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

I walked away with so many tips on running, it’s crazy. Very absorbing narrative while weaving in studies about running as well. Overall great read.

I came to this book in the most weird way, drawn to it by the awesome narrative. One day, reading a book on leadership by John Maxwell, I found a famous quote about a lion and a gazelle, which I knew, but did not know that it was attributed to Roger Bannister. This prompted me to re-visit the Bannister entry on Wikipedia, which linked to a Washington Post page excerpting Chapter 1 of the book. That sampler was enough to buy it. So good is, in my opinion, McDougall's narrative. I had not read anything from him before, but this book has a great story to tell, and does so in a way that hijacks your imagination. I was not aware, until after reading it, that it weighs in at about 280 pages. It surprised me a lot, given that I went through it on one day from 6 PM to about 2 AM and then 10 AM to 2 PM the next day. It was that good a read to me. Something I appreciated is that, even though you may get an impression that some racy bits (of the sexual kind) are given away in the product descriptions, the book doesn't dwell deeply at all in those subjects. It is a passionate story that stands on its own without having to resort to artificial topics outside its main subject to keep the reader engaged. I really value that. Other than the literary qualities, McDougall puts his research journalism skills to good use and comes up with some very thought-provoking and even defying statements. If you have, like me until a few months ago, been hesitant against running because you read or were told that we humans are not meant to, this book may shake your ground a little bit. Or a lot. Going as far as exposing scientific evolutionary evidence for the fact that we are not only able, but actually supposed to run, you'll see many interesting ideas that should at least put some doubt in your mind about running, our capabilities about it, and the importance and endurance of its benefits (not just physical) beyond what seems to be a fad or fashion that comes and goes every so often. I am not able to test the book's theories about running right now, as I recently suffered some back problems (casued by my sedentary lifestyle, apparently...) and have been told not to run for now. But I must confess whatever little desire of running I might have had before reading this book has now grown explosively, and I look forward to enjoy that outcome as much as, or more than, I enjoyed getting pumped up about it in the first place. Well worth your ten or so bucks!

First, this book tells a good story. It meanders through colorful characters, rather eccentric most of them, & difficult terrains. Threads emerge & dissolve in this largely straightforward storyline, but for me the two aspects, woven into the larger story, that set this book apart are the science & philosophy of running. First, the philosophy. Essentially, this book projects running as a 'flow' experience. Not grit, not determination, not endless hours of practice in the search of a medal or a record, but running because its something you love to do. Because its fun to run, because its fun to push your body to see how far it will let you push. And the only goal you set is your own. Just like music, you enjoy it when you start & enjoy it as you gain mastery. You gain mastery because you enjoy it, you practice because you love it, & if you do get certain recognition or commercial benefits, well, that is secondary too. The end goal is engagement & enjoyment - & that's the philosophy of running too, just as much it is the philosophy of music or arts. Secondly, the science. I found the anatomical aspects both interesting & convincing, I enjoyed reading about what the anatomy of running means for running shoes. I can't say if the research behind is exacting, McDougall is no scientist, but to me it made sense. It is when McDougall starts talking evolution that I got a little uncomfortable. It is a brilliant piece to read & its a great argument to show how our bodies are made for distance running - in fact, it almost reads like a detective novel as McDougall sets out to find the evolutionary roots of running - & while the theory & reasoning seemed to make sense, I do not know if McDougall presents enough evidence. Yes, he presents the story of a hunter-gatherer tribe which ran its prey to exhaustion to feed on it, but I do not know if this is representative enough as evidence that links running directly to Darwin's evolution. McDougall writes flowing text with a certain amount of humour. Good story & good research - you should pick it up if you are a runner & even if you enjoy popular philosophy & motivational theories. @souvikstweets

