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eslsilver's review
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical trauma, and War
gscully21's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Bonnie Tsui has put into words everything I have ever felt about swimming but didn't know how to say. I have been a swimmer my whole life, and "Why We Swim" does exactly as the title implies - it explains why. Why I have been drawn to the water, why I love the water, and why I return again and again, through all of the twists and turns life has sent my way. I fell in love with the water and swimming all over again while reading.
This book is a mix of philosophy, science, memoir, short story, and poetry. It reminds me of "Field Notes From A Catastrophe" in that way - the mix of narrative and scientific evidence is compelling and informative without ever being dry or uninteresting. I was transfixed by the short stories, especially those of Kim Chambers, Lynne Cox, and other female swimmers of history (I'm looking at you, Gertrude Ederle). I was overjoyed by the scientific evidence of swimming's supernatural health benefits. How great it is that something so amazing is also so good! Chapter 11 spoke to my soul.
I have a couple minor qualms with Tsui's work, but in general I am in awe of it. I know it will be a book I return to over the years. I also love that, on my recent visit to San Francisco, I stopped with my friends near the water in front of Ghirardelli Square and was enthralled by the open-water swimmers I saw swimming in the cold water on a brisk and overcast June day. It turns out that was the Dolphin Club! I am amazed at fate (or coincidence, however you want to think about it), and will probably always wonder if Kim Chambers was there that day.
Favorite line 1: "She's not afraid of failure," he says, "but failure is never an option." (173)
Favorite line 2: "I am not a big person: five feet five on the days I remember to stand up straight. But the water is the one place I feel powerful." (181)
Favorite line 3: "If I am floating here in San Francisco and you are floating across the Pacific in Tokyo, are we not floating together?" (244)
It doesn’t feel right rating this one, but this book is romantic about swimming and reminds me why I am too.
This book is a mix of philosophy, science, memoir, short story, and poetry. It reminds me of "Field Notes From A Catastrophe" in that way - the mix of narrative and scientific evidence is compelling and informative without ever being dry or uninteresting. I was transfixed by the short stories, especially those of Kim Chambers, Lynne Cox, and other female swimmers of history (I'm looking at you, Gertrude Ederle). I was overjoyed by the scientific evidence of swimming's supernatural health benefits. How great it is that something so amazing is also so good! Chapter 11 spoke to my soul.
I have a couple minor qualms with Tsui's work, but in general I am in awe of it. I know it will be a book I return to over the years. I also love that, on my recent visit to San Francisco, I stopped with my friends near the water in front of Ghirardelli Square and was enthralled by the open-water swimmers I saw swimming in the cold water on a brisk and overcast June day. It turns out that was the Dolphin Club! I am amazed at fate (or coincidence, however you want to think about it), and will probably always wonder if Kim Chambers was there that day.
Favorite line 1: "She's not afraid of failure," he says, "but failure is never an option." (173)
Favorite line 2: "I am not a big person: five feet five on the days I remember to stand up straight. But the water is the one place I feel powerful." (181)
Favorite line 3: "If I am floating here in San Francisco and you are floating across the Pacific in Tokyo, are we not floating together?" (244)
It doesn’t feel right rating this one, but this book is romantic about swimming and reminds me why I am too.
Content Warnings
Minor: War
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