It’s (still) summer swimming season, which means it’s time to go find that bathing suit in the back of your closet and hope that you still have your swimming goggles lying around from last year. If you’re still working up the courage to dive into the cold water or explore a new lake, here are two books I’ve read that gave me that extra motivation to take the plunge. After reading these I found myself yearning for the open water, freestyling my way up and down the pool lanes while planning my next seaside getaway. I even went as far as booking a swim trek, but we’ll leave that for another time. Whether you’re an avid swimmer or someone who has yet to dip their toes, these books are bound to captivate your imagination and leave you yearning for the open water. In Berlin, you can swim all year round, rain or shine – an activity which Turning, a beautifully written memoir by Jessica Lee, will guide you through with its tales of swimming in all four seasons. This book is for everyone who loves swimming, who wishes they could overcome their fears and know what it is to simply float. For true swimming enthusiasts, Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui will compel you to take to the water and experience the joy for yourself. Tsui shows us that whether we swim for pleasure, exercise or emotional and physical healing, we all have a swimming story to tell. These two books will leave you feeling motivated and seduced by the water, calling you back again and again.
Text: Stephanie Mcquade / Photos: Rebecca Schatz & Robyn Steffen
Originally from San Diego, Stephanie Mcquade lives in Berlin. She is a lifelong swimmer and resident baker at the Cee Cee space and also works in marketing.
Turning by Jessica Lee (Penguin, 2020)
Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui (Macmillan, 2021). Click here for the Literal profile.
