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happiestwhenreading's review
4.0
SHERMAN! I LOVED this story of a donkey that changed a community - bringing them all together to participate in a challenging burro race in the mountains of Colorado.
I initially dismissed this one because my thought was, “An entire book about a donkey? Really?!” But then another reader meantioned that it was the same author as Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen and I knew I needed to read it ASAP.
I’m a HUGE fan of McDougall’s book, Born To Run, and this one is just as good. I love the way McDougall weaves a story together - not only telling the story behind the title of the book, but also taking a deep dive into many other smaller, related, and just as important stories. Not only do I learn about training for grueling foot races, but I learned some fascinating information about the Amish community, tidbits about health, and lots of interesting details about animals and their contribution to our lives.
If you're a runner (and even if you're not), this book is sure to be a favorite! READ IT! I listened to this one on audio - McDougall narrates himself - and it's fantastic!
I initially dismissed this one because my thought was, “An entire book about a donkey? Really?!” But then another reader meantioned that it was the same author as Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen and I knew I needed to read it ASAP.
I’m a HUGE fan of McDougall’s book, Born To Run, and this one is just as good. I love the way McDougall weaves a story together - not only telling the story behind the title of the book, but also taking a deep dive into many other smaller, related, and just as important stories. Not only do I learn about training for grueling foot races, but I learned some fascinating information about the Amish community, tidbits about health, and lots of interesting details about animals and their contribution to our lives.
If you're a runner (and even if you're not), this book is sure to be a favorite! READ IT! I listened to this one on audio - McDougall narrates himself - and it's fantastic!
ddraith's review
4.0
If you like donkeys, or running, or feel-good stories, or feel-good donkey-running stories, this is the book for you. Loved it. And honestly I’m pretty ambivalent about donkeys, generally.
oldrunningmom's review
5.0
I received a prerelease copy of [b:Running with Sherman|43834684|Running with Sherman|Christopher McDougall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557706255l/43834684._SY75_.jpg|68214759] from NetGalley.
[a:Christopher McDougall|133538|Christopher McDougall|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1294361251p2/133538.jpg] receives a mangy, depressed donkey and has dreams of entering the world burro racing championship in Colorado. Now if this sounds like the craziest premise for a book that you've ever heard, keep in mind that it's McDougall, who wrote the best selling Born to Run and sparked the whole barefoot running fad. Will he do the same for burro racing? Stay tuned for that but don't miss out on another great read. I swear McDougall could write a book about paint drying and make it interesting. McDougall shares his trials and tribulations of living with a donkey as well as all kinds of background stories about donkeys, running, ultrarunning.
I'll have a full review on my blog: https:/www.takinglongwayhome.com
[a:Christopher McDougall|133538|Christopher McDougall|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1294361251p2/133538.jpg] receives a mangy, depressed donkey and has dreams of entering the world burro racing championship in Colorado. Now if this sounds like the craziest premise for a book that you've ever heard, keep in mind that it's McDougall, who wrote the best selling Born to Run and sparked the whole barefoot running fad. Will he do the same for burro racing? Stay tuned for that but don't miss out on another great read. I swear McDougall could write a book about paint drying and make it interesting. McDougall shares his trials and tribulations of living with a donkey as well as all kinds of background stories about donkeys, running, ultrarunning.
I'll have a full review on my blog: https:/www.takinglongwayhome.com
wanderonwards's review
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for sending me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, Running with Sherman wasn’t the book for me, but the author is clearly talented with storytelling and I liked his humorous outlook on life. I did enjoy many of the interesting tidbits throughout, especially the short section on animal therapy with inmates (which decreased the percentage of repeat offenses in the example included) and the author’s experiences with a part of the Pennsylvania Amish community.
Running with Sherman started out slow, but began to pick up by chapter 5. However, I quickly began to lose interest as the chapters seemed to get more and more disjointed. Since this is my first book by McDougall I’m not sure if this is his writing style, but each chapter goes off on a tangent that eventually connects with the main story. But, by the time the author reaches that connection the chapter is over and I’ve forgotten both the point of the chapter and lost track of the main story, which I found increasingly distracting.
Don’t get me wrong, the author’s stories are entertaining and I generally enjoyed reading them, but they weren’t the reason I picked up the book. I picked up Running with Sherman to read about Sherman and the author’s journey to get a rescue donkey ready for a burro race the following year in Colorado. I would have enjoyed more time spent on that and less time spent on tangent stories and the author’s friends and family. Additionally, I was really uncomfortable reading the author’s account of others’ personal struggles, especially since it was unclear if he had gained prior permission to share those stories. I did not feel these stories were the author’s to share, and I hope the ambiguity surrounding that issue is cleared up in the final version.
Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me but thank you again to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the privilege of reviewing an ARC.
Unfortunately, Running with Sherman wasn’t the book for me, but the author is clearly talented with storytelling and I liked his humorous outlook on life. I did enjoy many of the interesting tidbits throughout, especially the short section on animal therapy with inmates (which decreased the percentage of repeat offenses in the example included) and the author’s experiences with a part of the Pennsylvania Amish community.
Running with Sherman started out slow, but began to pick up by chapter 5. However, I quickly began to lose interest as the chapters seemed to get more and more disjointed. Since this is my first book by McDougall I’m not sure if this is his writing style, but each chapter goes off on a tangent that eventually connects with the main story. But, by the time the author reaches that connection the chapter is over and I’ve forgotten both the point of the chapter and lost track of the main story, which I found increasingly distracting.
