Why We Swim
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-08-14 08:51:41
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Bonnie Tsui
- ISBN：1846046602
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
'A jewel of a book， a paean to the wonders of water and our place within it' James Nestor， bestselling of author of Breath
'Glorious' The New York Times
Take a dive into the deep and discover what it is about water that seduces us， heals us and brings us together。
Join writer and swimming Bonnie Tsui as she explores the unique skill of swimming from the five angles of survival， wellbeing， community， competition and flow。 Propelled by stories of polar swim champions， a Baghdad swim club， Olympian athletes and modern-day samurai swimmers， Why We Swim takes us around the globe in a remarkable， all-encompassing account of the world of swimming。 This is a joyous meditation on our innate connection to water and a true celebration of the wonders of swimming。
'Glorious' The New York Times
Take a dive into the deep and discover what it is about water that seduces us， heals us and brings us together。
Join writer and swimming Bonnie Tsui as she explores the unique skill of swimming from the five angles of survival， wellbeing， community， competition and flow。 Propelled by stories of polar swim champions， a Baghdad swim club， Olympian athletes and modern-day samurai swimmers， Why We Swim takes us around the globe in a remarkable， all-encompassing account of the world of swimming。 This is a joyous meditation on our innate connection to water and a true celebration of the wonders of swimming。
Reviews
Hannah
，
This is a truly extraordinary， gorgeously written book！Tsui takes you on a fluid， poetic， and fascinating ride from the origin of humanity and our connection with fish， to the times of ancient swimmers when the Sahara desert was green， to the communities of people around the world today who sculpt their lives around water， to the competitive lanes of the Olympics， and more。You can clearly hear the authors mirth and love of swimming in her choice of prose:“To live deliberately as a swimmer means This is a truly extraordinary， gorgeously written book！Tsui takes you on a fluid， poetic， and fascinating ride from the origin of humanity and our connection with fish， to the times of ancient swimmers when the Sahara desert was green， to the communities of people around the world today who sculpt their lives around water， to the competitive lanes of the Olympics， and more。You can clearly hear the authors mirth and love of swimming in her choice of prose:“To live deliberately as a swimmer means that you are a seeker， a chaser of the ocean’s blue corduroy， a follower of river veins。”I loved this book， I leave it having learned so much about swimming， our beautiful， inescapable connection to it and I’ve fallen in even deeper love with water and in the act of immersing myself in it than I already was。 。。。more
Janna Brancolini
，
I wish I could give "Why We Swim" 4。5 stars， because it comes dangerously close to being a masterpiece。 Tsui's writing is tight yet poetic as she explores the personal， historical and societal reasons humans submerge themselves in both friendly and not-so-friendly waters。 Full of fascinating stories and surprising insights， "Why We Swim" is the perfect smart summer read。 I wish I could give "Why We Swim" 4。5 stars， because it comes dangerously close to being a masterpiece。 Tsui's writing is tight yet poetic as she explores the personal， historical and societal reasons humans submerge themselves in both friendly and not-so-friendly waters。 Full of fascinating stories and surprising insights， "Why We Swim" is the perfect smart summer read。 。。。more
Bronson
，
This was an enjoyable read with some great stories from around the world。 I disagree with her premise that we're born to swim and we evolved out of water。 That may be true for some but its something that doesn't feel natural or easy to me。 With that said， I appreciate how much she loves the water and the physical， mental， emotional benefits of swimming。 I do get that。 It's a nice book。 This was an enjoyable read with some great stories from around the world。 I disagree with her premise that we're born to swim and we evolved out of water。 That may be true for some but its something that doesn't feel natural or easy to me。 With that said， I appreciate how much she loves the water and the physical， mental， emotional benefits of swimming。 I do get that。 It's a nice book。 。。。more
Mike
，
