Why We Swim
- Downloads：3804
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-13 06:21:26
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Bonnie Tsui
- ISBN：1643751379
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Courtney
，
So many fascinating tidbits， so well written。
Andrea （EvergreensAndBookishThings）
，
As a constantly injured runner， I have been incorporating swimming into my routine more often。 Going back to the sport I adored in my youth， now in my old-ish age feels like symmetry Bonnie Tsui would appreciate。This book is filled with fascinating facts about how immersion in water affects the body and seemingly superhuman feats of strength explained by science， if that is your thing。 It is also filled with thoughtful insights about meditation and mindfulness， if that is your thing。 And it is c As a constantly injured runner， I have been incorporating swimming into my routine more often。 Going back to the sport I adored in my youth， now in my old-ish age feels like symmetry Bonnie Tsui would appreciate。This book is filled with fascinating facts about how immersion in water affects the body and seemingly superhuman feats of strength explained by science， if that is your thing。 It is also filled with thoughtful insights about meditation and mindfulness， if that is your thing。 And it is chock full of lovely lyrical prose， if that is your thing。My only critique would be that for type-A folks like myself that crave organization， the structure felt a little haphazard， making it hard for me to remember everything that I read。 But， overall， this was a fascinating read that I absolutely recommend to everyone - especially my fellow swimmers。 It is also excellent on audio！For more reviews and bookish musings visit http://www。bornandreadinchicago。com/ 。。。more
Sigbox1
，
Swimmers and non swimmers will enjoy this book。 It’s a personal journal by Tsui mixed with history， stories and lessons for living on ground。
David Mackenzie-kong
，
As a swimmer this book gave a full perspective how other people admire the water。 Great book and I highly recommend 🤙
Kate
，
Interesting， unexpected， fun & thoughtful。 Felt closer to water and closer to humanity’s connection to it。 Really enjoyed！！
Jenny
，
I've enjoyed swimming since before I could walk。 Bonnie claims that while we aren't born knowing how to swim， there are so many reasons why we do。 I remember learning， in an old Child Development course， that babies actually are born with a swimming reflex。 （Maybe that's old information？） Anyway， this book is extremely well-written， smart， and interesting。 I did expect it to be a little more psychological， but it's actually more anecdotal。 This is ok， though。 Bonnie has done thorough research， c I've enjoyed swimming since before I could walk。 Bonnie claims that while we aren't born knowing how to swim， there are so many reasons why we do。 I remember learning， in an old Child Development course， that babies actually are born with a swimming reflex。 （Maybe that's old information？） Anyway， this book is extremely well-written， smart， and interesting。 I did expect it to be a little more psychological， but it's actually more anecdotal。 This is ok， though。 Bonnie has done thorough research， clearly， to include information and interviews from swimming experts， including famous people， and carefully crafted and selected stories of swimming adventure， cultural comparisons， and other relevant information all weaved into her own family biography。 It's presented in a mostly interesting and easy to follow format， too。 There are some chapters that seem out of order a bit， and sometimes information can go on a bit long， but it's still good writing。I don't know if this is one of those change my life type books （which is why I don't rate it five stars）， but it's a smart and interesting read， and I appreciate the care and craft the author clearly gave in creating it。 。。。more
Lisa Culhane
，
"Swimming helps me to slow down， and to speed up。" This is a delightful and inspiring history of swimming。 As a lifelong swimmer it made me smile， and motivated me。 "Swimming helps me to slow down， and to speed up。" This is a delightful and inspiring history of swimming。 As a lifelong swimmer it made me smile， and motivated me。 。。。more
Danielle
，
A mix of anecdotes， a little bit of science， and a lot of personal reflection。 Kudos to Tsui to adding structure to a book that could easily have gotten out of hand， and for showing some restraint in her reflections。 Well written， with a fluid， lyrical tone， that worked well for the subject matter and made this a pleasant read。 I particularly enjoyed hearing about the cultural traditions in places like Japan and Iceland （the latter which moved right up my mental list of places I want to visit）。 A mix of anecdotes， a little bit of science， and a lot of personal reflection。 Kudos to Tsui to adding structure to a book that could easily have gotten out of hand， and for showing some restraint in her reflections。 Well written， with a fluid， lyrical tone， that worked well for the subject matter and made this a pleasant read。 I particularly enjoyed hearing about the cultural traditions in places like Japan and Iceland （the latter which moved right up my mental list of places I want to visit）。 3。5 stars。 。。。more
