[I added a slight bit of background, quite shocking really, about the Tarahumara's life expectancy and child-birth techniques.]
Tavia recently began her review of “Once A Runner,” “What does it mean that the proclaimed ‘best novel ever written about running’ (Runner’s World said it, and others have implied it) is in fact an average novel?”
The running blogosphere recently has been in a tizzy about Christopher McDougall’s “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.” It’s supposed to be the alpha and omega of running books/stories. It’s not.
The book has three themes.
The “Hidden Tribe” of the subtitle is the Tarahumara Indian tribe in Mexico. These are the “Running People” who run for the joy of it and are endowed with compassion and kindness and innocence but who have always fared badly when they encounter outsiders, be they Cortez, Mexican drug cartels, or an American who exploited some of them for an ultramarathon in the U.S.
Second are a group of American ultramarathoners who will venture into the Tarahumara’s land for the “big race” at the book’s end. There’s Scott Jurek, one of the top, if not the top, ultramarathoners and Jenn Shelton and her companion Billy Barnett, a couple of surfer-types. There’s a guy known as “Barefoot Ted” for his disdain for footwear.
Bridging the two groups is the American Caballo Blanco (“White HorseCowboy” [edited/corrected per Brandon]), whose identity is revealed only at the end.
The third theme consists of two stand-alone pieces, which proved to be the interesting part of the book, which I’ll get to shortly.
The problem I had with the book is that I had far more interest in the fictional Quenton Cassidy of “Once A Runner” (or the fictional Emma Caldridge of “Running from the Devil“) than I had in any of the characters, save perhaps McDougall himself, in “Born to Run.” The Tarahumara are two-dimensional. They are generous people, many of whom run. What else? How do they live? How does the woman in the restaurant pay for the propane burners that are kept going non-stop during the big pre-race scene?
I happen to be finishing Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs and Steel. That comprehensive book traces the development of man across the millennia. That’s “development” in terms of the complex societies in which we exist. The notion that these throw-back people are somehow superior to us city-dwellers is troubling. Indeed, if I had fallen down there and done to my elbow what I did, I probably wouldn’t have two functional arms now, unless I somehow got to one of those city hospitals.
Worse are the ultramarathoners. They are, I guess, supposed to be colorful. I found them annoying, none more so than the two kids. So far as I can tell, ultramarathoners run long distances. The thrill is in the completion. Fine. But just because the passion that they and I share involves the frequent placement of one foot in front of the other doesn’t mean I care about their sport. It may be purer, but it is of no interest to me.
The saving grace of the book is those two stand-alone chapters. In the first, there’s a discussion about, essentially, how Nike destroyed running by making ever more complex shoes that prevent the foot from doing what nature intended it to do. I don’t disagree with this. I think the best shoe is the cheapest, by which I mean the one with the fewest bells and whistles. Indeed, this was a topic on Monday’s podcast. And Cowboy Hazel has embarked, in part because of “Born to Run,” on a test of the Nike Free, the best-known minamalist shoe. So that’s a nice read.
Second and more interesting is the chapter on evolution and how man came to run and use running as a means of surviving. [Diversion: similarly, a new book "Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human" by Richard Wrangham is out that addresses the importance of cooking, yes, cooking, on human development, including as a means for allowing us to spend time thinking instead of searching for food. It's on hold for me at the library. This belies the assertion in a rather unpleasant episode of a running podcast that humans are not made to eat meat since it points to the difference between raw and cooked meat.]
It’s nice to know that we are, as the Boss put it, “Born to Run.” It’s also nice to know that we have advanced from the point of using that running to catch our dinners (not by outsprinting but by outlasting them) so that we can try to race things like 5Ks or marathons.
But the über-theme of this book is that the Tarahumara are superior to those who are not of that tribe and that ultramarathoners are superior to those who are not of that tribe. They’re not.
Then there’s Kenny Moore’s “Best Efforts.” I just received my copy; I’ve read it before. It consists almost entirely of pieces Moore — he was fourth in the 1972 Olympic Marathon — wrote for Sports Illustrated and the first, “The Long Blue Line” alone is worth every penny of the $14.95 price. I read that piece in SI when it first appeared and I remember it still. And Moore will inscribe it to you.
