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Ultramarathon Man (2005)

by Dean Karnazes(Favorite Author)

3.92 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Riva

review 1: It takes some generosity to call this a "book." Karnazes is as terrible as a writer as he is impressive as an endurance athlete. (Also, doesn't anyone hire editors anymore? I am still wincing from endless dangling participles... and, hand to god, Karnazes declares that he "circumvented" the globe.) It probably goes without saying that but this dude is a raging narcissist. New thesis: if you have to tell people that you represent the triumph of the human spirit, you don't. Unbearably bad.
review 2: If you check out my other reviews, you'll see that I enjoy this genre. Dean's book excels at describing his races and his motivations for doing what he does. The race descriptions are really great, even if I think he took some poetic license along the way. I can under... morestand the criticisms for this being one big ego trip, but Dean always points out that he is not the best performer, he's just a guy who can run for a very, very, very long time. I found a few unbecoming overshares to be more off putting than some of the chest beating. But that's the trade off for a revealing book like this one. Perhaps appropriately for the topic (ultra running) the book slows and becomes a drag in some places. It can also become repetitive. If you're not into running or reading about ultramarathons, then this book is probably a 2 or a 3, but this is my review so it's a 4. less

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Reviews (see all)

sarah12

A really fun read. You will fly through this accounting of "Karno's" physical and spiritual journey to becoming one of the premier Ultra-Marathoners in the world. It is a wild and crazy ride that will leave you panting for breath and scratching your head as to why anyone in their right mind would put their body through the agonizing pain of 100+ miles endurance challenges in places like the Death Valley and the South Pole. I believe this is a good read for runners and non-runners alike and hopefully will inspire both groups in different ways.

legend9x

It takes some generosity to call this a "book." Karnazes is as terrible as a writer as he is impressive as an endurance athlete. (Also, doesn't anyone hire editors anymore? I am still wincing from endless dangling participles... and, hand to god, Karnazes declares that he "circumvented" the globe.) It probably goes without saying that but this dude is a raging narcissist. New thesis: if you have to tell people that you represent the triumph of the human spirit, you don't. Unbearably bad.

bloopedyblap

Only book I've read start to finish without putting it down in years...

Christa

The narcissism was difficult to stomach at times, #takesonetoknowone

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