Given the recent popularity of cold swimming, I think that this is going to be such a valuable addition to the school library. I love the writing and the way in which Tsui explores the benefits of swimming. Highly recommend.

Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui is one of the most interesting books I've read in a long time. It melds reporting, history, and psychology with Bonnie's own recollections and memories of a life of swimming to explore why we, as humans, swim, and the risks and rewards that come with that pull to be immersed in water. As someone who "rediscovered" the joy of swimming this year (and who recently got into cold water outdoor swimming for the first time), I found every aspect of the book — which covers everything from the traditions of early swimming cultures and swimming for survival, to swimming for wellness, community, or competition — absolutely fascinating. If you like reading non-fiction, I can't recommend this book highly enough!

I have recently returned to swimming after injury and am loving it, so was intrigued to read this book. It begins with a relatable homage to the joy of swimming, why we love the water so much and some of the physiological benefits for our bodies. (It also lists some of the many unpleasant side effects mostly from open water swimming, ugh) The book unpicked a fascinating history of swimming in the US with an important explanation of when pools were desegregated, how many families began building their own pools to prioritise their families over community. A fascinating piece of racial history that I was unaware of. The author interviews swimmers who have used it for recovery and also those who whilst posted in Bagdad helped teach soldiers and locals alike how to swim in Sadam's pools that were previously off limits. An eclectic mix of perspectives make this an interesting and varied read.

With thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a fairly regular cold-water swimmer, I adored 'Why We Swim'. It made me eager to get back in the water, and when I was in, I dwelled on Tsui's thoughts as I powered along.

The book, probably intentionally, flows through different ways of thinking about swimming in the same way that a body flows through water. Swimming to survive; swimming to recover; swimming as community; swimming as competition; swimming for nostalgia, joy, and family. It's a beautiful mix of science, memoir, biography, and sports (don't be put off by that last one - I don't read books about sports but there's a lot of brilliant content here). Tsui's prose is elegant, poignant, and calming.

This book will appeal to swimmers much more so than non-swimmers - but then, as Tsui points out, a great many people in the world love to swim.

(With thanks to PRH and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review)