Why We Swim
Published on 6. August 2020
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-84604-658-2 (ISBN)
Description
'Glorious' The New York Times
'A jewel of a book, a paean to the wonders of water and our place within it' James Nestor, bestselling author of Breath
Take a dive into the deep with writer and swimmer Bonnie Tsui and discover what it is about water that seduces us, heals us and brings us together.
Our evolutionary ancestors swam for survival. Now we swim in freezing Arctic waters, wide channels, and piranha-infested rivers just because they are there. Swimming is an introspective and quiet sport in a chaotic age. It is therapeutic for those who are injured and it is one route to that elusive, ecstatic state of Flow.
Propelled by stories of polar swim champions, a Baghdad swim club, Olympian athletes, modern-day samurai swimmers and even an Icelandic fisherman who improbably survived a six-hour swim in the wintry Atlantic, Why We Swim takes us around the globe in a remarkable, all-encompassing account of the world of swimming.
'A truly great story. I love this book' Christopher McDougall, bestselling author of Born to Run
'A balm for the soul' The Irish Times
'A jewel of a book, a paean to the wonders of water and our place within it' James Nestor, bestselling author of Breath
Take a dive into the deep with writer and swimmer Bonnie Tsui and discover what it is about water that seduces us, heals us and brings us together.
Our evolutionary ancestors swam for survival. Now we swim in freezing Arctic waters, wide channels, and piranha-infested rivers just because they are there. Swimming is an introspective and quiet sport in a chaotic age. It is therapeutic for those who are injured and it is one route to that elusive, ecstatic state of Flow.
Propelled by stories of polar swim champions, a Baghdad swim club, Olympian athletes, modern-day samurai swimmers and even an Icelandic fisherman who improbably survived a six-hour swim in the wintry Atlantic, Why We Swim takes us around the globe in a remarkable, all-encompassing account of the world of swimming.
'A truly great story. I love this book' Christopher McDougall, bestselling author of Born to Run
'A balm for the soul' The Irish Times
Reviews / Votes
An enthusiastic and thoughtful work ... glorious * The New York Times * Magnificent. Only a truly great story can hold my attention and Why We Swim had me nailed to the chair . . . I love this book. -- Christopher McDougall, bestselling author of Born to Run A beautifully written love letter to water and a fascinating story. I was enchanted. -- Rebecca Skloot, bestselling author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks A love letter to the healing qualities and timeless joy of slipping into the water * The Irish Times * A thoughtful, moving, beautifully written ode to the aquatic art * San Francisco Chronicle *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Ebury Publishing
Dimensions
Height: 225 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
394 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84604-658-2 (9781846046582)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Bonnie Tsui lives, swims, and surfs in the Bay Area of San Francisco. A longtime contributor to The New York Times and California Sunday Magazine, she has been the recipient of the Jane Rainie Opel Young Alumna Award from Harvard University, the Lowell Thomas Gold Award, and a National Press Foundation Fellowship.