SWIM Why We Love the Water

The book opens as Lynn Sherr begins preparations for a swim race through the Hellespont, between Europe and Asia. There are a lot of detours, though, before the start of the race. Sherr's audiobook does cover the preparations, but it's also composed of wide-ranging essays on swimming. Sherr is energetic, mostly sticking to facts but with plenty of humorous asides. Among her topics: presidents who swim, the drinking habits of the various swimming strokes, and "wet movies." With its many ideas, some listeners might prefer the print version to catch every drop. At the same time, Sherr's reading is heartfelt and engaging, worth a listen for anyone even vaguely interested in swimming. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2014]