Recommended Reads: Swimming and Swimmers

"The water is your friend. You don't have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move." ~Aleksandr Popov

Do you feel this way about being in the water? Do you have similar feelings about reading books? This book list will surely interest you! Below is a selection of Braille and cassette books available from the Perkins Library about swimming. Improve your technique, master a new stroke, or get advice from Olympic champions and coaches. Or, if you prefer to lounge in the sand or by the pool with a good story, you may enjoy a biography of a well-known swimmer or a work of fiction. Please contact the library to order any of the books listed.

"The Awakening" and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin.
RC 33806,BR 8894
Awakening, a novel first published in 1899, tells of a liberated woman who rebels against the constraints of marriage. Her intense swimming represents her desire for freedom.

Sixty-six Laps by Leslie Spirson.
BR 13024
Thirty-two-year-old new mother Audrey fights aging by swimming a daily mile in her backyard pool. But her enjoyable life begins unraveling when her husband befriends a female coworker, who Audrey suspects desires him. Paranoia causes Audrey to contemplate an affair of her own. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

A Requiem of Sharks by Patrick Buchanan.
BR 2618
The private-eye team of Ben Shock and Charity Tucker investigates the death of a girl killed in a swimming pool by a man-eating shark. Their inquiry leads them into ecological matters, offshore drilling, and a hurricane.

Born in Sin by Evelyn Coleman.
RC 55901
Fourteen-year-old Keisha wants to go to a summer program for aspiring doctors. Instead, her guidance counselor places her in a program for at-risk kids. There Keisha discovers her innate swimming ability, learns to deal with prejudice, and makes new friends. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high readers. 2001.

Fat Boy Swim by Catherine Forde.
BR 15876
Scottish teen Jimmy is teased mercilessly for being overweight. When the swimming coach discovers Jimmy’s secret cooking skills, he trades swim lessons for Jimmy’s help with a fundraiser. Jimmy unexpectedly excels at the sport and also develops an interest in Ellie, who is visually impaired. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.

Gold in the Water: The True Story of Ordinary Men and their Extraordinary Dream of Olympic Glory by P. H. Mullen.
RC 56039
Chronicles the arduous years of training of the 2000 U.S. Olympic swim team that led to victory in Australia. Follows coach Dick Jochums and his athletes, including two asthmatics who overcame their medical problems to succeed. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers.

Grayson by Lynne Cox.
RC 63873, BR 16883 BOTH IN PROCESS
Author recalls an encounter from her teenage years when a baby gray whale followed her during a long-distance training swim along the California coast. Describes communicating with the calf she called Grayson and battling fatigue, fifty-five-degree water, and dehydration to protect him until he was reunited with his mother. Bestseller. 2006.

Haunts of the Black Masseur: The Swimmer As Hero by Charles Sprawson.
RC 37162
The swimming habits of various writers and artists throughout history (Johann Goethe, Lord Byron, Thomas Eakins, etc.) and the swimming references that appeared in their work provide much of Sprawson's tribute to the sport. The history of swimming, with emphasis on the British, is also discussed, as are some unusual record holders and the author's own swimming experiences.

Head Above Water by S. L. Rottman.
BR 13124
High school junior Skye is on the swim team and looks after her older brother, Sunny, who has Down syndrome, while their single mother works two jobs. When popular Mike begins dating Skye, she has to be devious to find the time. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.

In Lane Three, Alex Archer by Tessa Duder.
RC 34992
Swimmer Alex Archer wants to represent New Zealand in the 1960 Olympic games in Rome. She also wants to play hockey, take ballet, study music, and perform in plays. This lack of total devotion to swimming is noticed by her boyfriend, Andy, her parents, her coach, and by Alex herself. But she remains devoted to her varied interests, until Andy is killed in an accident. For junior and senior high readers. New Zealand Children’s Book of the Year.

Inside Swimming by Don Schollander.
RC 12411
Basic step-by-step guide to competitive swimming techniques by an Olympic medalist. Includes descriptions of strokes and tips on water safety, training, and strategy. For high school and adult readers.

Lane Four by Suzanne Greenya.
RC 17059, BR 4827
Marty has been a swimming star since she was ten. She always finishes first--in the water. Lately, though, she had asked herself if winning at swimming is worth losing the boy she cares about. For junior and senior high readers.

Mermaids on the Moon: a Novel by Elizabeth Stuckey-French.
RC 57566
From a small town in Indiana, France goes to Mermaid Springs, Florida, in search of her missing mother, Grendy, a synchronized swimmer. In the process, France discovers truths about her family, her mother's colorful circle of friends, and herself. 2002.

Other Shores by Diana Nyad.
RC 13409
An account of the remarkable athletic achievements and indefatigable spirit of the young woman whose goal was to become the best swimmer in the world. Describes the motivations that obsess a marathon swimmer.

Swimming Past 50 by Mel Goldstein.
RC 53029
Co-author, Dave Tanner. Tips and techniques for the older swimmer. Includes training programs and the basics of the sport as well as information about the aging process. Offers sample workouts and advice on the prevention of injuries.

Teaching an Infant to Swim by Virginia Newman.
RC 22253
Gentle, natural way of teaching water safety to infants beginning at age 8 months. If simple, proven methods are used, the author believes that helping children gain confidence in the water can be delightful for both parent and child.

The Fifty-meter Jungle: How Olympic Gold-medal Swimmers are Made by Sherman Chavour.
RC 8601
The man who coached Mark Spitz to Olympic stardom tells the inside story of competitive swimming. For high school and adult readers.

The Fit swimmer: 120 Workouts and Training Tips by Marianne Brems.
RC 30796, BR 8147
Offers a plan for workouts that will give swimmers a change from their normal routine, make them faster swimmers, and challenge them to work harder. Each workout describes the stroke to be used, the distance to be covered, and the time in which it should be accomplished.

The Million Dollar Mermaid by Esther Williams.
RC 48987
Bestseller. Williams describes the movie spectaculars she made for MGM Studios and the physical injuries she sustained. She also discusses her traumatic childhood (the death of her oldest brother and being raped at thirteen), her place on the cancelled 1940 Olympic team, her use of LSD, and her four marriages.

Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster, and Easier by Terry Laughlin.
RC 59654
Coach and editor of "Fitness Swimmer" describes techniques for becoming a more efficient swimmer. Covers training, racing, balance, and moves to learn for fishlike motion through the water. Includes drills, tips, and dry land exercises for strength, suppleness, and slimming. Revised edition.

We Swam the Grand Canyon by Bill Beer.
RC 29828
In 1955, the author and John Daggett set out to swim the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This was dare-devilry and illegal. Their equipment was primitive: army-surplus rubber boxes, thin rubber shirts, long johns, and swim fins. They filmed their twenty-one day adventure.

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher.
RC 52057
Talented, multiracial teen T.J. Jones shuns organized sports but agrees to help his favorite teacher pull together a swim team. He attracts a group of misfits who become buddies and champions--earning the ire of the school jocks, whose bullying erupts into violence. Strong language and some violence. For senior high readers. 2001.