Born to Run is a nonfiction book about the author’s journey to find and befriend the ultramarathon runners of Mexico’s Copper Canyon. McDougall tells the story of how humans evolved from being habitual distance runners and uncovers some scientific evidence that may finally answer our age-old question: Why do we run?
For who is this book for ?
This book is for anyone who loves a good sports story, as McDougall weaves together the history of running with modern day accounts of ultramarathons.
Pros :
- McDougall’s storytelling is engaging and makes you want to keep reading
- The book provides a detailed look at the world of ultramarathoning, which will be interesting for runners and nonrunners alike
- McDougall offers some new perspectives on running that could help people improve their own workouts
Cons :
- The author’s lack of running experience makes the story difficult to follow at times.
- Some sections of the book are repetitive and could be trimmed down.
- There is a lot of scientific information that may not be interesting or relevant to all readers.
Learn more about the author
Christopher McDougall is a former war correspondent for the Associated Press and has covered wars in Iraq, Israel, and the Congo. He is also the author of two books on running: Born to Run and Natural Running.
Reader Reviews
“Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run is the best book ever written on running. Period.”
“I’m not a runner, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It makes you appreciate the human body and how we’re all capable of so much more than we think. A must-read for anyone who’s curious about running or just humans in general.”
“Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run is a fantastic read. It not only covers the history and mystery of ultrarunning, but also provides an interesting look at human evolution… I couldn’t put it down.”
“Christopher McDougall is a master storyteller, and he proves it again in Born to Run. But this time, instead of making us laugh out loud, he makes us rethink why we put our feet to the ground every day.”
