Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Born to Run (2010-07-28) : 5/5
If you are still reading reviews by the tim eyou get to this one, any summary of critique of the book isn't going to change your mind, you've most likey decided to read it and now are just skimming the reviews to see what other people said. So simply put, this is one of the best books I have ever read, Friday Night Lights and Into the Wild put together, mixed with some philosophy and science. I can guarantee that anybody that reads this book will have a shift in perception, no matter who you are or where you come from, if you are human, this book is going to tilt your world on its head. Think Daniel Quinn style, like in Ishmael or Story of B, this author touches universal truths that make the reader view the world differently after reading it. So buy it, don't get it from the library, and read it once or twice before passing it onto a friend. For real.
interesting! (2010-07-27) : 5/5
Even if you don't run but you admire what people can do - very interesting book
The Book that Sent Barefoot Running Mainstream (2010-07-27) : 4/5
Aside from being a very fun read, this book has grown to cult following status. Obviously barefoot running was around before this book came out, but due to the huge hype and attention given to Chris and his best-seller, the barefoot running movement has moved into the mainstream. Today Show, NY Times, etc. Now, I don't know if this was Mr. McDougall's intention but it worked. I even saw a Tarahumara cookbook online the other day!
As far as the book goes, content wise I really enjoyed the story of his adventures with the tribe and the insight into a completely different lifestyle. The way the book went back and forth between story and science was seamless. Especially interesting was the section on WHY we are "Born to Run" and the theory of us vs other animals running "style" (Slow and steady wins the race, and gets the food :))

I highly recommend this book to all runners, especially if you have ever run a marathon or are considering it. It is inspirational and humbling.

When is the follow up book coming out!?

-Chad
Brooklyn Running


Read this even if you don't run...yet (2010-07-25) : 5/5
I am writing this review for those who may pick up the book on a whim, like I did, and come away from it completely astounded, motivated and most of all- curious. I am not a marathon runner- just an average person that tries to stay in shape with exercise here and there.

I have lived my whole life being told that my body type is not for running- that even though I have a small frame- my short and squat legs make running too damaging on my joints. And of course, when I developed a 'permanent injury' at the ripe, old age of 27, I figured they were right. But after reading McDougall's book I learned something- I routinely have purchased new and state of the art running shoes that make me feel like I can sprint into clouds- thinking this is what I have to do as my feet need all the support they can get; I pound the earth like I am wearing 50 lb weights on my ankles; and most of all, my stride is long and my back is curved. I never have known how to truly run. A few weeks ago, I went for a run using McDougall's technique and for the first time ever, I was not tired or in pain after running- and I was smiling.

McDougall is right- this is the answer to America's survival and much more- the survival of the human race. Ever since I saw Disney's Wall-E movie, I have been very disturbed by the idea that we are all on our way to "B&L Land". We, as homo sapiens, cannot deny our very nature and purpose. We were designed to move and most importantly, to run.

So, if you have not bought this book yet- run and buy it. Then, run and buy a copy for your loved ones. And most importantly- get out and move in any way you can- you will surprise yourself and realize that you are....born to run.

p.s. My only critique of the book is that I am incredibly curious about what happened to the runners after the race...what are they doing now?
Perhaps this book has saved my life (2010-07-25) : 5/5
My own story ties in with Author McDougall's. So forgive my write up but this book may have been the genesis for a profound change on my part. This book may affect you like it did myself.

I had seen extreme running for years and figured it was sort of strange obsession that modern people have. It's like Civil War reenacting, Star Trek geeks, and people who bungie jump for a rush; people have a diversion from their weekly boring lives. But I had heard the part about barefoot running and was intrigued, bought the book and read it. This book may have just saved me.

The following story relates to the book.

In 2006 I had been called by the Army out of retirement to do my part to save civilization, train soldiers to fight terrorism and all that. Then three things happened to me. First, I was involved in a minor vehicle accident when getting training supplies that left pins in my ankle and total pain when I ran. Second, I found out my activation did absolutely nothing to help train these soldiers. It was pointless. Last, I ran across an insane active duty army colonel who took it on herself with misguided zeal to have every soldier going through Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to be fitted with special shoes to prevent running injuries.

I am well over 40 and looked at this colonel the same way folks in the past had heard insane ravings from people in charge. In your gut you know they are wrong, seriously wrong. But you do not have the power to prevent their well intentioned bad deeds. The weird thing, when looking back on it after reading this book, is this colonel may have injured more soldiers with bad running shoes than terrorists have done when fighting in Iraq.

