Simon and Schuster, 2026
By Chris Ballard ’95
A deep dive into the world of cold water plunging and swimming that combines adventurous journalism with in-depth research.
“As for cold, we tend to view it as something to be endured, teeth gritted, or better yet, avoided, opting for warm homes and hot showers.
But combine swimming and cold, and do it with others, out in nature? Therein lies the sweet spot. There, you get it all: endorphins, adrenaline, camaraderie, and awe, creating what renowned open water swimmer Lynne Cox has called ‘an acute awareness of your life, in the moment.’
It makes sense. Jump into the ocean or a lake, and where else can you be but right there, right then? No emails, reminders, or to-do lists. No social media scroll, mortgage payments, or broken garage door. You can’t dwell or obsess or loop, because how can you when you’re in five feet of chilled water, a tourist in a foreign ecosystem? In an age when so many of us fight for a moment of clarity or calm, turning to meditation apps, breathing regimens and prescriptions, here is an age-old solution.”