Summary

Absolutely incredible. At the end of this book, Nyad writes, in her author's notes, "Eighty percent of what I wrote isn't in the book, but the pursuit of recalling a lifetime of experiences proved to be one of the most illuminating things I've ever done. Perspective of what was in the end important surfaced. Gratitude for this rocket ship of a life I've gotten to live overwhelmed me." This book is so much more than the quest to reach Florida from Cuba as an open water swimmer, it is a true example of the relationship between the journey and the destination; the motivation, the struggle, the fear, the emotion and the dedication that it takes to reach a life goal and to summon every ounce of determination that one has in order to carry on, in spite of the inclination (and that of surrounding individuals) to give up. Through the story of five attempts, Nyad also provides readers with a history of her life: a terrifying childhood, the barriers for female athletes, her difficult relationships with family and her desire to "engage" with her life. It is a true life review and it is beautiful to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys powerful memoirs, needs a push of inspiration/motivation and/or understands the journey that is required to work toward a goal; in addition, I must mention that there are some incredible pictures included within the hard copy. For those of you who participate in sports, like running, that lend themselves to chafing, you will not believe what she endured, as seen in some of the pictures (don't worry - they're not gross!) included in the book.