An anthropological examination of running and more.
588889
Also a personal story of a runner who uses his intelligence and his guts to make himself a better athlete.
3689945
Those looking for a 'pure' running book will find it in Jock: a memoir of the counterculture. With Robert Coe's careful eye, you get a stunningly detailed look into the life of a competitive collegiate runner during one of them most tumultuous phases that the United States endured. However, those looking for only a running book are in for a surprise as Coe takes us on a journey through the late-sixties and into the seventies.

Most running books focus on the how-to of running, and a few comment on the history, but Jock seeks the totality of the experience. Set at Stanford from Coe's first days entering the campus to his final year,  the narrative winds through the cross country season to the classroom, out onto the track, and eventually as far away as Stanford-in-Britain.

Coe's journey is neither smooth nor straight, as befit the period in which he compete. His recollections of the protests on campus and the reactions both the rank and file students and the student-athletes. He's honest to a fault, showing that there was no unified front  some athletes were supportive of the administration of both the university and the country, even as he and many others were not. Coe does not pull punches. If he felt a particular individual deserved approbation, he delivered it, often in spades, as his descriptions of head coach Payton Jordan make abundantly clear.

Yet that is balanced by the clear pleasure he derived from his teammates. A storied cast that included luminaries such as Don Kardong and the immortal Ron Clarke populate the book, lending it an indefinable air of groundedness. Running  at the leading edge of the boom to come, he recounts competing against Pre and the other Ducks, the icy crap that he ran in at WSU for the Pac-8 championship, and the records that seemingly fall with every page. Coe's tales of the training runs, the effort that went into training, are worthy of a book of their own.

Yet, side-by-side to that, are the stories of drug experimentation, the nascent hook-up scene, and a culture that was in a state of upheaval in which every rule could be, and often was, called into question. Coe gives an honest accounting of that, too, both of his own activities  yes, he experimented -  and that of the late sixties. He joined some of the protest marches, investigated the claims and counter-claims, and grew into an adult seasoned by the experience at Stanford and in Europe during a pivotal sophomore year.

Where all the other legends get pared down to the feats on the athletic course and sanitized to make them orthodox, Jock looks at the life of the athlete from an intimate perspective. Unlike the tightly controlled legend of Prefontaine, Coe ranges far and wide in an authentic effort to provide sense to running as it related to the age. In this lies the meat of Coe memoir, a blatant openness that peels back the veneers to expose the vicissitudes of the protest generation.

For a person interested in more than a running book, Jock: a memoir of the counterculture delves into the running even as it touches, in first-person detail, history.
2451012
Optimized Runner is a quick-reference guide for anyone wishing to become a runner, or anyone wishing to become a better runner. The book highlights 10 key factors for success, with individual chapters devoted to each one. The information provided is concise and to the point, providing the reader with a wealth of knowledge on how to improve as a runner. The book also comes with a companion website with a number of videos to help you visually understand the concepts covered in a number of the chapters. Overall this book with be a valuable resource for any runner regardless of their experience.
136392
The author does get a little technical from time to time but the information is worth wading through. This book explains how the cardio/aerobic system actually functions and how to use it to become a faster healthier runner. Read it and you will be enlightened.
1799462
Renewed my outlook in running. Documentary with lots of knowledge in it. Looking back in it from time to time for knowledge and insights.
1925325
This book is interesting to the casual sports spectator, to the competitive athlete, to trainers, and to those establishing rules for fair and equitable competition. In clear, non-academic prose, it surveys the history of caffeine use in society, the development of such drinks as Coca Cola and Pepsi specifically as medicinal drinks and then as aids to athletic activity, and the modern concern with performance-enhancing substances. There is a careful survey of the history of pharmaceutical and psychological research into caffeine's effects on muscular performance, side effects, etc., along with thoughtful consideration of the possible arguments both for and against its use by athletes. Bibliographic materials are thorough and helpfully arranged. Once again, a very helpful and interesting work from the Human Kinetics publishing house. (posted by Human Kinetics with permission from Gary Lee Jones who received this book from the Library Thing Early Reviewer Program)
893064
Probably more oriented to athletes than the normal "human". Maybe that's why I found it a bit odd at times. Great book for amateur and pro athletes alike! Even if they aren't runners there's still a lot of knowledge that can be put to good use for other sports.
201921
Running has always been a part of the human experience. GOOD running books never grow old. Joe Henderson's information is timeless.
3708344
At a friend's recommendation, I tried to track this book down at my local library. No luck. Instead, I read the one that was available, Run! and wish I hadn't. In it, "Karno" comes across as an arrogant, egocentric guy who is unwilling to put adequate effort into writing a book. Now that I've read Ultramarathon Man (in which he still comes across as arrogant), I've learned that he is willing and able to think of others, completing several races to support charitable causes; cares a lot about his family, especially his kid sister (to whom he dedicates this book) who died in a tragic accident; is funny; and, CAN write properly. Although I had a hard time believing the story about how he got back into running, which involved rejecting an attractive married woman's advances (that's not the part I didn't believe) putting on a pair of shoes, heading off into the night (still a little bit drunk) and running 30 miles, this incredible story becomes less so as Karnazes accomplishments in completing races of increasingly longer distance unfolds. In the end, I found the book beneficial not so much as an inspiration to run farther but to resist giving attention to negative thoughts when I do run. I imagine that it would be hard for most recreational runners who read this book NOT to admire the guy for pushing himself to unfathomable limits, caring about family and friends, sharing stories both of success and failure, and having a good sense of humor. Besides the recounting of races, I also enjoyed the neat Theodore Roosevelt quote, which starts (p 173), "The credit goes to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs...;" and the entire (about two-page) explanation about why the author he runs (Pp 275-277), which ends with, "I run because it always takes me where I want to go." Also good: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Eat & Run by Scott Jurek, and Second Wind (for women, really) by Cami Ostman.
4907977
I have been a runner for several years so this book looked interesting.  It exceeded my expectations!  It both tells a very exciting story and delves into the history, biology and science of running.