Not sure how I came across this book but I did and very grateful。 Listening to the prose and melodic way the author writes I was constantly in a state of listening that I usually don’t enjoy or keep focus throughout。 The different experiences of her own life and some specific examples of others deep love for swimming was potent and indelible。 I liked several points raised in the book especially swimming separates you from technology。 Swimming engulfs you in an environment that is quiet and refre Not sure how I came across this book but I did and very grateful。 Listening to the prose and melodic way the author writes I was constantly in a state of listening that I usually don’t enjoy or keep focus throughout。 The different experiences of her own life and some specific examples of others deep love for swimming was potent and indelible。 I liked several points raised in the book especially swimming separates you from technology。 Swimming engulfs you in an environment that is quiet and refreshing。 Swimming is a lifelong sport。 Swimming is a place where every walk of life can share a common language and enjoyment。 Something is true about the prehistoric connection of humans and water。 I would highly recommend this book。 We can all learn something from swimming or enjoying being in the water to bring happiness and shelter from our busy lives。 。。。more
Rachel
，
I decided to read/listen to this book not because I love swimming 。。。 but because I absolutely cannot stand it。 （Long story involving not having enough body fat to float during my childhood lessons， a near-drowning experience in Hawaii， and chlorine-sensitive asthma。） It's not as if I haven't tried - I really have。 But I'd still rather go to the dentist than swim。 After watching so many exciting races in the Olympics， I wanted to understand what I was missing and why some people love it in a way I decided to read/listen to this book not because I love swimming 。。。 but because I absolutely cannot stand it。 （Long story involving not having enough body fat to float during my childhood lessons， a near-drowning experience in Hawaii， and chlorine-sensitive asthma。） It's not as if I haven't tried - I really have。 But I'd still rather go to the dentist than swim。 After watching so many exciting races in the Olympics， I wanted to understand what I was missing and why some people love it in a way that I never will。 After finishing Tsui's enlightening book， I really do get why others enjoy it so much。 I wasn't moved to try again - that would be asking too much and wasn't my goal anyway - but I thought the book was well researched and beautifully written。 Angie Kane's outstanding narration only enhanced the writing; she's one of my favorites now。 。。。more
Jack
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Overdrive Audiobook
Heather
，
My first nonfiction book in quite a while and I loved it。 It’s definitely worth the hype it’s receiving of late。Tsui combines the history of swimming with short profiles of certain swimmers while sprinkling in her own experiences in the water。 Her writing is almost lyrical and definitely eloquent。
Sharif
，
Wonderfully refreshing！ While reading it， you feel as if you’re swimming in the most beautiful and exotic waters from around the world！
Katie Seaton
，
BRB actually cried reading this。 As a swammer this book really resonated。 No matter how much I love running， yoga or hiking absolutely no sport will be better than swimming。 I’m so thankful that my parents supported and helped to foster my love for the water。 Ugh so nostalgic I read this and wanted to start swimming again。 I don’t swim as often now， maybe once a month？？ But I do miss it often。 Swimming is a superior sport， no one can change my mind and I might be biased but I believe it attracts BRB actually cried reading this。 As a swammer this book really resonated。 No matter how much I love running， yoga or hiking absolutely no sport will be better than swimming。 I’m so thankful that my parents supported and helped to foster my love for the water。 Ugh so nostalgic I read this and wanted to start swimming again。 I don’t swim as often now， maybe once a month？？ But I do miss it often。 Swimming is a superior sport， no one can change my mind and I might be biased but I believe it attracts the best people。 。。。more
Marisa
，
If you like the water or like swimming this is the book for you。 It puts all the love and the need to be near the water into a well written book
Ann
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Learned many facts related to swimming and water。 1。 Our spleens shrink when we are submerged。 That pushes extra oxygenated blood into our system。 2。 Spinosaurus is the only dinosaur living in water。 3。 Long distance swimmers often have unique physical qualities。 For example。 Extra large lungs。 Higher body fat。 And that fat is usually brown fat。 I enjoyed reading this。 It covers the psychological need for swimming as well as the physical and sociological。 Recommended
Heather
，
Full review on my blog: https://funsizelibrarian。com/2021/08/。。。 Full review on my blog: https://funsizelibrarian。com/2021/08/。。。 。。。more
Dianne
，
As a swimmer， I enjoyed the content in this slim read。 If I were the type to dog ear pages， I would have done many， but instead I bookmarked many to look up either ways of swimming， public snorkel trails， people and places， and literary works of the wonderful world of water。 Even though I am done reading this book， I still have much to learn from it。 And it will give me things to think about when I swim。
Tahira
，
