It’s Only Drowning

It's Only Drowning is a memoir about surfing, but it's really about the fear of trying something new, the joy of unexpected friendship, and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up. David Litt, a former Obama speechwriter with zero athletic ability, decides to learn how to surf at thirty-five. His guide is his brother-in-law Matt, a blue-collar guy who listens to Joe Rogan and believes in teaching by near-drowning. I related to the inner monologue of David as I’ve been surfing (and not improving one bit) for years. David actually improves a lot and in more ways than one.

What follows is funny, deeply human, and surprisingly moving. The waves humble him. The ocean gives him something he did not know he needed. And the relationship between these two men, so different on the surface, becomes the heart of the book. It is a story about what can happen when we let go of being right and just try to connect. For lovers of Barbarian Days and for those who want to cross the political divide and attempt to begin to reach a hand across the aisle, this is the book we all need right now, folks. Its honest, life isn’t perfect but we can start to try.

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