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NPR's Book of the Day

NPR's Book of the Day

In 'Man Overboard!,' Kathleen Rooney approaches a life-or-death story with humor

Aug 31, 2026 · 8m

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About this episode

While on a cruise, a former college swimmer finds himself in the water, adrift alone, swimming for his life. But he isn’t sure how he got there. In Man Overboard! , 33-year-old Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick navigates an existential reckoning while trying to stay afloat. Along the way, he reflects on his touchy relationship with his older girlfriend, grapples with darkness and finds a conversational partner in a sea turtle. In today’s episode, author Kathleen Rooney speaks with Weekend Edition ’s Scott Simon about how the novel pairs a survival story with comedy. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening.…