Book Notes
Some books. Mostly on running.
I’ve been trying to read a little more regularly since starting ultramarathon.life. And while I don’t have time to write in-depth reviews of all the books I’ve read, I thought it would potentially be interesting to list them here, with a little bit about each one. I’ll also rate each one out of 👟 five shoes 👟
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Running Books
Born to Run
Christopher McDougall
I wanted to hate this book. It’s one of those that always gets bought up in conversation, but I never got around to reading. But I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some people treat it like a running bible, an authoritative source of truth, and I have to say that it’s not. But it is an entertaining tale of the madcap world of ultra-runners and their interactions with the Tarahumara tribe.
Rating
👟👟👟👟👟
I Tried To Run Really Far
Lewis Matthews
I really enjoyed this one. It’s one person’s story of their attempt to run New Zealand’s 3000-kilometre Te Araroa Trail. What I enjoyed most about it was that it was very real and some of what he spoke about was all too familiar. It’s less of a theoretical blueprint of some perfect adventure, and more an honest, funny snapshot of a real attempt. A must read if you’re supporting someone on a long distance run.
Rating
👟👟👟👟👟
Still Running: The Art of Meditation in Motion
Vanessa Zuisei Goddard
A very readable book with some tips on running and how it can form a sort of movement meditation. There are practical insights on how to develop your running form and turn running into a meditative practice. You don’t have to be a Buddhist to enjoy this book, and the lessons in it will support your connection with your running.
Rating
👟👟👟👟
The Rise of the Ultra Runners
Adharanand Finn
A tale of one runner’s descent into ultra-running. He starts the book talking about how “Ultrarunning, on the other hand, was to bludgeon running until it was close to death” and by the end he’s running 100-mile races. A great insight into the world and motivations of ultra-runners, especially if you’re not one yourself.
Rating
👟👟👟👟
The Way of the Runner
Adharanand Finn
Chronologically before The Rise of the Ultra Runners, this is another one of three books by Adharanand Finn. It’s enjoyable enough, and it covers the Japanese obsession with running long distances, in particular Ekiden races. It perhaps is a little repetitive at times, but that might come from reading it off the back of his ultra-running book and lacks some of the depth of The Rise of the Ultra Runners – I’d recommend go reading that one first.
Rating
👟👟👟
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Haruki Murakami
Murakani’s a great writer, and this is a well written memoir on his views on running and on life. I enjoyed the first half, but the second lost me a little. He talks about how running suits him, but that he isn’t competitive against other people, then spends the rest of the book detailing how many people he has overtaken in a race. If you like Murakami’s novels, you’ll enjoy this.
Rating
👟👟👟
Japan
A Passion for Japan
John Rucynski
Have you ever wondered why some people move to another country and stay, while others return? This book tells the stories of a range of folk who have moved to Japan and made it their home. It’s filled with reflective and entertaining tales of people finding their place through art, religion and sports. It’s well worth reading if you’re thinking of spending some time in Japan, and especially if your considering calling it home.
Rating
👟👟👟👟👟
The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei
JOHN STEVENS
A book that goes into the history and details of Tendai Buddhism and the marathon monks of the mountain. This is a good book if you’re interested in Buddhist history, especially of the Tendai sect, this is a great book. If you’re more interested in the running, perhaps give this one a miss.
Rating
👟👟
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