Reviews

Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession by Richard Askwith

spav's review against another edition

3.0

This book accomplished what I was looking for. Even though its many inaccuracies, not standing well the pass of time and even the misogynistic twitches (all of them pointed at and apologized for by the author in the 2021 epilogue), the book has driven me more decisively to get (even more) out there, running and being alone in the woods.

If there is something that connects this book with stoic teachings is that it is not but through struggle (physical or emotional) that you can better appreciate beauty.

t8zzyuk's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

3.5

zara_tweed's review against another edition

inspiring fast-paced

4.0

cucharilla's review against another edition

3.0

Made me want to run....specifically up lots of hills.

rohan_42's review

adventurous funny informative inspiring medium-paced

3.5

jjb21's review

adventurous informative slow-paced

1.0

Did not finish. Some inspirational/interesting content. But mostly just a list of names (primarily focused on the men only) and their races won

livlaw's review

adventurous informative inspiring slow-paced

3.75

This was a pretty fun read! I wish there was less data and numbers and more stories. It was super male focused which was frustrating at times, but it did inspire me to look into some fell races for next year!

homomorphiesatz's review

adventurous emotional informative inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

3.25

brionyconway's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring slow-paced

3.5

sharondblk's review against another edition

3.0

I'm glad I read this, but it was also very frustrating. At his best Richard Askwith is entertaining and informative. At his worst he is repetitious and some of this book reads like a list. Was is frustrating as that he is not a social commentator. While he touches on issues such as gender, class, incomers, the south / north divide, he doesn't explore these issues. He also presents contradictory fears - that fell running will die out, that it will become too popular, that no one who didn't spend their youths running around the fells can do it despite the fact that he didn't take to the fells until his 30s. It's worth reading anyway for his passion, and the parts that focus on his own fell running experiences.