Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of a Pedestrian Act

Journalist and long-distance walker Rubinstein laces up his hiking boots and travels around North America and the U.K. on foot in his quest to learn more about the physiological, psychological, and other benefits of walking. Along the way, Rubinstein walks the beat with police officers in inner-city Philadelphia, follows an ancient pilgrimage route in Wales, and joins Canadian aboriginal people on an arduous two-and-a-half week winter trek. Readers accompanying Rubinstein on these remarkable adventures may end up frustrated when he interrupts his chronicles with extended detours into scientific research. For example, Rubinstein breaks away from recounting his participation in the Canadian trek for eight pages summarizing six scientific studies and papers about what one's body does during walking. The result is an overload of information and a disjointed narrative. Readers who are avid walkers won't need further proof of the benefits of walking; those who are looking for incentives to walk more will wish that Rubinstein focused more on his own memorable adventures. Martha Magor Webb, Anne McDermid & Associates. (Apr.)