4 comments about Extraordinary Swimming For Every Body - a Total Immersion instructional book.

1. I learned a lot from this book about every stroke. It will be a constant reference and resource book for my triathlon training. Terry Laughlin has a way of making you want to go swimming just for the joy of it. His tips and techniques through drill swimming in a relaxed manner are wonderful for beginning swimmers and master swimmers looking to re-connect with the water. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to swim like a fish.



2. Built on previous TI books and added some extra hints and rectified what I felt were previous ommisions and inconsistencies in the approach - excellent book that has given immediate results in the pool and given me renewed enthusiasm to improve



3. An outstanding book notable for it's insights, technical detail, observa-
   tions and practical lessons. Well worth the price.



4. As someone who was inspired by Terry Laughlin's first book, I highly recommend this one! I am a former competitive swimmer who now swims for fitness. I was becoming bored with conventional interval-type training, and was looking for new ways to change up my routine with flippers, hand paddles, etc. Terry describes technique training in a refreshing direct way that anyone who wishes to improve their swimming form can understand. I recommend this book to everyone who says to me,"You make swimming look so easy and effortless the way you glide through the water. I wish I could do that!" Finally, someone has articulated what I've intuitively known and was not able to teach or explain.

5 comments about Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer.

1. Lynne Cox is a somewhat gifted writer ; an astonishingly gifted swimmer. Put them together and you get this very solid book. Lynne lovingly and with stunning clinical accuracy reports on her experiences of achieving the impossible. She shows us just how human a superhuman person can be, if that makes sense. (hey, did I say *I* was a writer??)
   
   I felt that by reading this book, I had a bit more understanding of what it might feel like to have a gift. Lynne shares that with us, along with her honest frustration at the beginning of her 'career' when she was not super fast or super buff. Talk about finding one's niche!
   
   It was interesting to read in the USMS journal this month, that more studies are being done to learn about certain people who can tolerate cold; Lynne's experiences pioneered these studies.
   
   I would refrain from judging her for what she did or did not contribute to world peace. She certainly harmed nobody, and as mentioned above, kickstarted some studies which may benefit us all in the future. Yes, I too would have enjoyed some photos and some more personal information about Lynne Cox. (Reading her next book, Grayson, did nothing to satisfy this curiosity.)
   
   I'm not sure you have to be a swimmer per se to enjoy this book, but it is hard to imagine a non athlete devouring it with quite as much gusto....That said I do not know a single Masters swimmer who hasn't read it. I do know that the next time Lynne Cox comes to speak in my area, I will drop everything to be there and listen.



2. This is one of the best books I've read. It's an incredible story of a girl who was inspired to do something painful and difficult -- both to test herself and for the thrill and love of the cold water. It's very well written and hard to put down. I have recommended this book to friends and family members who swim, as well as other people who enjoy reading about accomplished women. I found myself cheering her on in each swim and feeling what she felt. After reading this I can never complain again about getting tired from swimming a few laps! Go Lynne!



3. For the first 150+ pages I was intrigued with Ms.Cox's swims.....her amazing endurance and determination. But then...page after page after page....more or less the same....far more than I ever needed or wanted to know about long distance swimming particularly in icy cold waters. When.....at the last chapter...she actually did swim in Antartica waters, although I was sitting in my warm office, I shivered.



4. Based on the other reviews, I was quite excited about reading this book as I generally enjoy books about athletic exploits by unusual athletes. However, Lynne Cox never quite explained why she was doing what she did. By the time she was swimming to Antarctica, I was left asking why??
   
   Unlike, say, Lance Armstrong's book, Lynne lacked a central goal, and so the book was really a series of short stories about the various swims she tackled. As one other reviewer pointed out, it became somewhat repetitive. The early stories about swimming in California and the English Channel were to me more interesting simply because it was the first time I heard the tale.
   
   The book isn't bad, but it's also not great.



5. This story is not only impressive in the athletic achievement; it is noteworthy that she refuses to abandon her goals even when faced with the impenetrable wall of the Kremlin's closed border mindset.
   
   Well worth reading.

5 comments about The Ultimate Guide To Weight Training For Swimming (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming) (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming) (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming).

1. Every swimmer knows that strength and conditioning is everything. The stronger and better conditioned you are, the better swimmer you will be. That's why i bought this book, and it did exactly that. It improves your strength, conditioning, stamina, and endurance, and reduces injuries too. The weight training programs in this book hit the nail right on the head for what I was looking for - a swimming specific workout.



