Born to Run
and over 900,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Trade in Born to Run: The Hidden Tribe, the Ultra-Runners, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
`Christopher McDougall is talking evolution and preaching a revolution... His book is already a sensation...a rollicking tale well told'
--The Times
`A sensation... a rollicking tale well told.' --Rick Broadbent, The Times
`If you're a runner, you probably won't reach the end of the first chapter without bolting out for a run.' --Leeds Guide
`Fascinating stuff, particularly for anyone who's ever been frustrated by the apparently shoddy mechanics of their own running body.' --Victoria Moore, Daily Mail
`Part how-to manual, part scientific treatise... ripping yarn that will inspire everyone who reads it to think on their feet.' --Simon Redfern, Independent on Sunday
`Good books about running are rare, but this ranks among the strongest.' --Sunday Business Post
`If you're a runner, you'll love it. It's about how far we can go spiritually and physically.' -- Actress Kate Hudson in Elle
`Inspiring stuff' --Elle
--The Times
`A sensation... a rollicking tale well told.' --Rick Broadbent, The Times
`If you're a runner, you probably won't reach the end of the first chapter without bolting out for a run.' --Leeds Guide
`Fascinating stuff, particularly for anyone who's ever been frustrated by the apparently shoddy mechanics of their own running body.' --Victoria Moore, Daily Mail
`Part how-to manual, part scientific treatise... ripping yarn that will inspire everyone who reads it to think on their feet.' --Simon Redfern, Independent on Sunday
`Good books about running are rare, but this ranks among the strongest.' --Sunday Business Post
`If you're a runner, you'll love it. It's about how far we can go spiritually and physically.' -- Actress Kate Hudson in Elle
`Inspiring stuff' --Elle
Review
"Hugely entertaining...one of the most joyful and engaging books about running to appear for many years."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
179 of 180 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great story, and much more,
By
This review is from: Born to Run: The Rise of Ultra-running and the Super-athlete Tribe (Hardcover)
Born to Run succeeds at three levels. First, it is a page turner. The build up to a fifty-mile foot race over some of the world's least hospitable terrain drives the narrative forward. Along the way McDougall introduces a cast of characters worthy of Dickens, including an almost superhuman ultramarathoner, Jenn and the Bonehead--a couple who down bottles of booze to warm up for a race, Barefoot Ted, Mexican drug dealers, a ghostly ex-boxer, a heartbroken father, and of course the Tarahumara, arguably the greatest runners in the world.Born to Run is such a rip-roaring yarn, that it is easy to miss the book's deeper achievements. At a second level, McDougall introduces and explores a powerful thesis--that human beings are literally born to run. Recreational running did not begin with the 1966 publication of "Jogging" by the co-founder of Nike. Instead, McDougall argues, running is at the heart of what it means to be human. In the course of elaborating his thesis, McDougall answers some big questions: Why did our ancestors outlive the stronger, smarter Neanderthals? Why do expensive running shoes increase the odds of injury? The author's modesty keeps him from trumpeting the novelty and importance of this thesis, but it merits attention. Finally, Born to Run presents a philosophy of exercise. The ethos that pervades recreational and competitive running--"no pain, no gain," is fundamentally flawed, McDougall argues. The essence of running should not be grim determination, but sheer joy. Many of the conventions of modern running--the thick-soled shoes, mechanical treadmills, take no prisoners competition, and heads-down powering through pain dull our appreciation of what running can be--a sociable activity, more game than chore, that can lead to adventure. McDougall's narrative moves the book forward, his thesis provides a solid intellectual support, but this philosophy of joy animates Born to Run. I hope this book finds the wide audience it deserves
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for ultra-runners and super-athletes...,
By A reader (North East Scotland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Born to Run: The Rise of Ultra-running and the Super-athlete Tribe (Hardcover)
The title of this book suggests it is a tale about ultra-distance runners and tales of heroic enterprise. That is partially true, but not the entire truth, and that is why this book deserves a wide audience.Under the tale of a 50 mile race through inhospitable terrain is a theme that running is fun, and that humans are uniquely adapted to running to such a degree that it is suggested that the trappings of civilisation have denied us our essential nature. Using the story of a mystery runner in the canyons of Mexico as a thread, we are lead through a discussion of the mental and physical aspects of running, with a look at how tribes untouched by "civilisation" around the world demonstrate McDougall's thesis. McDougall presents a convincing argument that biologically and mentally we are designed to be distance runners. He argues that it is external issues - the selling of running shoes, the limitations we put on ourselves and that society attempts to impose - that prove to be the limiting factor for many of us. If anything, the characters presented become not super-athletes (as some authors have portrayed ultra runners) but actually very ordinary people who have chosen to ignore the preconceptions about what we "ought" to be able to do. Yes, the book does give a lot of insight into ultra running - but it also has as a lot in it for anyone who runs, be you someone who runs for pleasure and excercise, or a keen competitive athlete. Highly recommended.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down,
By
This review is from: Born to Run: The Rise of Ultra-running and the Super-athlete Tribe (Hardcover)
Being interested in pushing my running further I looked at a number of ultra distance books and picked this one because of the numerous and unanimous good reviews it had. Once started, I couldn't put it down. A fantastic read, not just for runners but sporty people generally. The author doesn't try and say 'look how good I am, I'm better than you' but rather says 'look, I was struggling, kept having problems and couldn't progress further - much like everyone else out there and wanted to see if I could change that'. It was that attitude that I liked. With a healthy portion of story interwoven with scientific study, the history of ultra running and the coming of the running shoe, the book was a perfect length, very well written and I've recommended it to anyone I know who's into any sort of sport.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews |
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
