It is only occasionally you get your hands on a book that is capable of actual inspiration. Sure a lot of blurbs, summaries, reviews and award ceremonies tell you which books can inspire. But the ones that truly inspire usually strike a chord with something deep inside you, and then you go 'twang!' and then you're like 'hey man, i get this!' 
 And Born To Run is pretty inspiring, if you're into running. But then again i would think that this book would be inspiring to anyone, if they are human. 
 It all starts with the author's foot. McDougall was trying to fashion himself into a long distance runner but searing pains started electrifying his heel after a bit of running. Why did it hurt? Thanks to this niggling pain in his foot, McDougall finds his way to some startling discoveries. He takes you to a hidden Mexican tribe concealed deep inside the Copper Canyons where, guided by an eccentric gringo civilization-escapee who calls the Copper Canyons home, he finds himself in an epic footrace that pits the greatest Tarahumara runners against some pretty hardcore ultra racers from gringo land. 
 But let me backtrack, aside from this epic setting, the truly inspiring stuff in Born to Run cluster around the science that McDougall brings into the fray. The main thing that stands out is of course, barefoot running. Expensive sneakers not only bust your wallet but also end up busting up your legs. The Tarahumara race in thin Huaraches which are something like roman sandals. I'll never diss them again. 
 He talks about the value of a vegetarian or meat minimal diet and even tells us of a wonder seed called chia that can lend you wings for a much cheaper, healthier and longer lasting kick than your conventional energy drink. He talks about running technique and how to increase efficiency, i can even forgive his wild dash into evolutionary biology, where he elaborates some claptrap about how humans evolved into runners to score food, as merely an attempt to find some form of orginistic connection to satisfy the eternal question of 'why?' every human being suffers from. Though the latter did cause me to actually think 4.5 when i gave this one 5 stars. 
 The book is spookily fast. You never know what's gonna hit you around the next page. Kind of like trail running. But the ultimate and purest message i take away from this is one pure unadulterated joy. This is not a book that tells you to load up on specific vitamins and stick to a rangy diet or buy unheard of equipment or go through some hellish training to become a good runner. No, and this is what resonated with me the most, Born to Run just tells you one thing, you were born to run. Born to feel that sense of freedom as you leave everything behind you for a sense of discovery that renews with every step. Running is awesome, and all you need to do be good at it is to love it.