman) comes from... But,
I'll let you read the book and see about this one, though.

The book I chose to review from WaterBrook Press was "The

The book I chose to review from WaterBrook Press was "The Fourth Fisherman". It is the story of five fishermen who set out on a normal fishing trip from San Blas in Mexico and end up adrift at sea for over nine months. Two of them never made it home again, losing their lives at sea.

The thing I didn't really care for about the book is that it isn't just about the fishermen, it is also about the author and his own personal struggles with his job, over the counter drugs, and his marriage (which if I would have looked more closely at the title I would have seen the small print below stating "How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage). I immediately thought that this would not be the book for me.

I loved the parts about the fishermen but the author alternates the chapters at the beginning of the book. They'll be one chapter about him and then a chapter about the fisherman. I would much rather read the whole thing about the fishermen first and then about him or vice versa. Maybe it would have been better if the chapters were more similar to each other than they were.

It did make sense though as it was a story of survival of the fishermen and survival of the man's marriage. It was also similar in that they had used their faith in God to help them survive. The last few chapters were very hard for me to read because they mainly focused on the author and how he was going about trying to get the fishermen to agree to a deal for the movie rights and finding a company to help make it a reality. Then it goes back to talking about his marriage again. I felt like I was being dragged in so many different directions.

All in all an OK read but I was more interested in the fishermen parts.

You can purchase your own copy by going here.


Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for my review from WaterBrook Multnomah Press but all opinions are my own.

A Great Story of Hope and Faith!

The Fourth Fisherman- How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved my Marriage. This is a very inspirational book and reminds you about how important having faith and hope is. You always can have faith and hope. This book is about a group of five fishermen. A group of men who before October 28, 2005 did not even know each other but soon a storm would bond three of them like never before. This book takes you aboard with the men lost at sea with storms and no gas to get back to shore. It takes you through their 90 days some of these days of seeing boats and screaming for help only to not be heard and left with nothing but their faith in God and the one Bible that was brought aboard by Salvador. This book does not stop there it also introduces us to the author Joe Kissack and his wife Carmen. What I found interesting is that Joe had what everyone on the outside looking in would consider a great life full of big things most people strive for and yet he was missing something. This book follows him through his journey trying to hear what God wants for him only to causing harm to his marriage. It seems what God wanted from him was right in front of his nose. It was right in his home it was his marriage with Carmen. God wanted him to fix it. The fishermen lasted a total of 90 days. The book an easy read and is short with the chapters being about Joe Kissack and then the Fishermen. What I got from this book is that even in what we consider bad things God uses them for our good. This book made me think about hope and just how important it is and faith how it makes things bearable in the unbearable times. I give this book my 4 star rating. I did get this complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest opinion of this book. The review expresses just that my opinion.

Four men, two spiritual journeys Subtitled How Three Mexican Fis

Four men, two spiritual journeys
Subtitled How Three Mexican Fisherman Who Came Back from the Dead, Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage, the book The Fourth Fisherman intrigued me from the moment I first saw the book. How could three Mexican fisherman and one former television executive be connected?
As you read alternating chapters of two seemingly different tales, you will be surprised how they become connected and to whom Joe Kissack gives the credit for the survival of all.


In October 2005 Salvador, Jesus, and Lucio all sign on as day laborers (fisherman) aboard a 27 foot fiberglass panga. The captain and the other passager appear to be inexperienced, but the three Mexican fishermen are not. Equipped with supplies for three or four days, all is well within the group until a storm sets in and the "captain" refuses to seek shelter on an island. The expensive fishing net is lost and the group spends the next days circling, trying to find it until all their gasoline is used up. Winds and waves toss the vessel further into the Pacific Ocean and beyond hopes of easy rescue. Nine months later, Salvador, Jesus, and Lucio are rescued off the Marshall Islands, As news spreads across the country of their survival, the three men tell a powerful story of sustaining prayer, Bible reading, and a diet of sea turtles, turtle blood, and raw fish. Although reporters from around the world and their own Mexico would like to tell their story, most are intent on uncovering a secret, darker version of the events, even if they have to fabricate it.


