Into the Rip

How the Australian Way of Risk Made My Family Stronger, Happier ... and Less American

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Into the Rip

By: Damien Cave

Narrated by: Damien Cave

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About this listen

When Damien Cave brought his young family to Sydney to set up the New York Times’ Australian Bureau, they encountered the local pursuits of Nippers and surfing – and a completely different approach to risk that changed the way they lived their lives.

Damien Cave has always been fascinated by risk. Having covered the war in Iraq and moved to Mexico City with two babies in nappies, he and his wife Diana thought they understood something about the subject.

But when they arrived in Sydney so that Cave could establish The New York Times’s Australia Bureau, life near the ocean confronted them with new ideas and questions, at odds with their American mindset that risk was a matter of individual choices. Surf-lifesaving and Nippers showed that perhaps it could be managed together, by communities. And instead of being either eliminated or romanticised, it might instead be respected and even embraced.

And so Cave set out to understand how our current attitude to risk developed – and why it’s not necessarily good for us.

Into the Rip is partly the story of this New York family learning to live better by living with the sea and it is partly the story of how humans manage the idea of risk. Interviewing experts and everyday heroes, Cave asks critical questions like: Is safety overrated? Why do we miscalculate risk so often and how can we improve? Is it selfish to take risks or can more exposure make for stronger families, citizens and nations? And how do we factor in legitimate fears and major disasters like Cave has covered in his time here: the Black Summer fires; the Christchurch massacre; and, of course, Covid?

The result is Grit meets Phosphorescence and Any Ordinary Day – a book that will change the way you and your family think about facing the world’s hazards.

‘The inspiring, hilarious story of how Damien Cave became a life-saver – only to find that the life he saved was his own.’ Richard Glover

'It often takes a stranger’s eyes to see our own country clearly. By plunging into the Sydney surf, Damien Cave peered into the Australian soul. What he found there – courage, grit, community – is welcome news when our lives and our core values have never seemed so precarious.' Geraldine Brooks

‘Into the Rip is a beautiful tale of one family trying to figure things out – and, at the same time, a brilliant synthesis of a century of psychological science on how all of us can learn to dive headfirst into challenges, grow and adapt, and ultimately do well in life.’ Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

'Cave’s viewfinder – the notion of risk – is perfect for our times.' Malcolm Knox

‘A big-hearted account of a wild and wonderful ride into a new culture and a new way to live.’ Anna Funder

Adolescent Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Parenting & Families

Psychology

Psychology & Mental Health

Relationships

Sports

Witty

Funny

Critic Reviews

‘Into the Rip is a beautiful tale of one family trying to figure things out – and, at the same time, a brilliant synthesis of a century of psychological science on how all of us can learn to dive headfirst into challenges, grow and adapt, and ultimately do well in life.’ (Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit)

‘Damien Cave does an excellent job of deconstructing the phenomenon of trauma and risk to understand why some people are more vulnerable than others. His experience in war zones must have given him crucial insights into the topic.’ (Sebastian Junger, author of Tribe, War, Fire, The Perfect Storm.)

‘The inspiring, hilarious story of how Damien Cave became a life-saver – only to find that the life he saved was his own.’ (Richard Glover)

'It often takes a stranger’s eyes to see our own country clearly. By plunging into the Sydney surf, Damien Cave peered into the Australian soul. What he found there – courage, grit, community – is welcome news when our lives and our core values have never seemed so precarious.' (Geraldine Brooks, bestselling author of March and The People of the Book)

'Cave’s viewfinder – the notion of risk – is perfect for our times. He also offers the hope that one day, we will rediscover the necessity and rewards of looking outwards, of taking a few more risks again. (And does he get us? Yes, I reckon he does.)' (Malcolm Knox)

'Into the Rip is an illuminating parenting guide, a takedown of America's self-esteem industrial complex and a deep study of contrasts between the Australian and American minds. It made even a wimp like me consider heading into the sea.' (Pamela Druckerman, author of New York Times bestseller Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting)

'Into the Rip is absolutely terrific. It’s a gripping story that gets the science of risk right. I haven’t seen any other writings about my work and the study or risk that are like this, integrated with a powerful story well told.' (Paul Slovic, author of Perception of Risk, founder and President of Decision Research and Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon)

'A thrilling examination of self and family, risk and reward, failure and triumph, in ways both big and small. Cave’s vivid exploration of risk-taking told through the ages mixed with his own experiences as a parent, partner, and perspicacious journalist will make you devour this book – and then slam it shut, look inside yourself, and want to be a better person.' (Dionne Searcey, author of In Pursuit of Difficult Women)

'Absolutely genuine. A lively mix of history, philosophy, science, reportage – and an honest, heartfelt memoir of the joys and miseries of parenting. I learned a lot from it.' (Dan Kois, author of How to be a Family and the host of Slate’s podcast, Mom and Dad are Fighting)

Most relevant

Well-read and moving, I found this story to be an interesting perspective of Australia (and people) from someone who sees the 'norms' as novel. I'm not from the east coast, so I also enjoyed learning about day to day life of the other side.