The Joy of Swimming: A Celebration of Our Love for Getting in the Water

by Lisa Congdon, Lynn Cox (Foreword)

The acclaimed artist and author invites readers to dip into the many joys of swimming in this beautifully illustrate and “loving homage to aquatic bliss” (Brain Pickings).

Best known as an artist, illustrator, and author, Lisa Congdon is also a record-breaking long-distance swimmer. Now she shares her personal passion for swimming in this beautiful and thoughtful celebration of getting in the water.

Hand-lettered inspirational quotes and watercolor portraits are paired with real people's personal stories. Illustrated collections of vintage objects—such as colorful swim caps, traditional pool signs, and bathing suits through the ages—evoke the beauty and inspiration of the subject.

An emphasis on swimming as a way of life—from taking a leap to going with the flow—makes this delightful volume a must-have for serious swimmers, vacation paddlers, and anyone pondering their next high dive.

Genres: Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Art, Memoir, Sports, Adult, Graphic Novels Comics

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2016

About the author

Fine artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon is best known for her colorful abstract paintings, intricate line drawings, pattern design & hand lettering. She works for clients around the world including the MoMA, Harvard University, Martha Stewart Living, Chronicle Books, The Land of Nod, Simon & Schuster, and Cloud9 Fabrics, among many others. She exhibits her work around the country, including in shows at the Contemporary Jewish Museum and Bedford Gallery. A selection of her abstract works are currently available through New York’s Uprise Gallery. Lisa writes a popular daily blog about her work, life and inspiration called Today is Going to be Awesome. She is the author of five books, including the starving-artist-myth-smashing Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist, and illustrated books Fortune Favors the Brave, Whatever You Are, Be a Good One, Twenty Ways to Draw a Tulip and A Collection a Day. She was named one of 40 Women Over 40 to Watch in 2015. She lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Negin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve loved swimming all my life. Any time I see water, whether in a pool or an ocean, I want to jump right in. Water is where I’m happiest. Here’s one of my favorite pools that we recently visited when we were in Spain. It was on the top floor of our hotel with the most incredible view all around and that right there is the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain.



The art in this book is lovely with pretty watercolor illustrations. Reading about public pools in different parts of the world was fascinating.

In Iceland, you must remove your shoes as soon as you enter the complex. Showers and soap are mandatory before putting your swimsuit on. Few people swim laps. Pools are more for hanging out, for dates, and even for business meetings.



Swimming in Paris sounds like quite an experience. Pool hours are limited, and lanes are very crowded. One swimmer said that she once had to share a lane with 19 other people!



In Japan, everyone has to wear a swimming cap, even those who are bald! All tattoos must be covered and jewelry is forbidden.



Even though I am blessed to live right by a gorgeous ocean, and even though we have a pool, in the past several years I’ve gotten so caught up with life and have found a million reasons to not go swimming. I got this book to inspire me to start swimming again and to do so more regularly. It’s working! I’m now swimming far more often and loving it. I must have been crazy to not go for so long.

[Dani Pergola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a cute little book about competitive swimming! Most of the text is in the format of one-page profiles on individual swimmers, ranging from ages 9-90 but mostly focusing on post-retirement age. I was really impressed by the inclusion of so many disabled swimmers, but I wish there was a little more diversity, as most of them were white. There are also really neat watercolors throughout the book, and some cool vintage photos.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book combines some of my favorite things to read about: short vignette style stories that are biographical in nature, swimming (i have a great love for water), and art. The watercolors in this book range from portraits to inspirational quotes and swim gear. I also liked the pictures included of swim awards, tickets, and vintage swim books. This is a quick read, but you can spend extra time on it if you really stare at the pictures for awhile. I really loved the diversity of the swimmers included from world-record breakers to paralympic swimmers, children to seniors, and everyone in-between. I am 37 years old and found some new role models in the pages of this book. Nicely done. I read this as an e-book, but wouldn't mind a copy of this book as a coffee-table book.

[Carie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could wrap my arms around this book, I love it so much. First of all, it's a beautiful piece of art, incorporating watercolor sketches and infographics throughout. But the personal narratives of famous and not-so-famous swimmers just speaks to my soul. This book puts into words why and how I love swimming myself. LOVE!!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about why all sorts of people swim is fun and inspiring. I really enjoyed this book because of its small format, colorful inspirations and pages of fun facts about swimming around the world. I'm a swimmer who is currently not able to swim because of recent surgery but reading this makes me want to be in the pool!

