It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground

by David Litt

A former Obama speechwriter moves to the Jersey Shore and learns to surf with the help of his brother-in-law: a tattooed, truck-driving Joe Rogan superfan.

David, the Yale-educated writer with a fear of sharks, and Matt, the daredevil electrician with a shed full of surfboards, had never been close. But as America’s crises piled up and David spiraled into existential dread, he noticed that his brother-in-law was thriving. He began to suspect Matt’s favorite hobby had something to do with it.

David started taking surf lessons. For months, he wiped out on waves the height of daffodils. Yet, after realizing that surfing could change him both in and out of the water, he set an audacious goal: riding a big wave in Hawaii. He searched for an expert he could trust to guide and protect him—and when he couldn’t find one, he asked Matt. Together, they set out on a journey that spanned coasts, and even continents, before taking them to Oahu’s famously dangerous North Shore.

It’s Only Drowning is a laugh-out-loud love letter to surfing—and so much more. It’s an ode to embarking on adventures at any age. It’s a blueprint for becoming braver at a time when it takes courage just to read the news. Most of all, it’s the story of an unlikely friendship, one that crosses the fault lines of education, ideology, and culture tearing so many of us apart.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Sports, Biography, Biography Memoir, Audiobook, Politics

304 pages, Hardcover

Published June 24, 2025

About the author

David Litt entered the White House as a speechwriter in 2011, and left in 2016 as a senior presidential speechwriter and special assistant to the president. In addition to writing remarks for President Barack Obama on a wide range of domestic policy issues, David served as the lead joke writer for several White House Correspondents’ Dinner monologues. Since leaving government, David has written speeches, op-eds, and jokes for Fortune 100 CEOs, professional athletes, leading philanthropists, and prominent political figures.

His New York Times bestselling memoir, Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years, was published in 2017. His second book will be released on June 16, 2020. He is currently developing a sitcom for ABC based on his life in DC.

Reviews

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground on audiobook and it's hilarious, insightful, and inspirational. It is narrated superbly by the author David Litt. I love it when authors narrate their own work.

Litt was a White House speechwriter. His career at the White House started when he was 24 years old and he ultimately was a speechwriter for President Obama. I want to read Litt's other books: Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years, David Litt: From Comedy to the White House, and Democracy in One Book or Less: How It Works, Why It Doesn’t, and Why Fixing It Is Easier Than You Think.

It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground is about Litt deciding he would learn to surf at age 35. Most people learn to surf as youngsters, so he fell into the VAL group (Vulnerable Adult Learner). VALs are not typically treated well by experienced surfers.

Litt decided to surf with his brother-in-law, an experienced surfer with very different political views. They surf close to home in New Jersey. Then they decide to travel together to Europe and Hawaii to surf. Travel always brings out the best and the worst in people.

Looking forward to reading additional books by David Litt!

[Gregory L. Chesterton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started the book hopeful that the author David Litt would have some revelations — about the source of his liberal condescension, and how he recalibrated himself while spending time with his free-spirited Rogan-loving surfer brother-in-law Matt.
Instead, his condescension seems only to deepen until you begin to hope that he gets knocked in the teeth by his own surfboard.
Litt scrutinizes Matt as he would a strange specimen at the zoo. Meanwhile, Matt seems to show no similar contempt.
While much of the left was forced to eat some humble pie for its misreading of so many issues during and after COVID, Litt seems to have missed that course. He makes it clear that he experiences most of life’s little moments stuck in his bubble.
This book truly is insightful — but for the exact opposite reason I suspect the author intended.

[Johnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got notified from Goodreads that I won this book, I asked myself why I had even entered the giveaway. I’m in Oklahoma and know absolutely nothing about surfing. But put a book in my hands and I’m compelled to read it. I’m really glad I read this one. It’s about surfing and so much more. It’s deep and fun at the same time. It drew me in but didn’t drown me. It was the perfect break from murder mysteries.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waffle between a 3 and a 3.5. I liked the idea of this book and it had a handful of moments that resonated with me but a lot of the time certain connections felt tenuous and metaphors felt really forced or not well linked. There also just felt like some crucial insights missing—especially the notion that his wife who’s very liberal has this conservative brother—what’s the story there what was her relationship to him. I feel like I was told a lot about the brother and there was a lot of inferring or putting attitudes on the brother that may have not existed while not interrogating other more interesting ideas like why he felt so rattled being out of the country that might have had interesting answers. Also I’m interested in surfing but a lot of the time the descriptions of the waves felt very hard to picture. That’s a really lofty task though to differentiate what could be a repetitive image while also not getting so technically in the weeds. It had its moments of clarity and at the end, Litt came to some beautiful conclusions that will stick with me like milestones aren’t who you are but where you were in a certain moment. That’s lovely.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.5 Stars] It’s Only Drowning by David Litt is a candid and heartfelt memoir that blends personal transformation with the pursuit of joy in the most unlikely of places: the ocean. At 35, Litt, a former Obama speechwriter, finds himself struggling with a sense of personal and societal malaise in the wake of the COVID pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. During this period, Litt stumbles upon surfing, a pastime (and lifestyle) he knows little about but which his brother-in-law, Matt, an electrician with a love for heavy metal and Joe Rogan, has embraced.

The story follows Litt’s journey of learning to surf on the Jersey shore, a pursuit that slowly becomes a form of refuge and escape from the overwhelming state of the world. Through his surf sessions with Matt, Litt delves into his own personal growth, discovering how this challenging sport serves as a metaphor for life itself, full of falls, facing fears, perseverance, and moments of unexpected clarity. The relationship between Litt and Matt forms the emotional core of the memoir, with the contrast between their personalities, Litt’s intellectual, reflective nature versus Matt’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach to life, adding both humor and depth to the narrative.

As someone who learned to surf at the age of six, the lessons and experiences shared by the author resonated with me. I could completely empathize with getting pummeled by a huge set, riding the best wave of your life, and feeling all the emotions in between. The struggle of giving yourself up to the ocean, letting go of the need for control, is a powerful but important life lesson. Living in Maine, it’s been a while since I’ve surfed, but this book has inspired me to get back out there, and to bring my daughter along for the ride. She's five now, and I think it’s the perfect time to expose her to the invaluable lessons the ocean has to offer for those brave enough to answer the call.

David, I hope you keep surfing. Your journey is one that many will relate to, and for anyone considering picking up this book, I highly recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were perhaps a few too many analogies, but even so, it was an enjoyable and heartfelt read. Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books, and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book!

[Joanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was thisclose to being a DNF for me, but I did finish it and rarely do I so actively dislike a book this much. I mean I love reading, but this one got me fired up in a bad way. The author of this book, David Litt, used to write speeches for Obama, so I thought ok, could be good. I always enjoyed Obama’s wit.

But I must have I liked him when he wasn’t delivering Litt’s words.

Because wow, this guy is insufferable. He spends the whole book ruminating and overthinking why his brother-in-law Matt—who’s a good surfer and takes Dave on multiple surfing trips with him when he says he wants to learn, teaching him and dragging this rookie around—might not like him and that it must be politically motivated. Why? Because the guy prefers frozen pizza over whatever locally foraged vegan kale dish the author’s chooses to eat that night. And because he’d rather listen to Joe Rogan podcast than Litt drone on after an exhausting day of surfing. My God, do you really think he’d bring you to a frickin’ Hawaiian surfing trip with you if he couldn’t tolerate you? (I suggest that he look in the mirror for who has the toleration problem.)

This author literally described his worldview as “objectively correct,” and is just baffled that someone who listens to Joe Rogan and lives in a red New Jersey town could have any redeeming qualities. Apparently, unless someone eats, thinks, and votes exactly like him, the friendship is suspect. He simply cannot get over himself. He criticizes his wife’s bro page after page after page.

