What To Read

Does something about this crisp autumn air make you want to run? Follow your next runner’s high with a book that will convince you that there’s a lot more to this sport than just putting one foot in front of the other.

We think the best running books are never really about running. They're about what happens in your head during those long stretches when your body is on autopilot and your mind is left to wander, worry, or occasionally find clarity. Whether you're the type who runs to think or runs to stop thinking entirely, this season's crop of running books offers something worth your time.

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The Running Ground by Nicholas Thompson

Nicholas Thompson—record-setting runner and CEO of The Atlantic—examines how running became the through-line of his relationship with his father and his approach to life's harder moments. Part memoir, part meditation on endurance, The Running Ground avoids the usual triumphalism of sports stories. Instead, Thompson writes about running as both metaphor and reality, exploring how the discipline of putting one foot in front of the other translates to everything else that requires persistence.

The book comes out on October 28 and is already receiving rave reviews. Publishers Weekly calls it “a satisfying self-portrait,” noting that Thompson “manages to weave everything into an appealing whole.” And in a starred review, Kirkus Reviews likens it to the iconic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, highlighting the way Thompson connects the lessons of long-distance running to personal growth and daily life.

National Book Award Longlister

Run the Song by Ben Ratliff

When New York fell silent during early COVID lockdowns, music journalist Ben Ratliff took to the streets with whatever playlist called out to him—hardcore punk, string quartets, Motown deep cuts. In this memoir, he logs those runs into something more ambitious: an inquiry into how rhythm works in both music and movement, and how both can carry us through uncertainty.

Anyone who knows the magical power of the playlist to rev up your energy, or strip away your worldly concerns during a run, will enjoy Ratliff’s “ecstatic and eccentric blend of criticism, music, autobiography and philosophy (Washington Post).” 

A Literary Runner’s High

We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents

This' recent debut novel captures the particular intensity of a women's cross-country team chasing a championship in 1990s New England. Told through the collective voice of six teammates, the novel nails the specific friendship that forms when you're suffering together by choice. It's less about winning than about the strange joy of pushing your limits alongside people who understand why you'd want to. This novel which Kirkus calls “humorous, poignant, and always life-affirming” is perfect for anyone who loves sports stories that pack an emotional punch.

Whether running serves as your daily meditation, weekly punishment, or seasonal obsession, these books tap into the beauty and singular magic of running.