Growing up, Berkeley-based writer Bonnie Tsui’s father treated her as the athletic equal to all of the male athletes with whom she interacted. This was especially important in her home; her father, an intense multidisciplinary athlete, wove physical activity into the fabric of her family’s life. She recalls doing exercise routines with him from a young age, going on post-dinner jogs, and sparring with her brother. Throughout it all, she was never made to feel that she had less capacity for strength, speed, endurance, and any other form of athleticism than her brother or any other male. “That was normal in my house. But it’s true that once I left the house, the outside world was sending very different messages,” Tsui said.
Tsui has written four books, including “Why We Swim,” one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2020, and On Muscle, an NPR Best of 2025 Staff Pick.
A 2022 Women In Sports research report found that 50 percent of girls do not feel that they are good enough to participate in sports, and 61 percent of them feel judged when playing sports. An environment that values women’s athleticism like Bonnie Tsui’s childhood home is rare and can strongly influence the way girls view themselves. “Sports are just so important for kids growing up because you really feel capable and strong. You can use your body to feel good and it’s not just about what it looks like,” Tsui said.
Aside from writing books, Tsui is also an accomplished short-form journalist. She has written for publications such as The Atlantic, The New York Times, TIME, and ELLE Magazine. In a 2025 ELLE piece, called “Big Shoulders Are In,” she delves into pop culture and body image, from Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour to rugby star Ilona Maher.
Tsui not only shows versatility in the mediums in which she writes, but also in the styles which she incorporates into her books, mixing personal memoir, research, art, and culture seamlessly.
“As a journalist, traditionally you’re supposed to write objectively and you are supposed to report the facts, of course. But I think stylistically, we writers and journalists are humans too with opinions and points of views … And so I think for me, it’s all about following my curiosity … I know if I can’t stop thinking about something that it’s probably something that I should (think about)–that probably other people will also find it fascinating,” Tsui said. She remains an inspiring model for how strong, creative, driven women can reach success.