And honestly? After reading this, I’d be surprised if Matt ever speaks to him again. Maybe not the rest of the family either. I’d be mad. And it’s gotta be exhausting having Mr. Morally Superior as your permanent plus-one at Thanksgiving.

Did I like the book? Not even a little. Not even after Litt tries to tie a big fancy bow on their relationship. My eyes hurt from all the rolling. But as far as Matt, the brother-in-law: besides his overdue canonization, I’d split a frozen pizza with him any day.

Final verdict: skip it. 👎

[Dmorri · Rating 2 out of 5]

ick, I found Mr.Litt to be a pretentious, self absorbed snob.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this memoir about both surfing and also, implausibly, bridging cultural gaps in the fraught post-covid sociopolitical landscape. It’s funny. It’s earnest. That said I get why conservatives find us exhausting, constantly worried, constantly analyzing.

It’s also a dudely book. Men, it should be noted, are weird at friends - like, I cannot tell you how much I would be incapable of avoiding expressing myself the way these men do.

But - Litt is just the right amount of self-deprecating and self-aware, avoiding the obvious pitfalls of the “man in middle age does something lots of people do and acts like he discovered it in his book” genre - reeling me back in with a joke, a revelation, or a deep thought from left field. A swell read 🏄‍♂️

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads of the year.

[Mccall Hardison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this nonfiction story about a man who learns to surf, and how his new hobby gave him more opportunities to connect with his brother-in-law who, on the surface (land?!), he had nothing in common with.

The first chapter of this book won me over with the author’s humor. I was immediately drawn in to the self-deprecating, dark humor I deeply love. Litt was a speech writer for Obama and he writes in an approachable, clear way.

If you read the synopsis this might seem like a political book, but I would say the political differences were far less featured than the surfing. This is definitely a book about surfing!

There were times in this book I felt frustrated at the lack of dialogue/confrontation between the two main characters, but I just reminded myself they are both middle-aged dudes choosing to surf in 40 degree water, and I could move on.

Lastly, while this book doesn’t give a Pollyanna ending with a depiction of two arms reaching across the aisle to shake hands, I really enjoyed how the author concluded the book and spoke, in an authentic way, about being in relationships with people you disagree with.

[Jessie Salas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished the memoir It’s Only Drowning by David Litt about a super anxious, worry-prone millennial (and former Obama speechwriter) who decides to take up surfing during Covid. He’s basically terrified of everything - life, death, the ocean…and somehow ends up bonding with his chill, conservative, thrill-seeking brother-in-law who’s already an experienced surfer. They surf all over together, from their home base in New Jersey to California, Texas, Europe and capping with the North Shore of Hawaii.

I loved the first half of this book - it was hilarious reading Litt’s descriptions of himself as a surf novice. I really appreciated the common ground he and his brother-in-law found despite being so different. The second half dragged a bit for me, and I wish Litt hadn’t leaned so hard into making his brother-in-law seem so simple minded and clueless (who cares if he prefers chicken nuggets and frozen pizza to baby Octopus?). Still, a funny and honest take on facing fear, finding connection, and learning what it means to wipe out and get back up again…glad to have wrapped this one up

[Gillian Sutliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean I’ve been obsessive with surfing stuff so this checks out. Easy to breeze through

Not even as political as I suspected / thought. Also like his relationship with his brother in law, which the book was kinda about, felt sort of simple? Like I’m not sure if I would like how I was portrayed because it felt a little flat…

Like his vibe. There were a couple jokes/ harsh things I was surprised by

Nonfiction 8/6

[Sara Planz · Rating 4 out of 5]

David and his brother in law Matt could not be more different. David is a writer with a fear of sharks and Matt is an electrician who loves surfing. As the pandemic and other crises start to affect the world, David sees Matt as someone who is healthily dealing with it all. And that way seems to be by surfing. David decides to conquer his fears and begins to take surf lessons, learning bit by bit how to stay upright on a variety of waves. His goals? Surf the big waves of Hawaii and maybe begin to understand and bond with Matt as they conquer the ocean together.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did! While I have never surfed, or even tried (way too uncoordinated and also 50 years old!), I understand the sense of adventure this book conveys. My passion is hiking, the outdoors, and National Parks. Those are the places that I challenge myself in, but also find my idea of peace and understanding. The failures, the challenging climbs, the success, and the views from the top are reflective of life for all of us, and David Litt brilliantly uses his surfing education to face his fears and find hope. This book was funny, heartwarming, and thoughtful, an excellent guide to finding a spark you didn't even know you had.

