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The Art of Resilience
Bestselling author and award-winning adventurer Ross Edgley has been studying the art of resilience for years, applying all he has learned to become the first person in history to swim around Great Britain, breaking multiple world records. Now Ross focuses on mental strength, stoicism and the training needed to create an unbreakable body.
Ross Edgley famously ran a marathon pulling a 1.4-tonne car and climbed a rope the height of Everest (8,848m), after living with Yamabushi warrior monks in Japan and partaking in Shamanic pain rituals with fire ants in the Amazon jungle. On his epic 1,780-mile journey around Great Britain, which lasted 157 days, Ross swam through giant jellyfish, arctic storms, ‘haunted’ whirlpools and polluted shipping lanes, going so hard, and so fast, his tongue fell apart.
Ross’s previous book, The World’s Fittest Book, was a Sunday Times No.1 bestseller and explored the science of physical fitness. Now, in The Art of Resilience, Ross uses his swim experience and other amazing endurance feats, where he managed to overcome seemingly insurmountable pain, hardship and adversity, to study the performance of extreme athletes, military and fitness specialists and psychologists to uncover the secrets of mental fitness and explore the concept of resilience, persistence, valour and a disciplined mindset in overcoming adversity. This ground-breaking book represents a paradigm shift in what we thought the human body and mind were capable of and will give you a blueprint to become a tougher, more resilient and ultimately better human – whatever the challenge you face.
Ross Edgley famously ran a marathon pulling a 1.4-tonne car and climbed a rope the height of Everest (8,848m), after living with Yamabushi warrior monks in Japan and partaking in Shamanic pain rituals with fire ants in the Amazon jungle. On his epic 1,780-mile journey around Great Britain, which lasted 157 days, Ross swam through giant jellyfish, arctic storms, ‘haunted’ whirlpools and polluted shipping lanes, going so hard, and so fast, his tongue fell apart.
Ross’s previous book, The World’s Fittest Book, was a Sunday Times No.1 bestseller and explored the science of physical fitness. Now, in The Art of Resilience, Ross uses his swim experience and other amazing endurance feats, where he managed to overcome seemingly insurmountable pain, hardship and adversity, to study the performance of extreme athletes, military and fitness specialists and psychologists to uncover the secrets of mental fitness and explore the concept of resilience, persistence, valour and a disciplined mindset in overcoming adversity. This ground-breaking book represents a paradigm shift in what we thought the human body and mind were capable of and will give you a blueprint to become a tougher, more resilient and ultimately better human – whatever the challenge you face.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2020
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May 7, 2022
My lord, I had so much to say about this book. But alas, I am in the middle of training to swim the English Channel, and quite a bit of mental time has passed during a rough training week since I finished it. Let’s see if I can conjure anything up.
1. If you pick up this book in the hopes of finding “Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body,” I believe you will be disappointed. Thankfully, that was not what I was looking for.
2. I had very mixed feelings about the book. The accomplishment (swimming around Great Britain) is just… astounding… amazing… peerless… there are no words. And I loved reading about it. BUT, on the regrettable other hand, I had several conniptions over the lack of rigor in Edgley’s citations, his tendency to set you up with advice (Like “Build Resilience by ‘Getting Wintered’”) and then tell you a story and then just kind of trail off, and a general irritation with what I found to be a lack of humility.
3. Now, according to the back cover, Ross Edgley is, in fact, humble. And who am I to doubt the back cover? And, he wrote this book as he was sailing and swimming (without setting foot on land) for over 5 months, swimming 12 hours a day (although the exact amount of swimming he does each day is one of the things he is irritatingly fuzzy about - we tend to hear about the epic days). Anyway, I give him a ton of credit for making this book happen at all.
4. But I really wish that he had either left the science out of it, OR had been more rigorous in his presentation. Both of exactly what he had done himself (and I’m aware that may be the marathon swimmer in me talking) and in presenting the available science. Admittedly, this is an area where there sometimes isn’t much science available, but in that case you need to make that clear, not cite a single study as representative as if you are a first-year graduate student. Gah!
5. Interestingly, the thing that has stuck with me is my extreme annoyance over his pride in not having become ill at any time during his 157 days at sea. Because of, you know, strength training. I am happy to fully credit him with remaining injury free (if that is what you call suppurating skin ulcers) enough to do the swim he did - it was amazing. But Ross, do you think that, possibly, the EXCEEDINGLY LITTLE HUMAN CONTACT you had during the swim MIGHT have had something to do with not getting sick? You know that sickness comes from germs, right?
I do not think I would have been so annoyed by this if he had not mentioned it so often.
