This is the book for barefoot running. In fact, if anything, Ken Bob was overly nice to the minimalists and the part-timers. He definitely could have been more "hardcore", this is very diplomatic.
His 10 steps from head to toe are the best running tips for injury free running ever compiled by a human being. I went from 4 mile runs to a 9 mile run, with the first 2 tips alone (eyes up, and relax shoulders). I love that he doesn't have a huge "program" chapter. Honestly, in my 3rd year of barefoot running, there is no "one size fits all" running and mileage program. Everybody has to learn via running barefoot, and paying attention to the feet. There is no way around that, and I'm so glad that's what's in the book.
Ken Bob probably has a stealth program in mind when he talks about all the shod runners who train barefoot on the side. He wants to get people to give it a shot, and then figures a percentage of them will go all bare, or mostly bare, or more bare. Good idea. I've tried to run shod, shod on treadmill, vibram, water shoes, and lunas, and always, always come back to barefoot as the only way to run.
The book is very inspirational, well written and interesting. I love most when Ken Bob revealed the times he has struggled. (blisters in his 19th marathon! Marathons in 8 hours! Numb feet at 45 degrees!). I find that more motivating, then a story of someone who ran barefoot for 2 weeks and qualified for Boston. This book is great for showing that achievement ranges from an 8 hour marathon to a 2:40; from building up to a 10K after 3 years to running a marathon after 3 months.
This book is not didactic and negative about minimalist at all. Ken Bob just recommends doing barefoot first, which seems pretty fair to me. I carry the book in my bookstore, hosted Ken Bob on the tour (poorly, he was a prince), and will ship the book for free to anyone that wants to buy it direct from my bookstore. (backlistbooks.net, phone is easiest)
Thanks Ken Bob!