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Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier
Swim better—and enjoy every lap—with Total Immersion, a guide to improving your swimming from an expert with more than thirty years of experience in the water.Terry Laughlin, the world’s #1 authority on swimming success, has made his unique approach even easier for anyone to master. Whether you’re an accomplished swimmer or have always found swimming to be a struggle, Total Immersion will show you that it’s mindful fluid movement—not athletic ability—that will turn you into an efficient swimmer. This new edition of the bestselling Total Immersion -A thoughtfully choreographed series of skill drills—practiced in the mindful spirit of yoga—that can help anyone swim more enjoyably -A holistic approach to becoming one with the water and to developing a swimming style that’s always comfortable -Simple but thorough guidance on how to improve fitness and form -A complementary land-and-water program for achieving a strong and supple body at any age Based on more than thirty years of teaching, coaching, and research, Total Immersion has dramatically improved the physical and mental experience of swimming for thousands of people of all ages and abilities.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 1996
721 people are currently reading
2139 people want to read
About the author
Terry Laughlin
12 books17 followersTerrence James Laughlin was an American swimming coach, author, and the founder of Total Immersion, a groundbreaking swim technique that revolutionized the sport by emphasizing efficiency, form, and ease over speed. Starting his coaching career in the 1970s, Laughlin trained 24 national champions and developed Total Immersion in 1989 to help adult-onset swimmers, especially triathletes, gain confidence and efficiency in the water. His method focused on balance, streamlining, and energy conservation, attracting a global following and influencing coaches at all levels.
A best-selling author, Laughlin penned Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster and Easier and several other influential books and videos, with his teachings amassing millions of views online. He was also a sought-after instructor who inspired swimmers worldwide—from elite athletes to fearful beginners.
Even while battling metastatic prostate cancer, he continued to swim, teach, and inspire. Laughlin passed away in 2017, leaving a transformative legacy in swimming education and technique.
A best-selling author, Laughlin penned Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster and Easier and several other influential books and videos, with his teachings amassing millions of views online. He was also a sought-after instructor who inspired swimmers worldwide—from elite athletes to fearful beginners.
Even while battling metastatic prostate cancer, he continued to swim, teach, and inspire. Laughlin passed away in 2017, leaving a transformative legacy in swimming education and technique.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
February 24, 2010
This book is a little redundant at times, which is annoying, but the techniques make sense and they've helped me cut my stroke count already. I definitely need to practice this more, but I can see why people who "get it," love it. My one criticism is I think a lot of what he describes is so visual - more photos or sketches would really help. I didn't fully understand what he was talking about until I watched some of the Total Immersion videos on YouTube, so I'd recommend doing that as you're reading.
November 28, 2015
Surprisingly (seriously - as in, wow, I didn't expect that) gratifying and effective, with the Goodreads caveat that this is a how-to, instructional book (again, to be clear, it's not literature and there's no real story going on here), and I wouldn't recommend for anyone who isn't looking for some help with their (duh) swimming. Conversely, I can't remember ever having read a how-to book that generated such immediate results (which, frankly, is kind of cool).
Throw me into the category of folks who've swum, on and off, for decades, with unimpressive results. I lost interest in triathlons because my swimming was frustrating/disastrous, and I rarely, if ever, saw improvement. (Swimming was great for cardio and injury recovery, bad for ego and self-esteem.) But, having decided to give swimming another try, a little bit of research led me to this book (now in its 22nd printing), and I'm glad I bought it.
Assuming you buy into his approach - and, otherwise, why would you buy the book? - his guidance and descriptions are clear, and, more importantly, they seem to work (almost immediately). What I found particularly valuable, however, was that he frequently anticipated my problems/pathologies and offered concrete solutions (or, what I might describe as workarounds) to address them. Moreover, as cynical as I was about many of his (almost breathless) claims about how much more comfortable I would feel in the water, how much more smoothly I would cut through the water, and how much better I would feel after my workout, he was pretty much spot on (at least so far). Who knows? Maybe he duped me into thinking I'm doing better, but, then again, who cares? (Of course, time will tell.) I'm not so delusional that I expect this book will turn me into an age-group elite competitor, but - at least to my mind - it (almost immediately) did exactly what it claimed it would do, help me swim better, faster, and easier, which, again, is pretty cool.
