Out of Thin Air: Running Wisdom and Magic from Above the Clouds in Ethiopia: Winner of the Margaret Mead Award 2022 Paperback – 11 Nov. 2021

Very interesting book, not only does it give an excellent account of the training of Ethiopian Runners, it also gives insights into the fascinating culture and ways of the country, with an element of mysticism and magic.Well written and thoroughly enjoyed.

Best running book I’ve read

Great insight into the lifestyle and dedication of Ethiopian running. I found it very informative and descriptive, as in I could visualise everything I was reading.

Brilliant book ! I've read it three times already. You feel you're there with the author. A must for any long distance track or marathon runner wanting a winning mind set. Great book!

Fab book! Made me want to get back into running and have a great insight into how the best athletes in the world train.

Very readable, interesting and informative book , interesting to read about the less data driven approach to running the Ethiopians take, their group approach to training and the economic model they follow both at a state level and what drives the individual runners. Much like the Kenyans they seem to lead simple lives with simple good food and a great deal of focus on both training and rest! Thanks.

I’m obsessed with running, especially the Kenyan running community, so as soon as this book came out I bought it. A brilliant narrative of Michael Crawley, learning the factors of the Kenyan people and fascinating insight to their culture and why they are the best middle distance runners in the world.

Whether you are a runner or not, this book is a fascinating read for anyone who has watched runners from Ethiopia in awe and wondered how they become so accomplished. The writer has an easy style which draws you into the lives of the runners as he accompanies them on gruelling training sessions and also to some races abroad. Highly recommended.

'Out of Thin Air' is about the experience of Michael Crawley, a runner-anthropologist or vice versa - in living and training with Ethiopian elite runners for about 15 months. The author does a very good job on capturing some of main components of the culture of Ethiopian runners. The notion of 'condition', the use of different natural surfaces for running, the variation of altitudes are some of them. But, what is more interesting is the group training mindset, something one may find unusual, since running is seem as a lonely sport. The book is very well written and easy to read. The stories are full of life and insights. If you are a runner - a marathoner in particular - and like to read, this book is perfect for you.

Out of Thin Air is an easy read, but contains important insights for runners. A reader gets these benefits of “deep hanging out” without having to do the work of 18 months living the life of an elite Ethiopian athlete. Through a series of vignettes a picture of “proper training” emerges that will change how a runner thinks about running.

Beeindruckend und zu keinem Zeitpunkt langweilig. Das beste Buch, was ich bis jetzt gelesen habe.

Great book on Ethiopian distance running culture.Great work by the author being an anthropologist and 2:20 marathoner.

This a great insight into Ethiopian distance running - how they train, the philosophy, the mind set. The author does a great job by immersing himself into a number of training groups while living in Ethiopia, which gives a more authentic approach to being/becoming a great runner. I loved the conversational flow of the writing and how the athletes opened up to him.