{"title":"Chas Smith","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the intriguing world of Chas Smith, a distinctive voice known for his adventurous storytelling and vibrant narratives. With a penchant for exploring unconventional subjects, Smith brings to life stories that are as captivating as they are thought-provoking. Dive into his collection where the worlds of biography, memoir, and sports collide in the most unexpected ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eBlessed Are the Bank Robbers: The True Adventures of an Evangelical Outlaw\u003c\/em\u003e, Smith takes us on a riveting journey through the life of an unlikely criminal, blending elements of faith, rebellion, and adventure in a remarkable true story. This book showcases Smith's ability to weave compelling tales that are both personal and universally engaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, \u003cem\u003eCocaine and Surfing\u003c\/em\u003e offers a unique glimpse into the entwined histories of surfing culture and the drug underworld. Through his sharp wit and incisive writing, Smith unveils a hidden side of the surfing scene, filled with excitement and the allure of danger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a fan of thrilling memoirs or fascinated by the crossover of sport and adventure, Chas Smith's books offer a rich tapestry of stories that are sure to captivate and enlighten. Explore his works and enjoy a reading experience that challenges conventions and ignites curiosity.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"blessed-are-the-bank-robbers-the-true-adventures-of-an-evangelical-outlaw-by-chas-smith-9781419754739","title":"Blessed Are the Bank Robbers: The True Adventures of an Evangelical Outlaw","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChas Smith grew up deeply enmeshed in the evangelical Christian world that emerged from Southern California in the late 1960s. His family included famous missionaries and megachurch pastors, but his cousin Daniel Courson was Grandma's favourite. Smith looked up to Cousin Danny. He was handsome, adventurous, and smart, earned a degree from Bible college, and settled into a family and a stable career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNeedless to say, it was a big surprise when Cousin Danny started robbing banks. Known as the \"Floppy Hat Bandit,\" Courson robbed 19 of them in a torrid six-week spree before being caught and sentenced to seven years. When he tried to escape, they added on another year. And when he finally got out, despite seeming to be back on the straight and narrow, Cousin Danny disappeared. Banks started getting robbed again. It seemed Cousin Danny might be gunning for the record.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSmith's \u003ci\u003eBlessed Are the Bank Robbers\u003c\/i\u003e is the wild, and wildly entertaining, story of an all-American anti-hero. It's a tale of bank robberies, art and jewel heists, high-speed chases, fake identities, encrypted Swiss email accounts, jilted lovers, and the dark side of an evangelical family (and it wasn't just Danny; an uncle was mixed up with the mujahideen). It's a book about what it means to live inside the church and outside the law.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46799626862828,"sku":"9781419754739","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13314923482693.jpg?v=1757239342"},{"product_id":"cocaine-and-surfing-by-chas-smith-9780733638718","title":"Cocaine and Surfing","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor readers of \u003ci\u003eScar Tissue\u003c\/i\u003e by Anthony Kiedis, \u003ci\u003eThe Wolf of Wall Street\u003c\/i\u003e by Jordan Belfort, \u003ci\u003eMP: The Life of Michael Peterson\u003c\/i\u003e by Sean Doherty, and \u003ci\u003eOccy: The Rise and Fall of Mark Occhilupo\u003c\/i\u003e by Tim Baker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is an allure about surfers - they look like clean, bronzed athletes who love nature and tread lightly on the earth. But there has always been a darker side to surf culture. Chas Smith, ex-war correspondent and surf enthusiast, tells the no-holds-barred love affair of cocaine and surfing, and it makes for one hell of a story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSurf trade shows in the 1980s were flooded in cocaine. The surf tour of the 1990s had virtually every competitor racking rails with the judges and the media before paddling out for heats. And in the new 21st century, it has become completely untethered. There have been overdoses, bar fights, murders, and cover-ups fuelled almost purely by cocaine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCocaine's place in surfing's past is mythic. Its place in surfing's present is undeniable. Its place in surfing's future is certain. There is something all too similar in riding a wave and smashing a bump. The rush is intense, beautiful, and all too short. Altogether, it is a great untold story and Smith has interviewed everyone who matters, dug into the vibrant history to create a rip-roaring ride through surf culture that is enthralling, hilarious, and utterly fascinating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A fascinating expose of surfing's untold story' \u003ci\u003eGQ Australia\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47340684542188,"sku":"9780733638718","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/5087473482449.jpg?v=1772165342"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/chas-smith.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}