[Edited to add (Oct. 3): Matt pointed out that the Tarahumara life expectancy is 45 years. I checked on that and came upon the following from 1996, a Lehigh term paper entitled "Running Feet":
- The Tarahumara are not very hygienic to even modern day indigenous standards. They are not very cleanly and the washing of their clothes is usually either an annual or semiannual tradition. The Tarahumara have no regular sleeping habits and simply go to sleep whenever and wherever they are tired and feel that they need rest. The practice of childbirth is also distinct to the Tarahumara. When a woman feels that it is about time for her to deliver the baby she will go off by herself into the wilderness, brace herself between two small trees and attempts to have the baby safely. There is a very high infant mortality rate among the Tarahumara. This fact is counterbalanced by the fact that there is also a very high birth rate. The average Tarahumara woman gives birth to about ten babies hoping that three or four will survive into adulthood. Adulthood is usually short for the Tarahumara with the average life expectancy being forty-five (Lutz 50). These factors are believed to help the Tarahumara survive as a race.
Also, TK just reviewed it. She comes to a different conclusion but also lists a number of other reviewers.]
18 comments
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June 4, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Robert James Reese
I like your review. I don’t entirely agree with you, but I respect the fact that you wrote what you felt and didn’t pull any punches. You are right that the characters were two-dimensional. But, I feel like the story could have easily ballooned into something far to large and off-topic if McDougall had tried to give them all more depth. I definitely agree that the two chapters about Nike and human evolution were the best the book had to offer.
What did you think of Guns, Germs, and Steel? I read it a couple years back and enjoyed it, although it was a little light in hard data.
Finally, thanks for the link. The test of the Nike Frees is going well so far. This guy might be on to something…
July 8, 2009 at 1:21 pm
michjoy61
Hi Joe,
I am more than halfway through the book now and I am enjoying the read. I was pretty surprised at the description of Jenn and Billy. They seemed so far removed from what is at the core of running. It was almost as if they were mocking it. Yeah, I’ll drink all night and then run 50 miles tomorrow!!
I am getting a lot out of the book though.
Great review, I enjoyed reading it!
July 12, 2009 at 11:18 am
Loose Ends « RunWestchester
[...] in my review of “Born to Run” (the book not the album/song), I made reference to another book that I hoped to read, [...]
July 23, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Oh, for that you need a plan. « RunWestchester
[...] because he was interviewing Christopher McDougall. McDougall wrote “Born to Run” and I had issues with that book. Briefly, save for two stand-alone chapters (about shoes and evolution), I found the [...]
August 17, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Jerry
Joe,
I appreciated finding someone else who is not thoroughly enamored of “Born to Run”. I submitted a less than ecstatic review of the book to Barefoot Ted’s blog but he apparently declined to post it. While I admit that I did enjoy the read overall, I thought the structure of the book was stilted and formulaic, hosting the obligatory cast of misfits (esp Jenn and Billy) that currently dominates the “Outside” school of journalism, and while it was engaging when Tim Cahill started the trend in the 70′s it’s become trite and boring.
August 26, 2009 at 8:34 pm
One Foot in Front of the Other, and Go « RunWestchester
[...] it turned into an infomercial for the subject. The guests were Chris McDougall, author of “Born to Run,” and John Woodward, a Brit who believes we all need to be taught how to [...]
September 24, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Book Review: “From Last to First” by Charlie Spedding « RunWestchester
[...] Long Blue Line: A Rerun,” first published in Sports Illustrated and Chapter 1 of his “Best Efforts,” in which he intertwines the events of the 1972 Munich Olympics with his own experience in [...]
October 3, 2009 at 4:35 pm
TK
Since I have only just today finished McDougall’s book, I think it’s funny how one of the main things I liked about his book was the wacky cast of characters (of which everyone else here disapproves). Of course, I don’t read very much in this genre (outdoor/adventure/nonfiction) so perhaps in fact the criticisms are justified. Nevertheless, when stacked up against other running books I’ve read, BORN TO RUN is one of the better options.
October 3, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall « Pigtails Flying
[...] Run Westchester [...]
January 11, 2010 at 10:39 am
Has David Brooks Read “Born to Run”? « RunWestchester
[...] Posts Birdfeeders and the TarahumaraWatch it buddyGoing Sub-4, Removing "BQ" from the LanguageBook Review: "Born to Run" (and "Best Efforts")No. 893: I'm only here for funTurning PointsTalking To MyselfMeOne Foot in Front of the Other, and [...]
March 17, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Grant
Hey Joe,
I can’t agree. I think the characters are pretty memorable. Barefoot Ted, Caballo, even the professors. I don’t think they are developed in the same way as you would see in a piece of literature, but they still manage to be more than cardboard cutouts.
I think this book was taking a crack at Carlos Castenda and Hunter S. Thompson and actually his characters stand up to what those authors produced.