Edward Wendt
，
A really enjoyable read mixing in enough of science into what is effectively a love letter to the practice of swimming。
Sofie
，
Swimming 。。。 the flow， like yoga， silent， thought-dispersing。 But where is the flow in the writing？ （VERY UNHAPPY） A lot （a lot！） of lame expressions， and those lists are just ridiculous， reading like a lexicon-slash-record-book。 The topic and stories are interesting in themselves， but obviously this is not gonna cut it for me。 （Sorry）
booklady
，
Thanks to my GRs friend， GoldGato for her marvelous review which led me to this book！ Although I am trying very hard these days not to impulse-buy， I do want to make note of this book because I think it is something my daughter and son-in-law would greatly love。 They have a full-sized outdoor pool which my SiL cannot resist diving into even when the water is still very cold。 Besides that， they both go on float trips and other vacations which lead them to water sports， among other things。 Thanks to my GRs friend， GoldGato for her marvelous review which led me to this book！ Although I am trying very hard these days not to impulse-buy， I do want to make note of this book because I think it is something my daughter and son-in-law would greatly love。 They have a full-sized outdoor pool which my SiL cannot resist diving into even when the water is still very cold。 Besides that， they both go on float trips and other vacations which lead them to water sports， among other things。 。。。more
Milana M （acouplereads）
，
Bonnie Tsui with a unique perspective reflects on swimming and our relationship with water。 From modern day Japanese samurai swimmers， Olympic champions， a fisherman who survived a 6h swim in Icelandic ice cold water to a Baghdad swim team that meets in Saddam Hussein’s palace pool。 Each story is incredible and infused with how we as humans benefit from swimming。 The author dives into each story literally， visiting the places these people reside in and swimming with them while they share their s Bonnie Tsui with a unique perspective reflects on swimming and our relationship with water。 From modern day Japanese samurai swimmers， Olympic champions， a fisherman who survived a 6h swim in Icelandic ice cold water to a Baghdad swim team that meets in Saddam Hussein’s palace pool。 Each story is incredible and infused with how we as humans benefit from swimming。 The author dives into each story literally， visiting the places these people reside in and swimming with them while they share their stories to “investigate what seduces us to water despite its dangers”。During the past year it’s been incredibly difficult to not be able to go swimming during lockdown。 Swimming for me has always been about the feel of the water， the meditative state it puts me in and the way I feel lightless after is hard to describe。 I found a little bit of myself in Why We Swim。 Tsui perfectly expresses different swimmers relationships with water - from those who compete to others who battled the water for survival and those who look for the rush of adrenaline in dangerous waters。This nonfiction book read like fiction with stories intertwined with facts and science。 The writing is fluid， just like a glide through water。 I highly recommend you pick this up if you’re a lover of swimming， want to get into swimming， those who love a good story about survival and even if swimming just fascinates you。 Thank you for the copy in exchange for an honest review @thomasallenltd， 5✨， this one made me tear up a few times。 。。。more
GoldGato
，
There are books about baseball and cricket and football and golf， but books about swimming are not many。 Here， Bonnie Tsui tells us of her lifelong love of the sport while also providing a history of our fascination with water， along with some of swimming’s oddities。Swimming is， by our human definition， a constant state of not drowning。Life came from the water and perhaps this is why humans are always drawn to blue seas。 Even in a time of flooded coastlines and climate change， we still want to b There are books about baseball and cricket and football and golf， but books about swimming are not many。 Here， Bonnie Tsui tells us of her lifelong love of the sport while also providing a history of our fascination with water， along with some of swimming’s oddities。Swimming is， by our human definition， a constant state of not drowning。Life came from the water and perhaps this is why humans are always drawn to blue seas。 Even in a time of flooded coastlines and climate change， we still want to be near water。 It’s in us。 Lord Byron swam the Dardanelles in 1810， even though he was born lame。 Brave swimmers take boats out to the Farallon Islands off the California coast， “the Devil’s Teeth”， just so they can jump off in the dark， never knowing if they may be heading straight into the jaws of a Great White shark。 