6. Likewise, let’s talk about strength training. As someone who thinks it likely that added sugar is a far greater public health threat than we are currently treating it as, I know that we all have the things we do that we think help us succeed. And we may think that others might be better off to adopt them as well. But I would never write a book about my endurance athletics endeavors that insinuated that the one way to achieve things along the same lines would be not to eat added sugar. There’s so much more to it than that, and every individual is different. Edgley loves the weight room, and seems convinced you can’t be healthy without it. Gosh, I hope that isn’t true.
7. Oh hey look, I wrote down some stuff as I was reading. Here are what hot takes I took:
I guess he is a sports scientist, but if so, this book exemplifies what annoys me about exercise science - lack of rigor in thought. He cites studies with wild abandon, and sometimes incorrectly. He also acts as if the journals they are published in are claiming that their conclusions are true, which is weird.
This is an amazing… astounding… unbelievable story of an athletic feat almost beyond comprehension (did he only ever sleep in 5 hour segments? I need More Details - my other huge problem with book), but if you are looking to read about what we currently understand in the field of human endurance, I would recommend Alex Hutchinson’s “Endure.”
It’s fine to be a sports scientist and to write a fuzzy mishmash philosophical account of an endurance feat - but don’t sprinkle in just enough science to make seem as if that is the place you are coming from.
He tells a story of being stung 22 times… in the face… by friggin’ Lions Mane jellyfish - And then he says “The key to be strategically strong and resilient is managing the various exercise stressors so that they don’t trigger signalers to tell the brain to stop or slow down.” You are talking about two different worlds there, buddy. His conclusion is that “this means being resilient is not about enduring the pain of a tentacle sting, it’s about being wise and experienced enough to know how to avoid it.” The book is full of mixed messages about how incredibly tough and stoic he is and vague references to being smart about it (at least in this case, he tells how he was - a makeshift cover for his face. (Also, it seems like the captain is the one with all the smarts and creativity. Which, fine - you’re swimming for 12 hours a day in some of the most challenging conditions man has faced - you don’t have to think too. But then don’t keep presenting this as “how you too can be unbreakable” and insinuate that it is personal characteristics. Apparently the answer is to hire Captain Matt and crew.
Random thought - It’s weird that mint is integral to his comfort in varying situations. It’s like his windex.
Annoyingly detailess in general, and specifically (for me) about the salt tongue cure - do you do it when swimming? Before? After? I should probably try it, as I start to train longer. Melt coconut oil on the tongue, chew mint leaves. Apparently Siggy is from the Isle of Wight - perhaps I should seek him out :)
8. In summary, I’m really glad that I read this fascinating, annoying, frustrating, one-of-a-kind book. But I’m also glad that I already have my own strategies for resilience (not that you can ever have too many).
Postscript: Reading the other reviews after I wrote this, I just got annoyed again. The book presents him as having swum for 12 hours a day every day for 157 days. And although he does seem to have done that most days, we do learn that there were storm days when he couldn’t swim. It’s the kind of casual inaccuracy that irritates me throughout the book. What he did was amazing enough - it doesn’t need to be exaggerated. (Like when he talks about swimming across Dover Harbor at 4.6 miles per hour for 30 minutes. That was obviously with a push from the current. (For reference, that’s holding :48 seconds per 100 meters. The current men’s world record is 46.91, and that’s with a dive and a turn.) He fails to mention the current assist. But I also just watched one of the videos he made during the swim (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1eU...) and I’m totally inspired. This dichotomy pretty much encapsulates my response to the book. Perhaps I am being pedantic. But the thing is, when operating at this level, details matter. To me at least.
1. If you pick up this book in the hopes of finding “Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body,” I believe you will be disappointed. Thankfully, that was not what I was looking for.
2. I had very mixed feelings about the book. The accomplishment (swimming around Great Britain) is just… astounding… amazing… peerless… there are no words. And I loved reading about it. BUT, on the regrettable other hand, I had several conniptions over the lack of rigor in Edgley’s citations, his tendency to set you up with advice (Like “Build Resilience by ‘Getting Wintered’”) and then tell you a story and then just kind of trail off, and a general irritation with what I found to be a lack of humility.
3. Now, according to the back cover, Ross Edgley is, in fact, humble. And who am I to doubt the back cover? And, he wrote this book as he was sailing and swimming (without setting foot on land) for over 5 months, swimming 12 hours a day (although the exact amount of swimming he does each day is one of the things he is irritatingly fuzzy about - we tend to hear about the epic days). Anyway, I give him a ton of credit for making this book happen at all.
4. But I really wish that he had either left the science out of it, OR had been more rigorous in his presentation. Both of exactly what he had done himself (and I’m aware that may be the marathon swimmer in me talking) and in presenting the available science. Admittedly, this is an area where there sometimes isn’t much science available, but in that case you need to make that clear, not cite a single study as representative as if you are a first-year graduate student. Gah!
