Books for returning swimmer (sans coach)

Your doing what I did a year ago, although I never swam in age-group or college and started late in life... I started with the Janet Evans book and followed the workouts for a few months and watched a lot of the video's on YouTube, I learned freestyle from emulating Ian Thorpe as viewed on YouTube. I did it so well that a local USA coach complemented me on my execution of it. Which proves that watching and imitation do work.I needed a coach to learn backstroke, breaststroke and Im still learning the fly! As these stroke are highly technical, so unless your gifted I strongly suggest finding a good coach that has an eye for stroke. You don't want to build bad habits (like I did ) into your routine. (btw stay away from the 'expert' on "Expert Villiage" on YouTube.:)) Ive read most of the books mentioned and in my opinion; 1. Janet Evans Total Swimming is a great way to ease into a workout routine, in small steps. The heart of the book is Janet's workouts, these kept me challenged as a beginning competitive swimmer for the first few months. It also contains some simple dryland exercises. 2. The Fit Swimmer (Marianne Brems) has 120 workouts that are separated into Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. This is good book, again for beginning workouts and getting a routine going. 3. The Swimming Drill Book was a waste of money for me 4. Mastering Swimming (Montgomery/Chambers) is a little more advanced, it basically teaches the hows and whys of the modern workouts. Some basics of stroke, but its not a book of workouts, Its a lot of talk about what most every day USA/USMS swimmer takes for granted. 5. Complete Conditioning for Swimming (Salo / Riewald) This is a dryland exercise book. I have read other books, however there really is no substitution for a coach...If you can, even a private lesson or two will save you hours of frustration and wasted effort. My books now sit silent and gathering dust...

Your doing what I did a year ago, although I never swam in age-group or college and started late in life... I started with the Janet Evans book and followed the workouts for a few months and watched a lot of the video's on YouTube, I learned freestyle from emulating Ian Thorpe as viewed on YouTube. I did it so well that a local USA coach complemented me on my execution of it. Which proves that watching and imitation do work.I needed a coach to learn backstroke, breaststroke and Im still learning the fly! As these stroke are highly technical, so unless your gifted I strongly suggest finding a good coach that has an eye for stroke. You don't want to build bad habits (like I did ) into your routine. (btw stay away from the 'expert' on "Expert Villiage" on YouTube.:)) Ive read most of the books mentioned and in my opinion; 1. Janet Evans Total Swimming is a great way to ease into a workout routine, in small steps. The heart of the book is Janet's workouts, these kept me challenged as a beginning competitive swimmer for the first few months. It also contains some simple dryland exercises. 2. The Fit Swimmer (Marianne Brems) has 120 workouts that are separated into Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. This is good book, again for beginning workouts and getting a routine going. 3. The Swimming Drill Book was a waste of money for me 4. Mastering Swimming (Montgomery/Chambers) is a little more advanced, it basically teaches the hows and whys of the modern workouts. Some basics of stroke, but its not a book of workouts, Its a lot of talk about what most every day USA/USMS swimmer takes for granted. 5. Complete Conditioning for Swimming (Salo / Riewald) This is a dryland exercise book. I have read other books, however there really is no substitution for a coach...If you can, even a private lesson or two will save you hours of frustration and wasted effort. My books now sit silent and gathering dust...