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It's Not Just About Running: Reflections on Life and Change in Egypt
Librarian's Note: An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
Author A. I. Shoukry describes his running moments like a window with a sunrise view for a prisoner kept in solitary confinement. After witnessing a revolution in Egypt, running twice for the parliamentary elections, and being a former leader of two political parties, he decided to take a break from politics and start running. From being barely able to run 2k, he became a half-marathon runner aged 39.
However, this book isn’t just about running; it’s about a runner’s reflections on life, change, and the love of running in Egypt. It’s a memoir about self-discovery and searching for freedom and love of life. It's about the integration of body, mind, and soul. It’s about family and friends, relationships, and work.
In this book, Shoukry explores the meanings of faith, pain, stress, fear, death, life, solitude, happiness, and passion. He has truly put his heart on paper.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running—for your health, for your mind, for therapy, or even for parliament, this book is for you. Whether you’re a newbie runner, a seasoned pro, or have never donned a pair of running shoes but want to start—open this book and start running with Ahmed through Egypt.
Author A. I. Shoukry describes his running moments like a window with a sunrise view for a prisoner kept in solitary confinement. After witnessing a revolution in Egypt, running twice for the parliamentary elections, and being a former leader of two political parties, he decided to take a break from politics and start running. From being barely able to run 2k, he became a half-marathon runner aged 39.
However, this book isn’t just about running; it’s about a runner’s reflections on life, change, and the love of running in Egypt. It’s a memoir about self-discovery and searching for freedom and love of life. It's about the integration of body, mind, and soul. It’s about family and friends, relationships, and work.
In this book, Shoukry explores the meanings of faith, pain, stress, fear, death, life, solitude, happiness, and passion. He has truly put his heart on paper.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running—for your health, for your mind, for therapy, or even for parliament, this book is for you. Whether you’re a newbie runner, a seasoned pro, or have never donned a pair of running shoes but want to start—open this book and start running with Ahmed through Egypt.
- GenresEgypt
152 pages, ebook
First published June 16, 2018
17 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
A.I. Shoukry
4 books44 followersI love to read, write, learn, and share with the world all of that. I am the founder of The Decisions Academy and editor of the life & work newsletter and podcast.
My writings are focused on living a balanced life, making better decisions in life and work.
I have a wide range of interests and experiences, and I use my knowledge to combine ideas from different disciplines to create synergy.
I believe that learning stops when your heart stops beating and sharing what you know is what keeps you alive for eternity.
shoukry.org
My writings are focused on living a balanced life, making better decisions in life and work.
I have a wide range of interests and experiences, and I use my knowledge to combine ideas from different disciplines to create synergy.
I believe that learning stops when your heart stops beating and sharing what you know is what keeps you alive for eternity.
shoukry.org
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 15, 2018
As the title clearly states, this book in not just about running, it’s actually so much more.
In short chapters that are easy to read, the author, Dr. Ahmed Shoukry, shares with us his experience in becoming a regular runner. In very realistic steps, he takes us on his journey of self-discipline and perseverance that led him to eventually becoming a marathon runner.
These chapters are also filled with threads of wisdom woven within the running motif. Living in a very challenging time in the recent history of Egypt, Ahmed uses his running to deeply reflect on very serious issues including fear, hope, happiness, politics and the 25th of January Egyptian revolution which occurred in 2011.
The depth of this book is much more relatable to the author’s contemporary peers who have also lived through these events. Ahmed speaks from his heart, to voice many of our own reflections during this period.
The book is very well written, with short chapters containing capsules of often deeply emotional experiences for the author. And because he writes from his heart, his words easily reach ours.
If you’re into running, I highly recommend reading this book, as you would greatly benefit from his tips.
If you’re not into running, I would recommend reading this book even more, as you would enjoy a heartfelt memoir from a surgeon, a father, a politician and a sincere Egyptian hoping for change and a better tomorrow.
In short chapters that are easy to read, the author, Dr. Ahmed Shoukry, shares with us his experience in becoming a regular runner. In very realistic steps, he takes us on his journey of self-discipline and perseverance that led him to eventually becoming a marathon runner.
These chapters are also filled with threads of wisdom woven within the running motif. Living in a very challenging time in the recent history of Egypt, Ahmed uses his running to deeply reflect on very serious issues including fear, hope, happiness, politics and the 25th of January Egyptian revolution which occurred in 2011.
The depth of this book is much more relatable to the author’s contemporary peers who have also lived through these events. Ahmed speaks from his heart, to voice many of our own reflections during this period.
The book is very well written, with short chapters containing capsules of often deeply emotional experiences for the author. And because he writes from his heart, his words easily reach ours.
If you’re into running, I highly recommend reading this book, as you would greatly benefit from his tips.
If you’re not into running, I would recommend reading this book even more, as you would enjoy a heartfelt memoir from a surgeon, a father, a politician and a sincere Egyptian hoping for change and a better tomorrow.
October 15, 2018
As the title clearly states, this book in not just about running, it’s actually so much more.