5. Interestingly, the thing that has stuck with me is my extreme annoyance over his pride in not having become ill at any time during his 157 days at sea. Because of, you know, strength training. I am happy to fully credit him with remaining injury free (if that is what you call suppurating skin ulcers) enough to do the swim he did - it was amazing. But Ross, do you think that, possibly, the EXCEEDINGLY LITTLE HUMAN CONTACT you had during the swim MIGHT have had something to do with not getting sick? You know that sickness comes from germs, right?
I do not think I would have been so annoyed by this if he had not mentioned it so often.
6. Likewise, let’s talk about strength training. As someone who thinks it likely that added sugar is a far greater public health threat than we are currently treating it as, I know that we all have the things we do that we think help us succeed. And we may think that others might be better off to adopt them as well. But I would never write a book about my endurance athletics endeavors that insinuated that the one way to achieve things along the same lines would be not to eat added sugar. There’s so much more to it than that, and every individual is different. Edgley loves the weight room, and seems convinced you can’t be healthy without it. Gosh, I hope that isn’t true.
7. Oh hey look, I wrote down some stuff as I was reading. Here are what hot takes I took:
I guess he is a sports scientist, but if so, this book exemplifies what annoys me about exercise science - lack of rigor in thought. He cites studies with wild abandon, and sometimes incorrectly. He also acts as if the journals they are published in are claiming that their conclusions are true, which is weird.
This is an amazing… astounding… unbelievable story of an athletic feat almost beyond comprehension (did he only ever sleep in 5 hour segments? I need More Details - my other huge problem with book), but if you are looking to read about what we currently understand in the field of human endurance, I would recommend Alex Hutchinson’s “Endure.”
It’s fine to be a sports scientist and to write a fuzzy mishmash philosophical account of an endurance feat - but don’t sprinkle in just enough science to make seem as if that is the place you are coming from.
He tells a story of being stung 22 times… in the face… by friggin’ Lions Mane jellyfish - And then he says “The key to be strategically strong and resilient is managing the various exercise stressors so that they don’t trigger signalers to tell the brain to stop or slow down.” You are talking about two different worlds there, buddy. His conclusion is that “this means being resilient is not about enduring the pain of a tentacle sting, it’s about being wise and experienced enough to know how to avoid it.” The book is full of mixed messages about how incredibly tough and stoic he is and vague references to being smart about it (at least in this case, he tells how he was - a makeshift cover for his face. (Also, it seems like the captain is the one with all the smarts and creativity. Which, fine - you’re swimming for 12 hours a day in some of the most challenging conditions man has faced - you don’t have to think too. But then don’t keep presenting this as “how you too can be unbreakable” and insinuate that it is personal characteristics. Apparently the answer is to hire Captain Matt and crew.
Random thought - It’s weird that mint is integral to his comfort in varying situations. It’s like his windex.
Annoyingly detailess in general, and specifically (for me) about the salt tongue cure - do you do it when swimming? Before? After? I should probably try it, as I start to train longer. Melt coconut oil on the tongue, chew mint leaves. Apparently Siggy is from the Isle of Wight - perhaps I should seek him out :)
8. In summary, I’m really glad that I read this fascinating, annoying, frustrating, one-of-a-kind book. But I’m also glad that I already have my own strategies for resilience (not that you can ever have too many).
Postscript: Reading the other reviews after I wrote this, I just got annoyed again. The book presents him as having swum for 12 hours a day every day for 157 days. And although he does seem to have done that most days, we do learn that there were storm days when he couldn’t swim. It’s the kind of casual inaccuracy that irritates me throughout the book. What he did was amazing enough - it doesn’t need to be exaggerated. (Like when he talks about swimming across Dover Harbor at 4.6 miles per hour for 30 minutes. That was obviously with a push from the current. (For reference, that’s holding :48 seconds per 100 meters. The current men’s world record is 46.91, and that’s with a dive and a turn.) He fails to mention the current assist. But I also just watched one of the videos he made during the swim (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1eU...) and I’m totally inspired. This dichotomy pretty much encapsulates my response to the book. Perhaps I am being pedantic. But the thing is, when operating at this level, details matter. To me at least.
June 21, 2020
We all know I'm a huge fan of Ross Edgley for many reasons: how genuine he is when he laughs (and he laughs all the time), how much of a machine he is, how smart he is on the science behind all the adventures he has embarked on, why he does what he does and for still being a humble rhino neck aquaman kind of human.
Having said that... I've never enjoyed reading the prologue in a book, let alone reading the acknowledgments... but this time I did and I wish the book wasn't going to finish. I've never read 331 pages so quickly and believe me, I'm slow at reading. As slow as it can get.
I started reading this book laughing my ass of, but I knew I was going to finish it in tears. There's a specific point in the book (which was not mentioned in detail in the series) which changed Ross' entire mindset and swim, which also changed the way I've continued reading this book.