The story centers around a race setup between a group of Tarahumara runners (an indigenous people of northern Mexico known for their long-distance running prowess) and a group of ultra-marathon runners from the United States. Along the way we are introduced to a cast of very colorful and interesting characters.

The book delves into the history, biology and science of long-distance running.  It is not afraid to take on the conventional wisdom propagated by major shoe companies since the 1970s and call into question all that we have been taught about it.
2051085
Marcel Mauss' seminal work of ethnography reviews the practice of the 'potlatch' in a number of archaic societies throughout the world. His analysis and empirical data are far reaching and highly specific, drawing on a number of the finest researchers in the field (such as Malinowski). Mauss' observations present a picture of a highly complex system of reciprocity, a social contract so important and complex that it often results in competition and often warfare between cross-existing tribes. The ideas in this book are so easily accepted and integrated into our understanding of reciprocity by now that today they seem almost unoriginal. Although Mauss' conclusion that individuals ought to be expected to work, and that absolute reciprocity or 'communism' is dangerous are problematic views, 'The Gift' remains a cornerstone in the field.
3021753
I found in this book some interesting ideas concerned with running technic.
3278465
Although most relevant for young, ambitious runners, I found it useful also as a part-time runner aged 45. I skipped some sections, e.g. on nutrition, but got much inspiration and insight which improve my training going forward.
1187820
Think it is a great book for a runner - especially fitness runners that are interested in lifestyles that include a mix of cross training: the emphasis in this book will be strength training for running. There is a wide range of exercises presented with rationale for each. More experienced runners will have their ways established so may not get a lot of "new" from this, but from my experience more advanced athletes are more advanced because they have a keen interest in what they are doing, thus; the book is also a good read for pure interest sake.

Sometimes when I want a variation for a workout I flip through the pages just for ideas - I think it should be on the runners bookshelf - but not before books like Jeff Galloway's books or Tim Noak's.

Again - if you are purely a gym runner (non-event participant) this book may be best for you.
2237423
I liked this book because it put into perspective running and life in general.  It combines physical and mental importance so needed in our lives.

I did not give 5 star rating because the first part of the book was slightly redundant and slow.  However, if you keep at it, you may receive nice benefits and encouragement.
1417627
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Barefoot Running is a comprehensive, informative, and essential guide for anyone interested in barefoot running and who wants to do it well. Authors Dr. Craig Richards, a podiatrist, and Thomas Hollowell present a very readable and thorough introduction to barefoot running and they also provide some depth for seasoned barefoot runners. They respectfully explain why we should "avoid motion-control shoes and any high-tech, mind-numbing claims that promise you they can do better than you can naturally" and provide a step-by-step description of how to get back to running naturally.

Most barefoot runners become so for physiological reasons like a desire to reduce injury, improve balance and proprioception, and get faster and the guide documents these well. The guide also discusses the mental and emotional benefits. The authors offer a nod to spiritual benefits and "the potential to put you closer to nature," which are often why barefoot runners remain committed to barefoot running. Personally I would have appreciate more emphasis on the `getting back to nature part' but I shouldn't really expect that from the CIG style.

