What do you think?
Rate this book
It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground
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.
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.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2025
54 people are currently reading
7865 people want to read
About the author
David Litt
6 books374 followersDavid Litt entered the White House as a speechwriter in 2011, and left in 2016 as a senior presidential speechwriter and special assistant to the president. In addition to writing remarks for President Barack Obama on a wide range of domestic policy issues, David served as the lead joke writer for several White House Correspondents’ Dinner monologues. Since leaving government, David has written speeches, op-eds, and jokes for Fortune 100 CEOs, professional athletes, leading philanthropists, and prominent political figures.
His New York Times bestselling memoir, Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years, was published in 2017. His second book will be released on June 16, 2020. He is currently developing a sitcom for ABC based on his life in DC.
His New York Times bestselling memoir, Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years, was published in 2017. His second book will be released on June 16, 2020. He is currently developing a sitcom for ABC based on his life in DC.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 5, 2025
When I got notified from 카지노싸이트 that I won this book, I asked myself why I had even entered the giveaway. I’m in Oklahoma and know absolutely nothing about surfing. But put a book in my hands and I’m compelled to read it. I’m really glad I read this one. It’s about surfing and so much more. It’s deep and fun at the same time. It drew me in but didn’t drown me. It was the perfect break from murder mysteries.
March 14, 2025
I waffle between a 3 and a 3.5. I liked the idea of this book and it had a handful of moments that resonated with me but a lot of the time certain connections felt tenuous and metaphors felt really forced or not well linked. There also just felt like some crucial insights missing—especially the notion that his wife who’s very liberal has this conservative brother—what’s the story there what was her relationship to him. I feel like I was told a lot about the brother and there was a lot of inferring or putting attitudes on the brother that may have not existed while not interrogating other more interesting ideas like why he felt so rattled being out of the country that might have had interesting answers. Also I’m interested in surfing but a lot of the time the descriptions of the waves felt very hard to picture. That’s a really lofty task though to differentiate what could be a repetitive image while also not getting so technically in the weeds. It had its moments of clarity and at the end, Litt came to some beautiful conclusions that will stick with me like milestones aren’t who you are but where you were in a certain moment. That’s lovely.
February 16, 2025
[4.5 Stars] It’s Only Drowning by David Litt is a candid and heartfelt memoir that blends personal transformation with the pursuit of joy in the most unlikely of places: the ocean. At 35, Litt, a former Obama speechwriter, finds himself struggling with a sense of personal and societal malaise in the wake of the COVID pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. During this period, Litt stumbles upon surfing, a pastime (and lifestyle) he knows little about but which his brother-in-law, Matt, an electrician with a love for heavy metal and Joe Rogan, has embraced.
The story follows Litt’s journey of learning to surf on the Jersey shore, a pursuit that slowly becomes a form of refuge and escape from the overwhelming state of the world. Through his surf sessions with Matt, Litt delves into his own personal growth, discovering how this challenging sport serves as a metaphor for life itself—full of falls, facing fears, perseverance, and moments of unexpected clarity. The relationship between Litt and Matt forms the emotional core of the memoir, with the contrast between their personalities—Litt’s intellectual, reflective nature versus Matt’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach to life—adding both humor and depth to the narrative.
As someone who learned to surf at the age of six, the lessons and experiences shared by the author resonated with me. I could completely empathize with getting pummeled by a huge set, riding the best wave of your life, and feeling all the emotions in between. The struggle of giving yourself up to the ocean—letting go of the need for control—is a powerful but important life lesson. Living in Maine, it’s been a while since I’ve surfed, but this book has inspired me to get back out there, and to bring my daughter along for the ride. She's five now, and I think it’s the perfect time to expose her to the invaluable lessons the ocean has to offer for those brave enough to answer the call.
David, I hope you keep surfing. Your journey is one that many will relate to, and for anyone considering picking up this book, I highly recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were perhaps a few too many analogies, but even so, it was an enjoyable and heartfelt read. Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books, and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book!
The story follows Litt’s journey of learning to surf on the Jersey shore, a pursuit that slowly becomes a form of refuge and escape from the overwhelming state of the world. Through his surf sessions with Matt, Litt delves into his own personal growth, discovering how this challenging sport serves as a metaphor for life itself—full of falls, facing fears, perseverance, and moments of unexpected clarity. The relationship between Litt and Matt forms the emotional core of the memoir, with the contrast between their personalities—Litt’s intellectual, reflective nature versus Matt’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach to life—adding both humor and depth to the narrative.