It’s also a book which wanted to accomplish a lot more than that. Too much? Maybe, but has pulled off a lot. An indictment of modern corporate shoes. The evolution of humanity. An ultra running race report. An a look at a very unusual culture.
He manages to pull all those things together and it’s pretty impressive.
I’m not saying it’s the best book I’ve ever read or anything and there were times when I didn’t want to like it.
But it slowly won me over and I may even read it again at some point.
Thanks for you comments our iRun blog.
April 4, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Holden
This review is oddly silent on The primary message of the book: the running style adopted with modern padded running is not ideal.
April 4, 2010 at 3:14 pm
joegarland
I noted that the evolution and over-engineered chapters were the two that I enjoyed.
As to “the running style adopted with modern padded running is not ideal,” you’ll probably find 5 or 6 posts on this blog that disagree with that message. Not sure what you mean by “padded,” but I think it clear that the modern running shoe allows many, many people to run faster than they otherwise would.
July 16, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Mr. Woo
“BORN TO RUN” is a good read — no more, no less. It tells a helluva story about an interesting subject and peppers it with anecdotes, characters, and chia. I do not know enough about running to weigh in on the ‘to shoe or not to shoe’ debate but the book did inspire me to down a fresca and hit the trails.
August 23, 2010 at 12:52 am
cg9m
hm. if i’m gonna attempt another response, i’ll try for a ‘nicer’ one (but it may be as hard as running a 2:30 or a 6h marathon, depending on one’s perspective).
‘born to run’…i don’t read books like this. (and i do read a fair amount of various stuff, considering i’m not literary). i’d pick it up and put it right back down. (ok, this isn’t very positive so far). i do like non-fiction within anthropology, but mostly that’s restricted to survival stories (some hyped ones like ‘touching the void’ (well, just b/c it’s set in the andes) or ‘between a rock and a hard place’ (grasping- but it does reflect on human adversity), and more thoughtful ones like ‘people of the deer’ or various renditions of mountain climbing ascents involving the sherpa culture.
anyway. i’ll never read this book b/c i consider it thinly disguised marketing- and most likely casual (ie, uninsightful) writing…(that’s easy enough to get from reading blogs- no offense to bloggers- that’s expected!) however, i’ve formed an impression from all of the reviews, commentary, and commercial hype surrounding the book (not unlike reviews in the post of the latest episode of “jersey shore.”) seems to have spawned a new, albeit expensive, concept in running shoe design. i happen to be someone who’s always run more forefoot (to the disdain/chagrin/contempt of almost every running coach i’ve ever had over 20+ years) until this book came out! i *do not* believe that forefoot running (or heelstriking) is the most efficient way for every runner (and my impression is that this (forefoot running) is one of the issues raised by the book, however novel-like or unsubstantiated its claims). i am very glad, however, (machiavellian?) that there are now running shoes designed for forefooters! we used to be the ‘southpaws’ of the community…(i just hope the shoes get less expensive once the hype dies down.)
perhaps i should end there, but as to the idea that one culture (running or no) is ‘superior’ to another…i think that’s absurd. why is it ‘easier’ in some cases to relate to someone who grew up 10,000 miles away than someone in our own hometown? i think that speaks more to an insight into anthropology (or even, philosophy)- what do we find in common w/other cultures and beyond that, individuals (where it matters most).
August 23, 2010 at 1:03 pm
joegarland
I loved your stride.
As to shoes, my motto is, the cheaper the better. Companies are coming out with lower heel-to-toe drops, so I’d expect the prices to drop as that design becomes more common. Now, I think, it’s more of a novelty for which they charge a premium.
November 26, 2011 at 7:39 pm
Phil
Yes, i completely agree. The most interesting chapter was devoted to persistance hunting. After that,the chapter on the shoe industry was worthwhile. Also, i thought the remarks concerning diet, interspersed throughout the book, were worth considering. The book, overall, is not “the ultimate running book” no matter the hype….but, as far as i know its the only running book to hit the NYT’s best-seller list(and for quite awhile). The Caballo character was memorable…met him once in person…he’s accurately described.
October 2, 2012 at 10:40 pm
cg9m
i’ve had an epiphany. the reason i can’t relate to any of your posts is that i was never a springsteen fan (w/the exception of the opening line of ‘hungry heart’). i liked mellencamp better, but that’s not saying much.
maybe this time i’ll begin with my main point rather than alluding to it (it’s still gonna be long- just so any readers? can ignore the rest). you said in another post (the same ‘big tent’ one, i think) that folks like me participated in a ‘different, however subtly’ sport from yours: i agree. the objectives are very different.
