Born to Run

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

By: Christopher McDougall

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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

Informative & Highly Entertaining

This has been the most enjoyable non-fiction audio book I've listened to in a long time.

It's a fantastic adventure with wild real-life characters. I have a bunch of new heroes now, and have had fun putting together my own "epilogue" by reading the websites & blogs of the characters in the book.

Born To Run also ties in evolution, anthropology, history, and marketing with running. Made me very glad I'd switched to running in Vibrams.

excellent. made a runner out of me and I am 60

Thank you Chris for tying together anthropology physiology and a damn good story. where is Jen now?

Didn't want it to end.

Would you consider the audio edition of Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen to be better than the print version?

Perfect audio book. Great storytelling mixed with science, great read.

What did you like best about this story?

The writing kept you hooked the whole time, even with some heady stuff thrown in.

What does Fred Sanders bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A nice calm disposition.

If you could give Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen a new subtitle, what would it be?

Humans were born runners, and you're doing it wrong.

now I'm off to copper canyon

Spellbinding from start to finish. Has me starting my copper canyon ultra training now. Wish me luck.

Superb!

The story and the reader were just superb! Changes in pitch and different personas versus the typical monotone reader. A must read for anyone whom enjoys audio books!

Just what I needed

What made the experience of listening to Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen the most enjoyable?

This book is interesting, engaging and an overall reminder of what motivates me to run. Since my early twenties I've been through various stages in my life compelling me to run anywhere between 10 and 100 miles per week...I never feel better than when I am making time for high miles. I have not personally met another person who shares this passion. This book has helped me discover a new motivation to get out there and keep running.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Form and posture. How important it is to run the right way.

Worth Reading/Listening to Again!

loved the book! very inspiring. great overall story. I particularly liked how the author intertwined the story with the science behind the theories.

Amazing story, inspirational too

What made the experience of listening to Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen the most enjoyable?

It's well-written, well-narrated, and it makes you want to drop everything and just start running, which explains my high rating for this book

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, absolutely, the story is so captivating and so well-spoken, it makes you want to read it in one.. sitting? or maybe while running in one of those ultra-marathons.

Epiphany, entertainment,excellent!

You will never look at running the same again. You will learn about some amazing tribes that still exist that do some very amazing things. You will learn about people who run hundreds of miles not just marathons, and you will learn about how our feet have become puny from wearing such supportive shoes. Great lesson!

Did not want it to end! Caballo!

The title says it all. Amazing and inspiring. I did not want it to end.