Why We Run: A Natural History
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- ISBN13: 9780060958701
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
In Why We Run, biologist, award-winning scenery writer, and ultramarathoner Bernd Heinrich explores a new perspective on human evolution by examining the phenomenon of ultraendurance and makes surprising discoveries about the physical, spiritual — and primal — drive to win. At once lyrical and scientific, Why We Run shows Heinrich’s signature blend of biology, anthropology, psychology, and philosophy, infused with his passion to learn how and why we can achieve superhuman abilities.
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well, i do not know why the title of this book changed. thanks to the book return policy or we, readers will end up buy same book twice.
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
This book was appealing, though a small too dry at times. Glad I bought it though.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
The stuff about animals in this book is okay, appealing but perhaps not especially significant. What’s fantastic about the book is Heinrich’s tale. Heinrich was essentially completely self-reliant. He went into semi-seclusion in the woods to train himself, trying different things and apt an “conduct experiment of one”, as they say. Then he came out and beat the best competition available.
What I like so much about Heinrich is that although he is a scientist, he stayed away from so-called “scientific” training that analyzes your form, tells you exactly what percentage of carbohydrates to eat, how much to sleep, when to take your pulse, and specifies how many repeats of what part, speed, rest you should do. As a replacement for, he was flexible and open-minded in his training, establish the things that worked, and used them to win.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
As the father of two daughters I establish this book depressing. The message is that men were place on this Planet to run and girls weren’t. Fortunately there is no scientific evidence to back up this view, except the leader’s anecdotal observations gleened while living with the Bushmen of the Kalahari. And very dodgy observations they are too. Indeed the whole thing is very dodgy. If my father had been an officer in Hitler’s Wehrmacht (as the leader of this book candidly admits his dad was) I reflect I’d be a small more careful about grandiose biological theories that consign half the human race to the role of ‘helper’ not ‘hunter.’
Heinrich believes that men evolved into long distance runners (over thousands of generations) to follow game in Africa. Evolution selected persons men who were best able to run long distances in pursuit of animals and allowed them to pass on their genes to the next generation.
What were women doing while men were following the herds? Why sitting around the camp fire eating berries and feeding babies of course. And if you’re a Darwinian (like me) at first you reflect, yes, it all makes sense doesnt it? But then you ponder it for a while and the whole edifice starts to come crashing down. If women just sat around while men went off running, why then do women also make fantastic long distance runners? Why is the difference in time between male and female lengthy winners measured in minutes not hours or even days? Why? Because this book isnt rigorous, doesnt present falsifiable evidence, doesnt present counter examples and isnt therefore…science. It’s what can only be called pseudo science. To sum up: If you’re a man and a runner you might find this book comforting and useful; if you’re a woman or a girl or a name interested in the cold shower of scientific reason you probably should buy something else.
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
This book gives a facinating account of an unusual life and an incredible accomplishment. Anyone who like me struggles through their 3-6 miles will be inspired by how the leader conquered 62 miles at better than 6:30 miles by considerable talent and extraordinary courage. The additional animals are appealing too.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5