Ross, thank you for what you've done and thank you for taking the time to put this into words printed on paper. Humanity changed when writing and later printing was invented and my little world changed after reading this book.
📖
No, Ross isn't paying me to write these words 😂 so if you haven't already, go get this book and enjoy.
It doesn't matter if you're an endurance athlete, an elite swimmer, or a fat couch potato like me... this piece of art is going to change how you see certain things in life. The mind is the most powerful tool we have... I've learned that when I was stuck in bed for 2 months following my accident, so the more ways you can use it to become a better person, the better it is.
Once again, thank you Rhino Neck. A huge hug from hippo neck 😂.
🦏🦛
Having said that... I've never enjoyed reading the prologue in a book, let alone reading the acknowledgments... but this time I did and I wish the book wasn't going to finish. I've never read 331 pages so quickly and believe me, I'm slow at reading. As slow as it can get.
I started reading this book laughing my ass of, but I knew I was going to finish it in tears. There's a specific point in the book (which was not mentioned in detail in the series) which changed Ross' entire mindset and swim, which also changed the way I've continued reading this book.
Ross, thank you for what you've done and thank you for taking the time to put this into words printed on paper. Humanity changed when writing and later printing was invented and my little world changed after reading this book.
📖
No, Ross isn't paying me to write these words 😂 so if you haven't already, go get this book and enjoy.
It doesn't matter if you're an endurance athlete, an elite swimmer, or a fat couch potato like me... this piece of art is going to change how you see certain things in life. The mind is the most powerful tool we have... I've learned that when I was stuck in bed for 2 months following my accident, so the more ways you can use it to become a better person, the better it is.
Once again, thank you Rhino Neck. A huge hug from hippo neck 😂.
🦏🦛
July 4, 2020
Ross Edgley is a testament to pure will power. Faced with what seemed the impossible challenge of swimming around the UK, he completed this mammoth task without setting foot on land in his 156 days at sea.
Here are some of his ridiculous feats: swimming for 12 hours a day, every day without rest for almost half a year, fuelling this output with 10,000 to 15,000 calories every day! , acquiring over 20 jellyfish stings to the face in one 6 hour swim.
He provides real life sports science studies and stories of stoic learnings, to show how he got through this brutal challenge. To put it simply, Ross is a fucking animal and this book will make you get the finger out of your hole!
Here are some of his ridiculous feats: swimming for 12 hours a day, every day without rest for almost half a year, fuelling this output with 10,000 to 15,000 calories every day! , acquiring over 20 jellyfish stings to the face in one 6 hour swim.
He provides real life sports science studies and stories of stoic learnings, to show how he got through this brutal challenge. To put it simply, Ross is a fucking animal and this book will make you get the finger out of your hole!
January 26, 2025
Трапеза плюс запливи між вживанням їжі. Саме так автор жартома називає свій літньо-осіннній заплив навколо всієї Великої Британії довжиною 2865 кілометрів без жодного кроку на суходіл.
Звісно Росс долав цей шлях не сам, його супроводжувала команда на човні Геката, час від часу ще акула, кити, тюлені, шторми, танкери, вітряки, атомні станції, сміття та ще чого можна зустріти в холодних британських водах. Не все йшло гладко, увесь час мали місце креативні імпровізації: від саморобної БДСМ-маски проти медуз до шарфа проти натирань.
Формат книги цікавий: кожен розділ розпочинається з чергового епізоду запливу, а далі автор розгортає роздуми про філософське мислення, харчування по 15 тисяч калорій, тренування по кілька діб, тощо. Це не класична спортивна біографія, а швидше філософський трактат про стійкість, підкріплений реальною історією. Я б навіть відніс цю книгу до категорії стоїчно-спортивних, так вдосталь тут міркуваннь про Епіктета, Епікура та Марка Аврелія, та інших філософів цієї течії. Росс неодноразово відмічає, що саме спосіб мислення дозволив йому пройти цей шлях наскільки впевнено, зокрема вміти фокусуватися на тому що ти можеш контролювати, і відпускати те що тобі не підконтрольне.
Це одна з найцікавіших книг про спорт і витривалість. Суміш подорожі, спорту та філософії без зайвої науковості. Рекомендую
Немає готової схеми коли прагнеш неможливого. Треба створити власну…
Тієї ночі я зрозумів, що це не просто плавання… Це екстремальне навчання мистецтва стійкості
Звісно Росс долав цей шлях не сам, його супроводжувала команда на човні Геката, час від часу ще акула, кити, тюлені, шторми, танкери, вітряки, атомні станції, сміття та ще чого можна зустріти в холодних британських водах. Не все йшло гладко, увесь час мали місце креативні імпровізації: від саморобної БДСМ-маски проти медуз до шарфа проти натирань.
