• 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 (19,838 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Born to Run  By  cover art

Born to Run

By: Christopher McDougall
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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

Featured Article: The Best Sports Audiobooks to Get You in the Game


Whether you’re a die-hard sports fanatic or a casual observer, you’ve likely felt the rush of adrenaline that comes from watching a world-class competitor at peak performance. Another way to capture the high energy of professional athletics? A sports audiobook with the perfect balance of substance and style. From rags-to-riches stories to tales of the biggest comebacks, these audiobooks will bring you closer to the game than ever before.

What listeners say about Born to Run

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15,608
  • 4 Stars
    3,225
  • 3 Stars
    743
  • 2 Stars
    165
  • 1 Stars
    97
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12,358
  • 4 Stars
    2,661
  • 3 Stars
    529
  • 2 Stars
    66
  • 1 Stars
    52
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12,643
  • 4 Stars
    2,255
  • 3 Stars
    609
  • 2 Stars
    114
  • 1 Stars
    65

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing read - even for non-runners

First, let me say that I hate running. HATE IT.
But after listening to this wonderfully written and masterfully read story I have actually begun the first steps of barefoot running. After listening to Christopher McDougall's adventures/misadventures in the Copper Canyons of Mexico with Caballo Blanco I have both a new-found respect and interest in running. The book itself perfectly entwines great story telling, historic & scientific discoveries, and profound human truths all associated with the "art" of running. I've rarely been so satisfied by any book - I couldn't stop listening and I miss the characters so much I'm listening again. Awesome awesome awesome.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

77 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb doesn't even do this book justice

What a great story. Not only great story, our author is major character and protagonist of and within the story. And herein lies the two major themes that make this one of the best books I have ever read.

1) Detailed and inside coverage of the Ultra Running Culture. Mexican (Tarahumara) legendary runners, strange (different/better) Americans. With a story how the two groups got together in the hidden mountains of Mexico for an EPIC race.

2) Detailed debunking of popular myths regarding running (especially useless and debilitating running shoes). As well as technical and deep mental insights of people who run and are addicted to running Ultra races.

Perhaps (I mean why not) I could run a 50 mile ultra. I mean with the help of this book I am now running 20 miles along side the Colorado River (Glenwood Canyon). When I used to groan and moan to run 6.

Finally and again the best story, documentary, training manual, inspiration extended quatrain ever anywhere.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

54 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

I'm not a runner ...

And I'll never be one. But, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. Loved hearing the history. And chia seeds have become a routine part of my diet. Educational without being stuffy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

51 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Born to Run may be revolutionary

My favorite part of this audiobook is what one reviewer called the "wonky" part. I loved McDougall's argument for and explanation of how modern humans evolved from running humans. This is an excellent listen. I highly recommend it for any runner. I have downloaded something like 70 audiobooks and this is the first one for which I have written a review. This book may be attacked by shoe companies, but more likely, it might lead to companies offering more minimalist running shoes.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

made me become one

it's an amazing book to listen to, first time listener and I hear it on the daily show so I thought I would look it up, too bad you can't get chia seeds to plan here in Japan, besides that is amazing book I can't wait to travel to Mexico and pick so me up ( don't tell anyone) I love the whole book so much I actually started running and signed up for the Tokyo Marathon next year, wish me luck!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

What a Run ~!

I have no idea what possessed me to buy this book but I am grateful to whatever force guided that click. I cannot remember the last time I finished a book and wanted to start over. This is not just a fabulous read but a fabulous experience. Fred Sander's voice is magnificent, Christopher McDougell is a beautiful story-teller. Born to Run is an amazing (true) story- intertwined with a little history, a bit about nutrition, curious facts about physiology and peppered with generous doses of motivation, spirituality, great characters and the beauty of unexpected friendships. Taken all together-it made me want to run (& trust me, I am so not a runner). Worth every second of the journey.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • S
  • 11-07-09

It's true- you don't need to run to love this book

You see all the 5-star ratings because it's a great book. Just get it, and you will be happy. So many angles on so many things, I probably need to read it again. Some parts may be a little lengthy about some of the races for some people, but even as a non-runner, I found these parts rather enjoyable. The depth that the book goes into about evolution, shoes, feet, and endurance are what grabbed me. It made me think about what shoes I wear, and almost made me want to run (although I still don't). And it introduced me to a 'new' sport that makes me wonder- Ultras? And then I found out that a friend of mine runs these 100 mile + races, and I felt I could relate in some way to what he does because I read this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Buy it.

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Inspiring and encourages you to exercise

Great book. My favourite type in that it tells a great story and gives lots of information. It makes you really question how helpful high priced running shoes and orthodics really are.

Reading the book inspires you to go outside and run barefoot on dew-covered grass.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and educational

This was a great listen and I found it hard to turn off at the end of my commute to and from work. If you're already a runner, besides entertaining you and motivating your running, this book will tempt you to try at least two things. Try chia fresca and try running barefoot or in some other supportless "shoe." I'd caution runners not to overdo it the first time they run without shoes; no more than a couple/few miles at a time until you build up foot strength. I ran six miles in a pair of the Vibram Five Fingers the author mentions, and while it felt great at the time, my feet and ankles were terribly sore for a week or so after.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful