Off the Deep End

by W. Hodding Carter IV

"Hodding Carter dreamed of being an Olympian as a kid. He worshipped Mark Spitz, swam his heart out, and just missed qualifying for the Olympic trials in swimming as a college senior. Although he didn't qualify for the 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, or 2004 Olympics, he never stopped believing he could make it. And despite past failures and the passage of time, Carter began his quest once more at the age of forty-two.

Maybe he's crazy. But then again, maybe he's onto something. He entered the Masters Championships. He swam three to four miles each day, six days a week. He pumped iron, trained with former Olympians, and consulted with swimming gurus and medical researchers who taught him that the body doesn't have to age. He swam with sharks (inadvertently) in the Virgin Islands, suffered hypothermia in a relay around Manhattan, and put on fifteen pounds of muscle. Amazingly, he discovered that his heartbeat could keep pace with the best of the younger swimmers'. And each day he felt stronger, swam faster, and became more convinced that he wasn't crazy.

This outrageous, courageous chronicle is much more than Carter's race with time to make it to the Olympics. It's the exhilarating story of a man who rebels against middle age the only way he can—by chasing a dream. His article in Outside magazine, on which this book is based, was the winner of a Lowell Thomas award from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation."

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Biography, Memoir

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2008

About the author

A native of Greenville, Mississippi, W. Hodding Carter attended Kenyon College and spent two years in Kenya with the Peace Corps. He has written for several national magazines, including Esquire, Smithsonian, Newsweek, and Outside. He lives with his family in Rockport, Maine.

Reviews

[David Cain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have participated in masters swimming for about three years now and I was hoping this book would be a fun exploration of Carter's experiences as a top masters swimmer. Instead, this read more like a catalogue of his immature, selfish obsessions. He is not a sympathetic character, to say the least. He clearly loves his children but doesn't seem to respect his wife very much. Perhaps everyone who has a midlife crisis acts like this, I don't know. The book is too short to really paint a complete picture of his life, and the version we're left with is not endearing.

In terms of his swimming, he's certainly a talented athlete. His training regimen is fairly haphazard, though, given his goals. The story ends before it's clear whether Carter will achieve his objective. I looked up his racing history online for the five years since this book was published and it's safe to say his interest in competing only lasted through a handful of meets after the publication date. This is a quick and moderately interesting read for any swimmers out there, but otherwise I can't say that I would recommend it.

[Sue K · Rating 3 out of 5]

My dad summed this one up pretty accurately: "The author doesn't sound like a real nice guy, but it's a pretty good read." The author really does come across as a pretty self-centered jerk, but it was worth it just to hear the language of my childhood spent at swim meets. Short course, long course, dry land workouts, intervals, streamline... It's a light read, and a fun one if you can ignore the fact that this married guy is making crude passes at his friends' wives and calling it humor, and portraying his kids, for the most part, as if they are screaming brats. The book reads like a long article from GQ or Esquire (the author is a contributing writer to Esquire). It rambles a little bit too - I lost count of how many times he started training for the Olympics and then stopped.

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about Carter making a quest for the Olympic trials while in his forties. Carter is not likable at all, and at times, I hoped he'd drown or dive into the shallow end and hit his head. He is rude and self-centered. He reminds me of someone who tries too hard to be funny. He doesn't have the sincere self deprecation to pull off most of his disparaging comments. I did like the straight swimming and related facts and I kept reading. This could have been a good story about a man making a quest for the Olympic trials while in his forties, but unfortunately Carter chose to write about himself.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was funny and interesting, but I think you'd have to be interested in reading about some middle-aged guy writing about his schemes and plans, and in this instance, how he came to be training to qualify for swimming in the Olympics, at the age of 40+. I decided to read this book b/c a read an interesting review of another book he wrote, about recreating a viking voyage and thought, hey, this guy is kind of interesting. At times Carter is funny, at times pompous and spoiled, but I kept reading so I must have been somewhat interested. It's short too, so no big tax on my time. I will definitely read his book that initially caught my attention.