Like many folks who read and enjoyed the book, I'd love to find a way to attend one of the author's clinics - my sense is that's he's an excellent coach/teacher.
The strangest aspect of the book is that so much of it (it felt like the first quarter, maybe the first third) is spent convincing you to buy into to the system or the different approach or the paradigm shift or the author's way of thinking/coaching. And that's all fine, but - gee - I already bought the book, so I'm willing to try it - so let's get to work already... I also agree with the folks who say that the book has a tendency to be (extremely) repetitive, but I'm not sure that's a bad thing (from a pedagogical standpoint). Also, I found the line drawings to be relatively easy to understand, but I don't think there's much doubt that a few dozen photographs would have really helped. Conversely, the author also wants you to buy the video(s), and that's OK, because that's his business model, and more power to him.
Throw me into the category of folks who've swum, on and off, for decades, with unimpressive results. I lost interest in triathlons because my swimming was frustrating/disastrous, and I rarely, if ever, saw improvement. (Swimming was great for cardio and injury recovery, bad for ego and self-esteem.) But, having decided to give swimming another try, a little bit of research led me to this book (now in its 22nd printing), and I'm glad I bought it.
Assuming you buy into his approach - and, otherwise, why would you buy the book? - his guidance and descriptions are clear, and, more importantly, they seem to work (almost immediately). What I found particularly valuable, however, was that he frequently anticipated my problems/pathologies and offered concrete solutions (or, what I might describe as workarounds) to address them. Moreover, as cynical as I was about many of his (almost breathless) claims about how much more comfortable I would feel in the water, how much more smoothly I would cut through the water, and how much better I would feel after my workout, he was pretty much spot on (at least so far). Who knows? Maybe he duped me into thinking I'm doing better, but, then again, who cares? (Of course, time will tell.) I'm not so delusional that I expect this book will turn me into an age-group elite competitor, but - at least to my mind - it (almost immediately) did exactly what it claimed it would do, help me swim better, faster, and easier, which, again, is pretty cool.
Like many folks who read and enjoyed the book, I'd love to find a way to attend one of the author's clinics - my sense is that's he's an excellent coach/teacher.
The strangest aspect of the book is that so much of it (it felt like the first quarter, maybe the first third) is spent convincing you to buy into to the system or the different approach or the paradigm shift or the author's way of thinking/coaching. And that's all fine, but - gee - I already bought the book, so I'm willing to try it - so let's get to work already... I also agree with the folks who say that the book has a tendency to be (extremely) repetitive, but I'm not sure that's a bad thing (from a pedagogical standpoint). Also, I found the line drawings to be relatively easy to understand, but I don't think there's much doubt that a few dozen photographs would have really helped. Conversely, the author also wants you to buy the video(s), and that's OK, because that's his business model, and more power to him.
January 19, 2014
It is a long-running joke in my life that "I am such a nerd, I learned to swim from a book." it's not just a joke, it is true, and this is that book. All of the things that come intuitively to some people (like balance and coordination) can be very confusing to those of us who don't just naturally "get it". Years of gym teachers telling me "kick harder!" only led to frustration. I needed someone to explain more thoroughly, and give me ways to think about my body that would help me visualize it before I could physically do it. This is a one of those books I think of when people ask questions like "what books changed your life?" It seems like a silly thing, but this how-to book on swimming did just that. I used to have anxiety about the water because it brought out my ineptitude and feelings of shame and embarrassment. But years after I first read this, I now swim for fun, I swim for exercise, I love to swim in the open ocean more than anything else, and I even completed a few triathlons. (Slowly, but I did it.) This book literally changed my life for the better.
August 26, 2023
As someone who does not have a competitive swimming background, I appreciated the building blocks that this book laid out. The main premise is that 70% of swimming speed comes from technique, while the remaining 30% comes from fitness gained through swimming. The drills started at an elementary level and progress in a logical manner to a full stroke swim. What I did not enjoy about the book was the disparity between the drills mentioned in the text and those found on the company's website (which I don't think has been updated in 10+ years).
May 13, 2008
I learned from this book to practice only pleasure and never practice struggle. "Fitness is what happens to you when you're practicing."
I totally enjoyed reading this book and teaching myself a new way to do the freestyle stroke. Laughlin really breaks it down by skills that build on one another beautifully. It seemed important to swim each drill in the order presented before reading to far into the book. You can tell he has a great deal of teaching experience. I was relieved when he said sinkers would feel more comfortable by drill 4 (or maybe 3; I think 4). This prediction turned out to be so right for me that it gave me a whole lot of confidence in his method from early on.
Maybe his method is not perfect. A master's swim coach told me Laughlin is right about some things, but not necessarily the only way. I didn't ask him to explain. Then the coach did say McLaughlin is really good at taking non-swim athletes (he used a basketball team as an example) and getting them ready for triathlon swimming. Not everyone can do that.
I must say that the Total Immersion videos available at Laughlin's website or through amazon also helped a lot, but the book is actually sufficient, especially if you photocopy the page you're working with and take the copy to pool.
I totally enjoyed reading this book and teaching myself a new way to do the freestyle stroke. Laughlin really breaks it down by skills that build on one another beautifully. It seemed important to swim each drill in the order presented before reading to far into the book. You can tell he has a great deal of teaching experience. I was relieved when he said sinkers would feel more comfortable by drill 4 (or maybe 3; I think 4). This prediction turned out to be so right for me that it gave me a whole lot of confidence in his method from early on.
Maybe his method is not perfect. A master's swim coach told me Laughlin is right about some things, but not necessarily the only way. I didn't ask him to explain. Then the coach did say McLaughlin is really good at taking non-swim athletes (he used a basketball team as an example) and getting them ready for triathlon swimming. Not everyone can do that.
I must say that the Total Immersion videos available at Laughlin's website or through amazon also helped a lot, but the book is actually sufficient, especially if you photocopy the page you're working with and take the copy to pool.
April 24, 2008
I have been swimming since I could walk; some of my earliest childhood memories are from swimming pools where my mother took me for lessons. I continued taking classes and working out in the pool through college. So, imagine my surprise when along came a book that takes you all the way back to the shallow end, so to speak. I am now in the process of unlearning all the "right ways" and learning the "better ways" or as Laughlin puts it, "how to swim like a fish." After studying how the best swimmers in the world were breaking records and sliding through the water seemingly effortlessly, Laughlin realized that we've pretty much been doing it all wrong. But not to mind too much, Laughlin tackles learning (or relearning) how to swim with a sense of humor, a positive attitude and a focus on achieving practical results. Using easy to learn drills, mental imagery and kinesthetics, you are guided each step of the way.
January 11, 2014
The method used in this book is an excellent method for beginner swimmers. While I found the drills extremely effective, I felt at times that this book was too wordy. Sometimes I felt like the author kept on trying to prove a point that the old ways of learning how to swim were incorrect. I get it. I get that they were inefficient, but that did not need to be repeated multiple times.
However, if you can get past the reiterations of the old ways, this is truly a great book for beginner swimmers. I have a lot of experience watching swimmers using this method going from no experience in the pool to becoming full triathletes.
However, if you can get past the reiterations of the old ways, this is truly a great book for beginner swimmers. I have a lot of experience watching swimmers using this method going from no experience in the pool to becoming full triathletes.
March 13, 2020
I really appreciate the intention behind this book and teaching program. As someone who grew up hating swimming largely due to poor technique, I think the stroke taught by Total Immersion is wonderful.
Unfortunately, whether it was intentional to sell lessons or just due to a lack of thought, the book and the accompanying DVD have awful pedagogy and make it very difficult to actually learn.
Unfortunately, whether it was intentional to sell lessons or just due to a lack of thought, the book and the accompanying DVD have awful pedagogy and make it very difficult to actually learn.
February 19, 2020
80% motivation 20% information
I like the drills found in this book. I like how they are explained. However it feels like this book spends too much time on everything other than the drills themselves. More pictures would have been nice.
