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A review by mnach
Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall
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.