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Why We Swim

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Why We Swim

By: Bonnie Tsui
Narrated by: Angie Kane
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About this listen

Humans, unlike other animals that are drawn to water, are not natural-born swimmers. We must be taught. Our evolutionary ancestors learned for survival; now in the 21st century, we swim in freezing Arctic waters and piranha-infested rivers to test our limits. Swimming is an introspective and silent sport in a chaotic and noisy age; it’s therapeutic for both the mind and body; and it's an adventurous way to get from point A to point B. It's also one route to that elusive, ecstatic state of flow. These reasons, among many others, make swimming one of the most popular activities in the world.

Why We Swim is propelled by stories of Olympic champions, a Baghdad swim club that meets in Saddam Hussein's palace pool, modern-day Japanese samurai swimmers, and even an Icelandic fisherman who improbably survives a wintry six-hour swim after a shipwreck. New York Times contributor Bonnie Tsui, a swimmer herself, dives into the deep, from the San Francisco Bay to the South China Sea, investigating what it is about water - despite its dangers - that seduces us, tempting us to come back to it again and again.

©2020 Bonnie Tsui (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC Exercise & Fitness Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Social Sciences Water Sports Sports Swimming Middle East Physical Exercise
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Fantastic book!! Reminiscent of phosphorescence by Julia Baird. Wonderful and took me on a journey

A must read for anyone who enjoys a swim

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Fabulous Deep Dive into why we humans swim. Beautifully written and narrated, I simply floated away with this captivating story. I may be a captive audience as I do swim in the Southern Oceans of Australia at least three to four times weekly all year. However, this story makes me want to do more. Be more.

Deep Dive

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I love water but never analysed why. Having returned to swimming after 30 years out of the water I welcomed this wonderfully touching and educational analysis of the human experience and experimentation with water. This opened up a whole new area of ocean swimming to me that I need to look at! Enjoyable listening.

Insightful and fascinating

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As a fellow swimmer I marvel at the brilliantly written, soul food story she has so cleverly put together.

It’s given me a deeper connection with the water, pointing out so clearly what has been sitting in front of my face all along.

An instant favourite

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.