[Joycec · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. Very insightful and amusing. David Litt is a terrific writer and has a nice way of revealing thoughts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disliked the content. I was inclined to like this book from the author's writing on substack and a general affinity for his liberal political/ professional background but holy hell, he is so arrogant and judgmental. I am only impressed that he dared put his true thoughts in writing while intending to remain part of his wife's family. I cringed when he gloats about having his biggest surfing accomplishment when his BIL was not there. We get very little insight into the BIL as the author focuses almost entirely on what he himself thinks the BIL means by a look or a movement. I wonder if the author relates to all people this way, from within his own bubble.

[Sami Azhari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a blast reading this book! As someone who thrives on adrenaline, I find that pretty unique among white-collar workers. I've surfed in places like Los Angeles, Orange County, Hawaii, and Costa Rica, so when I stumbled upon a book about an Ivy League grad who worked at the White House and picked up surfing later in life, I was super eager to dive in!

I totally connected with David, and I bet a lot of others do too, especially when he talks about feeling stuck, which pushed him to step into a surf shop for the first time. David really nailed it in describing his journey of committing to something that scared him, and his determination to stick with it. He didn’t just grab a board and hit the waves; he sought out coaches whenever he could, woke up early, and immersed himself in surf culture literature (seriously, how did he not mention Point Break at all?!). He got local guides to help him understand the breaks, took risks with massive swells, and transformed from a total novice to an Ex-President. (If you get that reference, you’re awesome!)

This book didn’t focus too much on his relationship with his brother-in-law, which is one reason I liked it so much. A significant part of the book is all about surfing, surf slang, and vivid descriptions of weather and surf conditions. He also captured perfectly what it’s like to take surf lessons for the first time, the shame of being that guy on the beach trying to pop up on his board, and the experience of getting in the water with seasoned surfers who clearly wish you weren’t there.

In my view, the only downside was how David's writing came off. I really liked his wit and charm; he was engaging, funny, and often self-deprecating. However, he seemed to try to balance his self-deprecation with a contrasting tone that made him seem like a prototypical condescending elitist ivy league prick. I mention this as someone who shares the same political views he talks about in the book, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that he looked down on those with different opinions, including his brother-in-law, as if they were beneath him. His mentions of Robert Frost, Virginia Woolf, quick one-liners, and clever metaphors don’t help his haughty image.

That said, I genuinely enjoyed this book. Whether you can shred, don't know how to surf, or just want to feel like you're on a summer getaway, this is a fantastic read.

[Katherine McGlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reading copy of this book (an ARC) and had to wait a few weeks to start it. Once I did, though, I was pulled in right away. A reader doesn't have to love -- or even care about -- surfing in order to enjoy the book. Litt is a former White House speechwriter (he wrote the book, Thanks, Obama) who finds himself down and out during COVID. Since he lives close to the beach in New Jersey, he decides to take up surfing, really just to try something new. He sucks at first, but gets better, and along the way gets closer to his libertarian, tough-guy brother-in-law, Matt. Litt and Matt travel to California, a surf tank in Waco, TX, Spain, and eventually to Hawaii to surf together, not exactly growing closer politically or culturally, but definitely becoming more comfortable with each other. That's the part of the story I loved most: the ordinariness of the quest to do something new, take on something hard, convince yourself your best discoveries aren't behind you. And Litt is so sharp and funny. I cracked up a bunch reading this book. I found myself turning off the TV a little earlier every night just so I could read for a little while longer. Totally enjoyable. Worth everyone's time.