As someone who learned to surf at the age of six, the lessons and experiences shared by the author resonated with me. I could completely empathize with getting pummeled by a huge set, riding the best wave of your life, and feeling all the emotions in between. The struggle of giving yourself up to the ocean—letting go of the need for control—is a powerful but important life lesson. Living in Maine, it’s been a while since I’ve surfed, but this book has inspired me to get back out there, and to bring my daughter along for the ride. She's five now, and I think it’s the perfect time to expose her to the invaluable lessons the ocean has to offer for those brave enough to answer the call.
David, I hope you keep surfing. Your journey is one that many will relate to, and for anyone considering picking up this book, I highly recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were perhaps a few too many analogies, but even so, it was an enjoyable and heartfelt read. Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books, and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book!
Read
March 2, 2025I can't believe I read, and loved, a book about surfing. I'm pretty sure I laughed out loud more than almost any other book I've ever read. David Litt was a speechwriter for President Obama. That's probably sufficient description to get an idea of the type of person he is and what his interests are - progressive politics, news and information, big city food and entertainment etc. David is married to Jacqui - a DC lawyer. Jacqui has a brother, Matt, who is the polar opposite of David in every way imaginable. He owns motorcycles, drives a pick-up truck, works in construction, doesn't vote or vax, and is practically a professional level surfer. Over the years of David's and Jacqui's relationship, David and Matt's relationship could be described as mostly non-existent. During covid, David fell apart. He knew he needed to try a new approach to life so he decided to learn to surf. Being the type A person he is, he didn't just want to learn, he wanted to be able to surf the North Shore in Hawaii - apparently among the most challenging surf waters in the world. While this memoir of a year or two in David's life is about learning to surf, it's also, and most interestingly, about two guys, who don't see eye-to-eye on anything, developing a true friendship. Great read and so relevant.
April 28, 2025
Thank you to Gallery books for the ARC!
My heart really needed this book right now. Sharp, funny, thoughtful, and at its core incredibly kind It's Only Drowning is a book about surfing but it's also about finding yourself (and others) when you're lost in the bigness of the world. I was caught off guard by laughs and heartache. I can't recommend this book enough.
My heart really needed this book right now. Sharp, funny, thoughtful, and at its core incredibly kind It's Only Drowning is a book about surfing but it's also about finding yourself (and others) when you're lost in the bigness of the world. I was caught off guard by laughs and heartache. I can't recommend this book enough.
June 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this nonfiction story about a man who learns to surf, and how his new hobby gave him more opportunities to connect with his brother-in-law who, on the surface (land?!), he had nothing in common with.
The first chapter of this book won me over with the author’s humor. I was immediately drawn in to the self-deprecating, dark humor I deeply love. Litt was a speech writer for Obama and he writes in an approachable, clear way.
If you read the synopsis this might seem like a political book, but I would say the political differences were far less featured than the surfing. This is definitely a book about surfing!
There were times in this book I felt frustrated at the lack of dialogue/confrontation between the two main characters, but I just reminded myself they are both middle-aged dudes choosing to surf in 40 degree water, and I could move on.
Lastly, while this book doesn’t give a Pollyanna ending with a depiction of two arms reaching across the aisle to shake hands, I really enjoyed how the author concluded the book and spoke, in an authentic way, about being in relationships with people you disagree with.
The first chapter of this book won me over with the author’s humor. I was immediately drawn in to the self-deprecating, dark humor I deeply love. Litt was a speech writer for Obama and he writes in an approachable, clear way.
If you read the synopsis this might seem like a political book, but I would say the political differences were far less featured than the surfing. This is definitely a book about surfing!
There were times in this book I felt frustrated at the lack of dialogue/confrontation between the two main characters, but I just reminded myself they are both middle-aged dudes choosing to surf in 40 degree water, and I could move on.
Lastly, while this book doesn’t give a Pollyanna ending with a depiction of two arms reaching across the aisle to shake hands, I really enjoyed how the author concluded the book and spoke, in an authentic way, about being in relationships with people you disagree with.