I like the drills found in this book. I like how they are explained. However it feels like this book spends too much time on everything other than the drills themselves. More pictures would have been nice.
June 5, 2025
Phew - I more or less sped red the second half so this could be done- concepts are great but I’m a visual learner and I found all the skills difficult to imagine- I did look up videos which helped slightly. I’ve been trying to incorporate the skills via endless drilling but honestly it’s super hard, I am super slow - it feels like I’m losing swimming fitness trying to focus on form- and I don’t think my stroke length has improved much despite the concepts of the books seeming to make sense and my own endless practice. TLDR- Overall swimming is harder for me personally after reading this. Verdict still out for me.
December 23, 2024
Great read but could use more illustrations. The descriptions of positions is not easy to understand especially when motion is involved.
Read
December 6, 2025I can swim now
September 23, 2013
Прошло пол-года, и 84 км, с того момента, как Михаил Иванов подарил мне эту книгу.
О чем эта книга и зачем ее читать?
Меня, в детстве, учили плавать не так. А может, просто я не так научился плавать.
В книге - огромное внимание уделяется не только упражнениям, но и теории. Эти теоретические знания, очень здорово помогают там, в бассейне. Это своего рода инструкция - справочник. Что-то не получается? Вернись на несколько глав назад. Все хорошо? Повтори еще раз!
Даже не смотря на то, что я ни разу не воспользовался услугами тренера, мне удалось научиться сносно плавать кролем на длинные дистанции. В этом году, я поставил перед собой цель проплыть 1 км. кролем. Теперь надо срочно эту цель корректировать.
Что я не смог найти в этой книге?
Как проплыть кролем расстояние больше чем 50 метров. Таких как я - очень много. Брассом плавать могут без проблем, а кролем, ну никак не получается.
Я потратил много времени на то, чтобы найти недостающие ответы в сети. В результате нашел два совета, которые мне помогли.
1. Серия проплывов 4х100, перерыв 12 вдохов между подходами; 4х50, перерыв 8 вдохов; 4х25, перерыв 4 вдоха.
2. "Сжать зубы" и проплыть 400 метров.
В конце февраля, я воспользовался первым советом, а на второй тренировке - решил, во что бы то ни стало проплыть хотя бы 300 метров. В этот момент - все и встало на свои места. Как только я вошел в зону "дальше не могу", у меня вдруг стало получаться многое из того, что описано в книге "Полное погружение".
С тех пор, проблем с длинными дистанциями нет. Сегодня я проплыл 2.1 км кролем. При этом я абсолютно не устал и даже скорость проплыва бассейна в начале занятия и в конце - не сильно отличалась.
Вечером взял книгу в руки и начал читать ее с первой страницы. Полное ощущение, что при первом прочтении, я очень много пропустил.
Так что у старой книги - началась новая жизнь!
О чем эта книга и зачем ее читать?
Меня, в детстве, учили плавать не так. А может, просто я не так научился плавать.
В книге - огромное внимание уделяется не только упражнениям, но и теории. Эти теоретические знания, очень здорово помогают там, в бассейне. Это своего рода инструкция - справочник. Что-то не получается? Вернись на несколько глав назад. Все хорошо? Повтори еще раз!
Даже не смотря на то, что я ни разу не воспользовался услугами тренера, мне удалось научиться сносно плавать кролем на длинные дистанции. В этом году, я поставил перед собой цель проплыть 1 км. кролем. Теперь надо срочно эту цель корректировать.
Что я не смог найти в этой книге?
Как проплыть кролем расстояние больше чем 50 метров. Таких как я - очень много. Брассом плавать могут без проблем, а кролем, ну никак не получается.
Я потратил много времени на то, чтобы найти недостающие ответы в сети. В результате нашел два совета, которые мне помогли.
1. Серия проплывов 4х100, перерыв 12 вдохов между подходами; 4х50, перерыв 8 вдохов; 4х25, перерыв 4 вдоха.
2. "Сжать зубы" и проплыть 400 метров.
