Reviews

A Philosophy of Walking by John Howe, Frédéric Gros, Clifford Harper

gnatie's review against another edition

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Could not get into it. Very boring. Thought it was gonna be about exploring new places and benefits of walking but it’s just about male historical figures that walked and their lives. So boring and also a bit sexist bc have women never walked?? Also every time the author refers to a nameless walker, he uses he/him pronouns. I can’t get past that either. Anyone can walk and gendering walking as a default male activity and using he/him as default human pronouns is incredibly sexist and I can’t stand to read shit like that. 

magsholdorf's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

fenland's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

robotswithpersonality's review against another edition

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Well that was an interesting experiment. There are poetic  passages featuring the author's direct reflections on walking with which I could identify strongly. There were inclusions of certain philosophers and figures from history and their connection to walking that I found more or less informative. And then there were more spiritual leanings that had me gazing askance at the text, questioning the validity of their inclusion, as well as those prescriptive and proscriptive passages that felt like lectures on the proper way to walk, how to get the most benefit (verging into self help book territory) which had me rolling my eyes. What I found relatable or enlightening was too far outweighed by what I found redundant, heavy-handed or irrelevant. Can't recommend. 

alesforz's review

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As the book progressed, it became increasingly more boring and the author's theories less interesting. 
There are a lot gems in the book, but not enough to push me to the finish line.

perco_tempo's review

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2.0

A philosophy of walking is a philosophy of living. One keeps walking for the same reason one lives, because they have to. We keep walking or our bodies make us insane. Our mind fleets and hurts. Thus walking is part of us.

big_dub_dostoevsky's review against another edition

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4.5

Interesting perspective on walking

suedd's review against another edition

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5.0

Love the combination of these two subjects! Gros explores all types of walking and exposes us to many famous/accomplished people throughout history who walked for various reasons and in various manners. Definitely worth picking up and rereading chapters as the mood strikes.

clarapaick030's review

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inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

martamarin's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

2.25