Running with Sherman

When barefoot running expert Christopher McDougall takes in an abandoned donkey, he aims to nurse Sherman back to health. But Sherman is bad-tempered, willful, and uncooperative—and his mistreatment has clearly made him deeply fearful of humans. Christopher knows that donkeys have a purpose—they're working animals, animals of burden—so when he learns about the sport of donkey racing or running, he sets out to give Sherman something worth living for. With the help of Christopher's zoo on his farm in rural Pennsylvania, his wife, Mika, and their friends and neighbors, including local Amish people, Sherman begins to build confidence in him. To give him purpose, they begin running together. But what Sherman gains in confidence and meaning is what we all need: a connection to nature, to the outdoors, to movement. And as Christopher learns, the side benefits of exercise and connection with animals are amazing, helping to improve mental and physical health in unexpected ways.