В конце февраля, я воспользовался первым советом, а на второй тренировке - решил, во что бы то ни стало проплыть хотя бы 300 метров. В этот момент - все и встало на свои места. Как только я вошел в зону "дальше не могу", у меня вдруг стало получаться многое из того, что описано в книге "Полное погружение".
С тех пор, проблем с длинными дистанциями нет. Сегодня я проплыл 2.1 км кролем. При этом я абсолютно не устал и даже скорость проплыва бассейна в начале занятия и в конце - не сильно отличалась.
Вечером взял книгу в руки и начал читать ее с первой страницы. Полное ощущение, что при первом прочтении, я очень много пропустил.
Так что у старой книги - началась новая жизнь!
January 18, 2019
4.5 stars out of 5. I came across Mr Laughlin’s work at the most convenient of times. I had just started to attempt “swimming” laps at my local 24 Hour Fitness. Coming from a decent runner’s background (5-8 mile clips) I thought I could jump into the pool and knock out 20 minutes with no problem. The first couple of sessions were humbling to say the least, as I could barely make it 50 yards (2 lengths of the pool) without feeling like my heart was going to explode. I figured in the short term I had discovered a new HIiT workout to add to my list, but I wanted more. I wanted to be able to pace myself and get lost in the mindfulness of flow that others at the gym seemed to do with ease.
I first heard about Terry while reading Tim Ferriss’ fantastic Tools For Titans, then went back and listened to his podcast appearance. I decided to purchase and read this book while continuing to beat myself up trying to “swim like a human.”
Within 3-4 sessions of applying the basic principles outlined in this book, I went from sinking like a rock to swimming like a fish in 20 minute non-stop sessions. Granted at my own (hint:slow!) pace, but the transformation was immediately noticeable!
I have barely begun to scratch the surface of my swimming skills, but the basic philosophies I have utilized from Terry’s book have invigorated me and stoked my hunger for more.
The only thing lacking in this book is better detailed illustrations of the various drills to practice. I will be on the lookout for the DVD.
Thank you Mr Laughlin and may you RIP
I first heard about Terry while reading Tim Ferriss’ fantastic Tools For Titans, then went back and listened to his podcast appearance. I decided to purchase and read this book while continuing to beat myself up trying to “swim like a human.”
Within 3-4 sessions of applying the basic principles outlined in this book, I went from sinking like a rock to swimming like a fish in 20 minute non-stop sessions. Granted at my own (hint:slow!) pace, but the transformation was immediately noticeable!
I have barely begun to scratch the surface of my swimming skills, but the basic philosophies I have utilized from Terry’s book have invigorated me and stoked my hunger for more.
The only thing lacking in this book is better detailed illustrations of the various drills to practice. I will be on the lookout for the DVD.
Thank you Mr Laughlin and may you RIP
April 24, 2014
What just happened?! 1. Bought this yesterday 2. Read to "Drill #2" #3 Revolutionized my strokes within 10 min in the pool 4. Swam laps for 30 min = felt like I had just napped. I am shocked and amazed how this book can turn you into a fish, gliding lap after lap without fatigue. It's unhuman. "Leave the struggle" it says...um yeah!!!! These techniques have significantly changed my ability to push through stamina barriers, and enjoy the playground I love the best. The book teaches you to use momentum to glide and "swim downhill". That is exactly what it felt like. I looked really dumb trying to nail the technique, but then I got to mock everyone else in the pool struggling through their survival type swimming. I can't wait for the rest of the book!! Be sure and get the new edition!!
July 7, 2018
Eliminate drag: above, create more power: below
Pull hand back through centre of body through to hips
Swim faster? Snap your belly from side to side. Faster? Put more speed in to belly rhythm.
Leave one hand out in front with the other is stroking
Put weight on your buoy
Hands should not move faster than your body
Swim down hill
Train to stay efficient. Intelligent swimming
Forget lengths just focus on reducing strokes per length. Just swim for 30 mins. 20 strokes per length is min target. Lower is better. 4 lengths in less than 100 strokes is triathlon quality. Forget speed, let that happen.
Stretch forward like reaching for wall on last stroke
Slide hand into water and reach forward and hold on rotating body to slip.