[Iowa City Public Library]

If you were caught up watching the triumphs in the Olympic pool by 15 to 41 year-olds, you’ll appreciate W. Hodding Carter’s chronicle of ‘the probably insane idea that I could swim my way through a midlife crisis– and qualify for the Olympics." In his forties, he decided to pick up the habit again and attempt to make the 2008 Olympic Team as a freestyle sprinter. Like Dara Torres, Carter realized that it is not inevitable that we lose our strength and ability as we age. However, Carter’s path is much bumpier than Torres’. While Carter was an NCAA All-American swimmer in college, his earlier attempt to make the Olympic Team failed and he needed to swim faster than he did twenty years earlier. At the same time, he is experiencing marital and financial woes. The end result of his quest is immaterial for readers (and unknown within the pages of the book). It is the journey with its combination of humour, cockiness, humility and enthusiasm that keeps you engaged and just may inspire you to try to make the 2012 Olympics! --Andrea

From ICPL Staff Picks Blog

[Wendy Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is selfish, arrogant, and delusional. And I am quite stupid for reading the entire book when it was obvious at page 30 it wasn't getting any better. Although I a swimming nerd myself and am all for "swimming your way through a mid-life crisis," I am not in favor of doing so at the expense of your family. His family is struggling financially and his marriage was admittedly shaky, yet he is traveling all over the country supposedly training to qualify for the Olympic Trials. However, it is ridiculous to think that swimming between the British Virgin Islands and drinking beer all day on each island is in any way, shape, or form training for elite-level swimming. I could go on and on - the money he must have spent to get to some of the meets when they couldn't afford their house payment, etc. etc. He needs to be a contented Masters swimmer like the rest of the rational middle-aged has-been swimmers in America. And, more importantly, he needs to get a real job and take care of his family.

[CJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hoped this book would be inspiring. A middle aged guy looking to make the Olympic swimming team and do what he hadn't done when he was younger. The problem is, I didn't like Hodding Carter. It annoyed me that he pursued swimming to the detriment of everything else in his life - including his wife, his children, and his "job" as a freelance writer.

He got 2 stars because he really does write well. I kept wondering, "Why does he relentlessly reach for the swimming dreams of his youth instead of playing to his present day talents? Why throw away the good things you have now to look backward?"

His constant need to point out and justify his Peter Pan behavior isn't charming and really irritated the hell out of me. On the other hand, a middle aged male friend of mine who plays ultimate frisbee with 20-year-olds found the book everything I hoped it would be - maybe it's just a question of gender.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to dig into this book...being a former Masters Swimmer I thought it was a great adventure to chronicle in a book. And a 40+ man going for the Olympics...even better!

But I was disappointed quite early on by Hodding's effort. It was hard to root for an "underdog" who thought so highly of himself. And his name dropping seems gratuitous to the extreme...a reader has no idea who these people are and putting their full names in the book with a laundry list of what they've accomplished seems like a way to boost their ego.

I ended up laughing at Hodding Carter...but for all the wrong reasons. At least I was laughing and he does have a light attitude throughout the book. And I have to admit, I cheered a little when he got his. While the book left some to be desired, it's an OK summer read.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly entertaining account of author's quest to qualify for olympic trials in swimming (2008) in his mid-40's. Somewhat jarring that the book ends before it's clear whether he's going to achieve the goal or not, but even though he hasn't hit the goal time yet he had improved a great deal, surpassed his times from when he was on the team at Kenyon College 20+ years earlier, and become the top-ranked guy in his age group in the country.

He's oddly disdainful of masters competition, even at the outset when he is far from the best in his region for his age, but I guess having loftier goals was motivating for him. Some interesting stuff about training and about aging and performance, e.g., as he decides to emphasize sprints rather than long freestyle races as in his youth.

[Bill Glose · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1984, W. Hodding Carter was an NCAA All-American swimmer at Ohio’s Kenyon College. In this memoir, the 45-year-old Carter attemps to achieve what his younger self was unable to do: qualify for the Olympic Swimming Trials. With wit and candor, Carter describes juggling responsibilities as a father and YMCA instructor with an arduous training regimen, with the accompanying aches and pains, accomplishments and setbacks portrayed in delicious detail. The book was released a month before the trials in July, so it doesn’t state whether or not Carter accomplished his goal. However things turn out, Off the Deep End is one of those feel-good stories that make you believe anything is possible if you try hard enough.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed throughout this entire book. Carter bravely and honestly recounts his humbling experiences training for the Olympics at age 45. This is a great book about failure and dreaming big. I think this book will stick with me for awhile.

on a side note, he's from Greenville, MS in the delta where we lived for 5 years (one town over). We saw him speak at the YMCA in 2005 when he was beginning to train for the Olympics. (I'm pretty sure I remember him mentioning it at the time, but I think he made it sound like a joke).