‘races’ are run between competitive people to determine a winner (or ‘winners’ in age groups). a course record may occur in the process (but that’s regardless of whether the record-setter is a competitive type. it’s just assumed.) people like me, and maybe the characters in B-t-R (still haven’t read it- no plans to), run for themselves. caring about times and improvement, but not about winning (as if), not about awards, and not about how one does wrt someone else. i admit to feeling maligned in yet another post of yours where you referred to people like me as being of the ‘kumbaya’ sort. but i’ve come to accept that. it’s true. i am. i resented the implication, however, that this clan, or subtype, or whatever, of runners who show up at races is ‘lazy’. i came away w/that impression from a great many of your posts. but i think competitive people are quite inclined to view the ‘competition’ over whom (they feel) they’ve triumphed as ‘not working as hard as i do.’ cough.
unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of options around for people who want to test themselves, and have a record of it to gauge their own improvement, or historical fitness, etc, but not get thrown into the ‘bloodbath’. some have the mental strength to do it on their own. but i find i push myself more in a ‘race’ setting. i just wish ‘getting from point a to b as fast as i can’ was all it was about.
i’m drawn to the concept of ‘fun runs’ b/c they seem to embrace a mindset more similar to my own. they’re held for various ‘noble’ causes, from which one can choose. and they are shorter distances. they embrace all kinds. the drawback is that quite a few don’t offer chip-timing. and not all courses are accurate (within 0.1 mi).
but i think over the years a lot of people like me have defected? into the realm of ultrarunning. i say that because i feel more of an empathy with their personalities, and i very much enjoy reading about their lives, training, races, etc. it’s a sport i have no hope of entering, however. i distinguish it from plain trail running or x-c, b/c most of the people in those races seem to spill over from the road race set.
on the subject of ‘B-t-R’, tho, it recalls a book that was recommended to me by various earthy friends on natural childbirth by ida may gaskin. i read it, but was more than a little perturbed by the theme (including some graphic pics of women delivering, standing straddled, and with their arms tied to tree branches). not for me.
you can stop reading here ;P as a teenager, a friend’s (on my x-c & track team) dad was, in retrospect, an ‘ultrarunner’. i did my longest (10 miles!) run in hs w/her and her dad one weekend out at elk neck state park. he ran that route every day, sometimes twice. she ran more miles than anyone on my team b/c of it. lol, both her parents were hippies.
on the flip side, the most significant person in my running life held the same view of (most) marathoners that you do of ultrarunners. i had it ingrained in me from an early age that ‘running marathons isn’t the same thing as racing’. indeed, one of the reasons i never tried to run longer was b/c i thought that one needed to run at the same pace as a 5k (which to me, was already ‘long’). even in college, i got a lot of pressure from all sides- friends, sorority, even labmates- to sign up for the ‘charlottesville 10 miler’. i refused to do it b/c i didn’t think i could maintain the pace i ran 3 mile events for 10. (duh?)
but what it boils down to in the end, is an attitude about pace. now that i’ve (haha- briefly) run alongside some people in road 50k’s, i’ve seen them finish in the 5mm (i’ll never get over that abbreviation- to me, it’s ‘millimeters’) range. i think that’s racing. but it’s not even on difficult terrain. trail ultrarunners often see huge elevation changes (in the 1000+ ft range). they train hard, and specifically, in all weather (and elevation). i don’t think it’s ‘just to finish’. some are quite earnest to win or set course records.
anyway, back to my running ‘hero’. he’s an old timer- 70′s now. i grew up seeing a collection of racing medals- some for state records- behind a glass enclosure in the foyer of my grandparents’ home (it’s the reason for one admitted contradiction- i am very opposed to ‘everyone’ getting race medals for crossing finish lines). the last time i ran ‘with’ him was maybe 2005 when he asked my sis and i to ‘jog to the beach & back’ w/him (~4mi). i kept up for oh, about 0.1mi, downhill. i could still see them at the 1mi mark- that part of road is straight for awhile- for which they (by my watch and sis’ clocked a 6:30). the second mile is on trail, under pitch pines, then uphill on single-track in the sand to the bluffs overlooking the ocean. my sis fell back a little by then, as he was first to pass me on the return. at dinner, my mom asked him how the ‘jog’ went. he said, ‘it was fun! my daughters let me win!’ my sis and i just shook our heads. oh yeah- he’s a forefooter. from whom i inherited my stride. but not speed.