Running with the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth

My review might make you think Running With Kenyans was written for kids--if you don't have kids don't worry--the book is not a children's book. So please read on.

My son is a natural athlete loving all sports and in particular, he is an extraordinarily fast runner. He also is not a child who cares at all about Harry Potter. So mix those two things together and you have a mom trying to find a decent audio book on sports that is okay for an 8 year old, yet not poorly written (which many of the chapter books are--sorry but it's true). Somehow I got to Running With Kenyans in my search and I am very happy I did. Every night I read to the kids myself then put on an audio book for them to fall asleep. We also listen to audio books in the car sometimes. This book is read perfectly. The narration is top notch. The story unfolds slowly, and with an easy rhythm like that of the running he describes. I simply love his story and the way he told it and the way, in the end, John Lee narrrated it. I would end up lying down with kids and not leaving the room because I had to keep listening.

Usually when people say "a page turner" they mean intrigue and tension galore. With this book I wanted to hear what happened next but not in a stressful urgent way but because Adharanand's writing makes you feel like you are there with him. And that's a nice feeling. Like when you don't want to leave vacation. His curiosity is contagious and his self-reflection humorous and honest.

We have now listened to this book, frankly, if I say a number I am guessing. 5 times? When we've had a hard night, or life seems scary, my son picks this book over all others in our Audible for the soothing tale of learning how the Kenyans run, the people and this father, Adharanand Finn, on his own journey.

Energizing. Educational. Fun

His quest to discover the secrets of the Kenyans success in distance running.

This narrator is the best! HIs accents of the different cultures of people he is speaking for are spot on!

Running with the best!

I listened to this book again soon after i had finished it the first time. Well written and excellently narrated.

I enjoyed all aspects of this book! The technical details around running form and gear, the social aspects of western versus African runners and Finn's journey make the entire book worth a second listen.

As a runner I cannot say any one thing hit me as the best thing about the book. I took different things away from it and even generated conversation with friend (runners and non-runners) based on the information.

John Lee is excellent at expressing what the author is trying to convey. I often found myself thinking of John Lee's voice as Finn's. I am sure the next book I listen to featuring John Lee will take some time re-adjust to him NOT being Finn.

Well done...interesting research into why Kenyan runners are so dominant in the U.S. and olympics. Perhaps could have gone a bit deeper into the Kenyan youth and how they are groomed. A pretty cool tale of a whitey making his way around Kenya - an experience all to itself, and not in a bad way. I was there in 1977 and am white, we simply stick out. But, the Kenyan people are inquisitive and hold none of the prejudices we Americans seem to have. Note: This book is not about white and black, the author is clearly colorblind. He keeps almost entirely to his quest to race and train with the Kenyans and the stories of the running races is fascinating.

This book was a great listen for my long weekend runs. The author explores the topic thoroughly, humorously, and warmly, while avoiding the "look at me, I'm oh so special" vibe that plagues baby-boomer memoirs.

The narrator was pitch-perfect, too.

So, the narrators voice took a little getting used to and the book had a slow start... But once I got into it I couldn't stop listening. It was a very intelligently written book about running and form. It was written from the point of view of a better than average runner, but not quite an elite runner.

It's a really great anecdotal account of the concept of why Kenyans are such strong runners. Ever since 'Born to Run' everyone's quick to say that barefoot running is the secret to all fast nationalities. But 'Running with the Kenyans' really looks into the ideologies and dogma of running culture of the country to help people better understand what's at stake for a successful Kenyan runner.

This is a great book. It if filled with wonderful characters who provide inspiration and encouragement. The best element of the book was to expose the Kenyan way of running and the circumstances that illicit that kind of commitment. Listening to this story is time well spent.

A lot of fun traveling along with the story. Relistening just to keep Running with the group.

Visiting the famil homes and running camps.

This was a great read just before the #london2012 olympics, is all fired upp for to watch all the medium and long distance running after listening to this book.

I could this turned into a movie about a european man traveling to Kenya to try to discover the secret behind the Kenyan running sensation for the last 25 years.