Формат книги цікавий: кожен розділ розпочинається з чергового епізоду запливу, а далі автор розгортає роздуми про філософське мислення, харчування по 15 тисяч калорій, тренування по кілька діб, тощо. Це не класична спортивна біографія, а швидше філософський трактат про стійкість, підкріплений реальною історією. Я б навіть відніс цю книгу до категорії стоїчно-спортивних, так вдосталь тут міркуваннь про Епіктета, Епікура та Марка Аврелія, та інших філософів цієї течії. Росс неодноразово відмічає, що саме спосіб мислення дозволив йому пройти цей шлях наскільки впевнено, зокрема вміти фокусуватися на тому що ти можеш контролювати, і відпускати те що тобі не підконтрольне.
Це одна з найцікавіших книг про спорт і витривалість. Суміш подорожі, спорту та філософії без зайвої науковості. Рекомендую
Немає готової схеми коли прагнеш неможливого. Треба створити власну…
July 5, 2024
Загалом я скептик стосовно книг про мотивацію і щось в цьому роді. Я читаю ці книги (рідко, але деколи хочеться) для здобуття вражень від сили волі і всіх похідних речей від цього.
Але все змінила ця праця. Росс не стільки мотиватор, як прекрасний тренер, після якого ти сам захочеш побудувати кращу версію себе і спробувати випробувати. Мотивації не треба, бо вона якось самовиникає.
Прості, але важливі фундаментальні пояснення, влучні слова для розуміння того, що треба нашому тілу і розуму, роблять цю книгу моїм топом на перспективу. Важко віриться, що щось її може перевершити з наявної літератури.
Особливе місце треба віддати стоїчній спортивній науці. Це саме та деталь, яка робить зайняття спортом не просто випробовуванням, а насолодою, стилем життя і частиною тебе. Долання труднощів у гармонії з можливостями свого тіла - це потреба, аби не зламатися, аби перевершити самого себе. А головне - не треба наслідувати життя Росса, але можна запозичити його ідеї, які не будуть зайвими у власному удосконаленні.
Я був скептиком. Але тепер я не хочу це формулювання так абсолютизувати. Мабуть, треба просто знайти правильну 'свою' книгу.
Але все змінила ця праця. Росс не стільки мотиватор, як прекрасний тренер, після якого ти сам захочеш побудувати кращу версію себе і спробувати випробувати. Мотивації не треба, бо вона якось самовиникає.
Прості, але важливі фундаментальні пояснення, влучні слова для розуміння того, що треба нашому тілу і розуму, роблять цю книгу моїм топом на перспективу. Важко віриться, що щось її може перевершити з наявної літератури.
Особливе місце треба віддати стоїчній спортивній науці. Це саме та деталь, яка робить зайняття спортом не просто випробовуванням, а насолодою, стилем життя і частиною тебе. Долання труднощів у гармонії з можливостями свого тіла - це потреба, аби не зламатися, аби перевершити самого себе. А головне - не треба наслідувати життя Росса, але можна запозичити його ідеї, які не будуть зайвими у власному удосконаленні.
Я був скептиком. Але тепер я не хочу це формулювання так абсолютизувати. Мабуть, треба просто знайти правильну 'свою' книгу.
January 22, 2022
What a book. I had heard of Ross' Okugake but never knew the sheer determination it took for him to keep going.
His story is very well written and gripping from the start, not what you expect for a book about swimming. There are a lot of really nice messages in the book, and his 'stoic sports science' is great!
This book will leave you inspired to start new challenges and face the problems they present head-on.
I will leave my full review on my podcast @aneed2read on Instagram and 'A need to read' on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.
His story is very well written and gripping from the start, not what you expect for a book about swimming. There are a lot of really nice messages in the book, and his 'stoic sports science' is great!
This book will leave you inspired to start new challenges and face the problems they present head-on.
I will leave my full review on my podcast @aneed2read on Instagram and 'A need to read' on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.
November 21, 2020
This was a combination memoir of a crazy endurance accomplishment (swimming around the island of Britain) and a book on sports science. It can hold its own as a good book from either perspective. Put together, it was a truly enjoyable and thought provoking read.
We underestimate what we are capable of by a lot! Motivational hype books say that, but leave it vague and unrealistic. Ross shows us (yet again) that humans can do things we deemed impossible. If we fully commit and do the work--mentally and physically--we will discover that our limits are not what we think they are.
We underestimate what we are capable of by a lot! Motivational hype books say that, but leave it vague and unrealistic. Ross shows us (yet again) that humans can do things we deemed impossible. If we fully commit and do the work--mentally and physically--we will discover that our limits are not what we think they are.
January 12, 2021
Dead dead good like 👍
August 23, 2020
Now when I started reading this I did not know a thing about Ross Edgley.
I thought this was a book like First Man In by Ant Middleton (who consequently is mentioned and championed Edgley) a book about motivating and, yes as it says on the tin, the art of resilience.
The read is so much more!
