The Plunge

SKU: 9780241753583
The Plunge - Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water by Chris Ballard

The Plunge

SKU: 9780241753583
Author: Chris Ballard
C-Format·Ages 18+
RW Saving 10%
/
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
In stock
Dispatches in 1–3 working days
  • STORE COLLECTION - Collect in-store within 5-10 working days (R20).
  • INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING available. See Shipping information below for delivery times and terms.
Lifelong athlete and Sports Illustrated writer Chris Ballard worried his days of exercise were numbered. Then he received a fateful text message about a trend taking hold around the world: submerging in freezing cold water. It wasn't only thrill seekers or wellness gurus extolling its power. Swimmers have long known that when paired with cold, their sport delivers extraordinary rewards; now, modern research has shown that just a few minutes in cold water can deliver remarkable benefits: heightened energy and focus, reduced inflammation, and relief from depression and anxiety. In The Plunge, Ballard travels to laboratories and swims in waters around the world, from Portsmouth to the Pacific, tracing the roots of cold water swimming in ancient practices largely lost in the modern world. He immerses himself in the growing tribe of cold-water junkies of all ages, shapes and nationalities, from pioneers like Lynne Cox to visionaries like Ram Barkai, whose audacious dream of getting ice swimming into the Olympics edges closer to reality. And, from cold plunging to open water swimming to ice swimming, he tests his limits in this extreme sport, eventually becoming a US national champion, his body and mind transformed along the way. Blending history, cutting-edge science, colourful characters, and propulsive narrative storytelling, it's a rollicking, eye-opening adventure that reveals how a single act -- stepping into cold water -- can unlock resilience, connection, meaning and joy.

Book details

Format
C-Format
Reading age
18+
Pages
320
Publisher
Penguin Random House
Published
30 July 2026
Language
English
ISBN
9780241753583

SOUTH AFRICAN SHIPPING

In-store collection is R20 and will be available for collection anywhere between 5-10 working days. The relevant store will contact you when your order is ready for collection.

Courier Delivery - Shipping is calculated at checkout. Orders are dispatched within 1-3 working days.

Our shipping is currently calculated by the delivery address area.

NB: Exact delivery times cannot be guaranteed once your order has been collected by the courier. Please use your tracking number to follow up and get exact delivery times.

RETURNS AND EXCHANGES

See conditions and procedure in our return FAQs

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

Our product prices do not include any tax and duties. Should there be any duties or taxes the receiver will be liable to pay these fees on receipt of order. Please refer to your local tax authorities on any expected fees in your local states or country.

We do not accept returns and exchanges on international orders.

This section doesn’t currently include any content. Add content to this section using the sidebar.