New barefoot/minimalist running book! 'Second Wind: the running coach you never had but always need

#21
Uh I have to agree with

Uh I have to agree with Stomper here. I would love to have a comparative review just to have an idea of what books are worthwile to read. I will read KB's book because of his expertise of the subject. I know nothing about 2ndwind so chances are I would never pick up his book. I would like to know what qualifies him as a "coach" and other facts about each author. If his book recieved great reviews vs. other barefoot books out there I would definitley read and suggest it.
 
#23
The BRS would do well to

The BRS would do well to listen to whatever Mr. Stomper has to say about anything literary and to heed Abide's nose for foul play. :shock:
 
#24
Couple of things:'Second

Couple of things:

'Second Wind: the running you coach you never had but always needed' is first and foremost a running book. As you can see, the title does not convey (by design) that it is a 'barefoot' or 'minimalist' book - it is a reference book for running to reach the largest audience possible with our message (including those initially scared of or put off by the notion of barefoot running).

The book approaches everything from a minimalist style and then it covers scientific proof, running studies, shoe industry research, and personal experience showing that barefoot IS the way to run. The book shows that barefoot is the way we were built to run, what shoes do to inhibit our running and harm our bodies, etc.

As a heads up, and to gain some insight, the chapters go like this:





Table of Contents



I: Love to Run!



II: Running Form

A: Running Form: Arms

B: Running Form: Head



III: Stride Mechanics

A: SM: Foot strike

B: SM: Lift off

C: SM: Center of gravity (stride length)



IV: Posture



V: Breathing

A: Breath cadence



VI: Downhill Running



VII: Stretching:



VIII: The Kicker:



IX: Carbs and You



X: “When I Run __*__ Hurts”

A: Arch

B: Pronation

C: Feet

D: Shins/knees/back



XI: Shoe Attributes (what's bad, what they do, what to look for, what to avoid)



XII: Running/Training Schedules:

A: 5k

B: Moderate beginners:

Build to 15 Mile/week

C: Half-Marathon

D: Full Marathon

E: 35 mile/week and 50 mile/week



-Levi
 
#25
Second Wind, thanks for

Second Wind, thanks for coming back. Since you came to this forum to promote your book it's clear you think it's relevant to barefoot running. But don't worry, I'm sure any review that we make here will acknowledge that your topic is not simply about footwear and its consequences.

BTW, I'm starting a different thread soliciting reviewers for an upcoming roundup of books about barefoot (and barefoot-related) running. If anybody out there wants to be a reviewer, see the details in THIS THREAD.
 
#26
I can't wait to read your

I can't wait to read your book, Second Wind. It sounds like a good one too!
 
#30
I've been enjoying books

I've been enjoying books about running ever since I read Born to run. I've also read Michael Sanders Barefoot running book and thought that was pretty good as well. I'd definitely check out your book when I get a chance!
 
#31
I've had Jason's book on hand

I've had Jason's book on hand forever and actually held off reading it until Ken Bob's book was released since I wanted to get Ken's take on BFR first.

I absolutely loved Ken Bob's book, although he does get a bit preachy when it comes to running in shoes. I then read Jason's book, 2nd rev, and enjoyed it as well although most of it seemed to be a rehash of what Ken had to say. And yes, I realize that Jason's book was technically first. Jason wrote his book in a completely different style though which may appeal to others. He also comes at you from the ultra marathoner viewpoint which appealed to me.



Now, no offense to these new publishers, but what will set their books apart from the books that Jason and Ken Bob already released? Do they bring anything new to the table or are they just riding the barefoot gravy train while it's hot?
 
#32
If you are referring to

If you are referring to Ashish's book, I can tell you that I am really enjoying reading it. The way he has approached this book is quite unique from the others. He answers those why and how questions generally asked by those interested in barefoot running for whatever reason, such as your mom (out of concern), or friend (who wants to make sure you're not crazy), or someone just interested in trying it out (but feeling a little hesitant). He throws in the science and an occasional barefoot runner interview. It's quite humorous, has great illustrations, and is very entertaining. I actually cannot wait to pick it up again and pick up where I left off. (There, now that will be my Amazon review! Ha!)
 
#33
I am going to sound like a

I am going to sound like a total shmuck but isn't there already plenty of information out there on how to take off your shoes and run? Every book after possibly Jason and then Ken Bob are just saying the same thing different ways. For me, it is like writing a book on how to shave your armpits. There are probably a thousand opinions on the right way and some really bad ideas but in the end anyone interestied in having smooth pits will get there. Anymore it seems that if I need Info, I Google it and a few decent sources are always there with this site being one of them.

If people are reviewing books I'd like to have them tell me what sets this or that book apart from all the others, what does it offer that Jason, Ken Bob, Leiberman, Pose, Chi Running and others havn't already said.

