*in conversation with David Rakoff*

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Swimming Studies is a brilliantly original, meditative memoir that explores the worlds of competitive and recreational swimming. From her training for the Olympic trials as a teenager to enjoying pools and beaches around the world as an adult, Leanne Shapton offers a fascinating glimpse into the private, often solitary, realm of swimming. Her spare and elegant writing reveals an intimate narrative of suburban adolescence, spent underwater in a discipline that continues to inspire Shapton’s work as an artist and author. Her illustrations throughout the book offer an intuitive perspective on the landscapes and imagery of the sport. Shapton’s emphasis is on the smaller moments of athletic pursuit rather than its triumphs. For the accomplished athlete, aspiring amateur, or habitual practicer, this remarkable work of written and visual sketches propels the reader through a beautifully personal and universally appealing exercise in reflection.

David Rakoff, recipient of the 2011 Thurber Prize for American Humor, is a regular contributor to GQ, New York Times Magazine and Public Radio International’s This American Life. As an actor and director, he has worked with Amy and David Sedaris on numerous productions. He is the author of Fraud, Don’t Get Too Comfortable, and Half Empty.