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ad or a review brought this book to my attention and since I've been swimming for exercise for about 13 years because of my sons' involvement with swimming, I thought this would be a good read. And it was even though I was astonished at how arrogant this man is! He was so clueless about what it took to be a successful swimmer in so many ways even though he competed during his college years. But I was satisfied with how his tale concluded and I would definitely suggest it to anyone who has ever done laps in a Y pool for exercise or tried competing at the Masters level.

[Christina Dudley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5 stars. A fast, largely enjoyable read about a middle-aged fellow who (off and on) thinks he wants to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Trials in swimming. Qualifying for the Trials isn't the same thing as being selected for the team, of course, so I'm not sure if he reached his goal, but the lead-up is amusing. I learned about Masters swimming and some open water swims and some technique tips. Don't know if my 14YO son will enjoy the book (since he's not middle-aged), but I'll suggest it to him.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this autobiographical story to be so inspirational. At 42 Carter attempts to qualify for the Olympic trials for swimming. I don't swim but reading this made me want to learn. He made me laugh out loud! I found myself constantly reading bits and pieces to Chris because parts of his book were just too good not to share. Very well written. He can write about anything and I would read it because he makes everything so entertaining. Amazing!

[Msbmom · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author decides in mid-life to revisit his college swimming career and try to qualify for the Olympics. His writing is very funny, but this was not the inspirational read I expected. A short read but one that rambles a bit. I am not a swimmer and lost track of how many times he participated in trials.

[Turi Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

W. Hodding Carter decides, in mid-life, to revisit his college swimming career and try to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. This is the story of his training, adventures, successes and failures. Funny and inspiring in a misguided, quixotic way...

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining and enjoyable read that has inspired me to improve my own swimming and reinforced the idea that nothing is impossible if you work hard for it. The book caused me to both laugh and think.

[beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We happen to know the author and his kids go to school with ours and he coached one of our sons on swim team. With that said, it was a fun read - he's quite self-depracating. It's also inspiring for a wanna be swimmer/athlete of any sort.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not very good. The author is obsessed with footnotes - it felt like one on each page almost. Some of the footnotes were half a page long and didn't really add to the story. The story has no real ending either.

There are some good parts. I'm glad it was a short book.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps this book has most appeal for swimmers, such as myself. At age 43, Hodding decides that he's going to qualify for the Olympics. His training is sometimes haphazard, but his heart is always in the right place. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read about a guy trying to maintain passion and discipline to attain a larger goal in the midst of some chaos. The coolest part was 'swim-trekking' in the British Virgin Islands.

[Wils Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his mid forties the author decides to experience his mid-life crisis by re-entering the world of swimming and training for the Olympics. A very funny story of things he learns along the way.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I knew the author and he lives in Maine. I was interested in his life. Can't say I found the book overly inspiring. Wouldn't have read it otherwise.

[SJF · Rating 5 out of 5]

titter

[Eileenzombro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a swimmer book. Very different from Dara Torres. Fun, but not
Entirely about swimming more about midlife crisis.

[Jeremy Peppas]

Quick, breezy read.
I wish I knew how it came out, the Olympics Trial quest, teh googles have failed me when I looked

[Heidi Hester Cuticchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Absolutely loved the brutal honesty!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, fun writing and a great tale.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't quite the triumph-over-adversity tale I was hoping for. In fact, it was very anticlimactic.

[Unwisely · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you think I grabbed this because it was shelved near Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer, congratulations, you have figured out how the library sucks me in.

It was a quick read, and not terrible, but overall I was kind of annoyed at this guy. He is clearly in the throes of a mid-life crisis, fine. I also like to think I'm not too old to achieve things. The part that irritated me was when he would do really stupid things, like get professional coaching, and then ignore the things the coach told him. Or stay up all night before a big race; that one in particular annoyed me. What are you doing, man??