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.
Rating: 
Summary: Wasted Opportunity
Review: Sheehan seems alternately liberated and embittered as he leaps from one esoteric paragraph to the next. I completely agreed with all of his well-put ideas about self-actualization through sport (particularly running, which is an activity whose essence involves a literal dead-ahead focus and cognitive surrender). On the other hand, I was really turned off by his stereotypical write-offs of educators, intellectuals, non-sports fans and other "types" he seemed to view with such disdain as enemies of sport, play and self-direction. Bah!This book, while unlike any other I have encountered on the the subject of running and its relationship to the sense of self, wasted a tremendous opportunity to graciously share insights without carmudgeonly commentary. The title suggests a tone that is easily weakened by Sheehan's crankiness.
Rating: 
Summary: The only book!
Review: This book was written several years ago when running was at its peak. When marathons were the only race worth doing. George Sheehan reached right inside the skull of the runner and was able to put into words the feelings that many of us felt at the time. He was merely describing the physiological effect of positive addiction. No-one else has managed to achieve this since. His clinics and lectures were unique and epitomised the man and his writing. This is the bible for the runner, it will never date. Regrettably someone stole my well thumbed dog eared and underlined copy. I hope that it is reprinted soon
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