Did you know that women once wore corsets under their bathing suits? Or that “semi-drowning”—the strip and plunge practice—was thought to be good for one’s health? Or that Pudgy Stockton, the body-building queen of Muscle Beach, California, opened the country’s first gym for women?
From the bathhouses of the ancient Greeks to Venice Beach and Coney Island, Let’s Go to the Beach takes a multifaceted and well researched look at beaches and their attendant customs. The text explores such historical transformations as the evolution of the waterways from places of commerce to venues of health and recreation, as well as the bathing suit’s revealing journey from full-body cover-up to string bikini. Information about environmental concerns (including beach safety and preservation), along with quirky facts and trivia, round out this intriguing volume.
Download and start listening now!
“A lighthearted, lively, and concise history of bathing, from ancient Greece to modern-day America, including social history and a brief mention of segregated beaches.” — School Library Journal
“A lighthearted, lively, and concise history of bathing, from ancient Greece to modern-day America, including social history and a brief mention of segregated beaches.”
“[A] fun grab bag of history, trivia, and useful information…Fields reads with vivacity, sounding exactly like a beach enthusiast eager to share her passion.”
“[A] fun grab bag of history, trivia, and useful information.”
“In an informal, entertaining style, Van Steenwyk traces the development of various beaches and their popular recreational activities, past and present.”
" It was an interesting book, but it would have been nice if the recent photos were in color. Black and white just doesn't do a beach justice. "
Elizabeth Van Steenwyk is the award-winning author of more than seventy books for young readers. After graduating from Knox College, she went on to spend ten years writing for radio and television with a concentration on children’s programming. She lives in California
Jennifer Van Dyck has appeared on Broadway in Hedda Gabler, Dancing at Lughnasa, Two Shakespearean Actors, and The Secret Rapture. She has been in new plays by Keith Bunin, Ellen McLaughlin, Catherine Filloux, Douglas Post, A. R. Gurney, and Albert Innaurato. Her film and television credits include Series 7, States of Control, Bullets over Broadway, numerous Law & Order episodes, Ed, Spin City, and The Education of Max Bickford. Her audiobook narrations have won her three AudioFile Earphones Awards.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.