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We Swim to the Shark
As heard on This American Life
Georgie Codd is scared of fish. Really, really scared.
Loving the sea and resenting her phobia, she plots to cross continents, learn to dive and swim with the world's biggest the mighty whale shark.
Georgie soon plunges into a realm of strange creatures and intrepid diving adventurers. But as her quest to fight fear expands over oceans, the shark remains elusive, and everything else starts to fall apart around her.
'We Swim to the Shark is a lesson in not giving up . . . as with all good adventure stories, the real benefit is in the searching' THE I
'An almost spiritual mission' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
'A terrific read' BBC RADIO NORFOLK
'An enthralling ride' ABC MELBOURNE
Georgie Codd is scared of fish. Really, really scared.
Loving the sea and resenting her phobia, she plots to cross continents, learn to dive and swim with the world's biggest the mighty whale shark.
Georgie soon plunges into a realm of strange creatures and intrepid diving adventurers. But as her quest to fight fear expands over oceans, the shark remains elusive, and everything else starts to fall apart around her.
'We Swim to the Shark is a lesson in not giving up . . . as with all good adventure stories, the real benefit is in the searching' THE I
'An almost spiritual mission' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
'A terrific read' BBC RADIO NORFOLK
'An enthralling ride' ABC MELBOURNE
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 25, 2020
Codd’s offbeat debut memoir chronicles her quest to conquer a phobia of sea creatures. Inspired by a friend’s experience of cognitive behavioral therapy to cure arachnophobia, she crafted a program of controlled exposure. She learned to scuba dive before a trip to New Zealand, returning via Thailand with an ultimate challenge in mind: her quarry was the whale shark, a creature even Jacques Cousteau only managed to sight twice. The book has a jolly, self-deprecating tone despite its exploration of danger and dread. A more directionless second half leads to diminished curiosity about whether that elusive whale shark will make an appearance.
(Full review in the July 10th issue of the Times Literary Supplement.)
(Full review in the July 10th issue of the Times Literary Supplement.)
January 29, 2020
We Swim to the Shark is about a woman named Georgie who’s scared of fish. Not just little fish, BIG fish. Whale sharks to be precise.
She sets off on a journey around the globe to conquer her fear; she wants to swim with them. My mind instantly went to Destiny the whale shark in Finding Dory, but *spoiler alert*, Georgie didn’t find a happy, talking whale shark on her journey.
We Swim to the Shark is non-fiction but reads like a novel. I loved the writing style instantly. Georgie’s narration is entertaining, while at times the vibe is serious I loved her sense of humour, I had a few laugh out loud moments; like when part of her journey sees her living in a couples garden shed.. read the book to find out what happens there!
I didn’t know anything about diving but this book is packed full of knowledge. Georgie speaks to many experts throughout the book and as she gained knowledge I felt like I did too. I had never thought much about diving, I’ve seen it in films but reading this book if you don’t know much about it, you will by the time you’re done. I was surprised by the amount of precision that goes into diving.
One word I would use to describe this book is: inspiring.To face your fears head on is brave and Georgie didn’t give up. There were many bumps along the road for her but she didn’t let the bumps deter her. It’s inspired me to try and face my fears more.
This is a book that contains sheer determination, a few fails that make Georgie stronger and mainly a real life story that you can do anything when you put your mind to it. And get epic rewards from life when you don’t give up.
I also now know how big whale sharks are... they’re HUGE!
She sets off on a journey around the globe to conquer her fear; she wants to swim with them. My mind instantly went to Destiny the whale shark in Finding Dory, but *spoiler alert*, Georgie didn’t find a happy, talking whale shark on her journey.
We Swim to the Shark is non-fiction but reads like a novel. I loved the writing style instantly. Georgie’s narration is entertaining, while at times the vibe is serious I loved her sense of humour, I had a few laugh out loud moments; like when part of her journey sees her living in a couples garden shed.. read the book to find out what happens there!
