Some books always give us beautiful insights into the reality around us, such as Pleasure Gossip and The Road to Freedom
by Francesco Michienzi
The book Gossip da diporto: Aneddoti e retroscena dal mondo degli yacht (Gossip from the Yachting World: Anecdotes and Behind-the-Scenes Stories), by Gaspare Borghini and Raoul de Forcade, contains unpublished accounts from one of Italy’s leading yacht builders, as well as various colourful stories. Borghini writes: “Those who buy a boat are buying a dream. The size of the boat doesn’t matter: it could be an enormous yacht with overlapping salons and decks that make you forget where the sea ends, or a tiny boat that seems like a reckless challenge to the vast sea around it. Nevertheless, anyone who decides to buy a boat does so knowing that they are taking a step towards adventure”. I agree with the author of the book, adding that buying a boat is not just about purchasing a means of transportation, but also a symbol of freedom, adventure, and the opportunity to explore new worlds.
The book, written by Gaspare Borghini with the support of journalist Raoul de Forcade, offers a glimpse behind the scenes of the industry, revealing curious anecdotes and background.
This book invites readers to reflect on the fact that owning a boat offers the prospect of exciting and meaningful experiences. While this book is not a scientific treatise on recreational boating, I recommend it because the challenges we face are fraught with unknowns. To overcome these challenges, we must maintain a high level of clarity to avoid repeating past mistakes. Examining economic events and the choices we face with a bit of irony and levity can be helpful. We cannot predict the future, we can only face challenges with determination, courage and creativity. When we encounter an obstacle, it is essential not to give up, but to find innovative solutions and seek support from those around us. Having confidence in our ability to overcome difficulties is also crucial. Every challenge presents an opportunity for personal growth and learning. Facing challenges with optimism and determination enables us to overcome them.
In Borghini’s book, there are episodes of great hilarity that could have inspired a film by the Vanzina brothers. They recount the customs of a bygone era that bring a smile to our faces.
With the Cannes, Genoa and Monte Carlo boat shows just around the corner, we will gain a clear picture of the current state of the market. We can also gain insight from thought leaders such as Nobel Prize winner Joseph E. Stiglitz, who examines the current economic system and the political ideology that created it, exposing its shortcomings. Stiglitz reveals the true nature of neoliberal ideas: warped visions that tear apart the social fabric while enriching a privileged few. A more humane approach to freedom exists: to create a society where everyone can thrive, we must reconsider our economic and regulatory systems and invest in education, research, and infrastructure.
Nobel Prize winner Joseph E. Stiglitz examines the current economic system and the political ideology that created it, laying bare its failures. The unregulated free market has exploited workers, consumers, and the environment, and has fed populist movements that now pose a real threat to true economic and political freedom.
But how can we bring together Borghini’s Pleasure Gossip and Stiglitz’s The Road to Freedom? The former is a melancholic account of the nautical world of yesterday, where the vices of the cunning often prevailed. The latter encourages us to consider the actions that modern captains of industry, including those in the maritime sector, should take to ensure a fair economy and society. Fortunately, there is no shortage of examples in our sector of entrepreneurs who are up to this challenge. They recognise that their excellent products must be the result of work carried out by valuing everyone’s contribution, without exploiting workers or appropriating other people’s ideas, and they promote ethics in all aspects of yacht building and sales. They understand that successful companies are comprised of capable individuals who are passionate about their work. However, as Borghini explains in his book, some pseudo-entrepreneurs prefer to take shortcuts to get rich for their own sake, even though they don’t need to.
Misleading others into believing that you are rescuing a company in difficulty, when in fact your only goal is to make a financial profit, is unfair and dishonest behaviour.
I know I’m boring you, but I can’t help it. I cannot stand people who run a business while pretending to want to save it when it is clear that they are just in it for the financial speculation. This kind of behaviour not only endangers the company and its employees, but also undermines trust and integrity in the business world. It is essential to conduct financial and business transactions with transparency, honesty, and respect for others, and to refrain from manipulating situations to one’s advantage. It is always best to seek investment opportunities that are both ethical and benefit the company and the broader community.
(Interpretation – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, September 2025)