Don’t get me wrong, the author’s stories are entertaining and I generally enjoyed reading them, but they weren’t the reason I picked up the book. I picked up Running with Sherman to read about Sherman and the author’s journey to get a rescue donkey ready for a burro race the following year in Colorado. I would have enjoyed more time spent on that and less time spent on tangent stories and the author’s friends and family. Additionally, I was really uncomfortable reading the author’s account of others’ personal struggles, especially since it was unclear if he had gained prior permission to share those stories. I did not feel these stories were the author’s to share, and I hope the ambiguity surrounding that issue is cleared up in the final version.
Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me but thank you again to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the privilege of reviewing an ARC.
mnach's review
3.0
Christopher McDougall is good at spinning up yarns and connecting somewhat unrelated subjects and people in a way that is enjoyable and fun to read. This is no different in this book where he documents his journey to rehabilitate a donkey and complete a burro race in Colorado. Along the way, the reader learns a lot about Christopher, his family, animal husbandry, the Amish community of Lancaster (this being the digression I found most interesting), the burro racing community, the power for animals to assist developmentally challenged people (suffering from either physical or mental ailments), and the mental health of former child athletes.
All in all, it's entertaining, but the main subject of the story was not as close to my heart as the subject in Born to Run. And, ultimately, the main characters and plot line of this story are also not as compelling as the ultimate ultra running showdown and the Tarahumara people from that prior book.
My confidence in Christopher McDougall as a narrator is unwavering. I have no doubt that given his background in journalism he could make any subject sound interesting. But as an author working for himself, I think he needs to pick better subjects.
All in all, it's entertaining, but the main subject of the story was not as close to my heart as the subject in Born to Run. And, ultimately, the main characters and plot line of this story are also not as compelling as the ultimate ultra running showdown and the Tarahumara people from that prior book.
My confidence in Christopher McDougall as a narrator is unwavering. I have no doubt that given his background in journalism he could make any subject sound interesting. But as an author working for himself, I think he needs to pick better subjects.
dilema's review
5.0
McDougall is such a compelling writer it's incredible. I teared up multiple times during reading about the friendships and relationships between Chris and his family and the donkeys and all their friends. All the information about human and animal connections were endlessly fascinating and well weaved in. The details about Amish life were also, though very much side notes, really well added in, and I got a huge sense of the community Chris and Mika live in and why they'd choose to be there. I had a great moment earlier today when I met a guy who's run the Leadville 100 and we got to geek out about BORN TO RUN, but honestly I think this one sits closer to my heart.
maurareilly's review
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
This was a really heartwarming story from start to finish. There were so many stories that were connected to the main plot, but they never felt like fillers at all. It was such an interesting premise for a story, and the writing made it feel novel but not completely unfamiliar. The way McDougall incorporated the history of the donkey race, his family/community, and Sherman's story into a single novel is impressive and it made for a complete and satisfying narrative.
athst's review
4.0
When I heard about this book, I was a little puzzled because the premise seemed rather odd. But once I started reading it, the whole thing made total sense.
If you’re a fan of Born to Run like I am, the writing will feel instantly familiar. There’s a central idea to the book, but then McDougall makes it a lot of fun and weaves in all of these interesting characters that he meets along the way.
On one level it’s a book about human-animal relationships, but on another level it’s really more of a feel-good story from his life. It’s also a personal book - he’s at the center of it, and his Dad-ness shines through in an endearing way.
Overall I’d recommend it if you like his other books. Compared with Born to Run, I wouldn’t say that he makes donkey racing as appealing as ultrarunning in minimalist sandals, but almost :)
If you’re a fan of Born to Run like I am, the writing will feel instantly familiar. There’s a central idea to the book, but then McDougall makes it a lot of fun and weaves in all of these interesting characters that he meets along the way.
On one level it’s a book about human-animal relationships, but on another level it’s really more of a feel-good story from his life. It’s also a personal book - he’s at the center of it, and his Dad-ness shines through in an endearing way.
Overall I’d recommend it if you like his other books. Compared with Born to Run, I wouldn’t say that he makes donkey racing as appealing as ultrarunning in minimalist sandals, but almost :)
danarama's review
4.0
Chris McDougall's books are fun. I'd probably read anything he wrote, regardless of the topic. He just approaches his subject with a breathless enthusiasm and hyperbole that you can't help but get sucked in.
And this is a particularly poignant story -- he sort of blunders into adopting a rescued, abused donkey and begins training the titular Sherman to compete in a burro race where human and donkey pairs race up and down a Colorado mountain (burro races are a thing! as are goat races!).
Through the year of ups and downs rehabilitating Sherman, earning his trust, and training, we get glimpses into the lives of some of the other animals on his farm (I stan Lawrence the Goat), his Amish neighbours, and a pile of other characters (some human), each of whom probably deserve their own book.
It's just a charming and heartwarming book.
And this is a particularly poignant story -- he sort of blunders into adopting a rescued, abused donkey and begins training the titular Sherman to compete in a burro race where human and donkey pairs race up and down a Colorado mountain (burro races are a thing! as are goat races!).
Through the year of ups and downs rehabilitating Sherman, earning his trust, and training, we get glimpses into the lives of some of the other animals on his farm (I stan Lawrence the Goat), his Amish neighbours, and a pile of other characters (some human), each of whom probably deserve their own book.
It's just a charming and heartwarming book.