Debbie Friedman’s Followers (4)

Debbie’s Bookshelves

to-read (3)
currently-reading (1)
read (17)
did-not-finish (0)

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Debbie Friedman has read 5 of 30 books.

17%

Debbie Friedman

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.toweronepress.com

Genre

Memoir, Nonfiction, History

Influences

William Finnegan, Mary Karr, Helen Macdonald, Pico Iyer, John McPhee, ...more

Member Since

February 2026

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Debbie Friedman began her career as a California State Parks ocean lifeguard in 1978, one of the first women to hold that position on the California coast. She worked for twelve years in the surf, and never left it behind.

GUARDED: Women, Water, and Saving Lives is her debut memoir. Debbie takes the reader alongside her and the pioneering women who came before and beside her — into the surf, the absurdities, the physical demands, and what it means to save a life, including your own. Readers keep mentioning the humor — turns out being a woman in a job nobody thought women could do was rich material.

She lives in Aptos, California.

Combine Editions
Debbie Friedman’s books

Average rating: 4.41 · 27 ratings · 5 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

GUARDED: Women, Water, and Saving Lives

4.41 avg rating — 27 ratings — 2 editions

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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Debbie is Currently Reading

Debbie Friedman is currently reading

Who is Government?

by Michael Lewis

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Aug 24, 2026 08:45PM

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Debbie’s Recent Updates

Debbie Friedman liked Jerry Jimenez's review of GUARDED: Women, Water, and Saving Lives: "I really loved this book. I lived in Southern California during some of the years portrayed in this book. I spent a lot of time at the ocean beaches, but don't remember seeing too many (if any) women lifeguards. This book provides a view of some of t" Read more of this review »
Sep 14, 2026 10:46PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of GUARDED by Debbie Friedman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — GUARDED by Debbie Friedman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Debbie Friedman made a comment on their review of GUARDED: Women, Water, and Saving Lives " Thanks so much. "
Sep 01, 2026 06:53AM · see review
Debbie Friedman started reading Who is Government? by Michael Lewis	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 24, 2026 08:45PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Who is Government? by Michael Lewis. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Who is Government? by Michael Lewis <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Debbie Friedman wants to read Playground by Richard Powers	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 24, 2026 08:44PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Playground by Richard Powers. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Playground by Richard Powers <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Debbie Friedman wants to read The Substitute Asshole: How a rogue suburban kid’s escape from conformity collided with a cultural revolution, drug smuggling, psychedelics, and federal prison by Dean Quarnstrom	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 24, 2026 08:44PM · like
Debbie Friedman wants to read Scavenging Beauty: A Memoir in Walks by Angelica Glass	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 24, 2026 08:43PM · like
Debbie Friedman rated a book it was amazing Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells by Pico Iyer	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A reread, one of my favorite of his. Slow, beautiful language...took me through Japan, and his childlike curiosity as he explores different lives.
Aug 24, 2026 08:38PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Autumn Light by Pico Iyer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Autumn Light by Pico Iyer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Debbie Friedman rated a book really liked it The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
It grew on me. We create full lives even one letter at a time.
Aug 23, 2026 08:54PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Correspondent by Virginia Evans <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Debbie Friedman rated a book it was amazing Educated by Tara Westover (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I think about Tara often. One life, resilience, brutality, unforgettable.
Aug 23, 2026 08:54PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Educated by Tara Westover. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Educated by Tara Westover <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Debbie Friedman finished reading Educated by Tara Westover (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 23, 2026 08:53PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Educated by Tara Westover. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Educated by Tara Westover <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">