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When my husband said someone was looking for a reviewer for their book about barefoot running, I jumped at the chance. I have been interested in foot physiology and barefoot running for a long time, but I had not yet read any books on the subject. As a stay at home mom, I’m able to go barefoot a lot, and I run in zero-drop (albeit cushy) Altras. So I was interested in what Laura Blodgett had to say in her book, Why Does Grandma Run Barefoot?. She did not disappoint. I loved her descriptions of dancing barefoot and running freely. I’ve noticed myself the feeling of both rootedness and freedom that comes from standing on bare earth, and Laura captures that feeling in this book.

The middle section of the book contained many helpful tips about getting started with being barefoot and building up tolerance to different surfaces and weather conditions. I thought the analogy of wearing dark glasses was apt, and a strong argument for not giving up too easily. There was a lot of good advice that can help people be more successful.

I don’t know if the author intended to write a philosophy book when she started, but she did. Laura taught me a lot about what it is like to “live barefoot”. As I read the first chapters explaining why being barefoot is good for body and soul, I found myself thinking that many people would not accept what she had to say. Partly this goes back to our expert-driven society that wants to have a scientific study for everything—even though you can find a study that says practically anything. It’s also an indication of just how strong social norms can be. I find it interesting when social taboo intersects with normal, non-invasive human action. WHY is it considered borderline insane to choose not to wear shoes? If it’s so dangerous, why can all other animals manage it? And why can we not live and let live with this sort of thing? I appreciated hearing about Laura’s experiences interacting with other people, especially in places of business. I was happy to hear that it’s often not a big deal. I don’t know if I will ever be a shoeless women about town—to be honest, indoor floors skeeve me out more than the great outdoors—but I like learning about how Laura deals with it, and I appreciate her helping others understand the benefits of proper walking to your feet and body.

The description of Laura’s first marathon was beautiful and lots of fun to read. It would be interesting to anyone who has the idea brewing in the back of their mind to run a marathon someday; imagining her running it all barefoot heightened my interest.

The book is enjoyable to read. The style is conversational and flows well. The information is interesting and helpful. I would recommend it to anyone interested in running as it brings a unique perspective to the sport.

You can find Laura Blodgett at her blog, Fun Fitness After 50.