Edgley seems to have set out on a bit of a dare but once you get reading behind the scenes I found a man of quiet focus and study. He has certainly done his research & his stories are told in short but inspiring chapters with an overview at the end of each of what lessons he has taken from his experiences.
Some would say this is an amazing sports book, I have no interest in swimming or stoic sports science and I am aware of his Worlds Fittest Book but found this fascinating as he made it so.
Having been to Japan to speak to Yamabushi elders, heard lessons about the Kenyan Kalenjin people. Learning from British Channel swimmers, cyclists, philosophers, explorers from the past. Edgley found his own way, with his trusty crew, to swim around Britain without stepping on land.
His achievement certainly makes for an entertaining read. It is motivating and life affirming if not for the same reasons he went, but just the reassurance of home is where the heart is and if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
I thought this was a book like First Man In by Ant Middleton (who consequently is mentioned and championed Edgley) a book about motivating and, yes as it says on the tin, the art of resilience.
The read is so much more!
Edgley seems to have set out on a bit of a dare but once you get reading behind the scenes I found a man of quiet focus and study. He has certainly done his research & his stories are told in short but inspiring chapters with an overview at the end of each of what lessons he has taken from his experiences.
Some would say this is an amazing sports book, I have no interest in swimming or stoic sports science and I am aware of his Worlds Fittest Book but found this fascinating as he made it so.
Having been to Japan to speak to Yamabushi elders, heard lessons about the Kenyan Kalenjin people. Learning from British Channel swimmers, cyclists, philosophers, explorers from the past. Edgley found his own way, with his trusty crew, to swim around Britain without stepping on land.
His achievement certainly makes for an entertaining read. It is motivating and life affirming if not for the same reasons he went, but just the reassurance of home is where the heart is and if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2020
I've been following Ross for a while now and his stunning feats and humble attitude never cease to amaze and inspire me.
1,800 miles swam over 157 days at sea with no rest days and no sick days is an almost unfathomable accomplishment.
Equipped with his academic background and the teachings of the stoics, he applies himself to the challenge and lays it all out in the book which turns out to be a fascinating case study on human potential and the resilience of the body and mind.
If you're interested in pushing your mind and body and seek the strategies to optimize your potential, no doubt that this book will be invaluable for you.
Ross is a legend.
1,800 miles swam over 157 days at sea with no rest days and no sick days is an almost unfathomable accomplishment.
Equipped with his academic background and the teachings of the stoics, he applies himself to the challenge and lays it all out in the book which turns out to be a fascinating case study on human potential and the resilience of the body and mind.
If you're interested in pushing your mind and body and seek the strategies to optimize your potential, no doubt that this book will be invaluable for you.
Ross is a legend.
August 26, 2021
Equal parts general training philosophy and travelogue. For such an impressive feat, Mr. Edgley's writing is utterly elliptical, sanitized and uninspired. He fails to really let us into his daily thoughts and the book lacks the gritty details I was hoping he would share. He is content to describe his surroundings rather than allow us into his mindset during the swim. Every time I thought the book was about to go deeper, Ross takes us away from the swim to some prior experience or anecdotal story.
February 4, 2022
Great book, lots of training philosophies and Ross’ unique outlook on stoicism is very refreshing and intriguing.
January 11, 2021
Wat een inspirerend boek!! Vol wijze sport- en levenslessen, valt er voor iedereen wel iets uit te halen. Het gaat over een man die om Groot-Brittannië heen zwemt. De boodschap is dat iedereen alles kan bereiken, met de juiste mindset. Ik ben het hier zeker mee eens, maar het gaat er ook om of je het moet willen. Het motiveert mij in ieder geval om nog beter mijn best te doen met sporten, maar ik realiseer me ook dat het voor mij vooral leuk moet blijven, een typische mindset voor een student:)
February 2, 2023
Ross is a sick fuck.
May 14, 2023
Overall: yes incredible journey, a great feat of endurance. In not sure how it’s added to the human story. I’d put it in the category of sitting on top of a flag pole the longest, impressive and useless.
Takeaways: if you’ve read other books about the science of endurance then you’ll find little new information, below were good reminders for myself:
1. The more good sleep the better
2. Focus on your higher reason for why
3. Search for beauty in your pain
4. Check your body, what does it need?
5. View pain as neutral- neither good or bad, just a sensation
6. Develop intrinsic motivation and identify what extrinsically motivates yourself
7. Do heavy lifting - strength training is a must
8. Practice accepting physical pain, (think Kenyan runners and circumcision
9. Find the Goldilocks zone for stress to grow
10. Stay in 20% or 80% zone of your heart rate, don’t waste time in between
Conclusion: skip this book if you’re interested in endurance science or sports. If you want o learn about the story then save yourself some time and watch the documentary.