The alternating chapters are Joe Kissack's own story, a seemingly perfect American success story - a beautiful wife and two kids, luxary cars, two houses, and a career in the Hollywood entertainment industry. Every Kissack touched turned to gold, or so it seemed. Beneath the good looks and beyond the smooth voice was a man who was disappearing within his own false creation.
Anti-anxiety and depression pills fueled his diet, washed down by every increasing amounts of alcohol until one day he could no longer function. Amidst the fast downward spiral his career and personal life took, Kissack made the commitment to enter a treatment program. Family and friends desperately prayed that God would change him. The night before entering he awoke, not with the fear-filled night sweats that dominated previous nights, but with a great sense of peace and presence.
He finally knew and recognized the presence of God - his burden was his own creation and he could give it up.


Kissack's story from that moment on is a hopeful one, although it is not a smooth tale. Read the book to see how he connects the events and "coincidences" that bring him to pursue the truth about the three fishermen. You read a tale of three fishermen, lost to the world, but securely found and watched over by the Lord told by a man who now considers himself a fourth fisherman because he was to all the world found and secure, but was actually the most lost.


I zoomed through the first pages of this book, captivated by both stories and also wondering how they would connect. I cheered the successful rescue of all four men , but I just felt the last 50 pages lacked continued connection to the fishermen. Although we are brought up to date on the lives of Jesus, Lucio, and Salvador, I would have liked personal interviews with them. I was furnished a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes.

Anonymous

I thought this story was going to be about the fishermen, instead it was about joe. I believe the fishermen's story more than I believe Joe's. He makes it sound that he is the "chosen one" by Jesus. That he prays and Jesus listens, guides him, nudges him. I think the only miracle that Jesus gave to Joe was his wife Carmen. What a wonderful, giving, forgiving, kind person she is. Beautiful inside and out. The marriage was all about Joe, she just became secondary to everything. I really would have liked to have learned more about those.brave men and their terrible ordeal and one man's unwavering faith. Jesus was TRULY answering HIS prayers. I do not.recommend this book. The "fourth" fisherman did not fit.into this story.

How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed

How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage byJoe Kissack- is basically two stories in one book. The author combines the tales of two entirely differnt, non related stories. The only common bond has to do with the interaction of the characters after their own stories are basically complete.



On the one hand, the account of the five Mexican fishermen, in which three of five men survived- after being considered long gone- after spending nine months in a small open boat without any food or supplies, aimlessly drifting across the Pacific Ocean was told with vivid realism. Graphic details describe their nine month ordeal in the open ocean: starvation, fear and death. Realistic and vivid accounts of eating raw shark organs, drinking sea turtle blood and rainwater and death capture the reader's attention. Their story was truly inspiring- the fact that they held on to faith and equated the bible- God's word, with essential food on which they survived. Nevertheless I felt that this exciting portion of the story was too brief. In of itself, this could be an entire book.





The book alternated with a chapter from the lives of the simple, poor yet courageous fisherman, with that of the author, Joe Kissack- a successful Hollywood executive, in a world of American excess and materialism- complete with a mansion, expensive cars, expesnive entertainment, fame and more. I found that that while the real account of how the author changes his life and was reborn- is an inspiring example of the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives, it was not entirely interesting to read about. Nevertheless as written in the book, those chapters dedicated to his life, did not hold my attention. The author went over laborous detail about his childhood, his relationship with his father and his relationship with his wife. These personal details did not hold my attention. The account of his interpersonal relationships read more like a personal journal- or memoir. I found myself looking forward to the account of the fishermen instead.



Despite the prolonged discussion of his personal life and his road to faith, the author made some very good, notable points. Kissack recognised the irony that when faced with few choices, the fishermen turned to God and were fulfilled. For example, the fisherman appreaciated God and relied on faith rather than materialism. They were satisfied with few choices. In fact, a meal of simple white rice was adequate for their needs. In contrast, tn the prosperous cultures where wealth and entertainment is common and choices are available, so fewer people turn to God. Wealthy people become dependant upon a standard of living and an enourmous number of options and choices. Yet, in a way, I felt this was a bit self serving, as perhaps giving an author an excuse to block God from his life by claiming it is harder to rely on God when your life is comfortable and easy, and and full of materialism and wealth. Perhaps the author is trying to compare his spiritually devoid life with the extreme ordeal suffered by the fisherman. Perhaps the reader might even go so far as to interpret the author's intention as to imply that it was easier for the fisherman to hold on to faith because they faced death daily and had no other choice- and that it was harder for a wealthy executive to break free from his life of excess in exchange for faith. As a blogger for Water Brook publishers I received this book for the purpose of writing this review.