Pull hand back through centre of body through to hips
Swim faster? Snap your belly from side to side. Faster? Put more speed in to belly rhythm.
Leave one hand out in front with the other is stroking
Put weight on your buoy
Hands should not move faster than your body
Swim down hill
Train to stay efficient. Intelligent swimming
Forget lengths just focus on reducing strokes per length. Just swim for 30 mins. 20 strokes per length is min target. Lower is better. 4 lengths in less than 100 strokes is triathlon quality. Forget speed, let that happen.
Stretch forward like reaching for wall on last stroke
Slide hand into water and reach forward and hold on rotating body to slip.
October 30, 2010
I've been a swimmer all my life and a couple ideas from this book really made sense to me even though I would have never thought of them myself. I scanned and skimmed to pick out the relevant information - to me, the author was very redundant. I wish they would have shown actual photos of swimmers in the water, performing some of the skill drills. If you're a visual learner and/or a beginning swimmer, some of the concepts might be a little hard to picture.
September 16, 2016
После этой книги я начал плавать кролем расслаблено. Книжка работает.
July 1, 2023
A helpful book for people who want to swim efficiently.
February 7, 2024
I learned how to swim in my 30s. Bit late to the game! A childhood full of ear infections and tubes left me starting swimming lessons when I was a decade older than all the other kids in the three-foot pool. I sputtered, sank, and swerved my life the other way. Now in my 40s, after a few "Adult Learn To Swim" classes, in a story I sometimes share in keynote speeches, I can stay afloat and do the front crawl ... but not much more. Enter this book! My friend Frank Warren sent it to me and it’s like having a swimming coach in your pocket. Simple things, like “reshaping the vessel”, help teach swimming with less effort. How? By consciously pushing your airbaggy chest down so your legs come up – helping to avoid the log-floating-in-a-pond posture I typically use! What else? Learning that “what you do between strokes is more important than how you take the stroke.” Uh, what you do between strokes? Right! Lengthen your body! Less drag. And it goes on and on. I actually took this book with me to the public pool a few times, got my courage going by reading a few pages or a chapter, and then jumped in to try. Did the book turn me into an Olympian? No. It did not. But it gives me new things to try and I can feel my Swimming Confidence nudging up and up.
July 12, 2024
It's a how-to-guide rather than a book-book, but it has been a gamechanger in helping me to become a confident, passionate swimmer in a very short period of time. I discovered the book when starting to swim regularly at 6 months pregnant. Having started as a slow-lane breastswimmer (who attempts a few breathless freestyle strokes every so often), the TI techniques have allowed me to swim lap after lap of relatively effortless freestyle with the sporty folks in the middle lane -- even with an 8-month bump.
The book itself is very "American", somewhat grandiose and often repetitive; especially the first 7 chapters. The actual drills from chapter 8 onwards are terrific, though - and I especially found the sensory descriptions helpful:
- "Leaning on my lungs" and swimming with "light legs"
- "Reaching for the wall" and swimming with "long and weightless arms"
- "Rotating from side to side", having my navel face alternating sides with each stroke
I also use the "sweet spot" drill as a resting pose in between laps, and warm up with vertical kicks
Not great literature, but one of the most practically useful books I have come across!
The book itself is very "American", somewhat grandiose and often repetitive; especially the first 7 chapters. The actual drills from chapter 8 onwards are terrific, though - and I especially found the sensory descriptions helpful:
- "Leaning on my lungs" and swimming with "light legs"
- "Reaching for the wall" and swimming with "long and weightless arms"
- "Rotating from side to side", having my navel face alternating sides with each stroke
I also use the "sweet spot" drill as a resting pose in between laps, and warm up with vertical kicks
Not great literature, but one of the most practically useful books I have come across!
April 25, 2022
Solid content overall, looked into TI in the first place because of Tim Ferris.
There was a lot of crossover concepts from improving in sports and swimming, which makes sense considering that swimming has more technique that meets the eye.
I thought the information was good overall, albeit some fluff here and there, and would recommend this book to swimmers of all skills - I think the third part was the most insightful but the first part I will be referring to as I progress in my journey.
