Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves

Intriguing. Lots to learn. Well written and a lot of fun to read. Some very good lessons built into it.

The most utterly enjoyable, breathtaking and informative book about the depths of the ocean and freediving. This book got me into freediving which has changed my life. I’ve read it cover to cover twice and will probably read it all over again someday.

The book covers a diverse group of experiences that the author was involved in. I learned a few things, and found it to be well written, but lacked depth (no pun intended), as it felt like I was reading articles in Outdoor magazine or the like. Written for the general public and not for those of us who would like to learn more of the scientific underpinnings of the story. It was, however, entertaining and informative, so I can recommend it on that basis.

I first heard about this book when the author James Nestor was a guest on the Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast however I had already been intrigued by the sport of Freediving since I read an article in ESPN the magazine back in the late 90's. I remember reading about it and being so fascinated by the ability of these seemingly normal human beings diving down to unfathomable depths on a single breath of air. My best friend and I were out in my pool literally 30 minutes after reading the article seeing who could hold their breath the longest and the following day we went to the lake in our community to attempt to reach the bottom near the dock. It was very surprising to me to hear on that podcast episode that most people still had never heard of Freediving. Hopefully this book will bring the sport into the light because it is truly amazing. The book starts out with the author who works for Outdoor Magazine being sent half way around the world for a competition that he had never heard of before. After witnessing the event he began a quest to understand how this was possible. Along the way he discovered many intriguing things about human physiology, the ocean and the organisms that live in it. His adventure brought him from Freediving competitions to taking a Freediving course to diving with a research team studying sperm whales...he even took a ride in a homemade submarine! I love the way the book is presented, the chapters are arranged brilliantly and it was very hard to put down. The author puts a spotlight on cultures that have used this ability to activate the Mammalian Dive Reflex for centuries. I extremely enjoyed reading this book as it has expanded my knowledge of ocean biology and the possibilities of human physiology.

Just for the record, I can't swim. This would normally not be one I would pick up. As it turns out, it was one I couldn't put down. Interesting and engaging from start to finish. I had listened to the author on a couple podcasts and thought I would give it a chance. I am looking forward to reading James Nestor's other book, and others he may write in the future.

Heard a podcast interview with the author, so I got the book from the library, read it, shared it with my wife, then bought a copy as a gift. Well written, engaging story with fascinating info about the free diving and what it's like down there in the ocean depths. Highly recommend!

I began reading this book because I am a water enthusiast, scuba dive master and novice freediver (looking to get certified here soon) and I was recommended to read this book. I honestly can't tell you the last time I read a book for fun that wasn't assigned to me for classes at University, and yet, I couldn't put this book down. It's a short and easy read but it is so fascinating and wonderfully written. I thought it would be more of a personal story and account of Mr. Nestor's freediving experience but it turned out to be so much more. Tons of well developed research, in depth interviews and ideas come to play to make this book come to life (not to mention the countless money and hours of flying involved to make the experiences possible). I would highly recommend this to ANYONE who has even the slightest liking to the water, the oceans and the marine life inside of it. It's an inspiring book that changes your perspective about many things once you have finished, and I certainly feel like it's made an impressionable impact on my life. James Nestor- I want to freedive with you one day. It would be an honor.

This book is not only scientifically interesting and a compelling read, but also the way James Nestor writes keeps you engaged like a friend telling you a story. I have read it, recommended it, and this purchase was actually for a book chain some of us did through social media. I don't know how my recipient felt about it, but it was the first one I could imagine sending them! I learned so much about the human body and our instinctual gifts. There are also a few projects going on in the scientific world now due to this book.

I love this book especially James Nestor for writing about the ocean, the theory of life’s origins, free diving as a sport, as a practice for exploration and as a science research tool amongst other things. It shines a warm light on many subjects and ultimately leads us to make our own decisions about what kind of relationship we want to have with ourselves and the world around us, especially the sea and the rich life within it. I enjoyed the journey James shared with us in this book and the conclusions he drew. This is one of those books that I will read again and share with others.

As someone who is already quite familiar with the basics of freediving and is obsessed with marine biology and conservation, the book was nonetheless, a VERY refreshing and informative read. Since I have been waiting to start freediving myself, reading about James Nestor's personal experiences and his induction into the world of freediving felt like he was holding my hand and letting me know what to expect. At the same time, he also transports us into his mind as he marvels at both the wonders and travails of freediving. Along with explaining the history and technicalities of the sport, he also takes us on a journey to the multiple depth zones of the ocean and the incredible creatures that inhabit each and every layer. How he balances the stories of his own adventures along with scientific information about our oceans, along with a conservation perspective, is what makes this book a must-read for anybody who already loves, or is starting to fall in love with the ocean and our relationship to it as humans.

A great training book.

Excellent! J’ai adoré ce livre! Chaque page est un enseignement! Délivre des informations originales sur les océans et la vie qu’ils contiennent! Belle découverte de la plongée en apnée.

James Nestor is great at taking you with him on adventures around the world while teaching you things you never imagined. Great read, finished it within 24 hours, literally couldn’t put it down. As someone who has just started training for freediving this book was informative not just on the technical side but also the attitudes that help keep you safe and remind you to keep your ego in check