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

May 17, 2011 Brian Pagano rated it it was amazing

Shelves: running, favorites

I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that this book changed my life. It's not something I say often.

McDougall knows how to tell a story. His experience writing feature articles for magazines has honed his chops for introducing and developing "characters", creating conflict, and keeping the pages turning while mixing backstory.

I was dubious of the whole minimalist running thing until I saw a few studies indicating some actual scientific merit. I picked up this book and I'm glad I did ...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Gofita rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2011-read, 2011-favorites, mo-book-club, memoir-biography, amazons-100-books-to-read-in-a-life

Excellent book on why we as humans were and still are born to run! It helped me think about why I have never really enjoyed running and that maybe I could in the future.

McDougall's style was a bit off-putting here and there. He jumped all over the place telling mini histories about this runner or this one and sometimes I couldn't even remember where we were at when he finally got back to the story. And his summary of evolution wasn't the most scientific but he got by.

But overall I really enjoyed ...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Kathleen rated it really liked it

Shelves: summer-read

As a person who can barely jog two miles, I was sceptical about the premise that we humans are born to run. However, I still thought this book might be an entertaining read, which it very much is. The story-telling is excellent, people sympathetically portrayed and diversions interesting. I did learn things along the way,am much more open to the "born to run" theory (although my family line has not selected to perpetuate this trait) and I am no longer scoffing at the barefoot runners. ...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Felly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book-and-kindle-collection, procrastinating-with-this-one, everyone-s-talking-about-this, traveling-junkie, 2012

We should do running not because it is the latest lifestyle with its fancy outfit and gear. We should do running because it is fun sport for everybody. We should do running because we, human, are evolved and born to run!

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