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Thor Gotaas

Running: A Global History Hardcover – Illustrated, 30 Oct. 2009

by Thor Gotaas (Author)

4.2 15 ratings

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It is probably not that surprising to learn that the modern craze for running is not new; our species has been running since we were able to stand upright. What may be surprising however are the many ways and reasons we have performed this undignified, painful, exhausting and yet exhilarating activity down the ages. In this original, humorous and almost improbable world history, Thor Gotaas brings us many unusual and curious stories showing the remarkable diversity of running, from earliest times to the immense popularity of running today at athletics meetings, World Championships, and Olympic games. Amongst the myriad examples are King Shulgi of Mesopotamia, who four millennia ago boasted about his ability to maintain high speeds while running long distances, and once claimed to have run from Nippur to Ur, a distance of not less than 100 miles. In ancient Egypt the pharaoh had to run to prove his vitality and to hold on to power; Norwegian Vikings exercised by running races against animals; and then there are the little-known naked runs, whore runs, endurance tests at bars, backward runs, monk runs, snowshoe runs, the Incas' ingenious infrastructure of professional runners and the running culture of Native Americans. In this unique book Gotaas has written a world history that will come as a revelation to everyone who reads it. It will appeal to all who wish to know more about why the ancients shared our love, and hatred, of this physically demanding yet spiritually rewarding pastime.

Print length

392 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Reaktion Books
Publication date

30 Oct. 2009
Dimensions

13.97 x 3.56 x 21.59 cm
ISBN-10

1861895267
ISBN-13

978-1861895264
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Christopher McDougall
22,837
Hardcover
8 offers from £10.76

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Review

'Running: A Global History . . . turns out to be an admirable attempt to cover the running phenomenon, not merely in its cultural and historical sweep but also in its philosophy... it is the attempts by Gotaas to get beneath the surface of running that provide the book's most revelatory moments.' --Matthew Syed, The Times Book of the Week, 21 November 2009

'An effortless run through history. Thor Gotaas takes us with him on a well-gauged tour through the amazing and many-sided world history of running, elegantly told without for a moment being monotonous. Gotaas carries through his race entirely without effort, but at a good pace, with movement and rhythm.' --Per Haddal, Aftenposten, Norway

'An obligatory Christmas present for everyone who can both run and read ... a whole universe of fascinating anecdotes' --Bjarn Gabrielsen, Dagens Naringsliv, Norway

About the Author

Thor Gotaas is a writer who specialises in folklore and cultural history. His previous books include The Gypsies (2000), The First in the Race: The History of Cross-Country Skiing in Norway (2003), and Ski Makers: The History of Norwegian Skis (2007).

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Reaktion Books; Illustrated edition (30 Oct. 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 392 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1861895267
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1861895264
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 3.56 x 21.59 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 449,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 521 in Athletics
- 918 in Running & Jogging (Books)
- 1,099 in History of Sports (Books)

Customer reviews:
4.2 15 ratings

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4.2 out of 5

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Running and More Running

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 2 September 2018

Verified Purchase

A thoroughly comprehensive book on running that covers runners from all countries and from the last few thousand years.

It seems that any human from any part of the world has in the past a history of running as we were build for running endurance to wear down animals who have just pure speed.

A great read with interesting stories from around the world.

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Dave

Present to my daughter

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 February 2013

Verified Purchase

Gift for daughter who has recently run her 1st marathon. Not much feed back to-date but could be over time

2 people found this helpful

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happy granny

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 1 January 2015

Thank you.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 19 September 2010

This book is every thing the title suggests and more. Despite a life-time being involved in track there was much that was new to me.

3 people found this helpful

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