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Lisa Congdon's art, and I love to swim. It was inspirational to read the short bios of swimmers from every walk of life. I can't wait to get back in the pool again on a regular basis. Maybe I need to start training for another open water swim...

[Casey Cogburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Celebration of Our Love of Swimming” this is the perfect book for anyone you know who truly loves the water (or needs a little more inspiration to jump in..literally!). This was that for me. Joyous artwork, vignettes from all ages of swimmers (mostly recreational) from 92 yrs to 13 yrs, special needs to recoverers from addiction…such a reading treat. I took it somewhat slow wanting to savor each of my swims this week…Roxanne Winston (27yr old) not only loved the life saving skills she gained but also was quoted;

“my years of swimming fostered a love for the smell of chlorine. I love swimming back and forth, lap after lap, losing myself in the count, singing songs to my self, meditating on the feel of the water as it flows over my body.”
Yes. Yes. A thousand times Yes.
👋🏼👋🏼gotta go swim.

[Chrissann Nickel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so charming and delightful! I’d of course expect nothing less from the endlessly talented Lisa Congdon.

The random compilations of swim facts were so fun and interesting. The art is gorgeous - I wish I could have some of them as wall art! And the profiles of the swimmers were inspiring.

As a lifelong swimmer who has recently found her way back into the water, swimming is truly a joy and I love how this book captures its magic perfectly.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are so good -- 5 stars for sure! (Alas, the binding doesn't allow me to open this book up and lay it flat and admire everything about the colors, the lines, the hand-drawn font, the perfect white space around it all.) But the text doesn't match the fun, and even though I love swimming and pools, I'm not drawn in.

[Norkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun facts about all thing swim - pools and etiquette in different countries, quotes, gear thru the years, and the most content dedicated to swimmers - some famous, others not so. All with a good story.

[Sarah Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book for those of us who are part-mermaid.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eclectic and enjoyable graphic book about swimmers (including the author), historical swimmers, swimming equipment.

[Alena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short texts about swimmers of all different backgrounds and ages mixed with gorgeous art and illustrations.

[Radhika Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A colorful account of swimming through the ages, with some facts and figures in the mix of things. Truly a celebration of the sport, a book no swimmer would be able to put down for sure.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about others swimming journeys and the illustrations.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book, read in one sitting but heartwarming and one to revisit for the joy of it’s images and words.

[Anchan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute ode to swimming, a reminder to do it no matter the age.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy to learn swimming brings joy to people of all walks of life, the whole world over

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it. This was a complete surprise five for me! I had checked it out of the library for my husband, who loves water and swimming, but as I was paging through it, I was charmed by the illustrations and photographs so decided to read it myself. I loved it! The colors, the mini-bios, the quotations, the illustrations, the photographs... Fascinating little tidbits of swimming- and water-related trivia as well, e.g., the Icelandic word for Saturday means "pool day!" My one quibble is that Congdon's capitals Rs look like As some of the time which slowed me down briefly here and there -- quite a minor quibble obviously. Excellent book! Even the shape of it (size and rounded corners) and the feel of the cover and paper added to my positive experience of this delightful book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and I am not a swimmer! I found it in a gift shop in Berkley one afternoon and read straight through. Swimming is such an inspiring sport because it is great for all ages. It was incredible to hear from the seniors still hitting the pool or ocean every week.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel sharing short biographies of a variety of swimmers, swimming trivia and inspirational quotes.

Due to the way the book was bound, many two-page spreads of quotes were difficult to read.

[Asya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and graphics-filled book of odds and ends about swimming -- the people who do it, the suits they've worn, pools the world over, and a personal essay as preface. Charming and short and light with poignant moments.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

that was a fun quick read made even MORE enjoyable because I know a couple of the people featured!
Inspiring. A welcome reminder of how great it is to swim. Now I'm ready to go to practice this afternoon.

[Katie]

This book is darling and could easily have been finished in a single sitting. Instead, I dragged it out -- dipping my toe in it (so to speak) a little bit each day. I am delighted by Lisa's art, the collections she photographed, and the swimmer profiles.

[julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Congdon's best book yet! Her illustrative style, collections, and joy of swimming shine thru! Exuberant & informative. A must-read for anyone that loves the water!

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun and cute. Educational. What surprised me the most was the diversity!

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet little book. Lovely illustrations and some very interesting swimmers. I read this stretched out on the sofa with a huge mug of tea after a long swim, so perfect really.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but super sweet! Creatively inspiring

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love swimming and the fun facts offered in this book. The art work is wonderful.

[Andee Marley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm buying a swim membership and I thought this graphic novel would jazz me up. um,no