June 13, 2025
I received an advanced reading copy of this book (an ARC) and had to wait a few weeks to start it. Once I did, though, I was pulled in right away. A reader doesn't have to love -- or even care about -- surfing in order to enjoy the book. Litt is a former White House speechwriter (he wrote the book, Thanks, Obama) who finds himself down and out during COVID. Since he lives close to the beach in New Jersey, he decides to take up surfing, really just to try something new. He sucks at first, but gets better, and along the way gets closer to his libertarian, tough-guy brother-in-law, Matt. Litt and Matt travel to California, a surf tank in Waco, TX, Spain, and eventually to Hawaii to surf together, not exactly growing closer politically or culturally, but definitely becoming more comfortable with each other. That's the part of the story I loved most: the ordinariness of the quest to do something new, take on something hard, convince yourself your best discoveries aren't behind you. And Litt is so sharp and funny. I cracked up a bunch reading this book. I found myself turning off the TV a little earlier every night just so I could read for a little while longer. Totally enjoyable. Worth everyone's time.
June 29, 2025
I read half this book the day before I was going to hear this author speak, and finished it the next day. Funny, how a book about surfing was about so much more. Perhaps I only gave it 4 stars because there were more details about surfing than I was interested in, but for life lessons, it deserves 5 stars. David Litt's memoir is an important lesson about getting along with people who don't think like you at all, and how it is possible to become close friends. This is timely with the ongoing chaos and division that is threatening to destroy our country. So many more lessons about facing our fears, challenging ourselves, and being ok with failure. Failing just means you are better after the failure than you were before. This book certainly convinced me to never try surfing, but it also convinced me to view people differently, and to stop making assumptions about them because they have views opposite to mine. This book made me feel hopeful about our country and world- a feeling that's been missing for too long.
March 6, 2025
During the Pandemic, while working remotely from his Jersey Shore house, former Obama speechwriter David Litt found himself doomscrolling the news and falling into a depression. To counter this, he took up surfing, considered an absolute feat at 35 years old. I had zero interest in surfing before reading this book, yet I could not stop reading; I was riveted. Litt tells his story of learning to surf, at first googling anything that could go wrong and tracking the local tagged shark population, and eventually traveling the world to learn to surf. Through surfing, Litt also connects to his brother in law, Matt, who has been surfing for decades. Matt and David are near polar opposites, and I loved the buddy-comedy aspect that carries throughout the book. This book is a treat to read. I'm on to "Barbarian Days" next.
June 29, 2025
I’m so happy David Litt wrote another book. What a mind, and a what a way with words!
I don’t know a thing about surfing, and I doubt I’ll ever need to know much about it. That made no difference. David’s detailed descriptions and offbeat metaphors made clear what he was facing as he learned to surf, and I loved being inside his beginner’s mind.
And really, the sport was only a fraction of the story. This book is much more about cultural divides, family dynamics, and how our decisions (to relate or not to relate) affect the big and small matters of our lives.
Will David run for office someday? I don’t know. Regardless, he’s got to keep writing.
I don’t know a thing about surfing, and I doubt I’ll ever need to know much about it. That made no difference. David’s detailed descriptions and offbeat metaphors made clear what he was facing as he learned to surf, and I loved being inside his beginner’s mind.
And really, the sport was only a fraction of the story. This book is much more about cultural divides, family dynamics, and how our decisions (to relate or not to relate) affect the big and small matters of our lives.
Will David run for office someday? I don’t know. Regardless, he’s got to keep writing.
April 7, 2025
This was such a fun read. I’ve lived on the central coast my whole life and was always intrigued with surfing but would never try it myself bc I’m not brave like that. This was a great read for me bc it was interesting and informative and really made me feel like I went on this journey with David and Matt. Also this is not my typical type of read as I am more of a romance books girly but this book surprised me and helped me get out of a mini reading slump I was in. It was also honestly pretty funny. This is one that I would for sure recommend.
May 15, 2025
I loved the way the author writes - it seems whimsical, almost flippant, yet easy to read while addressing topics that could really make us down. It's only drowning seems to downplay the seriousness of the political moment by making it more digestible. Depending on your take (side) of the political spectrum, these times can make us depressed so the books tries to make us think about how to address our fears by talking about surfing, it's challenges, the challenges of seeing another side of life and how others live it. I think "it's only drowning" is my new mantra.
July 1, 2025
I felt mixed about this book — much of the value and heart of this came out in the last 10 pages. And, like so many books about surfing, I wish it came paired with an accompanying YouTube video explaining the physics and terrain of waves to make sense of the many many many pages describing surfing attempts.
January 13, 2025
Sometimes funny, this memoir of learning to surf as a 30 something also encompasses trying to find “common ground” across an all too familiar political divide-yet without ever really talking about anything.
May 14, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book. I love the relationship Litt has with his brother-in-law and how although, they are different they respect each other.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.