As a downside, I do think a lot of the content repeated the same ideas over and over (to reiterate the importance I guess) like 70% skill / 30% physical, train smarter not harder, swimming is a skill that can be polished, efficiency is the key to gains, etc... because of this, I feel like this book didn't have to be 286 pages?
Overall, I learned a lot (as a non-swimmer), and the program itself makes sense in terms of progression -- will definitely try to implement Laughlin's teachings and see if I can learn how to TI without initially learning how to swim :)
There was a lot of crossover concepts from improving in sports and swimming, which makes sense considering that swimming has more technique that meets the eye.
I thought the information was good overall, albeit some fluff here and there, and would recommend this book to swimmers of all skills - I think the third part was the most insightful but the first part I will be referring to as I progress in my journey.
As a downside, I do think a lot of the content repeated the same ideas over and over (to reiterate the importance I guess) like 70% skill / 30% physical, train smarter not harder, swimming is a skill that can be polished, efficiency is the key to gains, etc... because of this, I feel like this book didn't have to be 286 pages?
Overall, I learned a lot (as a non-swimmer), and the program itself makes sense in terms of progression -- will definitely try to implement Laughlin's teachings and see if I can learn how to TI without initially learning how to swim :)
February 15, 2026
I only read this book because I heard it was a very interesting book on learning. I had no interest in swimming.
Total Immersion was based on revolutionary ways to learn swimming that by now may be fairly common knowledge but at the time seems to have been monumental in its approach!
The 6 page introduction made me want to get into a pool immediately! It was so well written and compelling!
The rest of the book mostly was good, but there was a lot of repetitive writing that maybe was useful for people who swim a lot who need the new material to be drilled in their heads (contrary to the actual teaching style of swimming). There were 2 chapters that were nothing more than repeating the entire book up to that point that could’ve been deleted (sadly I can’t remember which ones but they were consecutive).
I am very happy I read this book, because I plan to get a pool membership and start a swimming workout. I swam when I was younger and am excited to see how this new method feels in contrast!
Total Immersion was based on revolutionary ways to learn swimming that by now may be fairly common knowledge but at the time seems to have been monumental in its approach!
The 6 page introduction made me want to get into a pool immediately! It was so well written and compelling!
The rest of the book mostly was good, but there was a lot of repetitive writing that maybe was useful for people who swim a lot who need the new material to be drilled in their heads (contrary to the actual teaching style of swimming). There were 2 chapters that were nothing more than repeating the entire book up to that point that could’ve been deleted (sadly I can’t remember which ones but they were consecutive).
I am very happy I read this book, because I plan to get a pool membership and start a swimming workout. I swam when I was younger and am excited to see how this new method feels in contrast!
January 2, 2018
Firstly I should say that I haven't tried the majority of the exercises/drills in the book as it had to be returned to the library before I could. Also, I was already slightly familiar with and practising TI before I picked the book up.
TI itself is great and I can completely recommend. It massively helped my swimming and made it much more enjoyable.
However, the book isn't good. There are many, many chapters 'selling' TI to you, which is why it took me so long to read and I had to get it renewed from the library multiple times. Not an easy read either; a tedious read. I've picked the book up, I'm already sold on TI! The drills and exercises aren't laid out as easily as they could be and I just wanted to be able to go back to a succinct paragraph but instead had to wade through the same extraneous description.
I'm hoping to check the book out again and try to rewrite the exercises in my own words and refer to them instead of the book.
TI itself is great and I can completely recommend. It massively helped my swimming and made it much more enjoyable.
However, the book isn't good. There are many, many chapters 'selling' TI to you, which is why it took me so long to read and I had to get it renewed from the library multiple times. Not an easy read either; a tedious read. I've picked the book up, I'm already sold on TI! The drills and exercises aren't laid out as easily as they could be and I just wanted to be able to go back to a succinct paragraph but instead had to wade through the same extraneous description.
I'm hoping to check the book out again and try to rewrite the exercises in my own words and refer to them instead of the book.
July 29, 2025
Absolutely game changing. This works. If I hadn't encountered this book (thanks ChatGPT) I would have continued to churn out laps of agony combined with YouTube videos telling me the specific angle I would need to enter the water to become faster.