I didn’t know anything about diving but this book is packed full of knowledge. Georgie speaks to many experts throughout the book and as she gained knowledge I felt like I did too. I had never thought much about diving, I’ve seen it in films but reading this book if you don’t know much about it, you will by the time you’re done. I was surprised by the amount of precision that goes into diving.
One word I would use to describe this book is: inspiring.To face your fears head on is brave and Georgie didn’t give up. There were many bumps along the road for her but she didn’t let the bumps deter her. It’s inspired me to try and face my fears more.
This is a book that contains sheer determination, a few fails that make Georgie stronger and mainly a real life story that you can do anything when you put your mind to it. And get epic rewards from life when you don’t give up.
I also now know how big whale sharks are... they’re HUGE!
May 23, 2020
An interesting and very readable account of a woman's journey to overcome her fish phobia.
Having never encountered anything like the fears she describes, and not knowing the author personally, the enormity of her quest didn't quite resonate with me and I often felt a little detached. There's some repetitive elements too; it's just the nature of her process, and in fairness this did help me grasp the level of fear she was battling.
However, it helps that she's a great writer; the dangers of the deep are as stark as they are alluring, and I found myself yearning to dive in the treacherous locations she discusses, with the animals that terrify her so. Along the way she meets an eclectic set of characters with blood-freezing tales of diving adventures, and shares her ever-increasing knowledge of ocean life in well-measured, humorous doses.
If you suffer from fears or anxieties and want to understand or even beat them, pick this up - it will inform, inspire, and entertain you.
Having never encountered anything like the fears she describes, and not knowing the author personally, the enormity of her quest didn't quite resonate with me and I often felt a little detached. There's some repetitive elements too; it's just the nature of her process, and in fairness this did help me grasp the level of fear she was battling.
However, it helps that she's a great writer; the dangers of the deep are as stark as they are alluring, and I found myself yearning to dive in the treacherous locations she discusses, with the animals that terrify her so. Along the way she meets an eclectic set of characters with blood-freezing tales of diving adventures, and shares her ever-increasing knowledge of ocean life in well-measured, humorous doses.
If you suffer from fears or anxieties and want to understand or even beat them, pick this up - it will inform, inspire, and entertain you.
June 23, 2021
IM A BIG WHALE SHARK FAN. AND ASPIRING DIVER. I have this book tabbed and bookmarked to high heaven I love it and I might be biased as a whale shark/fish fan but so be it. I love and support you Miss Codd I loved reading about your fish journey
March 3, 2020
We Swim To The Shark – how a Dorset writer learned to conquer her phobia
IF you were born with the name Codd, raised by a loving, close-knit circle of family and friends, grew up by the sea on the Dorset coast and swam like a mermaid, the last thing you would expect is to develop an all-consuming fear of the creatures that live in the ocean.
The chances of someone with that background developing such a fear and suffering the crushing terror that earns the scientific description “phobia” ought to be zero, but, Georgie Codd's ichthyophobia became so overwhelming that she realised she would have to do something about it. She thought a lot, she talked to a friend who had undertaken cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to deal with her arachnophobia (fear of spiders), and eventually she decided that the way to deal with her fears was to confront them.
So she set out to learn to scuba dive, to swim with fishes and eventually to swim with the biggest fish of them all, the Great White Shark.
A graduate of the famous creative writing course at the University of East Anglia, Georgie Codd gives a powerful account of her phobia and how she conquered it, in her first book, We Swim To The Shark.
From freezing cold English lakes to the balmy seas off Thailand, from backpacker hostels, where bugs and sex-starved drunks were as much a hazard as any sea creatures, to the murky depths of underwater wrecks, this is a journey through the writer's psyche as much as a scientific travelogue.
Engrossing, exciting and very well-written, We Swim To The Shark is about a lot more than learning to dive and conquering her fear of fish, it is about the financial, psychological, emotional and practical challenges she faced and it is a well-researched study of the history, literature and allure of deep-sea diving.
For most of us, the thronging enthralling life beneath the ocean surface will only be seen on David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, but George Codd saw these astonishing creatures up close and personal, witnessed at first hand some of the impacts of man’s profligate abuse of the oceans, and experienced a sense of the dangers inherent in going a long way under the surface of the sea with nothing but your equipment, your training and the support of your dive partners.
