cognitive dissident

Shapiro, Larry. Zen and the Art of Running: The Path to Making Peace with Your Pace (Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2009)

I'm generally dismissive of (if not contemptuous toward) woo, but I've found useful insights in various Zen books. In contrast to the warm-and-fuzzy psychics/crystals/astrology varieties of new-age belief, the mindful detachment of Zen has always struck me as more interesting the farther it drifted from doctrinaire Buddhism. Larry Shapiro's Zen and the Art of Running is a level-headed application of Zen to the sport of running, a pairing that turns out to be quite rewarding. As he notes in the Introduction:

Whether you are a seasoned runner interested in enhancing your running experience, a novice curious about how to take your running to the next level, or a non-runner who has been searching for one more reason to give running a try, Zen has gifts to offer you. (p. ix)

Zen and the Art of Running applies Zen techniques to running's big issues--overcoming obstacles, training and racing, injuries and aging--without getting too deep into mysticism. Shapiro writes enjoyable, spicing his text with quotes from the Buddha in addition to many from ordinary runners. If you find yourself "stuck" in some aspect of your running, Shapiro's insights may help free you (or, more accurately, help you to free yourself) from whatever attachment may be causing the problem.

Shapiro's book has a predecessor in The Zen of Running by Fred Rohé (1975), a PDF of which can be obtained here (h/t: Barefoot Ted). Rohé's book is a quicker read than Shapiro's; it's more a poem than a treatise. Although his writing is very much a product of its time, Rohé's comparison of running to dancing is a valuable one.

These two books complement each other quite nicely, and can be an enjoyable break from the sometimes-tedious focus of other books on nutritional supplements, detailed training regimens, and overpriced footwear features that can suck the fun out of an inherently enjoyable activity.