5 Stars from me！ I've always thought swimming was a perfect analogy for life and this author is able to put that into words that are melodious and poetic and make sense。 The writing is superb and a great history on swimming - from the discovery of the Cave of Swimmers （English Patient， anyone？） to modern day elite Olympic swimmers and in-between great antidotes and stories intertwined。 I don't know if non-swimmers will be able to get into the book - I tried to talk to a non-swimming friend about 5 Stars from me！ I've always thought swimming was a perfect analogy for life and this author is able to put that into words that are melodious and poetic and make sense。 The writing is superb and a great history on swimming - from the discovery of the Cave of Swimmers （English Patient， anyone？） to modern day elite Olympic swimmers and in-between great antidotes and stories intertwined。 I don't know if non-swimmers will be able to get into the book - I tried to talk to a non-swimming friend about this book and he wasn't all too interested。 I dunno。 What I do know is I will refer back to this book over and over。 。。。more
Tim
，
7。9/10I enjoyed the writing style of the author and found her personal anecdotes gave the story a touch of realness， but the book felt to be a little drawn out towards the end and I had hoped to learn a bit more about the science and theories of swimming。 But the fascinating ways that swimming and water have played a role in history， culture， war， and even religion kept me pretty hooked for this relatively easy read。
Mel Luna
，
Light nonfiction is its own kind of medicine。I've always loved to swim， and yet prioritizing getting to a body of water - even in the summer - hardly ever happens。 Reading this book definitely inspired me to get out there and splash around。 Swimming for mental （not to mention physical） health is a solid choice。 Light nonfiction is its own kind of medicine。I've always loved to swim， and yet prioritizing getting to a body of water - even in the summer - hardly ever happens。 Reading this book definitely inspired me to get out there and splash around。 Swimming for mental （not to mention physical） health is a solid choice。 。。。more
Barbara
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I love swimming and the way she describes it is amazing！ The author brings many different stories about swimmers and how swimming and being the n the water can change lives。
Susan Grodsky
，
This short bit about three-time Olympian swimmer Dara Torres is what I found most memorable:“Here is a woman so competitive that she floors it at a green light， she confesses to me， so other cars can’t get in front of her” （Page 161）。I have seen drivers like Dara。 I watch in bafflement as they spring away， wasting gas， abusing their car， polluting the air。 Now， knowing that they want to be ahead of me because they are “competitive，” I am even more baffled。 It’s a competition if I am trying to wi This short bit about three-time Olympian swimmer Dara Torres is what I found most memorable:“Here is a woman so competitive that she floors it at a green light， she confesses to me， so other cars can’t get in front of her” （Page 161）。I have seen drivers like Dara。 I watch in bafflement as they spring away， wasting gas， abusing their car， polluting the air。 Now， knowing that they want to be ahead of me because they are “competitive，” I am even more baffled。 It’s a competition if I am trying to win against you。 It’s a competition if our cars are evenly matched in their acceleration ability。 But neither applies most of the time。 At a stop light， “winning” against me proves nothing。 I have the feeling that Dara Torres knows this on some level， but can’t help herself。Well， now I understand those noisy SUV drivers a little better: as people trapped by their competitive personalities。 I might feel sympathy if I found their behavior less annoying。The other character described here， though briefly， was a 94 year old man who still swam a mile every day。 Now that is something I can aspire to。 BTW， I don’t swim every day and I swim far less than a mile when I do。 But I get the takeaway: exercise = longer life。 。。。more
Shu Wai
，
Beautifully written and immersive。 It is more focused on open water swimming but I enjoyed the stories about Guðlaugur Friðþórsson the selkie， the tenacity of Kim Chambers， the sanctuary of the palace pool in Baghdad， and the Japanese artistry of swimming。 Breastroke is also my favourite （and the only one I can do well） so I'm glad Bonnie gave it its merit and helped us appreciate the patience and the quiet strength behind its deliberate pacing: you must be thoughtful with timing， not hasty， or Beautifully written and immersive。 It is more focused on open water swimming but I enjoyed the stories about Guðlaugur Friðþórsson the selkie， the tenacity of Kim Chambers， the sanctuary of the palace pool in Baghdad， and the Japanese artistry of swimming。 Breastroke is also my favourite （and the only one I can do well） so I'm glad Bonnie gave it its merit and helped us appreciate the patience and the quiet strength behind its deliberate pacing: you must be thoughtful with timing， not hasty， or you get nowhere。There's definitely something special about immersing our bodies in water， just hearing the sloshing sounds and having our mind and body do their thing。 I think Bonnie's coach Jay sums it up: "It's hard to leave the pool angry about something。 It doesn't lend itself to that。" 。。。more
Amy B
