Tread Lightly

Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running

De: Bill Larson, Peter Larson

Narrado por: Richard Allen

Humans evolved over the millennia to become one of the most exceptional distance-running species on Earth. So why are injuries so common? Are our shoes to blame, or is it a question of running form, training, or poor diet? In this groundbreaking book, Peter Larson and Bill Katovsky explore the reasons why runners experience injuries and offer potential solutions to the current epidemic of running-related injuries. Their findings, gleaned from research studies and conversations with leading footwear scientists, biomechanical experts, coaches, podiatrists, physical therapists, and competitive runners, are informative and enlightening.

Topics include:

• How modern runners differ from their ancestors
• Why repetitive stress causes most injuries, and how runners can safely reduce their occurrence
• The pros and cons of barefoot running
• Why it’s time to move beyond the pronation-control paradigm with running shoes
• How certain running-form flaws might increase injury risk
• How footwear has evolved over the past 10,000 years
• The recreational runner
• Why running shoes are not inherently evil

Tread Lightly is a highly listenable, multifaceted investigation of running - past and present, with a hopeful look to the future.

©2012 Peter Larson and Bill Katovsky (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Larson presents a wealth of balanced info on the raging debate over proper running form and minimalist running shoes." (Erin Beresini, Outside Online)

“Peter Larson is both a scientist and a realist when it comes to running shoes, and that's a good combination.” (Amby Burfoot, "Peak Performance Blog", Runner's World)

Terrible Narrator, Fascinating Book

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His voice itself wasn't that bad, once I got used to it, but what was completely inexcusable was saying "casual" when the authors clearly wrote "causal." I also suspect he mispronounced several of the scientists names, which is kind of important, since a large part of the book is an overview of scientific research.

Any additional comments?

This was a great book, but I wish I'd gotten the print version. The history of shoe design and discussion of gait was much more interesting than it sounds, and the only negative aside from the narrator is that the last chapter is inexplicably devoted to the paleo diet - totally unrelated to anything that came before it, and it struck me as being out of the blue.

All angles of running explored

From shoes to form to weight to landing types, this book covered it all. If you have read other reviews saying that they can’t understand a word the narrator is saying, it is because his accent is British. I think his narration is perfectly normal and clear. I am Glad I hadn’t rely on the other reviews on how they cannot understand the narration to make my own judgment to listen to this book.


I like how all angles of running is explored, gleamed and quoted from many books on running too, so that I may not need to waste my time having to listen/read them either.

Overall much more knowledge on everything running gained.

Impossible to listen to!!!

What disappointed you about Tread Lightly?

The narrator was terrible. I couldn't last longer than 5 minutes and then had to turn it off. I am really disappointed with this one because I would actually like to listen to the book. I don't know who picks the narrators for the books but they should be fired for this one.

What could Bill Larson and Peter Larson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I don't know. I was not able to listen long enough to get anything from the book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator would pause in the middle of a sentence when there was obviously no comma then continue on. His tone was completely wrong. It was as if he was trying to do a dramatic read to a fitness book. Think of the Will Ferrell Saturday Night Live skits as James Lipton. Now take away the humor and add a monotone voice.

What character would you cut from Tread Lightly?

The Narrator. I can't tell you more than that because I didn't get far enough into the book

Any additional comments?

Please pass this to the publishing company......Think of your audience when you pick a narrator. The people who will buy this book run. We are the type of people that try and pull something extra from the world around us. We strive for a little more in life. We want personality from a book. Here is an idea, when you pick a narrator have them read a chapter and then give it to a focus group of your target audience. If the response comes back negative, then don't use a narrator. I may have an MBA but I promise you I could have figured that one out in middle school. I will even give you the person to narrate it, so you don't have to do the work. The book mentions "Born to Run", the narrator of that book Fred Sanders did a wonderful job. He gave all kinds of depth to the book, hire him.

Too many lists, phony-sounding narrator

There is a lot of dull detail in this book, and a lot of lists. Mostly, it's "book report" -- a regurgitation of material from other books. Meanwhile, the narrator is trying his best to inject drama into every sentence. The combination produces a peculiar mix of irritation and boredom.

If you are this interested in the minutiae of footwear, then the written copy is probably a better bet for you.