Takeaways: if you’ve read other books about the science of endurance then you’ll find little new information, below were good reminders for myself:
1. The more good sleep the better
2. Focus on your higher reason for why
3. Search for beauty in your pain
4. Check your body, what does it need?
5. View pain as neutral- neither good or bad, just a sensation
6. Develop intrinsic motivation and identify what extrinsically motivates yourself
7. Do heavy lifting - strength training is a must
8. Practice accepting physical pain, (think Kenyan runners and circumcision
9. Find the Goldilocks zone for stress to grow
10. Stay in 20% or 80% zone of your heart rate, don’t waste time in between
Conclusion: skip this book if you’re interested in endurance science or sports. If you want o learn about the story then save yourself some time and watch the documentary.
March 29, 2024
Prose: 3
Content: 4
Personal Impact: 3
It’s a story about a really amazing feat - swimming around the UK. This story is it’s greatest asset. However, I felt the sports science let it downs little bit for me. It wasn’t that in depth and it seemed to grasp at straws of related data studies too much.
Also, during the story line of the swimming he repeated himself a lot - almost as if we couldn’t retain information from previous chapters. And the philosophies were a bit too vague and laboured.
However, it was a good read and always inspiring to find out about people that do extraordinary things.
Summation: A wonderful feat of human ability, that’s not quite matched by the writing.
Content: 4
Personal Impact: 3
It’s a story about a really amazing feat - swimming around the UK. This story is it’s greatest asset. However, I felt the sports science let it downs little bit for me. It wasn’t that in depth and it seemed to grasp at straws of related data studies too much.
Also, during the story line of the swimming he repeated himself a lot - almost as if we couldn’t retain information from previous chapters. And the philosophies were a bit too vague and laboured.
However, it was a good read and always inspiring to find out about people that do extraordinary things.
Summation: A wonderful feat of human ability, that’s not quite matched by the writing.
June 22, 2025
Дуже класна книга! Почала читати напередодні свого першого запливу на 14 км і знайшла тут багато підтримки і ресурсу. В книзі описується сама пригода запливу навколо Британії, а також процес підготовки, фізичної та психологічної. Багато цікавих моментів і корисних речей, які перегукуються не лише зі спортом, але й з життям, яким ми зараз живемо. Стійкість, витривалість, відновлення, незламність.
June 28, 2022
Interesting story, but not what I was looking for.
July 2, 2023
Reposted from CB Book Reviews on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctmv3Jjtz...
This wasn’t a book that was previously on my radar, but I was offered the chance to read it and thought being a bookworm that I would give it a go!
This book takes the reader along with Ross on his world record breaking journey of swimming around the coast of Great Britain. Ross combines his diary entries throughout the self-imposed challenge along with a number of anecdotes, details of his pre-challenge training, as well as some of the scientific research behind how he felt able to complete this monumental task.
Personally, I don’t think I was always able to connect with the many elements of research papers and studies quoted, and the science behind the human species. But what really shines through is the countless inspiring examples provided by Ross of what some people are able to push their mental capacity and physical body through in order to achieve success. Ross details a number of abnormal injuries, a resourcefulness streak and adverse weather conditions throughout his tale which prove him to be in an elite number within the human population that possess traits such as stubborn determination, mental and physical fortitude and unnerving resilience that very few others are capable of.
An interesting read which baffles beyond belief of the human capability.
This wasn’t a book that was previously on my radar, but I was offered the chance to read it and thought being a bookworm that I would give it a go!
This book takes the reader along with Ross on his world record breaking journey of swimming around the coast of Great Britain. Ross combines his diary entries throughout the self-imposed challenge along with a number of anecdotes, details of his pre-challenge training, as well as some of the scientific research behind how he felt able to complete this monumental task.
Personally, I don’t think I was always able to connect with the many elements of research papers and studies quoted, and the science behind the human species. But what really shines through is the countless inspiring examples provided by Ross of what some people are able to push their mental capacity and physical body through in order to achieve success. Ross details a number of abnormal injuries, a resourcefulness streak and adverse weather conditions throughout his tale which prove him to be in an elite number within the human population that possess traits such as stubborn determination, mental and physical fortitude and unnerving resilience that very few others are capable of.
An interesting read which baffles beyond belief of the human capability.
June 24, 2020
There is no doubt that the Great British Swim was a truly astonishing achievement. However to believe it to be a superhuman feat is to miss the point of the book.
Ross Edgley maintains throughout that he is a ’normal’ person; who has used the wisdom of many mentors alongside the research of many journals to learn the Art of Resilience. The mix of autobiography and scientific discussion worked really well and made this book both educational and gripping.
Fundamentally, resilience is something that can be built, developed and applied in all areas of life. This is extremely important to recognise. It can be the difference between a fulfilling life and just falling short.
Although Ross underplays it as ‘mainly eating with a bit of floating’, the achievement will undoubtedly prove to be the inspiration for many people out there.