In winter， it’s all about the various global swim clubs where almost naked swimmers plunge into ice， just to be aquatic Polar Bears， human-style。 Swimming is actually the second-most popular recreational activity in the United States， only behind the far simpler form of walking。The salt of those ancient seas is in our blood， its lime is in our bones。 Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments， or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war。 Swimming is also excellent for aging bodies。 We never “youthen”， we can only “age”， and the ability to be in a pool or ocean or lake or river provides the human body with the coolness and buoyancy that reduces inflammation without the land-based impacts of running or walking。 I can attest to this。 In 2020， the Year of Hell， I tore up my foot。 There was no way-in-heck I was going to a hospital or clinic， not with the pandemic raging。 Instead， every morning at 5 AM， I went to the local pool， even when I didn’t want to go。 Even when it was frosty and the winds were blowing。 Once I was in the water， the pain would start to recede。 After finishing laps， and I am not a decent swimmer by any means， I would then spend thirty minutes in the deep end， just treading water。 It was this activity that brought my foot back to form again and I could actually see the swelling and redness go away a little bit at a time。 I now know I had broken my foot， yet it never saw a cast or a stressed-out urgent care practitioner。 Yet another benefit of the Great Pandemic。In Japan， ancient texts tell us that swimming in ice-cold water teaches perseverance and floating leads to serenity。 This explains the chapter on Samurai Swimming。 That’s right， Samurais who swim， fully enveloped in armor！ Nihon eiho is a Japanese swimming martial art， requiring a different way to move in the water。 This was an inspiring chapter， as I immediately put some of the ideas into play， such as relying on my torso and legs， instead of my arms， to keep my head above the water。 Inspiring。I really liked this book and the way it’s been put together。 Each chapter functions as an essay on a different topic with the end of each chapter leading logically into the subject of the next chapter。 The writing is fluid and I especially loved the personal remembrances of the writer。 As a child who grew up surfing the waves without knowing how to （officially） swim， I felt a kinship with the author。 I know what it’s like to be enveloped in a sneak wave as a child， unable to get out， only to be rescued by a sibling。 I know what it’s like to come home from a hard day at work， hitting the beach in the dark， with no lifeguards or other humans around， hoping the lifeform touching me under the water is not going to eat me。 I know what it’s like to detest an enclosed swimming center， feeling claustrophobic until I can get into a pool that is open to the elements。 But especially， I loved Bonnie Tsui’s description of the thrill of knowing a thermos of hot ginger tea was waiting for her after a cold swim in the San Francisco Bay。 I can definitely relate。Book Season = Spring （green silk seas） 。。。more
Laura Dobbs
，
Well， now I want to take up swimming。
Chloe DeVillars
，
As I recently got back in the swimming laps for exercise I knew I want to read a book about swimming in this is the book I chose。 I really enjoyed it it focuses on a lot of various topics various people and seems a little scattered but I think it flows pretty well and I found it pretty interesting。 I feel like this book may be bland if you aren’t into swimming just because that is such a big focus of the book but we do get to follow some different character stories and personal accounts in some As I recently got back in the swimming laps for exercise I knew I want to read a book about swimming in this is the book I chose。 I really enjoyed it it focuses on a lot of various topics various people and seems a little scattered but I think it flows pretty well and I found it pretty interesting。 I feel like this book may be bland if you aren’t into swimming just because that is such a big focus of the book but we do get to follow some different character stories and personal accounts in some history of water and swimming。 Overall I found it to be pretty interesting and it was nice reading a book by someone who also enjoys swimming and her personal accounts。 。。。more
Marius Greblikas
，
Puiki knyga， jei nors kiek įdomu plaukimas。 Truputuka istorijos， truputuka plaukimo elito， bei truputuka japonų。 Japonai - tai tauta， kuri siekia tobulumo kiekvienoje srityje。 Bėgime， plaukime ir visur kitur。 Niekada nežinojau， kad yra samurajų plaukimo disciplina ir net mokyklos mokančios tokiuo stiliumi plaukti。
terrence
，
I swim every day for the last 10 years so I love this book。
Builtoncuriosity
，
Longing for a swim while stuck inside。
Linda Shaughnessy
，
