“A delight, full of heart and hijinks and humor . . . McDougall is a gifted storyteller who gets to the heart of the human-animal connection.” –John Grogan, author of Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst DogFrom the best-selling author of Born to Run, a heartwarming story about training a rescue donkey to run one of the most challenging races in America, and, in the process, … races in America, and, in the process, discovering the life-changing power of the human-animal connection.
When Chris McDougall agreed to take in a donkey from an animal hoarder, he thought it would be no harder than the rest of the adjustments he and his family had made after moving from Philadelphia to the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country. But when he arrived, Sherman was in such bad shape he could barely move, and his hair was coming out in clumps. Chris decided to undertake a radical rehabilitation program designed not only to heal Sherman’s body but to heal his mind as well. It turns out the best way to soothe a donkey is to give it a job, and so Chris decided to teach Sherman how to run. He’d heard about burro racing–a unique type of race where humans and donkeys run together in a call-back to mining days–and decided he and Sherman would enter the World Championship in Colorado.
Easier said than done. In the course of Sherman’s training, Chris would have to recruit several other runners, both human and equine, and call upon the wisdom of burro racers, goat farmers, Amish running club members, and a group of irrepressible female long-haul truckers. An entire community comes together to help save Sherman and, along the way, Chris shows us the joy of a life with animals.
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This is my second review for this wonderful book. Somehow my first review/recommendation vanished. So, it says something that I’m writing another since that first review of Running with Sherman was the first time I was inspired to figure out how to write a review on Book Bub. Here I am again! If this one vanishes, I may be forced to slink back to Goodreads even though my new year’s resolution is to spend more time here and less time there since g.r. has yet to improve itself or become friendlier to small press authors. enough blathering, on to the (second) review:
I loved this book Not only is it hilariously entertaining and quite informative about not just burros, burro racing, but the Amish, it inspired me to get myself out for a run and to consider my own animals and whether they need jobs of their own. McDougall does an incredible job of introducing multiple characters and painting them clearly and compassionately. He’s humble about his own shortcomings and generous about the qualities of others — a refreshing attitude. And he shines a light on a small town in Colorado and a sport most of us have never heard of. In a publishing world full of so much of the same, Running with Sherman is startlingly different. Well written and fun, reading this makes you want to track down McDougall and Sherman (although I’m a Matilda fan) and take him out for a coffee or a beer. Odds are there are plenty more stories where these came from. Bravo – five stars!
This was a very inspirational and heartwarming true story about a man rescuing a donkey with an unstoppable spirit. But there was so many more facets to the story. The evolution of friendships, the power of belief, The seeking of wisdom and knowledge, The list goes on and on.
Great book. It’s a true story of a rescued donkey that is funny and also informative – not just about donkeys but about the Amish and others things. It made me want to befriend a donkey. Well written and engaging.
What a great story.! I learned so much from this book.
Loved this book, didn’t want it to end.
Enjoyable. A book ro share with equestrian friends.
I LOVED it!
Love donkeys, but didn’t know that they had such strong, distinct personalities. Loved the way they could shape and support each other and the families involved.
How could anyone not love Sherman???
I was surprised and intrigued with this book. A family moves into the country, they rescue a terribly disabled and neglected donkey who has not been out of his stall for years. Long enough for his hooves to grow so long he could hardly stand. This is a story about Sherman’s rehabilitation and his comeback through training and patience to run in the annual donkey race held in Colorado. It’s a marvelous true story and I really enjoyed reading about the many challenges faced and overcome by Sherman and his family. It was wonderful.
The book describes a family’s rescue of a sick animal and subsequent training for a “burro race.” The author also spends a great deal of time describing life in an Amish community and we are introduced to many memorable characters along the way.
Chris McDonnell rescued Sherman from a hoarding situation. This poor donkey was in such a bad state, that surviving was questionable. Chris enlisted the help of his Amish neighbors, friends, and family to bring with poor donkey back to good health. But it will take patience and love to bring hope to Sherman’s heart; and a job.
Chris decides that he wants to enter the burro races held annually in Colorado to bring hope into Sherman’s soul. You will have to read this true story to see how it ends. This is a feel good story that we all need in these troubled times.
I came across this book by accident and was intrigued enough to give it a shot. I absolutely fell in love with Sherman. Anyone that has ever loved an animal will know how their personalities shine through, which Sherman’s does. I loved the story of his rescue, right through to his burro race. There were chapters though that I found it harder to get through and they felt more than a little like filler. There was a history of burro racing, the Amish, exercise and mental health, chapters on other racers. While some of these were interesting, they went on too long and were too many. Give me more Sherman.
McDougall is a great writer. Very informative and tells a great story. This book – unlike Born to Run – is not really a running book. But a great read.
I loved this so much, and i loved the sense of community in the book. Perfect antidote to quarantine fears. SO happy i had this book for company!
Too long.
This was a terrific book! It’s more than just the heartrending rescue of a neglected burro; it is the story of giving that burro a purpose in life, and, along the way, challenging oneself, building friendships, learning the psychology of burros and other animals, learning how burros have rescued their own group of needy humans, and much more. This was an interesting, educational book in many realms; read it and enjoy! Many books make me feel like I wasted my time; I am planning to read this one again.
I just loved this book on so many levels! McDougall’s writing voice is so welcoming and funny it’s irresistible. Plus, he is a master at depicting different characters capturing who they are and what drives them with minimal wordiness. And then there’s the story (a true one!) that not only entertains but inspires. In fact, I dragged my sorry butt out just today for a run, not with a donkey, but with my bouncing dog and thought about McDougall and his clan of two legged and four legged runners as I did. Warm, rewarding, and wonderfully written!
Excellent
When it’s nonfiction and still a page turner…. !
I found myself neglecting other things in order to keep reading.
Being interested in animals/donkeys or running is not a reader requirement. Running With Sherman is filled with relationships, information, philosophy, challenges, Joy, discovery, encouragement, and adventure. There’s more than one story here, as McDougall shares inspiring biographical tales about many of the people with whom he connects while training to race with Sherman.