I love to get outside and walk, then try my legs at running, but mostly what I do is I trot. I had to read this book, because it is a famous runner's classic by now, and I wanted to learn more about our fabulous human anatomy and how the author, Christopher McDougall assures the reader that we were truly evolved to run. My personal trainer warned me NOT to run, because I am obese. If you were to look at my body, you would not really say I'm obese, but I am overweight or you might say that I am fat. You won't get in trouble for saying that, even though it's sort of mean, because it's the truth and I need to do something about it! So, I need to work out at the gym and I need to run because running burns lots of calories. I happen to love my body, however - and I DO run, because I LOVE the way that it makes my body feel! This book delves into the joy of running, and there is alot of helpful scientific facts that support the notion that all human beings who can walk, can also run. The author assures us that our bodies were designed to run, and in fact, humans have been running to just survive on this planet since the day we appeared on this beautiful earth. Now - I will never be a half-marathoner, and I don't even want to think of being a marathoner; 26 miles is just too much for me to wrap my mind around. But I can do a 5K, and maybe if I try hard and adjust my attitude, I can do a 10K! After reading this book, I know that I can do anything that I set my mind to doing. Running long distances does require some training, dietary support and strategy. McDougall tells a wonderful story about the Tarahumara Indians that run through treacherous trails in the Copper Mountains of Mexico, and the dangers that follow them, which only encourages them to run faster. It is a funny book; full of great scientific insight and suggestions for thought for all of us who dream of running. McDougall's attitude is contagious; the longer I live, the more I realize that it is our attitudes that help us to achieve our goals. Having a positive attitude can push a person to get up and get out and run. Attitude is more important than appearance, than education, than money or circumstances. Attitude can either make you win or lose; it is up to the individual. After reading this book, I realized that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% on how I react to it. I learned that having the most expensive running shoes is not the best plan...as a matter of fact, McDougall claims that the more expensive the running shoe, the more likely it will cause foot problems or injury!McDougall promotes cheap, beat-up old running shoes or Vibrams; which I always had such a low opinion of because of their extreme ugliness. Nobody wants to see your toes! Feet are somewhat ugly, and Vibrams make them look even uglier; I don't like to show my feet off if I don't have to. But anyhow - - - I loved that McDougall discusses the Mexican diet of pinto beans, tortillas and rice, with some form of protein added to the plate. He gets into Chia, which is a weird plant based grain that I normally never noticed, but now I will go to the health food store and give it a try. You can add it to your cereal, or main dishes or create a drink out of Chia. It's supposed to be a clean and energy packing food. Diet has an enormous impact on one's ability to run and run and run. I can't imagine running for four hours straight, though. I know my limitations. Or are they just self-imposed, imaginary limitations that I should endeavor to smash through like they don't exist? This book has adjusted my attitude about how I view my body. Attitude is what drove this man to overcome his own pain while running, and he achieved a high level of running performance by the end of the book. Get the book, read it - savor it like a hot bowl of delicious soup on a cold, dank and rainy day! There is alot to learn inside of it and I guarantee you will enjoy the process of reading it.

Great read. I really enjoyed all of the experiences and information. Looking forward to reading the 2nd book. Thanks 😊

I read this book in 2009 and again now in 2023. The book is part Indiana Jones style adventure in search of hidden relics, part examination of human characters and part science and medicine of running. All in all, it is an enjoyable read and a real page turner. Author McDougall begins with the common whine of a runner - "my foot hurts when I run!". He hopes the answer to his miserly lies with the reclusive Tarahumara, an Indian tribe living in the Copper Canyons of Mexico. Colorful life stories of interesting human characters are what makes this book very interesting. Of the multiple characters like young Jenny and BIlly, well known Vegan ultra runner Scott Jurek, barefoot runner Ted and the mysterious runner Cabalo Blanco (white horse). Cabalo Blanco remains a central character from the beginning to the end of this book. This book raises interesting question, "by the early 80's the Greater Boston Track Club had a half dozen guys who could run a 2h:12m marathon. That is six guys, in one amateur club, in one city. Twenty years later, you couldn't find a single 2:12 marathoner anywhere in the country." What caused it? The author speculates it is the Billion Dollar industry of Running Shoes. He revisits the history of increasing running injuries with the introduction of cushioned shoes, arch support and high heels. As the story progresses, he brings in the heavy weight science from evolutionary biologists, sports medicine specialists, ethnographers and anthropologists. The science establishes that humans have evolved to run! And we have the most efficient air cooled engine among all running mammals! So running is not a contrived exercise like say, soccer, tennis or football. As a result of reading this book, i started running barefoot since 2012 and continue to run barefoot. One of my keepsake quote from this book is from a runner, Jack Kirk known as "Dipsea Demon". He passed away at age 100 in 2007. The quote: "You don't stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running!" I must point out that this book has no Table Of Contents or at end no Index.

Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run" contains an epic tale about a race between some of the greatest modern ultra-runners pitted against the original (and elusive) extreme distance-runners, the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico. I was impressed on multiple levels and look forward to re-reading this book in the future. I chose to read this book at this time because I am in the middle of training for my second half-marathon and thought it would give me an extra boost of inspiration for my training. Not only was the book helpful for my training, it was educational and thrilling at the same time. This book pack quite a punch — certainly more than I bargained for, which was a pleasant surprise. The Tarahumara Indians are a group of native Mexicans that are well-known for their ability to run ultra-marathon distances. They are difficult to locate due to their ability to camouflage their homesteads, and prefer hermet-like isolation to interacting with the outside world. It is difficult to earn their trust, and McDougall explains the process that he went through to locate them and then cultivate a positive relationship with them. I found the story of the Tarahumara fascinating and even jaw-dropping at times, and McDougall does an excellent job describing their background to his readers. There is a character in the book named Caballo Blanco, who is a former-American that lives primarily in the Copper Canyons where the Tarahumara are located. He is capable of running ultra-marathon distances daily, just like the Tarahumara, and he has befriended the Indians over a long period of time. "Born to Run" begins with the search for Caballo, who takes McDougall under his wing and eventually orchestrates an incredibly unique ultra-marathon race between the Tarahumara and a small ragtag group of modern ultra-runners. The book takes a brief detour to discuss the correlation between modern running shoes and injuries. I was very interested in this section and absorbed a lot of helpful information that I plan to gradually incorporate into my running practice. Next there is a section that offers evolutionary evidence that shows that our species may have evolved the ability to run long distances specifically for persistence hunting (running animals to death by exhaustion). Is it really possible that modern-day humans are built for long-distance running because it provided an evolutionary advantage over the Neanderthals? I will have to reserve my judgment for this theory until I read more scientific evidence, but it is certainly an interesting theory. And it inspires me to encourage everyone I know to pick up running, since we may have literally been built for it! The climax of the book centers on the race between the Tarahumara Indians and modern ultra-runners. The race sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and McDougall's description of it is enough to make any runner salivate with desire to take part. "Born to Run" is an excellent book that provides a thrilling yarn, a history of an ancient group of ultra-runners, an in-depth look into the possibility that modern running shoes cause running-related injuries, and an evolutionary theory about our ancestors' ability to run long distance for hunting animals. I would advise any runner who is interested to give it a read, and look forward to reading it again in the future.