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loved the history of swimming， included real life issues - poverty， women's rights loved the history of swimming， included real life issues - poverty， women's rights 。。。more
Kelly Kurttila
，
This book inspired me to do more research regarding swimming and amazing people I had never heard of。 I love swimming， but this gave me completely new insights into one of my favorite pastimes。
Patricia Eichenlaub
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A fascinating read！
Patricia
，
Interesting for someone who loves the sea。
CW
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Stories of people passionate about swimming。 That's the only theme。 It's like stories but also no flow。 A little odd。 Stories of people passionate about swimming。 That's the only theme。 It's like stories but also no flow。 A little odd。 。。。more
Cait
，
This book is for anyone who feels drawn to the water - whether it be to ride the waves in the sea， swim laps in a pool， or soak in a tub。 The author’s eloquent and interesting history of swimming is captivating and poetic。 Highly recommend！
S
，
There are not enough words to explain how much I loved this book。 Sections and chapters make it easy to read out of order， or in sequence。 If you've forgotten the joy of childhood swimming， this book will remind you。 If you still like swimming， it will ignite passion and connectedness with all of life and out world's waters。 Thank you Ms。 Tsui for a well-researched， interesting， and beautiful book。 My swimming bucket-list has grown。 There are not enough words to explain how much I loved this book。 Sections and chapters make it easy to read out of order， or in sequence。 If you've forgotten the joy of childhood swimming， this book will remind you。 If you still like swimming， it will ignite passion and connectedness with all of life and out world's waters。 Thank you Ms。 Tsui for a well-researched， interesting， and beautiful book。 My swimming bucket-list has grown。 。。。more
David Silva
，
This is one of the best books I read this year。 It grabs you from page one and wraps you in childhood nostalgia， history， and so much more。 I recommend this book to anyone and everyone。 The storytelling is crafted perfectly， shuffling from memoir to interview。 If you are craving an interesting non-fiction book that reads as easy as fiction， this， friends， is your pick。
Melissa
，
By far one of the best books I have read yet this year。 This resonated on so many levels and the fact that she researched swimming and explained it from so many angles is simply stupendous！ The interviews with real life swimmers were incredible and I also really enjoyed her own story woven into all of this。 This may be the book that all of my friends get for their Christmas gift。 Even if they don’t swim！ It’s so stunning that although I have been looking at her other title for a while without pu By far one of the best books I have read yet this year。 This resonated on so many levels and the fact that she researched swimming and explained it from so many angles is simply stupendous！ The interviews with real life swimmers were incredible and I also really enjoyed her own story woven into all of this。 This may be the book that all of my friends get for their Christmas gift。 Even if they don’t swim！ It’s so stunning that although I have been looking at her other title for a while without purchasing it， I am now desperate to read it in order to continue to hear this author’s book in my brain。 This took me a while to read because I paused to digest and enjoy it at fairly regularly intervals。 Beautiful brain Candy！ 。。。more
Angie Ingham
，
I recognized Bonnie’s byline from her journalistic pieces here and there。Why We SwimThere seems to be a bottleneck of books right now that are similar but Ms。 Tsui delighted me with her factoids and complete pono for da aina baby！ I recognized Bonnie’s byline from her journalistic pieces here and there。Why We SwimThere seems to be a bottleneck of books right now that are similar but Ms。 Tsui delighted me with her factoids and complete pono for da aina baby！ 。。。more
Mystery
，
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway。Tsui describes swimming and being in water in such an eloquent way， it made me want to swim even though I don't even know how to。 She goes into different cultures and situations where water and swimming has made a positive impact on people's lives。 It's a relaxing read; you don't feel rushed or any sense of urgency。 The book itself flows like water。 I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway。Tsui describes swimming and being in water in such an eloquent way， it made me want to swim even though I don't even know how to。 She goes into different cultures and situations where water and swimming has made a positive impact on people's lives。 It's a relaxing read; you don't feel rushed or any sense of urgency。 The book itself flows like water。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Why We Swim
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Why We Swim&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Why We Swim&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0