This is also a moving memoir of Georgie’s relationship with her grandmother, who helped to bring her up, and who died before this book was finished. We Swim To The Shark is dedicated to “Granny Codd” and the warmth, strength and support of her grandmother is present throughout the book.
George Codd was not fearless – she was full of fear, but by making this journey not only into the deep blue but into her own psyche. she learned to swim with sharks and in the process found love and a powerful voice as a writer.
IF you were born with the name Codd, raised by a loving, close-knit circle of family and friends, grew up by the sea on the Dorset coast and swam like a mermaid, the last thing you would expect is to develop an all-consuming fear of the creatures that live in the ocean.
The chances of someone with that background developing such a fear and suffering the crushing terror that earns the scientific description “phobia” ought to be zero, but, Georgie Codd's ichthyophobia became so overwhelming that she realised she would have to do something about it. She thought a lot, she talked to a friend who had undertaken cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to deal with her arachnophobia (fear of spiders), and eventually she decided that the way to deal with her fears was to confront them.
So she set out to learn to scuba dive, to swim with fishes and eventually to swim with the biggest fish of them all, the Great White Shark.
A graduate of the famous creative writing course at the University of East Anglia, Georgie Codd gives a powerful account of her phobia and how she conquered it, in her first book, We Swim To The Shark.
From freezing cold English lakes to the balmy seas off Thailand, from backpacker hostels, where bugs and sex-starved drunks were as much a hazard as any sea creatures, to the murky depths of underwater wrecks, this is a journey through the writer's psyche as much as a scientific travelogue.
Engrossing, exciting and very well-written, We Swim To The Shark is about a lot more than learning to dive and conquering her fear of fish, it is about the financial, psychological, emotional and practical challenges she faced and it is a well-researched study of the history, literature and allure of deep-sea diving.
For most of us, the thronging enthralling life beneath the ocean surface will only be seen on David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, but George Codd saw these astonishing creatures up close and personal, witnessed at first hand some of the impacts of man’s profligate abuse of the oceans, and experienced a sense of the dangers inherent in going a long way under the surface of the sea with nothing but your equipment, your training and the support of your dive partners.
This is also a moving memoir of Georgie’s relationship with her grandmother, who helped to bring her up, and who died before this book was finished. We Swim To The Shark is dedicated to “Granny Codd” and the warmth, strength and support of her grandmother is present throughout the book.
George Codd was not fearless – she was full of fear, but by making this journey not only into the deep blue but into her own psyche. she learned to swim with sharks and in the process found love and a powerful voice as a writer.
February 5, 2020
‘We Swim To The Shark’ is an inspiring memoir which is jam packed with information about the ocean and diving. Georgie Codd beautifully describes the ocean and it’s creatures and it made me want to visit the places she travelled to.
This book reads like fiction most of the time and I really enjoyed it for that reason. It was slightly repetitive at times but Georgie’s journey to find her whale shark and conquer her fear of fish really kept me gripped and eager to find out if she succeeded!
This book reads like fiction most of the time and I really enjoyed it for that reason. It was slightly repetitive at times but Georgie’s journey to find her whale shark and conquer her fear of fish really kept me gripped and eager to find out if she succeeded!
September 28, 2022
This book is deceptively wonderful. I picked it up thinking it would be an interesting read on one of my most favourite kinds of animal: sharks. However, much to my delight, I discovered that it is much more a journey through fear, self-discovery and acceptance of the nature of life.
I began the book thinking quite little of Codd, a timid yet impulsive young woman going through the motions of life. I disliked her boyfriend and her inability to acknowledge his childishness. I think this dislike came from a place of relation in more than one way.
As Codd works through her project to overcome her fear of fish, she learns a great deal: about grief, about sharks, about the horrors of the fishing industry and importantly about herself. I would just say that Granny Codd was nearly 100 and Codd never acknowledged that and still seemed to blame herself for her grandmother's death.
