Born to Run Audiobook By Christopher McDougall cover art

Born to Run

A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

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Born to Run

By: Christopher McDougall
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The astonishing and hugely entertaining story that completely changed the way we run. An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?

“Equal parts quest, physiology treatise, and running history.... The climactic race reads like a sprint.... It simply makes you want to run.” —Outside Magazine

Isolated by Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner Christopher McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America’s best ultra-runners against the tribe. McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.

©2009 Knopf (P)2009 Random House Anthropology Running & Jogging Social Sciences Sociology Sports Inspiring Thought-Provoking Funny

Critic reviews

“Compelling. . . . Entertaining. . . . [McDougall] uses an extended portrait of one of the world's least known cultures, the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's Copper Canyons, to put modern American running under an exacting magnifying glass.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Equal parts quest, physiology treatise, and running history. . . . [McDougall] seeks to learn the secrets of the Tarahumara the old-fashioned way: He tracks them down. . . . The climactic race reads like a sprint. . . . It simply makes you want to run.”—Outside Magazine

“Hugely entertaining. . . . One of the most joyful and engaging books about running to appear for many years.”—The Irish Times

Featured Article: The Best Running Audiobooks You Should Be Listening to


Running can be an arduous task, especially for those who are new to the sport. It can also be a life-giving force for those who are already more involved in the running community. Either way, it’s one of the best athletic ventures to couple with a great audiobook. Listening to the inspirational stories of other runners can be just what you need to push through a difficult jog or set a new personal record. Our list of great listens about running has you covered.

Featured Article The Best Running Audiobooks You Should Be Listening to
Captivating Storytelling • Compelling Characters • Cultural Exploration • Transformative Impact • Engaging Performance
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If, like me, you're not really a runner - don't let that fact steer you away from Christopher McDougall's new book. With an enthralling cast of true characters and a writing style that is laugh out loud funny... "Born to Run" would be a great summer road trip listen. At least that was my plan for next week's vacation, but once I started listening, I couldn't stop (the narration was excellent). The story: well, I even was inspired to take my creaky, over 50 knees outside for a run to hear the last couple of hours... and that's sayin' somethin'. I hope the author saved a few stories; I'd love a sequel.

Buy it.

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Born to Run was a very fun book to read, and full of amazing characters, but what I loved the most were all the nuggets of interesting and useful information sandwiched into the story (i.e. studies on the value of running shoes, the superfood Chia seeds, the backgrounds of successful ultra distance runners). I'm sure it starting to annoy my wife how much I cite things from this book, but it's too good not to share it.

In addition to being an interesting book with tons of good info, it was incredibly well written, and the authors humor is spot on.

I've told everyone I know about this book

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I really enjoyed this book. It is by far one of the best listens out there. I found myself looking for chores/tasks to do that would give me an excuse to keep listening to the book. Well written, funny and educational.

Outstanding

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As a 40 something mediocre runner with aspirations to do a marathon, I found this book completely inspiring. McDougall weaves so much information into an engrossing storyline. Science, anthropology, medicine, humor and suspense....makes you want to kick off your shoes and keep going. I listened while I ran and hardly wanted to stop.

Inspiring read for runners and non runners alike

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This is one of the best audio books I've listened to in a long while. The subject matter, although about running is so much more than that. McDougall does a fantastic job of introducing the characeters of the book as well as mixing in science with a very interesting story. I feel fortunate to have discovered this book. A must read/listen. Fred Sanders does a great job of narrating the book.

Not just for runners

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Inspirational combination of fact, science, and excellent storytelling make this title a must read for anyone who has ever tried to run anywhere for any reason. If you aren't athletic, this book still has something for you as it is filled with fascinating characters, excellent narration, and humor that had me guffawing on half a dozen occasions. Brilliant!

Fabulous listen

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One of the absolute best books ever on the subject of running. By the end of the book I was "fast walking barefoot in Washington DC and having a bearfoot breakfast at La Madeline. Orginally bought the book for it's historical reference to my ancestors, the Taramahara indians of Northern Mexico but got a whole lot more. A must read!

A must read.

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I had so much fun listening to this book. And it made me want to get out there and run -- barefoot! It's really sweeping the running world. Everyone I know is reading it, and I can understand why. It's just a lot of fun to read.

Really entertaining, and makes you want to run.

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I came to this book expecting a great adventure story about an isolated tribe of Indians. It delivered on every count with a bonus. The history and science woven into the story captivates and inspires the reader in a way most non-fiction can never do. Get this book, get inspired, you were born to run, and here's the proof.

Adventure+science+running equals a great read

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This book was a pleasant surprise with all the other tidbits of information you learn that surrounds running. Everything from the origination of running shoes to the fact that ultra running is a very rare sport where men do not have an advantage over women. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to look up pictures of the real people who make up the characters of this incredible story.

Evolution, Ultra running, Diet & more

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