David Litt, a former senior speechwriter for Obama and bestselling author, shares his amusing journey of learning to surf during the pandemic. He recounts his chaotic lessons alongside his contrasting brother-in-law, sparking unexpected camaraderie despite their differences. The conversation explores how surfing serves as a lens for understanding cultural divides, emphasizes the importance of embracing fear for personal growth, and highlights the power of dialogue in bridging divides through joy and shared experiences.
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insights INSIGHT
Wipeouts as Life Lessons
David applied surfing's lesson that every wipeout makes you better to everyday life challenges.
This mindset helped him see progress in writing and other parts of life, boosting his overall growth.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Terrifying Hurricane Swell Experience
David Litt describes the harrowing experience of being pummeled by a six-foot wave during a hurricane swell while learning to surf.
He experienced a terrifying hold-down where he was trapped under water and unable to breathe, highlighting the physical and mental challenge of surfing.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Embrace Public Embarrassment
Embrace looking foolish and take satisfaction in trying new challenges.
Persisting despite public embarrassment builds courage and improves performance over time.
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Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is a memoir by William Finnegan that chronicles his lifelong obsession with surfing. The book is an intellectual autobiography, social history, and literary exploration of surfing as a way of life. It follows Finnegan's journey from California and Hawaii to various parts of the world, detailing his experiences and reflections on surfing, identity, and morality.
A River Runs Through It
Norman Maclean
The book is set in the small towns and mountains of western Montana and revolves around the narrator, Norman Maclean, and his brother Paul. It delves into their experiences with fly fishing, their close-knit family, and the broader themes of life, nature, and human relationships. The story is a blend of memoir, elegy, and allegory, using fly fishing as a metaphor to explore deeper existential questions. The narrative is marked by vivid descriptions of nature and a poignant reflection on the author's past, particularly the tragic events that shaped his life[2][3][5].
It's Only Drowning
It's Only Drowning
David Litt
In 2020, David Litt, former senior speech writer to President Obama, moved from Washington DC to the Jersey Shore, and felt the need for a jolt of life amidst the pandemic. So he did what anyone would do: David decided he needed to learn to surf. As a sensible Yale-educated, New York Times best selling author, David knew he needed help. And that’s how he ended up bobbing in the ocean with someone who could not be more dissimilar to him, his tattooed, truck driving, death metal enthusiast, Joe Rogan superfan, brother-in-law, Matt. The sea salt comedy of errors, became the basis of David's brand new book "It's Only Drowning: A true story of learning to surf and the pursuit of common ground." And while it hilariously recounts David’s learning process, the book is also a surprising investigation of the current American culture war, the roles David and his brother-in-law have been cast into, and how, as unlikely as it would seem, a sport like surfing can help bridge the fissures of class and culture.
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