Having the book end with not one whale shark encounter but three was tremendous! I'm glad she gained an appreciation for those beautiful giants and I am insanely jealous. I will take with me the lessons in this book although I don't think I will get over my fear of spiders at any point soon.
I began the book thinking quite little of Codd, a timid yet impulsive young woman going through the motions of life. I disliked her boyfriend and her inability to acknowledge his childishness. I think this dislike came from a place of relation in more than one way.
As Codd works through her project to overcome her fear of fish, she learns a great deal: about grief, about sharks, about the horrors of the fishing industry and importantly about herself. I would just say that Granny Codd was nearly 100 and Codd never acknowledged that and still seemed to blame herself for her grandmother's death.
Having the book end with not one whale shark encounter but three was tremendous! I'm glad she gained an appreciation for those beautiful giants and I am insanely jealous. I will take with me the lessons in this book although I don't think I will get over my fear of spiders at any point soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2024
This is a profound, slightly nerdy journey of
Georgie Codd that tugs at your feelings of empathy. The author suffers from ichthyophobia, a fear of fish-- in fact, a fear of everything that lives in the murky deep. She determinedly decides to overcome this fear on this therapeutic journey with the end goal of swimming face to face with the largest fish of all, the whale shark. I am a lover of this species and enjoy learning all about marine biology, having grown up watching Shark Week every summer and being an avid fan of all nature documentaries. This novel incorporates research into not only marine species but also diving and oceanic exploration in its many forms.
We follow Georgie on her learning journey and can see how her experiences over several years of exploring seas and oceans all over the world have helped her overcome not only her initial fear but life trauma of events past and those unfolding throughout this time period.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself rooting for her throughout. I'm sorry I've finished it!
Georgie Codd that tugs at your feelings of empathy. The author suffers from ichthyophobia, a fear of fish-- in fact, a fear of everything that lives in the murky deep. She determinedly decides to overcome this fear on this therapeutic journey with the end goal of swimming face to face with the largest fish of all, the whale shark. I am a lover of this species and enjoy learning all about marine biology, having grown up watching Shark Week every summer and being an avid fan of all nature documentaries. This novel incorporates research into not only marine species but also diving and oceanic exploration in its many forms.
We follow Georgie on her learning journey and can see how her experiences over several years of exploring seas and oceans all over the world have helped her overcome not only her initial fear but life trauma of events past and those unfolding throughout this time period.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself rooting for her throughout. I'm sorry I've finished it!
February 28, 2020
The story of confronting a life long fear of fish by deciding to swim with largest of all, the whale shark. In the course of a determined, physically demanding and sometimes dangerous odyssey, the author, Georgina Codd, meets many similarly emotionally displaced people along the way. Brought up by her mother and grandmother adjusting to her grief and loss at the latter’s death lies at the heart of this book.
Entertaining and at times extremely funny, readers will learn about marine biology, climate change and the importance of oceans. Codd is one of the only women to write, with first hand knowledge and considerable personal courage, about the science of underwater exploration, decompression chambers and divers.
Her entertaining and accessible journalistic writing style makes this book as easy to read as the best fiction. Part travelogue, part odyssey and completely engaging. A must read.
Entertaining and at times extremely funny, readers will learn about marine biology, climate change and the importance of oceans. Codd is one of the only women to write, with first hand knowledge and considerable personal courage, about the science of underwater exploration, decompression chambers and divers.
Her entertaining and accessible journalistic writing style makes this book as easy to read as the best fiction. Part travelogue, part odyssey and completely engaging. A must read.
July 10, 2020
I’ve been trying to read more non-fiction recently, so when a friend of a friend reached out to ask if I’d like to read about her mission to tackle a fear of the unknown through diving, I jumped at the chance.
We Swim To The Shark isn’t my usual read but I found it fascinating. I learnt so much about diving, I was taken on a journey around the world to some incredible places despite currently being very much stuck at home, and I was taught that sometimes a fear or phobia is much deeper than it appears on the surface.
