Danger and Poetry

"Insightful and revealing." --Thomas L. Knauff, member of the United States Soaring Hall of Fame and glider pilot from the 1999 motion picture The Thomas Crown Affair


Joe Karam was born to transcend, but perhaps not to fly. When at twenty-seven his quest for freedom led him to set foot in a glider for the first time, he was overcome with fear and desire. Nothing seemed to have prepared him for such a formidable test of courage, nor did he know anything about Charlie, the taciturn flight instructor he had just entrusted with his life. And yet the sky kept calling... A didactic memoir and a passionate love letter to aviation, Danger and Poetry unites heart and mind to celebrate the pursuit of dreams and the power of teachers.


Particularly recommended for:

- Individuals curious to learn about the joys and challenges of gliding and soaring in a sailplane

- Prospective or existing aviators interested in the mental aspects of the pilot training journey

- Novice or student pilots eager to compare notes on flight training basics and early milestones

- Airplane pilots aspiring to upgrade to more affordable and more silent aerial experiences

- Young freedom lovers, who in many countries can legally fly solo in a glider at age 14

- Flight instructors (especially CFI-G) seeking relevant reading material for their students

- Fixed-base operators (FBO) looking to stock, display, and retail enticing products