[Aaron Zeng · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going to give this book a 1 star review, but something about the last 5 or so pages of this book was its saving grace.

For starters, Litt’s personality and self-righteous attitude is insufferable. Readers will be astonished to find that at age 35, Litt is just beginning to grasp the basic resilience and determination most children develop by 15. His constant judgments and ridiculous attempts at political pandering are nothing short of performative. At his core, Litt embodies the moral superiority and virtue-signaling that is so often praised in progressive politics.

And yet, Litt finally lands on something meaningful at the end. His openness to connecting with someone so politically opposite, while still respecting their right to believe differently, is admirable. For a moment, he delivers a reminder that empathy is not a partisan luxury, but apart of the human experience. It’s a few pages we can all stand to learn from.

[Shirley Freeman]

I can't believe I read, and loved, a book about surfing. I'm pretty sure I laughed out loud more than almost any other book I've ever read. David Litt was a speechwriter for President Obama. That's probably sufficient description to get an idea of the type of person he is and what his interests are - progressive politics, news and information, big city food and entertainment etc. David is married to Jacqui - a DC lawyer. Jacqui has a brother, Matt, who is the polar opposite of David in every way imaginable. He owns motorcycles, drives a pick-up truck, works in construction, doesn't vote or vax, and is practically a professional level surfer. Over the years of David's and Jacqui's relationship, David and Matt's relationship could be described as mostly non-existent. During covid, David fell apart. He knew he needed to try a new approach to life so he decided to learn to surf. Being the type A person he is, he didn't just want to learn, he wanted to be able to surf the North Shore in Hawaii - apparently among the most challenging surf waters in the world. While this memoir of a year or two in David's life is about learning to surf, it's also, and most interestingly, about two guys, who don't see eye-to-eye on anything, developing a true friendship. Great read and so relevant.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you wonder if you could ever bridge an awkward divide with that relative who is your polar opposite? This is a lovely story focused on David’s quest to manage his depression and anxiety that lead him to build an unlikely friendship with his brother in law, his political and personality polar opposite.

The author’s narration was well done and added a nice New Yorker touch to the story.

Also, everyone should learn about the flower of fear:

“fear, when harnessed correctly, was not just good but essential, a source of power and drive.”

If you’re at a cross-roads in your life and struggling, this book is a great read.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Gallery books for the ARC!

My heart really needed this book right now. Sharp, funny, thoughtful, and at its core incredibly kind It's Only Drowning is a book about surfing but it's also about finding yourself (and others) when you're lost in the bigness of the world. I was caught off guard by laughs and heartache. I can't recommend this book enough.

[aistė aidur · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever listened to a David Sedaris book, this is a not-too-far second.

[Brendan Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

My immediate thought after finishing It's Only Drowning was who is this for? David Litt is a novice surfer so I can't imagine it's incredibly insightful for longtime surfers. The relationship between Matt and David is incredibly surface level and ultimately unsatisfying. David tries to wrap it up with a nice bow at the end, but he never seemed to better understand Matt and it felt like he always expected to convert Matt to his way of thinking. A lot of the nuisance in the relationship is lost because we only get David's point of view and he outright refuses to have a meaningful conversation with Matt. At several points he decides not to explore any topics with Matt that aren't surface level and I think that is what really drove me nuts.

Speaking of Matt. I don't doubt that him and I would disagree on a fair amount of issues, both political and social, but throughout the entire book he comes across as a generally likable guy who would probably be fun to be around. I hope to god Matt doesn't read this book because if I was him I'd be so annoyed with how David viewed me.