OK, I may be late to the party, but I feel I have an important point to make about this book. It's very, very dangerous. It's likely that you're already a runner, if you're interested in reading "Born to Run." So, you're probably already enjoying the rewards as well as the pitfalls of the running lifestyle: the crisp early morning runs, the thrill of race day, and the constant niggling (and maybe not so niggling) injuries that we just accept as a price for our passion. You may come to the book with little more knowledge than the blurbs on the cover or a friend's recommendation that it's an awesome book. So you dive in, and McDougall begins to spin his tale. The book reads like a 4-minute miler, and you find yourself engrossed in a story that just gets better and better as each chapter unfolds. Then, with subtlety and cunning, the author begins planting these notions in your head that maybe, just maybe, what you've thought about running, about YOUR running, has been wrong. That maybe those injuries that you have accepted forever might be your own damn fault, or, more specifically, Nike's damn fault. You begin to wonder, really really wonder, if perhaps this tribe of noble people have something to say directly to you about your own way of meeting the world, sole-wise. And before you know it, you've tossed your running shoes, and starting running in bare feet. Though you've been running for years, you start again, at square one, and learn a new way of running. And it's joyous and light, and you find yourself actually smiling when you run, and your legs tingle for hours afterward, and you decide that you'll never wear shoes on your run again. In short, the book changes your damn life. "Born to Run" is that kind of book. Well-written, passionate, intelligent, and thoroughly enjoyable. I read it twice, back to back, and still return to favorite chapters often. The cast of characters is terrific, the story unfolds at a wonderful pace, and the writing is solid. But I should warn you, and I think the publishers should too: this book will make you look at your running life in a very different way. It will make you want to run freely and with joy, to recapture that feeling that you had as a child when running was a spontaneous reaction to your place in the world, instead of something you endured to stay fit. It is a great celebration of running, and a cogent argument that we were built to be runners, that our place is on our feet, moving forward, and doing so with little to nothing on our feet. I loved this book. You will, too. But be warned: it could change your life. If it does, be sure to send Mr. McDougall your letter of thanks.

Uma jornada incrível, vc corre com eles!

I started to read this and i was bummed everytime I had to put it down, and then I got the audiobook and I could barely stop listening. Christopher unravels the story of the Tarahumara, the running people located somewhere in the Barrancas and feeds you on their ease of lifestyle, and passion of running. As someone who forced themselves to run 45 minutes a day, I now find that running to me is more of an enjoyment and that there is so much more than “just running.” This book was a joy, and subtly compares running an Ultra, to the race of life which I personally feel inclined to liken to my own journey of faith as a Christian. Humans were born to run, because we were made to run. Our own two legs are the best vehicles we were ever given, and after reading this book, I’m sure you’ll be convinced likewise.

Super recommend for runners at all levels.

Me encanta ese libro! Me motiva a salir a correr y he aprendido nuevas técnicas y mucha información. También lo tengo en castellano!

As someone who runs regularly, I couldn't put Born to Run down. McDougall's storytelling is so compelling that I found myself reading late into the night. The book delves into the world of ultrarunning, focusing on the Tarahumara people of Mexico's Copper Canyons, who run incredible distances with ease. Their approach to running—joyful, communal, and without modern gear—reminded me of why I started running in the first place: for the pure pleasure of movement. What stood out to me was how McDougall emphasizes that running isn't just about speed or distance; it's about building yourself up, both physically and mentally. He challenges the notion that running is inherently harmful, suggesting instead that our bodies are designed for endurance. This perspective shifted my mindset, helping me appreciate each run as an opportunity to connect with my body and the world around me. Reading this book heightened my passion for running, reminding me that it's not about chasing records but about embracing the journey. If you're a runner—or even if you're not—I highly recommend Born to Run. It's a testament to the joy and resilience that running can bring into our lives.