2. I found that this book increased my speed, strength, and endurance. Often times, by increasing strenght, swimmers lose efficiency in their strokes. I found that this book did a great job increasing stroke power, while reiterating the need to maintain stroke efficiency. A GREAT BUY!



3. Of all the training books out there today, this is the only one i have seen that really speaks to the swimmer specifically! This is an invaluable resource for any swimmer or coach. I would recommend this to the novice swimmer or a pro. Two thumbs up!



4. This book is an excellent training guide for the swimmer at any level. I have been swimming for many years and after reading this book I have taken my skills to a higher level. I feel much stronger in the pool and my endurance has really increased. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to anyone who loves to swim.



5. I strongly recommend this book. I've been using it for just one month and I see the improvement in my swimming workouts!!

5 comments about Whale Talk.

1. Whale talk was an incredible book. Not only was it written in a way that kept your attention every second of it, but it covered several important themes. Almost anybody in highschool or even older would enjoy this book because of its relevance to school life. The subject of racism in this book makes the reade think. The main character is one of the only non-white residents of their town, and even their area of the state. His struggles with racism are mainly in an attempt to make life better for another little girl in his town, not to stand up for himself. The main character is all about fairness, and he will do whatever it takes to stand up to people making life worse for someone else. He is responsible for starting a swim team at his school that makes it easy to get a varsity letter. The biggest reason why he did that was so that the brother of a now-deceased school hero can get his coveted varsity letter. Because their school is such a jock school, the team of misfits is not very widely accepted. The team is made of social outcasts and unlikely athletes, but they all end up very close to eachother. This book was inspiring athletically and thought-provoking socially. I'd reccomend it to anyone.



2. Whale Talk
   
   Do you have a big heart full of the kind of love that you would give a friend or even a complete stranger? That's how the Tao (pronounced The Dow) is in the book Whale Talk by Christopher Crutcher. The book takes place in Spokane, Washington. T.J Jones (The Tao) and his teacher, Mr. Simet, get together a swim team for Cutter High School. Mr. Simet has one reason for the swim team, and T.J. has another for the team, but it's the complete opposite of Mr. Simet. T.J. wants to help Chris Coughlin out of his bulling problem (Chris is handicapped). T.J. ends up going to the State championship and winning two events. But after the Championship, a tragedy strikes, one that will haunt T.J. until the day he dies.
   
   My favorite part of the book is when Chris Coughlin gives T.J. some love back. Through out this book, T.J. shows Chris the love a friend would give a friend. This makes it special because T.J. loved Chris as a friend, that Chris gave him love, in the form of something, in return, even when it wasn't expected.
   
   The theme of the book is love. This book shows that if the world doesn't have love, it has hate and if you don't have love, you have hate. With out love in the world, there would be no peace. It also shows us that even if you are a different color you still have the right to be loved.
   
   This book was one of the best books I've read. I would recommend it to anyone who has a big heart with enough love for everyone in the world. I liked this book so much, because it caused me to stop and think, to check and see if I had enough lover in my heart for everyone in the world, just as the characters had.



3. This book might win a Newberry Award if it were for younger kids and didn't use naughty language. That's the sort of thing I'd compare it to.
   I've never written a review before, but this book, which I listened to in my car with my 12-year-old daughter, was wonderful. We both laughed out loud a number of times; it's extremely witty (and the audio narrator does an excellent job). It's heart-breaking at times (child abuse, loss). And it's very instructive for young people trying to make sense of the world, especially complex issues involving race, psychology, child abuse, and such.
   It's arguably a bit much for a 12-year-old -- lots of questionable language (authentic, but "naughty"), and a few references to people having sex (nothing graphic, though). I'd prefer it for years 15 and up, but my daughter seemed to get a lot out of it, and the parts that worried me ... well, I hope they sort of went over her head. But I was delighted to have her hear about life from the perspective of a multi-racial kid, especially one who accepts himself but still has to put up with grief from morons in his high school.



4. I was quite impressed by this book. I really enjoyed it. I don't understand why it's one of those books that is "challenged" by people. Here's an idea: read the books your kids are reading and discuss with them if you feel there's something questionable.



5. A good story with a universal theme in touch with numerous current social issues - Whale Talk is worth listening to!

5 comments about Learn to Swim: Step-by-Step Water Confidence and Safety Skills for Babies and Young Children.

1. Teach your baby to swim with this proven step-by-step process. You'll enjoy watching your little one steadily become more confident in the water.



2. This is a great resource if you are a new parent, pregnant, or are a child swim instructor. It gives you a lesson by lesson outline. Very useful!



3. Learn to Swim: Step-by-Step Water Confidence and Safety Skills for Babies and Young Children is a beautiful book about teaching kids to swim. It has great pictures, step by step instructions, and games and techniques for teaching your children how to swim. I especially liked the fact that it very clearly stated what children can learn at each stage. So Caleb is now old enough to be learning how to hold his breath. (He's 11 months old.) They not only said he can learn how to hold his breath, but explained how to teach him and what to watch for to see if he's comfortable with it or we need to take some more time. I now have a very clear guide of what I can work on with him and what I might want to wait a bit on.



4. We got this book and have found it to be very easy to understand, there are a lot of detail on every chapter which should guide you to teach how to swim from a baby (6 months) to a toddler.
   I recomend this book to everybody who wants to teach a child to swim



5. We were very excited to get this book after reading all the reviews, but we were insulted reading it. My daughter is 9 months old, we've been taking her in our pool for a couple of months now and she is way beyond this book. I was hoping it would teach her a technique for survival in case she ever fell in accidently, like the "Infant Swim Resource" does, but it doesn't even come close. We absolutely got nothing from this book. We already know all the basic stuff, it's almost common sense, what a joke this book is.

5 comments about Triathlon Swimming Made Easy: The Total Immersion Way for Anyone to Master Open-Water Swimming.

1. I found Terry Laughlin's book very helpful. I've read it through a few times and am attempting to apply what I'm learning. I've got a ways to go yet, but I see improvements every time I go to the water. I recommend this book.



2. Total Immersion focuses on a swimming technique that will make you swim easier without struggle. It is an easy read and provides handles to swim better and get more comfortable in the water. The book alone is not enough to learn this technique. You will also need the DVD and perhaps the drill cards for the practices. The book is written in a "can do it" style and is motivating to read with useful information.



3. I think I could have went without this book. The whole book could have been condensed to just a few pages. No great images to help you learn the total immersion way. I definitely feel that the original Total Immersion book is infinitely better BUT the video is the most informative. I find myself watching that video over and over. A picture is worth a thousand words... Dont misunderstand me, Total Immersion Rocks! I have only been swimming for a year ( I am 45) and I can bang out a mile or more no problem in about 30 minutes.



4. I feel like after reading this book I have looked at my swim training in a whole new light. Gone are the days of grinding out lap after lap after lap in hope that I will magically improve my swim leg. Total Immersion has tuned me into developing and practicing good swim habits.
   
   This book works best when purchasing the DVD. It helps to view the training exercises. The video is a little dated but not that bad too watch.



5. This book helped me prepare for my first triathlon experience and without it I would have fumbled about splashing away valuable energy like so many of the other participants did. This is a must read for anyone considering distance swimming.

5 comments about Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff.

1. I found Jim Johnson's book to contain an amazing amount of information in a relatively short read. There are several very good reviews that detail what he covers in this book so I'll stick to points not covered by the other reviews.
   
   First, yes, it is a small book. This is actually a bonus because he covers the pertinant material thoroughly but keeps the book to a size easily read in one sitting. This is important when you are looking for answers and not a lengthy read. I found illustrations and the text were all useful - there is no filler or fluff in this book.
   
   Second - the stretches and exercises are explained in detail so you can be comfortable with the knowledge you are doing it right. So, as you follow one of the 3 programs laid out, you can refer back to the detailed descriptions and illustration as needed. If you are a picture person and not a verbal person, this is priceless to have on hand.
   
   Third - the information on how to distinguish the different types of injuries and how to approach rehabilitation gave me insight to what was going on with my own injury that no professional I had taken this problem to have ever bothered to explain. Again, illustrations were to the point and provided clarity that words can't always deliver.
   
   Last, I have sought medical advice with my shoulder problems off and on for years yet this book gave me more information in a 30 minute read than I had gotten in any consultation. This book is priced around $30 retail and that is far less than a doctor or physio visit.
   
   Note that I am *NOT* saying to skip seeking medical advice, I am saying that this book gives you a ready reference to supplement your knowledge and to keep on hand while treating your injury. If you are like me, the shoulder problems you have will quite possibly reoccur as time goes by and you either quit doing the exercises and revert to bad habits or if you find a new way to injure yourself. So, having this book handy for reference is far more economical the returning to the doctor over and over again.