Find your okugake. Build resilience. Achieve what you previously thought to be impossible.
Ross Edgley maintains throughout that he is a ’normal’ person; who has used the wisdom of many mentors alongside the research of many journals to learn the Art of Resilience. The mix of autobiography and scientific discussion worked really well and made this book both educational and gripping.
Fundamentally, resilience is something that can be built, developed and applied in all areas of life. This is extremely important to recognise. It can be the difference between a fulfilling life and just falling short.
Although Ross underplays it as ‘mainly eating with a bit of floating’, the achievement will undoubtedly prove to be the inspiration for many people out there.
Find your okugake. Build resilience. Achieve what you previously thought to be impossible.
April 23, 2021
Quite the interesting book this was! Can't say there is much books like this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has everything from crazy adventures, to scientific papers on nutrition and performance, to straight up comedy, gruesome tails and very personal story of Ross Edgley (I was close to tears at one point).
The book details Ross' swim around Great Britain, which took a whopping 157 at sea. Tons and tons of challenges he faced with his crew, anything from sharks to his tongue deteriorating from the salt water.
I loved the stoic lessons and how masterfully the author has combined his story with facts and other adventures.
Great read 👍
The book details Ross' swim around Great Britain, which took a whopping 157 at sea. Tons and tons of challenges he faced with his crew, anything from sharks to his tongue deteriorating from the salt water.
I loved the stoic lessons and how masterfully the author has combined his story with facts and other adventures.
Great read 👍
April 19, 2022
Being a Stoic Sports Science Athlete is what I've been striving for a few years now.
It's unfortunate that I couldn't pick up the book earlier, many of the sport science lessons in it I had to learn the hard way through my training and failures. Still, Ross gave more insights into them. Furthermore, stoicism lessons are what I really came for.
Recommend for someone who wants to get more out of their body and mind.
It's unfortunate that I couldn't pick up the book earlier, many of the sport science lessons in it I had to learn the hard way through my training and failures. Still, Ross gave more insights into them. Furthermore, stoicism lessons are what I really came for.
Recommend for someone who wants to get more out of their body and mind.
October 11, 2022
Ross Edgley nimmt einen in diesem Buch mit auf seine unglaubliche Reise, während dieser er als erster Mensch Großbritannien umschwimmt. Detailliert berichtet er von seinen Gedanken, von Herausforderungen, Rückschlägen und dem Leben im Wasser - fast hat man das Gefühl, dabei zu sein. Jedes Kapitel endet mit unterschiedlichsten Lektionen, die er im Rahmen der Vorbereitung oder während der Schwimmtour gelernt hat, wodurch es neben den fesselnden Erzählungen auch wissenschaftlich belegte Informationen rund um Sport, Ernährung, Physiologie, Psychologie und co gibt. Ein Wahnsinns-Buch für jeden Sportler!
April 21, 2021
Very inspirational and does extreamly well in the teachings of stoicism and grit, Ross obviously takes after me in physique... unfortunately he takes after me in writing ability too and did find some of this book waffly and a bit repetitive at times. The audio book spoken by Ross himself i think would be a much better option
June 5, 2021
What a champion, it just goes to show that with pure dedication anything is possible. I really enjoyed reading about Ross’ swim around the UK and all the events that took place along the way and with a mixture of sports science which helped explain how and why the body is capable of just about anything when used correctly and given the right nutrients. What an amazing guy and what an achievement!
December 10, 2021
Written by a nutter who decided to swim from Margate to er.. Margate via the Pentland Firth - a distance of 1800 miles taking half a year. Unsurprisingly a singular achievement. His challenges involved tides, shipping, jellyfish, storms, the odd whale and shark. His main defences were Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, Sports Science and bananas. I was sufficiently inspired to adapt his learning to my own needs - and yes I can now swim an additional 5 lengths in my one hour lido slot! A feat definitely worthy of a 5* review.
January 6, 2022
Entirely readable account of Edgley's swim around the island of Great Britain. I was really interested in his "Stoic Sports Science," and he does have some great ideas here worth pursuing further. As a whole, the book was very hard to put down. His adventure was breathtaking and just a great reminder of the power of the mind and body to do the impossible.
February 4, 2023
A David Goggins-esqe feel focused more specifically on the high intensity training/feats of an individual. While bits of it are inspiring, the recommendations to the reader are complicated and overwhelming, so that takeaway is largely that there are insane, inhuman athletes out there (which is still pretty cool).
March 12, 2021
Exciting read and very useful information one can use for the hard times in life.
Specifically useful for athletes looking to balance strength and endurance
Specifically useful for athletes looking to balance strength and endurance
March 13, 2021
A genuinely inspiring read. The journey is amazing. The insights regarding what a human can push through are great. Heart warming and funny. A recommended read.
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