That would be the, to me, the biggest value. To be brutally honest, Everything I know about running barefoot, I learned from Ken Bob, chi Running and doing it. KJasons book canme along later and he added a few ideas but overall, the info was already there. Everything else was Why does this hurt or why does that hurt and when I got the answer I thought, Sheesh, I read that on such and such, I already knew it.
 
#34
The only book i purchased on

The only book i purchased on barefoot running was Ken Bob's book, and to be honest i didn't even read the whole thing, I did alot of skimming. i was totally expecting something else. I loved his humor, and wit and he seems like a really great person to be around with. I thought it would be more about his personal adventures, more than another tutorial book. I did enjoy some parts, and it was good to hear his take on things, but all the stuff he said, i figured out on my own. Which personally gave me a good feeling. I will never buy another book on barefoot running.
 
#35
My 2 cents- the more books

My 2 cents- the more books out in circulation, the better. Yes, it hurts all our individual sales, but it also widens the net of barefoot running. That's the most important point... we're changing the paradigm of the running world.

My 2 cents on the "best book"- any will get you from point A to point B. Each one has their own particular flavor that will appeal to different crowds, but the ideas are the same:
[*]Get in a good athletic posture (straight back, head up, knees bent)[*]shorten stride and increase cadence[*]land gently on your midfoot[*]be patient and listen to your body
Shacky's right, my book is remarkably similar to KB's... I learned BFR from him. Since it took him FOREVER to write his, mine was simply filling the void. BTW- I'd recommend his as a first purchase.
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#36
Though there are several

Though there are several books out stating some of the same information, I would also point to the fact that there are millions of books on running shod, tens of thousands of books on how to do an ab crunch, etc. I don't feel that having a dozen barefoot books out is a bad thing. I've read most of them, some I think are really good, some aren't so good, but the great thing is that others wouldn't like the ones I did and visversa - thus the nature of books. The differences, often times, are in how the reader relates, personally, to the author: humor, analytical, stories, age specific, gender specific, ultra, casual, injury prevention, injury recovery, etc. - - most of what makes a book a good or bad book is the delivery.



A couple small notes on my particular situation, for what it's worth: I finished my book in the fall of last year and published it the first of December 2010. I wrote my book to try to help people out by discovering some of the things I had learned, things that surprised, shocked, and (most importantly) worked for me. I have a full time job, I always will, I'm not traveling to pitch my book or paying marketing firms, or anything else - if I make enough money to take my wife and my three year old out to dinner a couple times, I'll feel good about it.



My book is, and is not, a few things:

It does address the benefits of minimalist running, what to look for in minimalist shoes (and what to avoid), case studies on the injury rate of shod runners, etc. It also tells my personal story of being a NB/Brooks/Saucony/Asics shoe specialist and thinking barefooting was insane, to myself becoming a 100% minimalist runner.

However, that is part of the book. A large part of the books is teaching people to run, period (efficiently and injury free - breathing, cadence, how to run hills, what to do with your arms, head, body form, stride, etc.). See the book came out of a paper I wrote for fellow friends and coaches (I coach high school soccer) and as the demand grew and I got to see it helping more people, I decided to expand it and make a book out of it. The book, intentionally, does not have "barefoot" in the title.

And a big part of my book, and I guess what some would say makes it slightly 'different', is that mine is about my personal story of recovering from injury (over 1/2 a dozen knee surgeries - the last of which was supposed to render me unable to ever run again... which is how I came to minimalist running).



Again, just my small bit of input there, and remember, like all things, with input, you get what you pay for, and my input just there was free... you do the math
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#37
K, I get it.I guess I can

K, I get it.

I guess I can relate this to the "Self Help or Personal development" isle at the book store. There must be 400 books all saying the same thing a different way. What apeals to one is different than what apeals to another. Some people learn one way, others another.

I teach Scuba and to cover all bases I use Movies/Video, Graphics and whiteboard, Slides on powerpoint and Lectures just so I don't miss a learning style.

Maybe I should write a "Barefoot/Minimalist Running for old hippies" I guess maybe Ken Bob beat me to that one.
 
#38
I think Levi's book is gear

I think Levi's book is gear toward new runners, and high school runners wanting to work on their form, and I think since it's an easy read, it would be very helpful to that targeted audience.

One thing I did learn from Levi's book that I had NOT learned anywhere else... I didn't know that the nerves in our genitals were the same as the nerves in our feet! YIKES! Thanks for enlightening me, Levi!
 
#39
I've been lotioning and

I've been lotioning and rubbing my kids' feet to put them to sleep for years...now I feel weird...thanks TJ and Levi! >:p

Lava, I would totally read your book, but only if you do a chapter on arm pit shaving...you seem passionate about it...I think there is a story there. ;o)

I will have to check out Levi's book. I've read "Born to Run" twice, Ken Bob's book and seen "Running the Sahara". I've love to see a second book from Ken Bob that was more anicdotal. Barefoot Santa has GOT to have some great stories!! Love his sense of humor! (Jason, I'll check out your book first, most likely!)

-Jonny
 
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