NPR's Book of the Day

David Litt's new memoir is about finding common ground through surfing


Listen Later

Former Obama speechwriter David Litt and his brother-in-law, Matt, couldn't be more different. But during the pandemic, Matt taught Litt how to surf. The time they spent together out on the water created what Litt refers to as "neutral ground" – a space that isn't coded as liberal or conservative. In today's episode, Litt speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about his new memoir, It's Only Drowning. They discuss the way surfing changed Litt's approach to fear, political discussions, and his perceptions of Matt.

To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

NPR's Book of the DayBy NPR

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

555 ratings


More shows like NPR's Book of the Day

View all
The Book Review by The New York Times

The Book Review

3,864 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,883 Listeners

The New Yorker: Fiction by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker: Fiction

3,326 Listeners

Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

10,971 Listeners

Book Riot - The Podcast by Book Riot

Book Riot - The Podcast

964 Listeners

All the Books! by Book Riot

All the Books!

1,210 Listeners

Well-Read by Ann Cox and Halle Eisenman

Well-Read

219 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,681 Listeners

What Should I Read Next? by Anne Bogel

What Should I Read Next?

5,123 Listeners

It's Been a Minute by NPR

It's Been a Minute

8,945 Listeners

Poured Over by Barnes & Noble

Poured Over

294 Listeners

The Book Case by ABC News | Charlie Gibson, Kate Gibson

The Book Case

903 Listeners

The Interview by The New York Times

The Interview

1,478 Listeners

Critics at Large | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

Critics at Large | The New Yorker

605 Listeners

Wild Card with Rachel Martin by NPR

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

708 Listeners