It's Only Drowning

A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground

De: David Litt

Narrado por: 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.

©2025 David Litt (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

* A NATIONAL BESTSELLER * GOODREADS MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF SUMMER 2025 * TOWN & COUNTRY BEST BOOK OF SUMMER 2025 *

Great for our divided time

During the Covid pandemic our divisions have only increased. And our ability to tolerate those who disagree has only worsened. This book helped lay a foundation to begin talking, not just tolerate, respecting, not just ignoring. A friend and Episcopal priest inventions me, “If you want to change the world, make sure you aren’t hanging around with only those who think like you.” Great read!

Timid. Nice summer read but …

I thought the book was about how two men with differing lives/viewpoints became close friends through surfing.

At best the author learns to tolerate his blue collar brother-in-law with very little curiosity and to the end presents him as a one dimensional frozen pizza eating character who is more human than the author anticipated.

Time to go deeper. More work is needed.

Moving by moving

The misunderstood are mostly misjudged. This book shines a light on the beauty of connecting.

It’s pretty great

So much packed into this story. Challenge, courage, acceptance, exploration, serenity, conflict. It’s pretty great.

I can relate

As longtime mediocre at best surfer and over-thinker, I felt right at home with the story. Maybe I need to try and get ready for the north shore. But I’m also reminded that getting to know people with a different thought process and benefit you both.

Tiny arrows hit bullseyes

I loved this book in so many ways. It was fun, funny, clever, compelling, sweet, and hopeful. He crafted tiny little arrows that hit their target every single time. I wouldn’t have thought I’d be so engrossed in a story about becoming a surfer. But it was so much more than that. Wish I hadn’t read it, so I could read it!

maybe there will be a sequel.

It was certainly a story about learning to surf, maybe they will find common ground in the sequel.