2. Just the information needed to help you and not more! That's "Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff." Johnson writes clearly for the non-medical-professional, so you'll understand his message easily and get started right away (today).
   
   About six months ago, I fell. A perfect four-point landing, I thought at the time, but it turned out to be more, much more. Within a month I began having trouble pulling a shirt on over my head. Then shoulder and arm pain settled in full time.
   
   I decided to forego conventional medical treatment (for example, shots and surgery), and the pain continued. In fact, it not only continued, but grew so much worse that I considered revising my decision about the shots. However, finding this book and reading the glowing recommendations for it, I decided giving managing the problem on my own one last try.
   
   Of course, getting the book did not solve the problem by itself. I had to use the information to stretch and exercise. So I did, and, sure enough, after a couple of weeks I saw both improved range of motion and less pain.
   
   The stretches and exercises are not necessarily pleasant, but the results make it worth the effort.
   
   If you have rotator cuff pain, get this book. Regardless of whether you decide on conventional solutions to the problem, you'll need the stretches and exercises to regain full range of motion. Stick with the program. It works!
   
   Highly recommended.



3. After two weeks of following the exercises in this book, I made more progress than six weeks of PT. I like this book because not only does the author explain what to do, he also explains WHY.



4. I was very impressed with this book as soon as I thumbed through it. The first section has diagrams and definitions of the shoulder. The anatomy and physiology are explained in grade school terms. (this is very helpful to people that are in so much pain that they can't think straight)
   
   I have just had rotator cuff surgery and have been through physical therapy several times for rotator cuff problems. The exercises are identical to some of the exercises that the physical therapists teach us.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone with rotator cuff problems, however, if your symptoms are not improving you will need to get an MRI to determine if you have tears or bone spurs.



5. I've had rotator cuff problems with both shoulders. The problem is increased by bursitis and other issues. So I was grateful to get the useful information in this book.
   
   The book is based on fact, not opinion. The author first gives you a description of the shoulder and the rotator cuff and its relationship to the muscle and tendons and bones.
   
   Then you're given stretches and exercises to do in relationship to how much pain and lack of mobility you have at the time you start the program. It's comforting to know that you are empowered to make yourself better and to rehabilitate yourself. And this book definitely gives you that ability.
   
   I noticed that there was one or two wonderful stretches that were not included in the book. But the ones included work. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever suffered shoulder problems or anyone who lifts weights or works out. It helps prevent as well as heal shoulder pain and mobility problems.
   
   - Susanna K. Hutcheson

5 comments about Slow Fat Triathlete: Live Your Athletic Dreams in the Body You Have Now.

1. I enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to my friends. I'll be doing my first triatholon in a few months. It is a very good motivation and introductory book. I'm reading another book for more detailed information into the actual training.



2. Great book. Couldn't put it down- its not really a training book but a "calm your nerves, here is what it is really like" if you are slow, fat and want to be a triathlete. Of course, it works too if your not a slow fat triathlete as well.



3. I love this book!!! It's great for unsure beginners!! The author really helps you with even the smallest details you need to know. I was so afraid to enter the tri world b/c I thought it was so elite but the author made me realize that ANYONE can do it and so can you!! Buy this book if you are new to triathlons and unsure of yourself. You will feel like a winner even before you race!!



4. This is a solid book written for the tri newbie or anyone interested in learning more about the sport. Don't buy this book if you're looking for a training manual or trying to figure out what you need to do to get prepared for your first race. It's a solid book to kick you in the rear and lead you to that next step if you can get past all the cliches & attempts at humor. The Triathlete's Training Bible is a "must read" if you're serious about putting together a plan of attack.



5. I loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down. It offers inspiration to all of us who are fat and slow or just new to triathlon, and want to compete. I bought this one and Triathlon Training in 4 Hrs. a week. They go well together.

5 comments about Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim.

1. I teach many children to swim, but this book can save more lives than any swimming lesson program, because it can reach so many more children. After reading Stewie The Duck Learns To Swim, children will remind their parents about proper water safety habits! They'll say things like "Mom, I want to go swimming; will you watch me?" or "I want to go swimming, but I need to have my life vest on first." Even more exciting, children will understand how important it is to take swimming lessons, and even older kids who may be tempted to swim in unofficial swimming holes, reservoirs, etc., may very well thing twice before doing so.

   Rob Polley
   Program Director
   SwimAmerica




2. This is a wonderful resource for parents, teachers and coaches. Stewie the Duck is one of the few books available that addresses drowning, one of the most significant injury-related risks our children face. The authors teach children critical survival skills in a loving, age-appropriate, and fun way. Children really enjoy the CD, and being able to incorporate music makes the lessons fun and effective. This adorable, intelligent book was so impressive that we utilized it in our water safety curriculum program, and have received very positive feedback about it.



3. This is a very basic story about a duck who isn't allowed to swim with the other ducks until he learns the rules. The main ideas of the story are repeated several times throughout the book and set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The song goes "Don't jump in 'til you learn to swim, cover your chest with a safe life vest. A grown up must watch you in the pool. You'll be safe if you learn these rules."
   
   The book includes a CD that includes reading the of the story as well as different children singing the same song about five times. I did not give this book a five star rating because the children singing on the cd cannot sing and will make the hair on your back stand up if you are any bit musically inclined. There is one track on the cd that has all the kids singing together and is bearable to listen too.
   
   Nonetheless, this book and cd are a favorite of my 2 and 4 year old girls (I would not recommend this book for anyone over six). I keep the cd in the kitchen all summer long and I play it while I get breakfast ready, especially on days that we go to the pool or beach. The girls especially love it because the book shows Stewie learning to swim at the YMCA where my girls are also taking swimming lessons.
   
   Please note that this book only teaches safety rules and does not provide any instruction for swimming.
   
   I will also mention that the author, Stew Leonard, the supermarket entrepeneur, got involved in water safety for children after his son drowned. This is an excellent tool for all parents to use to avoid this kind of tragedy. I strongly recommend it for every toddler.



4. I am a water safety instructor who teaches swimming lessons according to American Red Cross Guidelines. I teach outside so on days it rains we have to find other activities. I thought this book would be perfect for my younger students, but the Red Cross already makes a book close to what this book is teaching. I think this book is perfect for parents who want their children to know about water safety if they have a pool or grow up/vacation around bodies of water. Touching story as to why the parents wrote the book. I admire them for what they have done.



5. As the mother of a 2 year old boy who is afraid of NOTHING, this book has become a staple of our bedtime reading! My son repeats the song anytime he is around water, even the bathtub. It has definately made him more aware of the dangers of water. I will buy this book for all of my toddler/child relatives. I have seen no other book that teaches a child as young as 2 to respect the water.

5 comments about Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier.

1. I really needed help with my swimming (freestyle/crawl); a guy at the pool who moved thru the water in a truly enviable way recommended it. I got it. I did the drills. I made the effort to understand the theory. I actually enjoy swimming now. I checked out a lot of books on swimming from my local libraries and none compare favorably to this one. The Total Immersion school of thought also surpassed everything I found in my online quest for info on how to improve my swimming.



2. This book and the video, Freestyle Made Easy, improved my swimming greatly. The key concept is to shift your effort from overpowering the water to streamlining your profile in the water. I don't have any quantitative measures for the improvement it made in my swimming, but I would guess it increased my speed 100%, plus it made swimming much more enjoyable. I took up swimming as a substitute for jogging, and was getting a sore right shoulder from my crawl (rotator cuff?). The Total Immersion technique alleviated that. And I still haven't finished the book. I am just an ordinary swimmer, taking the regular red cross swimming lessons as a little kid. I never swam competitively or trained seriously, unless you count doing the lessons in this book. I am also closing in on 60 years of age, and am very glad to have discovered this book.



3. The proof is in the water. Balance and proper physics are the replacement for going anaerobic by flailing your arms and legs. Learning how much bouyancy you own and how to "lengthen your boat," will relax you. And you will reduce you stroke count early on. The text and diagrams are clear and motivating to novice through elite swimmers.



4. This book will make you a better swimmer almost instantly after reading the first 100 pages. The content is easy to read and for almost all levels of swimmers.



5. Having seen excited reviews and high rating, I decided to buy the book as well. I found that this book does NOT make an exception from ALL those pretty much useless books which offer QUICK RESULTS with LESS EFFORT.
   Too many tirades about "wrong" way of traditional swimming, "revolutionary" methods presented in this book, etc. But in fact, the impression is created that you don't need to work hard but just do a few exercises in this book and you can outswim people with long experience. Exercises seemed quite useless and not that "revolutionary" as they promised to be.
   Overall, valuable information is too limited. I would suggest other materials, including DVDs of USA Swimming - Swim Fast series.