The Lost Art of Walking: The History, Science, and Literature of Pedestrianism

How we walk, where we walk, why we walk tells the world who and what we are. Whether it's once a day to the car, or for long weekend hikes, or as competition, or as art, walking is a profoundly universal aspect of what makes us humans, social creatures, and engaged with the world. Cultural commentator, Whitbread Prize winner, and author of Sex Collectors Geoff Nicholson offers his fascinating, definitive, and personal ruminations on the literature, science, philosophy, art, and history of walking.

Nicholson finds people who walk only at night, or naked, or in the shape of a cross or a circle, or for thousands of miles at a time, in costume, for causes, or for no reason whatsoever. He examines the history and traditions of walking and its show more role as inspiration to artists, musicians, and writers like Bob Dylan, Charles Dickens, and Buster Keaton. In The Lost Art of Walking, he brings curiosity, imagination, and genuine insight to a subject that often strides, shuffles, struts, or lopes right by us. show less

This seems like an odd topic to write a whole book about, but Mr. Nicholson manages to make it both informative and entertaining. I have never thought to look at walking in such a diverse way. Mr. Nicholson not only discussed walking in art, movies, songs, literature and history, but also writes about phenomenal feats of walking. All that interspersed with his personal anecdotes. Although about two very different forms of foot travel I think I can safely put this book on par with Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.

I so thoroughly enjoyed this book and Mr. Nicholson’s writing style that next time I am in a bookstore I am going to stroll over and check out the others he has written.

Very enjoyable reflection on walking and what it the sense of walking and solitude can mean. Unnecessary dig at Rebecca Solnit, however, toward the end of the book.

I liked the idea of this book and found much of it of great interest. However, not to sound too prissy, I didn't like the author's tone. He just seemed so dismissive, which bothered me. Walking is a subject about which much can be said, and indeed the book did not claim to say all that there is to say about it. Nonetheless, the level of dismissiveness (for example, of 'Mrs Dalloway', an absolutely wonderful novel) struck me as impolite. I appreciated the breadth of references, but wished they were treated more respectfully. Perhaps I'm unduly sensitive to this because I'm used to a more academic tone in non-fiction? Still, I enjoyed 'Into The Wild' Jon Krakauer, which has a very different focus but is also essentially a book about show more walking, much more. show less

A ramble through the author's memory of he walks he has taken over his life, from his early forays in his home town of Sheffield in England's industrial north, to more recent walks through upmarket Beverley Hills.

Walking in Beverley Hills is quiet, in New York, as part of a psychogeography conference, is slightly disappointing, and in England, he gets wet, although that wouldn't surprise the knowledgeable walker or reader. Nicholson also ties in his walking and walking memories with recollections of what was happening at the time, either within his own life or in the greater world. So, we find out that he was on a walking holiday in the California desert when her mother died, that most of his boyhood friends in Sheffield were felt up by show more old lechers, and that he proposed to his now wife while walking in New York.

Nicholson also manages to namecheck every reference to walking in popular culture and the history of walking as competitive sport. We read a potted history of the Wandering Jew, the 19th Century Leatherman and "Nude Descending a Staircase". We witness Nicholson recalling every famous cinema walking scene ("Midnight Cowboy", Cary Grant's last film "Walk, Don't Run" and "Saturday Night Fever" all get a Guernsey" and a melange of walking events, including those attempted to win a bet.

There's nothing brilliant here but the author's humour is enough to keep the pages turning. show less

A pedestrian myself, I was happy reading about others, whether they walk for necessity, sport, or eccentricity. Nicholson writes with a slightly dark sense of humor, which I love. Plus I never realized how many songs are about or contain references to walking.

There probably is an audience for this type of book, well, clearly if you read the rave reviews on this site. But it really isn't for me. Nicholson writes smoothly, but his style is a bit too journalistic. And above all: he puts himself in the spotlight so much that you lose sight of the fact that this is a book about my favourite pastime: walking!