The Lost Art of Walking

The Lost Art of Walking blends memoir, history, and cultural observation into an exploration of bipedal movement through time and space. Author Geoff Nicholson examines walking from multiple angles - as transportation, recreation, protest, art form, and metaphor. Nicholson recounts his personal walking experiences across cities like Los Angeles, London, and New York while incorporating research about famous walks and walkers throughout history. He investigates walking's role in literature, film, music and visual art, incorporating figures from Charles Dickens to Dennis Hopper. The narrative moves between the author's direct experiences and wider observations about how humans have used walking for practical, creative, and philosophical purposes. Through this dual approach, the book considers walking as both a physical act and a lens for examining human culture and behavior. The Lost Art of Walking ultimately raises questions about how modern life has changed humanity's relationship with this fundamental form of movement. The text suggests that by studying walking, we can better understand both our past and our present moment.

Readers appreciate Nicholson's blend of historical research, personal anecdotes, and cultural observations about walking. They note his dry humor and ability to find fascinating stories about pedestrianism throughout history. Liked: - Deep research into walking's role in art, literature, and film - Personal walking tales from Los Angeles and London - Exploration of famous walks and walkers Disliked: - Meandering structure that some found hard to follow - Too many personal stories that don't connect to larger themes - Focus on cities rather than nature walks Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (50+ ratings) Reader quote: "Like taking a walk with a knowledgeable friend who occasionally goes off on tangents" - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "Needs more focus and less autobiography. Gets lost in its own wandering." - Amazon reviewer

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🚶‍♂️ While researching for the book, author Geoff Nicholson broke his arm in three places after falling while walking - an ironic accident that became part of the narrative. 🗺️ The book explores "psychogeography" - a technique developed by the Situationists in Paris that involves walking through urban environments in unconventional ways to experience them differently. 🎬 Nicholson examines how walking features in pop culture, including the peculiar "pedestrianism craze" of the 1870s and 1880s when competitive walking events filled stadiums. 📚 Though primarily about walking, the book also delves into the author's childhood in Sheffield, England, and his adult life in Los Angeles - two vastly different walking environments. 🎨 The text includes discussion of famous walking artists like Richard Long, who creates temporary sculptures by walking in patterns through natural landscapes.