Rating: 
Summary: A Runner-Philosopher
Review: All runners are philosophers. It's just that George Sheehan is every athlete's philosopher. If you have ever wondered why you swing a racquet, shag fly balls or spend hours on a bicycle, read this book and you'll say to yourself "that's it, that's why!" It's not just the runners who'll say it. This book should be a prerequisite for pursuing any sport at any level.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ FOR ANY SPORTS ENTHUSIAST !
Review: For the Sheehan neophyte, let me say this, this is NOT a book to learn how run better. It IS a book to become a better person. Dr. Sheehan is simply one of us; a runner who happens to write. The beauty of this book is that Sheehan doesn't candy coat his stories. He tells running as it is, as he is. You'll read this book and continually say, "My god, that's it, that's what I feel, that's how I am too." Soon, things you'd suspected about yourself, become clearer. Questions like, "Why do you run?", begin to have meaningful answers. I have read tons about running and if I had to rank them, all Dr. Sheehan's books would be on the top of the list (But "R&B" is the best of his stuff, so start there). If you want the definitive book on all the technical details about running, get Glover's "Competetive Runner's Handbook" (make sure "Competetive" is in the title). If you want or need helping understanding life, read all of Sheehan's stuff. Heck those two books (Sheehan & Glover) are really all you need for years of PR's and spiritual growth.
Rating:
Summary: The only book in my library I reread!!
Review: For the Sheehan neophyte, let me say this, this is NOT a book to learn how run better. It IS a book to become a better person. Dr. Sheehan is simply one of us; a runner who happens to write. The beauty of this book is that Sheehan doesn't candy coat his stories. He tells running as it is, as he is. You'll read this book and continually say, "My god, that's it, that's what I feel, that's how I am too." Soon, things you'd suspected about yourself, become clearer. Questions like, "Why do you run?", begin to have meaningful answers. I have read tons about running and if I had to rank them, all Dr. Sheehan's books would be on the top of the list (But "R&B" is the best of his stuff, so start there). If you want the definitive book on all the technical details about running, get Glover's "Competetive Runner's Handbook" (make sure "Competetive" is in the title). If you want or need helping understanding life, read all of Sheehan's stuff. Heck those two books (Sheehan & Glover) are really all you need for years of PR's and spiritual growth.
Rating: 
Summary: Plenty of Being but Not Enough Running
Review: George Sheehan, M.D.'s classic Running and Being: The Total Experience focuses more on the author's personal philosophies than it does on running. Readers wanting to learn how to run more efficiently or how to purchase the perfect racing shoes should look elsewhere. Running and Being doesn't even bring up the basics of stretching until page 130. Instead, Sheehan pontificates on how the act of running is a metaphor for life, while randomly quoting from a diverse group of people, such as Socrates and Vice Lombardi. That isn't to say the book isn't worth reading. Sheehan's essays are entertaining and enlightening, however grandiose his generalizations may be. Yet, his optimism and obsession with self-development are contagious. Those looking for a track coach should read Running and Being; those looking for a book on the basics of running should search for a different title.
Rating:
Summary: Not Enough Original Thought; Too Much Name-Dropping
Review: I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys philosophy and deep reflection on the meaning of life. I am not much of a reader but once I picked up this book I simply could not put it down. Sheehan has a way a putting together the pain and joy of sports and shows you how you cannot have one without the other. He reminds us that in order to gain the glory of sports, we must endure the pain which is sure to come every time we challenge ourselves. Every time I run, I am able to remember at least one line out of this very powerful book. This helps me to remember that I am not alone, at least not as a pain-enduring athlete.
Rating:
Summary: A must for the thinking athlete
Review: I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys philosophy and deep reflection on the meaning of life. I am not much of a reader but once I picked up this book I simply could not put it down. Sheehan has a way a putting together the pain and joy of sports and shows you how you cannot have one without the other. He reminds us that in order to gain the glory of sports, we must endure the pain which is sure to come every time we challenge ourselves. Every time I run, I am able to remember at least one line out of this very powerful book. This helps me to remember that I am not alone, at least not as a pain-enduring athlete.
Rating:
Summary: Not Enough Original Thought; Too Much Name-Dropping
Review: I've always loved the fact that long-distance sports such as running and cycling have rhythms to them which allow the athlete to take a metaphysical journey along with the physical one. I liked Sheehan's articles in "Runner's World" years ago, and I liked his book "Running to Win". This one simply isn't as good. For whatever reason, Sheehan seemed bent on naming as many other thinkers as he could, without appearing to really assimilate much. If you have never read any philosophy yourself, you may find some value in this book; but if you've studied philosophy at all, I'd recommend you skip it.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ FOR ANY SPORTS ENTHUSIAST !
Review: I've personally re-read this book about 100 times over the last 18 years. A marvelous book about the human spirit of athletes. As a coach and teacher this book was mandatory for my student-athletes. Sheehan certainly puts sports in perspective - they should be fun/play. My prediction, if you read this book you'll recommend it to at least 5 people.
Rating:
Summary: a good point of view about men's oldest game...
Review: Men have been runners for thousands of years 'till the XX century, when we start to ride cars. Now I see women and men running every where, big cities' streets and small towns the same, Dr. Sheehan made a very lovely books about what we feel. I have readed twice and maybe will do it many more times.
Rating: 
Summary: enlightening
Review: Sheehan forges new ground in discussing running. Any serious runner will readily identify with his emotional insights and his ability to relate running and life. Truly inspiring at points, Sheehan goes well beyond running to a philosophy of life that can apply to any athlete.
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