But all the while I would lack the absolute foundation: Balance. Even after the first weeks of doing the drills introduced in this book I went from barely able to swim more than 25m without drowning to swimming 200m without any worry.
By teaching you how to stay balanced & streamlined in the water you become more secure and faster with the first one actually being the more important one if you ask me. Just returned from a 1km session earlier today :)
Highly recommended if you never bothered learning to properly swim.
But all the while I would lack the absolute foundation: Balance. Even after the first weeks of doing the drills introduced in this book I went from barely able to swim more than 25m without drowning to swimming 200m without any worry.
By teaching you how to stay balanced & streamlined in the water you become more secure and faster with the first one actually being the more important one if you ask me. Just returned from a 1km session earlier today :)
Highly recommended if you never bothered learning to properly swim.
November 5, 2021
Good overview of Immersion Swimming technique. A little bit too verbose though. I feel like this would be good book for someone who wants to get a PhD of TI swimming, but more compact, nutshell book would be better to get a general understanding of the idea.
At the end of the day, the most effective way to learn is to spend a few hours with coach and practice, practice, practice.
A few good resources:
- https://tim.blog/2008/08/13/total-imm...
- TI videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8ZZ...
- tl;dr of the book: https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/s...
- https://www.totalimmersionacademy.com/
At the end of the day, the most effective way to learn is to spend a few hours with coach and practice, practice, practice.
A few good resources:
- https://tim.blog/2008/08/13/total-imm...
- TI videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8ZZ...
- tl;dr of the book: https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/s...
- https://www.totalimmersionacademy.com/
April 27, 2018
I'm not a comfortable swimmer. I know just enough not to drown. I've heard about Total Immersion through this podcast episode and became immediately interested: https://tim.blog/2017/10/29/terry-lau.... If it helped Tim Ferriss overcome a lifelong fear of water and swimming, maybe it could help me.
The techniques outlined in this book make sense. They've explained in a manner that makes sense and build on top of each other. The only knock against it - the book is a bit redundant at times.
I want to be a comfortable and happy swimmer. Over the next 3-5 months, I'll try to become one. I'll update my review afterward.
The techniques outlined in this book make sense. They've explained in a manner that makes sense and build on top of each other. The only knock against it - the book is a bit redundant at times.
I want to be a comfortable and happy swimmer. Over the next 3-5 months, I'll try to become one. I'll update my review afterward.
September 11, 2020
I’m not really sure how to rate this book, as it is a skills-teaching book (there were a few typographical errors, such as the numbering of skills sets in Chapter 8, that prompted me to dock one star). I just finished reading through the book and what remains is to practice the drills set forth in Chapter 8 over the next few months (years?), as time and means allow. Only time will tell how effective the writing is at teaching the concept of Total Immersion (TI) swimming—which I did enjoy reading about. TI not only teaches a more efficient way of swimming, but promotes Flow, or a Zen-like, mindful approach to swimming.
June 26, 2019
While the swimming techniques described in this book are revolutionary and helpful for swimmers of all levels, the structure of the book is confusing. Furthermore, it lacks enough illustrations in the later chapters and much of the book is repetitive in its marketing of the method rather than concrete advice.
In addition it pre-dates the DVD, in which some of the techniques were improved. The fact the book is somewhat outdated makes it a poor supplement to the DVD. I am going to rely on the film for my swim instruction and possible revisit this for clarifications.
In addition it pre-dates the DVD, in which some of the techniques were improved. The fact the book is somewhat outdated makes it a poor supplement to the DVD. I am going to rely on the film for my swim instruction and possible revisit this for clarifications.
May 6, 2018
An essential for me. This book really is for everyone, never too late to discover the real way to swim freestyle. Freestyle has always been a struggle for me. I stopped swimming classes at 8 years old because I was last in the race (think Eric the Eel). For years, I could only swim half a lap on freestyle. For years the only style I swam was breaststroke. As cheesy as it sounds, Total Immersion changed my swimming life. (Can't say I have mastered it yet, but I can swim laps on freestyle!)
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