• 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
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (19,897 ratings)

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Born to Run  By  cover art

Born to Run

By: Christopher McDougall
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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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

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What listeners say about Born to Run

Average customer ratings
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Great book!

The book leaves you wanting more. The story is mesmerizing, the characters are fascinating. Loved it!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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inspiring!

great story. the science nerd in me cringed a few times, but the runner in me felt quite inspired.

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Enlightening and awesome!

This book was way better than expected. It combined history, science, and adventure. Just a well rounded great book.

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geat book

awesome book to get you pumped about running, a lot of good hx of running too. just remember even the authors have said barefoot running is not the answer since writing this book :)

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great

I enjoyed this book as it encouraged me to get back into running after getting hurt. definitely worth listening to multiple times.

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loved it

An awesome story.... read it...you will not regret it. science and storytelling at its best

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An exceptional insight into human evolution

My friends were right when they said I wouldn't want to put this down. An exceptional insight into human culture, history and evolution. The book is filled with deep research and amazing insights into the history of running. The stories will blow you away. Started on Saturday and finished on Wednesday. Great read/listen.

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Motivation

This book has always been my 'go to' for motivation. A great read and a really great narration for those long runs.

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Excellent pick

What did you love best about Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen?

This is one of my favorite books: it is a brilliant blend of history, intrigue, wacky characters, and superathletes. After reading this book, I just want to get outside for a run. I have listened to it several times (and read the print version too), and plan to do so again in the future. Also, Fred Sanders has a likeable and easy-to-listen-to voice that lends itself nicely to the story.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent non fiction read

I read this book at the right time when I'm struggling with running. With complete background of running history with humans and a great story along, the author describes group of people and their past and how it all boils down to this one uber race. I have been reccommending this book to all my friends halfway into the book. Even though it's a bit documentar-ish, it is very captivating and keeps you interested through out. A great book to how and why we should run and how some new inventions have replaced what nature intended. A must read for non fiction readers and fiction lovers would like this too.

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