Out of Thin Air

November 9, 2020
Anthropologist Crawley debuts with a fascinating account of the 15 months he spent in Ethiopia in 2011–2012, where he trained alongside world-class marathoners as part of an anthropological study of long-distance running. While taking readers on his daily runs and conversations with runners, he shares their insights (one runner attributed his success and those from his town to diet: “They eat barley and honey, and drink milk”) and sprinkles in descriptions of how local Ethiopian running clubs have historically provided avenues to professional competitions, while also providing the opportunity “to live a whole other life.” Crawley also pointedly critiques the racism of the idea of Ethiopians being naturally gifted runners, which, he writes, ignores the enormous sacrifice and hard work of their training. Notably, the athletic culture Crawley encountered was less about competition than the joy that motivates a close-knit community. He also shares vivid descriptions of Ethiopian culture (including learning the Amharic language) and communal expectations like the prioritizing of hard work and family. This big-hearted tale will resonate with readers regardless of whether they’ve ever laced up a pair of running shoes.