Georgie Codd has inspired me to want to learn more about the world, and go on my own big adventure! The time and effort that went into this epic journey is incredible and it shows on every single page.
We Swim To The Shark isn’t my usual read but I found it fascinating. I learnt so much about diving, I was taken on a journey around the world to some incredible places despite currently being very much stuck at home, and I was taught that sometimes a fear or phobia is much deeper than it appears on the surface.
Georgie Codd has inspired me to want to learn more about the world, and go on my own big adventure! The time and effort that went into this epic journey is incredible and it shows on every single page.
April 25, 2026
A memoir about facing fears head on. Inspired by exposure therapy, Georgie Codd, who has a fish phobia, learns to scuba dive and free dive in a mission to swim with the world’s largest fish, the whale shark. Along the way, she meets all sorts of marine-obsessed individuals—a record-breaking scuba diver, a bathynaut, biologists—and immerses herself in diving knowledge and anecdotes. I found this interesting, especially the part where she visits a hyperbaric chamber. But, somewhere in the middle, the story seems to lose its narrative tension. I had trouble finishing the book and only stuck to it because the early parts had been so illuminating.
April 8, 2020
As someone who loves snorkelling but is still terrified of putting their head underwater, this felt like the perfect read. It sounds cliched but you do go on a journey with the author, who is a warm and engaging narrator. I was surprised by how much technical knowledge and real-life diving stories are also packed into the book, but it’s weaved seamlessly throughout that it feels fresh and easy to understand. Came away from this book definitely having learned a lot, and had some laughs too!! Would recommend as a good book for some escapism right now.
May 23, 2020
This book is a ray of sun shine and some much needed escapism during this lockdown weirdness. Following dreams, travelling to exotic places while being firmly set in reality, Georgie’s story is hilarious and tragic at parts and completely relatable (though perhaps she is a little (a LOT) braver than some of us -and I don’t just mean swimming with sharks and rays). I can’t recommend it enough for those who are missing travelling the world and seeking new adventures.
April 3, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Georgie's adventures of trying to discover whale sharks, managing fear and overcoming setbacks. I found it a really inspiring read and found myself questioning my own fears along the way.
I enjoyed the writing style and found it really easy to get into and want to keep reading! Would recommend for anyone who has ever felt overcome by any kind of fear in life!
I enjoyed the writing style and found it really easy to get into and want to keep reading! Would recommend for anyone who has ever felt overcome by any kind of fear in life!
February 8, 2020
I loved it. Adventurous, informative, entertaining and insightful. In this honest, inspirational tale of Codd’s quest to face down her deep-sea demons she comes face-to-face with many of the monsters that haunt us all: heartbreak, loneliness, loss. Yet even in the deepest, murkiest waters Codd’s hope, determination and humour win through. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend!
January 22, 2025
I’m not sure why I liked this book so, but I loved it.
A beautiful and intriguing account of how Georgie Codd decided to face her fear of fish. Along the way she shares facts about both sharks and diving and the whole book is filled with delightful anecdotes as well as some truly terrifying ones!
A really charming book.
A beautiful and intriguing account of how Georgie Codd decided to face her fear of fish. Along the way she shares facts about both sharks and diving and the whole book is filled with delightful anecdotes as well as some truly terrifying ones!
A really charming book.
February 1, 2020
Incredible read
May 4, 2020
Brilliant, a modern day adventure story with real monsters. Immerse yourself underwater with Codd's words.
February 27, 2020
A book about a fear of fish by an author called Codd, what's not to like? But that's not all to like, it is a true story of courage that is needed in all areas of our lives. We all have to swim to our own sharks. An immersive and inspiring tale.
January 3, 2025
A year on, I still think about this book. Georgie Codd manages to poignantly and subtly weave themes of family, relationships, and femininity within this amazing story of conquering a fear of fish. I found the sections relating to Georgie’s grandmother particularly moving and close to home. For anyone who wants inspiration to tackle something they fear or open their eyes to something new - read this book. I went scuba diving for the first time this year… which I doubt I’d have done without reading this book!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews