Barefoot Running: How to Run Light and Free by Getting in Touch with the Earth [Perfect Paperback]

I'm not particularly into my "spiritual" side and I like stuff to be based on proven scientific evidence which is missing in some places. When reading a book to find how to do something I'm also not wanted to read something along the lines of "I looked at this leaf & then I cried". There are several aspects that may well make you want to hurl and give up on the book.
This is not helped with the author looking a bit like a grown up version of the geeky looking kid that's the main friend of Kevin in the Wonder Years.

Don't let all that put you off though. The guy is actually an accomplished athlete, has overcome much and he can do massive runs barefoot and (presumably) you can't if you're considering such a book so he must be doing something right & you want to know what it is. I have looked at a lot of material and if I rate it then it will be with a cold clinical mind.

Does this particular book tell me anything that I hadn't been able to find out with a few hours on the internet?
It does and not only that it tells you some stuff that you may not believe until you try it. For example; parts of the book that seem to suggest that your feet have eyes or a way to see the path ahead. Now I would put it a completely different way and suggest that there's a part of the brain we can only tap when completely barefoot because that's only when the brain gets enough sensory input from all those nerve endings on the foot that is also combined with what you're seeing (possibly in your peripheral vision to some extent). For me I noticed this for the first time running barefoot on pavement composed of uneven paving slabs while fully barefoot. If I'd got anything wrong then one of those raised edges would cause nasty chunks of foot to come off. Although I was obviously deciding my general direction but I was quite surprised that in the more step to step detail that I was frequently side stepping etc. in order to pick a safe path and it felt more like some previously mostly untapped part of the brain was influencing these moves to the extent that I really did not need to think about it.

I don't believe in some of the ideas in the book and there are somethings that are simply wrong in my case. For example, he says in several places that when someone (e.g. a barefoot hunter) walked they'd put their heel down first. (Now I'm not a hunter but for this example it does not matter). On a flat surface this heel first touch down only ever happens with my feet when I have shoes on of any kind (even minimalist ones). So for this I've dropped a star from it because I can clearly demonstrate to myself something simple that's contradicting what the book claims.

Conclusion: A very worthwhile read with something for everyone wanting to learn more. It's not 100% correct but there is enough information to help you to start or to improve to the point where you can start to run properly barefoot. You will probably rate it 5* if you are more in touch with your spiritual side & believe in the supernatural etc. but even if you do not then this is still a great source of information for anyone interested in just about any aspects of barefoot running. If you feel it goes on about spiritual stuff too much then stick with it and that's less of an issue beyond the first few chapters. Buy it.

There is some good advice in these pages but unfortunately it was difficult to get to. The authors' style is somewhat rambling & anecdotal, not to mention repetitive in the way many American self-help books tend to be. I much preferred Barefoot Ken Bob's book which I found to be far more practical, down to earth & charming. In comparison, this one is somewhat new age, advising readers to take prayer beads out on a run & chant mantras. Plus it was also fairly lightweight - after the third time, I stopped counting how often the author repeated with pride that he likes to hold up running shoes & ask people 'what are these?' 'Er, shoes?' 'No they're not, what are they?' 'Er, dunno, please tell us, oh guru.' 'They're - wait for it - hand weights!'. The fact that trainers are far too light to be effectively used for this purpose demonstrates how Sandler prefers what he perceives as dramatic effect & emphasising an ethos over practical advice.

There is some great stuff in here - particularly on posture, plus the mechanics of why trainers with padded soles cause injury are clearly explained. But I just found the tone too grating & the structure of the book made it difficult to find the sections I wanted to refer back to. The advice is good but it's not as practical or as readable as The Complete Book of Barefoot Running.

I would like to say the book speaks for itself, I have been on and running barefooted since last year and I have increased my mileage over the last few months. I use to be a shod runner and had insoles inside my trainers as my feet overpronate and since running barefooted my pains in my legs have gradually disappeared. And the information in the book Barefoot Running is helping me alot and I am really enjoying my running now compare to a couple of years of ago. I recommend anyone who is thinking of changing to barefoot running to read this book and enjoy the benefits of running either barefooted or in barefoot running shoes ie Terra Plana EvoII's or Vibrams KSO..etc...thanks again for a really good book...HAPPY BAREFOOT RUNNING :O)