The Gift - A Runner's Story [Paperback]

Paul Maurer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2006

Runners, Running, Olympics, Steve Prefontaine, Sports, Adventure, Olympic

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Gift – A Runner’s Story is Paul Maurer’s first novel. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife, three boys, and his running buddy/dog, Sam.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: LULU (March 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411669258
• ISBN-13: 978-1411669253
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Olympic Games

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Running Novel, March 9, 2006

By 

Weldon Johnson "wejo" (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gift - A Runner's Story (Paperback)

I receive a lot of books to review for my website www.letsrun.com and this is one of the best running books I've ever read. I gave the author this quote to use on his website and it sums up the book very quickly: "Paul Maurer, in The Gift, not only presents an interesting and captivating story, but he explores the deeper questions of why runners run, why we compete, and what makes such a simple sport, running, so rewarding to those of us who do it. The Gift is one of the best running books I have ever read. "

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Well Intended, but Weak, June 18, 2006

By 

Nelson Aspen "Author/Journalist" (Los Angeles & NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Gift - A Runner's Story (Paperback)

This may hold some appeal for die hard running fans, since the passages about and in reference to the sport are the best written and most interesting in the book. However, this apparently self-published novel is as short on originality as it is heavy on a plethora of pop culture references and hokey, contrived dialogue.

While the author is obviously a devoted and passionate runner himself, there is little here to keep a reader involved in the short, soap operatic chapters. It could also have benefitted from better editing, containing numerous punctuation errors and misspellings.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rivals w/ Once a Runner, May 1, 2006

By 

W. M. Freeman "Q_Cassidy" (Maynard, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gift - A Runner's Story (Paperback)

If I had read this before "Once a Runner" it would be the other way around. Some similarities between the two books...almost too many in some cases but a great read for those craving a "Once a Runner" like book that distance runners can relate too. For a first book - great job - now a must read for runners!