In 2007 the Army sent me back to retirement. I drounded my spirits with analogs to alcohol: sloth and food. While years earlier I was in fair shape. 2007 turned into later years and I got more and more out-of-shape. I was a big and bloated normal American.

Modern doctors do not read a person a riot act as in the past. Contrary to popular wisdom, they are far too busy for that. They just shrug as you get more and more out of shape. The doctor might think it's a minor bet if you will make the next annual physical.

This last June I saw this book at a library. The story on the barefoot runner got my interest. But this reader is a military historian and studies armies in action.

This book gave me the back ground of how the German Army beat France in 1940 and the Confederates ran rings around the Union Army in 1862 to 1863. More on that later.

Christopher McDougall explains that we humans are born to run. A human, with proper training, can run a marathon, lose weight, and live a very healthy lifestyle. Indeed, I consider this book so imporatant that if every college made it required reading you would not see such heavy college students.

Honestly, I liked this book. Christopher does two things with this book. First, he tells us about the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico. These people are suvivors of both the Aztec's aggression and the blood thirsty Spanish invaders of the 16th Century with their diseases that wiped out no less than 90% of the people living in the Americas 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. The Tarahumara merely retreated to the most remote and hot part of Mexico to live their lives in peace and to be the world's last perfect runners. The second part of this book is Christopher ties in what is wrong with our modern running. He weaves both the Tarahumara and an introduction to running together in a seemless book that's a fun read.

Nike shoes gets a lot of the blame for the terrible running problems in America. Why? Nike is merely trying to sell shoes and Christopher spends chapters telling the reader about the most perfect running machine ever designed: the human foot and the human body. Nike has done everything in their power to destroy feet in the misguided attempt of just trying to help. Honestly, when I read that Nike knew their shoes were causing injuries when they talked to running coaches BACK IN 1988 then I was steaming and wishing some good trial lawyers were writing good notes and getting their class action suits ready. For years this running had put up with shin splints and all sorts of other ailments. We protect our feet too much.

Christopher takes the reader through his own reinvention as a runner. Gone are the high-teck shoes that merely ruin a person's feet. Christopher loses weight by adapting some of the Tarahumara's diet and just plainly not-eating-as-much. Author McDougall sees a running specialist who shows Christopher how to properly run. In a year he goes from barely able to run five miles to being able to run ultra marathons.

While the reader is being given stories on how Nike knows their shoes are bad, how human beings are the greatest running animals in the world they are given stories proving the fact. A sort of humorous story is given how an in-shape college professor takes his dog out on an 85+ degree day and nearly kills the poor animal running; a properly trained runner on a hot day is dangerous to dogs. Author McDougall writes how our lack of running is killing us and he gives us dozens of other facts about Leadville, ultra marathons, and extreme running.

I didn't quite like the stories of the Tarahumara, Leadville, "Barefoot Ted", and the other half of the book as well as learning that humans are born to run. But the Tarahumara and "Barefoot Ted" are the reason I bought the book in the first place. Also, some of the characters in the book are quite fun. When a woman has Hunter S. Thompson's picture of him shooting his beloved pistol painted on her car Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream and she is one of the top ultra-runners in the nation then a reader will think "the going is getting weird and these people are the pros".

So, I enjoyed reading this book. In three months this reviewer may still be running, if the sloth demon does not get me. But if my motivation has really returned then owe it to this book. Hopefully in a year I'll have those fun shoes that duplicate a human's bare foot.

I highly encourage all runners and readers to buy this book. Just the seperate advice on running, the stuff on Nike, and advice on properly training for races is worth the price.

So, I thank this book for helping to kill a sloth monster that had been around my neck for three years. Perhaps I can run a marathon at the age over over 50.

And to people who read this book and wonder what it has to do with France of 1940 and the Confederacy of 1863 I give you these facts: Humans are born to run. The Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson had such well trained soldiers that they were referred to as "foot cavary". Marches of over 50 miles a day were nothing unusual and Stonewall soldiers often exhaused the offier's horses. Indeed, in later years Confederate General Wheeler said during the Spanish American war "Union soldiers can't march worth a damn" when judged against the Confederate Army. Conversely, the German Army of 1940 was able to beat the French army by running and marching nearly 40 miles a day to the sea. The German Army merely out ran the French Army.

So, if you're a runner then this book is worth your time. If you're an old historian who has to beat the sloth monster then this book is worth your time.

Thank you Mr. McDougall.