The Incomplete Book of Running
Written by Peter Sagal
Narrated by Peter Sagal
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
On the verge of turning forty, Peter Sagal—brainiac Harvard grad, short bald Jew with a disposition towards heft, and a sedentary star of public radio—started running seriously. And much to his own surprise, he kept going, faster and further, running fourteen marathons and logging tens of thousands of miles on roads, sidewalks, paths, and trails all over the United States and the world, including the 2013 Boston Marathon, where he crossed the finish line moments before the bombings.
In The Incomplete Book of Running, Sagal reflects on the trails, tracks, and routes he’s traveled, from the humorous absurdity of running charity races in his underwear—in St. Louis, in February—or attempting to “quiet his colon” on runs around his neighborhood—to the experience of running as a guide to visually impaired runners, and the triumphant post-bombing running of the Boston Marathon in 2014. With humor and humanity, Sagal also writes about the emotional experience of running, body image, the similarities between endurance sports and sadomasochism, the legacy of running as passed down from parent to child, and the odd but extraordinary bonds created between strangers and friends. The result is “a brilliant book about running…What Peter runs toward is strength, understanding, endurance, acceptance, faith, hope, and charity” (P.J. O’Rourke).
Peter Sagal
Peter Sagal is the host of the Peabody Award-winning NPR news quiz Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!, one of the most popular shows on public radio, heard over four million listeners each week. He is also a playwright, a screenwriter, the host of Constitution USA with Peter Sagal on PBS, a one-time extra in a Michael Jackson music video, a contributor to publications from Opera News to The Magazine of the AARP and a featured columnist in Runner’s World. He’s run fourteen marathons across the United States. Sagal lives near Chicago with his wife Mara.
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Reviews for The Incomplete Book of Running
86 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was part running guide, part bittersweet memoir...it made me proud to be part of the group of people who call themselves runners. It reminded me that, when you’re down you keep going, because that’s the only way to get where you’re going. seriously, loved it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is primarily a book about life, told through various anecdotes ostensibly about - wait, wait - running. If you are looking for a highly technical running book or a marathon training guide, this is not that, though it does contain plenty of good guidance for those who are not already serious runners. (The title and cover are a satirical nod to the 1977 book The Complete Book of Running by Jim Fixx).
Sagal is often self-effacing, at times deeply wise, and routinely hilarious throughout. This audiobook, narrated by the author, was such a joyful and rewarding listen that I already know I will return to it within the year.
Hell, even if you’re not a runner, it’s a great listen for Sagal’s delivery alone, and it just might help you understand the runner in your life (or in your mirror) a little bit better.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5this is 100% crap . he is a braggart of worst kind doesn't know anything about running.it is not meant for any type of runners .it is total time pass or you can say waste of time if you want to do the same good luck!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It’s was ok. Nice stories about running but the life stories from the author were almost annoying. I’m sure he needed to tell his story but I was looking for more running less drama/ political jabs at the right. Who cares what side you’re on politically.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Great and fun book, it’s for everyone not just runners, but ir certainly helped me go by on my runs.