I loved this book。 It is about swimmers， swimming places， swimmers' thoughts and motivations， and is a celebration of water and the experience of being in it。 Joy！ I loved this book。 It is about swimmers， swimming places， swimmers' thoughts and motivations， and is a celebration of water and the experience of being in it。 Joy！ 。。。more
Mackenzie
，
Finished at 2am on a Thursday morning and proceeded to check what time the lanes open at my local pool。For someone who reluctantly competed in middle and high school， Tsui made me fall back in love with being in the water
Wendy
，
A love story about swimming。。。
Julie
，
So I certainly did enjoy this book！ It may not be the type of book that resonates with everyone， but it did with me。 I can’t remember a time that I haven’t loved water。 From tumbling in the ocean at Santa Cruz beach while body surfing or spending all day in the apartment swimming pool till my mom called me in for dinner， and only then reluctantly with my lips blue and teeth chattering from being cold did I reluctantly get out。 I didn’t swim for a very long time but I did I suppose vicariously th So I certainly did enjoy this book！ It may not be the type of book that resonates with everyone， but it did with me。 I can’t remember a time that I haven’t loved water。 From tumbling in the ocean at Santa Cruz beach while body surfing or spending all day in the apartment swimming pool till my mom called me in for dinner， and only then reluctantly with my lips blue and teeth chattering from being cold did I reluctantly get out。 I didn’t swim for a very long time but I did I suppose vicariously through my 4 sons that were involved in our local rec swim team， a huge part of our lives for 23 years！ I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis back in 2001， but still didn’t enter the pool until the end of 2018。 I swim at 6 am 4 days a week for a total of 6 miles and love getting in the ‘flow’ with my swims！ This book spoke to me on so many levels and I love that the author lives in the SF Bay Area， so many places she spoke of i am very familiar with。Thanks！ 。。。more
Karolis Dėnas
，
The book is well written and the topic is really close to my heart， however it was not as engaging as I thought it would be。
Cindee Ketches
，
A nicely written love letter to water。I think the word “Why” should’ve been dropped from the title。 She never really answers why; it’s a different answer for different people。 This is an in depth analysis of people and our relationship to water; the history of swimming divided into five topics: survival， well-being， community， competition， & flow。Makes me want to get out there and swim！！
Nightmaresky
，
This was a pleasant read about the history of swimming， swimming as a sport， and extreme swimming hobbyist。 I enjoyed it and it was a short read。 If you like sports， swimming， nature， or culture then this is the book for you。
Rebecca Rouillard
，
From inspiring endurance swimmers and olympic athletes， to an unlikely swimming club in Baghdad and Samurai swimmers in Japan， 'Why We Swim' is a fascinating and lyrical meander around the world of swimming。 I loved every word of this book - a captivating reading experience， akin to a swim through breathtaking scenery in sparkling waters。 From inspiring endurance swimmers and olympic athletes， to an unlikely swimming club in Baghdad and Samurai swimmers in Japan， 'Why We Swim' is a fascinating and lyrical meander around the world of swimming。 I loved every word of this book - a captivating reading experience， akin to a swim through breathtaking scenery in sparkling waters。 。。。more
Victor Lu
，
The author talks about different swimmers and different types of swimming from open water to arctic to competitive swimming。
Sasha
，
This was a refreshing dip into the world of swimming。 It reminds me a lot of the way salt water， swimming in the ocean， in Hawai'i is used as a cleansing。 This broke down the "why" of that ingrained knowledge in my life。 It was cool to see Tsui's shout outs to all the different swimming places she's been in。 I liked every chapter except for competition。 That one lost me and wasn't as strongly tied to swimming， but competition。 I had never heard about samurai swimming before。 That is one absolute This was a refreshing dip into the world of swimming。 It reminds me a lot of the way salt water， swimming in the ocean， in Hawai'i is used as a cleansing。 This broke down the "why" of that ingrained knowledge in my life。 It was cool to see Tsui's shout outs to all the different swimming places she's been in。 I liked every chapter except for competition。 That one lost me and wasn't as strongly tied to swimming， but competition。 I had never heard about samurai swimming before。 That is one absolutely amazing thing I learned from reading this book。 Her writing style appeals to me， part personal interest， history， current， and future applications。 It was neither too self-centered， preachy， nor did I feel bogged down with information I would never be able to process or use。 。。。more
Hope
，
If swimming is your sport， you need to read this book。 I purchased a copy for my son to enjoy。
Cheryl
，