It was hard for me to shake David's general snobbery. I probably agree with David on most political issues, but his snap judgments of people, his holier-than-thou musings and his self-centered nature make it incredibly frustrating to be in his head for 280+ pages. As a chronic over thinker, I can tell you with personal expertise that David needs to spend less time in his own damn head. I also don't want to cast judgment on his marriage but the few times his wife is mentioned in the book are when he's abandoning her to go on a surf trip and I just felt bad for her. He even mentions several times that she seems annoyed by his singular focus on surfing.

This isn't an interesting book if you're into surfing. It's central relationship fails to develop into anything interesting. David comes across like a snobby jerk. I just don't know who would really be interested in this book.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited when I saw David Litt had a new book out, I’ll read anything he writes. I laughed out loud multiple times, I appreciated learning about surfing culture, and I enjoyed the perspective of finding common ground and learning a new skill.

The missing star in my rating is because it seemed a bit too much of a rinse and repeat story: BIL and David travel to surf together, they have a lot of tension throughout the trip, they have different levels of surfing and fall into their roles easily and then they get back home only to do it all again in a month. And repeat.

That said, if he writes another book I’ll still be sure to read (and enjoy) it.

[Kristen Radden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun escape learning about the process of surfing and all things surf world, even deeper was a story of two opposing people learning to have common ground; which feels timely in this current climate. Some description around the technicality of surfing and positions felt a bit dry; all in all it was enjoyable and humorous. It makes me want to get back on the surfboard as I fell in love with it when we tried it in Hawaii. I really admired how the author decided he was going to pursue this hobby and stuck with it even when it was brutally difficult.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

David, a former Obama speechwriter (and author of 3 previous books) makes a sort of early midlife crisis decision to learn surfing; David eats eclectic cuisine and listens to NPR. His brother-in-law Matt, is a near expert, self-taught surfer who is to the point, an electrician who drives a truck, loves only chicken tenders and listens to Joe Rogan podcasts for his cultural entertainment. The book is about their journey and their search for different dimensions of common ground.

This book hit a number of sweet spots for me, none of them directly having to do with the surfing. David recalls his speech writing and political experiences (my speech writing experience was on the tech and corporate side, and I have worked as a NJ press/legislative aide), Matt lives in Brick, NJ (where I live) and David lives in Asbury Park (where I work) and learns to surf at what the A.P. locals call the 'dog beach' (the north end of Asbury Park, and its famous boardwalk.). It is a unique, and slightly surreal experience to see Asbury Park, Brick and the surrounding beach towns referenced in a book.

Their surfing experience takes them to the islands, to Spain/France and to the ultimate surfing destination at Oahu, in Hawaii. Litt keeps the book moving, and has a dry sense of humor and observation. At times, I felt he does occasionally over-analyze the situations and Matt, and this can be a bit grating on the reader. There is a cultural divide, and that impasse, might remain for awhile. But overall, Matt is treated with respect. (Score: 4.0-4.3/5.0 stars).
****

NOTE: The author, David Litt will give a reading of "It's Only Drowning" at the Asbury Book Cooperative, on Cookman Ave., in Asbury Park, NJ... on Saturday, July 26th, at 5pm.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author was a speechwriter for President Barack Obama. His brother-in-law's political views are diametrically opposed to Litt's. Litt is a white-collar businessman. His brother-in-law is a surfer. Litt decided to learn to surf and hoped sharing the sport might bring better understanding between the two.
Some funny moments. Some dangerous ones, too.

[Christian Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, as another 30-something trying a new hobby and existing in this current hellscape known as the USA.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this book. The ‘resolution’ was unexpected, but actually made an important point that has helped me reconsider some relationships in my life.

David Litt is a fantastic writer and he had several gold nugget lines that have lodged in my mind.

[Geoff Arens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved his first two books, but this was a bit disappointing. Felt like it could have been an article instead. Even still, it was really just about someone learning to surf which, as it turns out, is pretty boring subject matter. The relationship with his brother-in-law, while a bit more interesting, was somewhat of a let down because it didn’t seem to deepen at all or alter Litt’s worldview. I hate to say it, but the author really came off kind of pretentious in the way he examined and criticized Matt.