It was somewhat inspiring

It was an okay book. I guess I expected it to be more uplifting than it was. It would be a good book to get from the library.

Excellent

What an amazing story, God is Good..........

Reviewed by Karen P. for Readers Favorite In "The Fourth F

Reviewed by Karen P. for Readers Favorite

In "The Fourth Fisherman", Joe Kissack presents us with two stories in one. He initially tells of five fishermen who become lost and disoriented off the coast of Mexico. As it turns out, they survive, drifting on the seas while trying to remain alive by catching sea turtles and using the turtle to hydrate and nourish themselves. The other story is on the author's own fall from grace, from a highly successful and multitalented man to that of an uncaring individual who was addicted to drugs and alcohol.

The story of the fishermen was a story in and of itself and this reader would have preferred an elongated version of that story. The author's personal story comes off as somewhat self-centered as he eventually equates his story to that of the fishermen. Even when he has professed to have found God and realized how he has literally abandoned his family for years, he runs off to Mexico to secure an exclusive story at a time when his family is flailing and in need of his support. Time and time again, he tells about how he is grateful for the commitment and support of his wife while he ignores all but his own self-focused "Quest" superficially.

There is no doubt that the author writes well and his story is a fascinating study in human nature and human endurance. While the fishermen used the simple and solid faith they had already developed in times of need, the author appears to have searched for another crutch after his withdrawal from drugs. The fisherman story is brilliant and deserves to be heard in and of itself.

A very good book

I got an advanced copy of the book that is due to come out in March o 2012.

This is an inspirational story of how three Mexican fishermen survived nine months at sea and ended up over 5000 miles from home. How they were sustained on rainwater, raw fish and the Bible. It is also a story of how Joe Kissack, a wealthy Hollywood executive, found God after depression and addictions bring his life crashing down around him and puts his career on hold.

But it doesn't just stop with Joe finding God. He embarks on a journey to discover what God wants him to do with his life and the story of the Mexican fishermen. Even though his wife has always prayed for a godly man, his pursuit of this story nearly bankrupts them and ruins their marriage. But as Joe prays more for God's direction he realizes that God wants him to be just as responsible for his marriage and family.

This story is about faith and hope. It is about a journey that we all take in one way or another. How we are just as lost, adrift in life, as those fishermen were. We are all in peril and we can all find our lifeline in God and His word, just as Joe and the fishermen did.

I really enjoyed this story told by Joe Kissack. It is his true story as well as the true story of the fishermen. It made me realize that although we may see those in Hollywood and think: "Look at them, they have it all", he was actually worse off than the poor fishermen from Mexico. We think that we need to have "just a little bit more". The more we pursue that "something more", the more lost we become. We start to fear losing what we do have and sometimes we need to so that we can rely on God more. He has promised to take care of all our needs. What more should we ask for?

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Fishing for Faith

I was very excited to get an advance copy of the The Fourth Fisherman. This book will be available in March. To find out more about Joe Kissack you can go to his website found here.

The Fourth Fisherman is two stories woven fantastically into one, leaving the reader ready to turn the page.



Author, Joe Kissack is a successful Hollywood Executive who has walked the red carpet, been a man of great wealth, success and created a reputable name for himself. However, the condition of his heart would reflect an insecure man who appears like he has it all together on the outside, but on the inside is dying, desperately searching for hope.

This books is also the story of 3 Mexican Fisherman who go out to sea in hopes of bringing in fish to end up lost at sea for over nine months drifting across the Pacific Oceans to Australia. These two stories are intertwined with grace, redemption, faith and hope.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, it is adventurous, real life and full of mystery.

The full ending remains to be written and I am interested to see how it ends. This story made me realize that are struggles are not wasted. They serve for a purpose bigger than us.

Read it in one sitting! Absolutely fantastic!

Stories of faith and redemption sometimes have a tendency to be like cotton candy - lovely to eat but no real substance. Joe Kissack's The Fourth Fisherman is the tasty prime rib to the saccharine sweet, but dull, a-ha moment stories that abound bookshelves today. This novel has the excitement of a high seas adventure but the relatability for anyone who has ever felt completely lost in a world where they thought they had it altogether. The chapters switch back and forth between the tale of the fishermen, and Joe, the fourth "fisherman", the business executive who dropped everything to search for these men to find their story. You're always ready to come back to the other story line, but they weave together in the end for a spectacular finish.

A great read, and a great gift!

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.