I'm still not entirely sold on the Complete Idiot's Guide style - it feels better suited for learning software than something like barefoot running. But the bottom line is that the format works. The handy "The Least You Need to Know" bulleted summaries of each chapter help when reviewing the material and a quick scan of the table of contents reveals the book's  comprehensiveness, in true CIG style.

The things I appreciated most:
 - Plans for easing into barefoot running - similar to other guides
 - Discussion of "Barefoot vs Minimal Footwear," which, in my opinion, is much more realistic than the position that of a lot of advocates of barefoot running
 - Discussion of types and brands of minimalist shoes, including brands I that are new to me
 - Head-to-foot discussion, with photos, of good running posture
 - New barefoot running drills, strength exercises and the discussion of nose breathing
 - A word against the cult-mentality approach to barefoot running ("A Balanced View of Barefoot Running")

A few things I would have liked to see:
 - A few more images, particularly to complement the discussion of the foot and its complex structure.
 - Complete references, particularly for scientific papers
 - More discussion of reflexology
 - Two more criteria for selecting minimalist shoes: the factory working conditions and the ecological impacts of manufacturing the shoes

Ultimately, I expect to buy this book for a few people, including some runners who are new to barefoot running and some who have been doing it for a while. Two big toes up to the Complete Idiot's Guide to Barefoot Running!

My favourite quote from the book:
"As you make barefoot running a part of your overall running toolkit, it becomes a part of who you are more than a part of what you do."
741477
In this book Clifford Geertz focuses on the writing of anthropologists, specifically that of ethnographers. He uses the term anthropology to refer to sociocultural anthropology, the basis of ethnography. He argues that it is not the recounting of facts that makes the readers take fieldwork seriously, but the way the author recounts his experience in an animated life-like fashion. The ability to persuade readers that what they are reading is an authentic account written by someone who is personally familiar with the way of life that occurs in a certain place, in a certain time, within a certain group of people, constitutes the basis of ethnography. The anthropologist's source of power in convincing the reader that his accounts are authentic lies not in his giving scientific data but in his ability to recount his experiences among the people group he's working with.
Geertz offers ethnographers a conceptual framework that allows them freedom and control, a way to talk with confidence about their people group studied, a way to write new texts that might enlarge the sense of what everyday life is about. Geertz calls upon ethnographers not only to document their findings and data, but also to enliven their fieldwork by giving attention to their experiences.
The separation between the anthropological text and the reader, and also the one that separates the anthropologist and his people group sometimes becomes a rigid and artificially exaggerated boundary. Often this artificial boundary creates a false image in the reader's mind, making them see the people group as exotic and primitive. The only way to prevent this boundary from arising is for the anthropologist to incorporate into his writing the participatory aspect of his experiences with the people he has lived among.
Maintaining this ethnographic distance has resulted in the folklorization of the anthropological research about death. Geertz exemplifies this by saying that death is something universal, something that happens everywhere, among every kind of people, no matter which race, color or gender, whether adult or children; yet anthropologists have minimized this fact when describing death within their people group by focusing on the exotic, curious and sometimes violent rituals. This approach creates distance between the reader and the people because the reader's attention is brought to focus on the rituals. Instead of the reader identifying with the people's loss of a member of their family or society, he becomes caught up in the description of strong rituals practiced by a strange people group.
Geertz also analyzes the literary forms of several anthropologists such as Claude Levi-Strauss, Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard, Bronislaw Malinowski and Ruth Benedict. He says that: Levi-Strauss' relationship with the cultural reality is distant. Rather than painting a picture of the people's daily lives, he focuses his writings on painting a literary impression of himself; Evans-Pritchard shows his adventures both ways: as an actor and as an observer, he captures his experiences in a very descriptive animated style; Malinowski not only shows that he has been there but also that he has been a participant observer and has become one of the people he was studying; and Ruth Benedict shows more the reflexive aspect of having been there, answering the following anthropological questions:  Where are they? Where am I?  The way it is written is always like an aesopic commentary about their own society.
It's clear that Geertz is analyzing these modern anthropologists through his own conception of how an anthropologist should recount his experiences.
This book is appropriate for all level readers, and I think that every anthropologist should read and have it in mind as a consultant book while writing their reports.(Reviewed by Gabriela Huichacura, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Gral Roca, Argentina)