In short chapters that are easy to read, the author, Dr. Ahmed Shoukry, shares with us his experience in becoming a regular runner. In very realistic steps, he takes us on his journey of self-discipline and perseverance that led him to eventually becoming a marathon runner.
These chapters are also filled with threads of wisdom woven within the running motif. Living in a very challenging time in the recent history of Egypt, Ahmed uses his running to deeply reflect on very serious issues including fear, hope, happiness, politics and the 25th of January Egyptian revolution which occurred in 2011.
The depth of this book is much more relatable to the author’s contemporary peers who have also lived through these events. Ahmed speaks from his heart, to voice many of our own reflections during this period.
The book is very well written, with short chapters containing capsules of often deeply emotional experiences for the author. And because he writes from his heart, his words easily reach ours.
If you’re into running, I highly recommend reading this book, as you would greatly benefit from his tips.
If you’re not into running, I would recommend reading this book even more, as you would enjoy a heartfelt memoir from a surgeon, a father, a politician and a sincere Egyptian hoping for change and a better tomorrow.
In short chapters that are easy to read, the author, Dr. Ahmed Shoukry, shares with us his experience in becoming a regular runner. In very realistic steps, he takes us on his journey of self-discipline and perseverance that led him to eventually becoming a marathon runner.
These chapters are also filled with threads of wisdom woven within the running motif. Living in a very challenging time in the recent history of Egypt, Ahmed uses his running to deeply reflect on very serious issues including fear, hope, happiness, politics and the 25th of January Egyptian revolution which occurred in 2011.
The depth of this book is much more relatable to the author’s contemporary peers who have also lived through these events. Ahmed speaks from his heart, to voice many of our own reflections during this period.
The book is very well written, with short chapters containing capsules of often deeply emotional experiences for the author. And because he writes from his heart, his words easily reach ours.
If you’re into running, I highly recommend reading this book, as you would greatly benefit from his tips.
If you’re not into running, I would recommend reading this book even more, as you would enjoy a heartfelt memoir from a surgeon, a father, a politician and a sincere Egyptian hoping for change and a better tomorrow.
November 1, 2019
Shoukry’s writing is candid and pleasant to read and follow. There is no attempt to complicate his thoughts and feelings or frame them in more academic language; he simply tells his story as it happened.
I enjoyed how his account was interspersed with thought provoking chapters on Pain, Death and Love. This meant that runner or not, I could relate to his losses, setbacks and triumphs.
In many ways there are life lessons within this account and even though at first I struggled with Shoukry’s straightforward story telling, by the end it made sense. His messages are simple and straightforward and must be told in the same manner if we are to learn how to heed them.
“Solitude is for reflection, self-discovery, and self-enrichment, while loneliness can lead to self-destruction.”
As I read this book, I was struggling personally to reconcile feelings of anxiety, fear and safety, and I genuinely found spending twenty to thirty minutes sitting or lying down and reading this book incredibly therapeutic. I imagine it is a book you could return to again too because Shoukry does not revel arrogantly or unnecessarily in his successes. You are pleased for him and persistently urge him forward and thus when you come away from reading it, you find the same energy within yourself; urging you forward, urging you to persevere.
I enjoyed how his account was interspersed with thought provoking chapters on Pain, Death and Love. This meant that runner or not, I could relate to his losses, setbacks and triumphs.
In many ways there are life lessons within this account and even though at first I struggled with Shoukry’s straightforward story telling, by the end it made sense. His messages are simple and straightforward and must be told in the same manner if we are to learn how to heed them.
“Solitude is for reflection, self-discovery, and self-enrichment, while loneliness can lead to self-destruction.”
As I read this book, I was struggling personally to reconcile feelings of anxiety, fear and safety, and I genuinely found spending twenty to thirty minutes sitting or lying down and reading this book incredibly therapeutic. I imagine it is a book you could return to again too because Shoukry does not revel arrogantly or unnecessarily in his successes. You are pleased for him and persistently urge him forward and thus when you come away from reading it, you find the same energy within yourself; urging you forward, urging you to persevere.
April 6, 2021
As the title states ‘It's not just about running’ and intersperses running stories from the authors own experiences with politics, religion, travel, the medical profession and life in general to name but a few. It's obvious that the author is very passionate in relation to the issues he writes about and although politics isn’t generally something that would spark my interest, I have to say that the author’s struggles and endeavours to promote positive change in the country were both insightful and informative. The balance between running and the other issues in the book is probably about 50/50 and the various topics link in to each other very well with the challenges in running and racing often compared to the challenges we face in life. I thought the book was well written and edited and very easy to read. I started reading it thinking that I would just read a few pages to see how it went but before I knew it I found myself about 40% in! I read it over four nights and found the book very thought provoking with a lot of things in there that I can take from it. All in all I would say that it’s a very good read if you want something a little bit different that’s not just about running and I'd be very surprised if anyone read it and didn't find at least something in it that was beneficial in some way.
June 30, 2018
An enjoyable read. The title is very true. It is not about running. The author takes us along his life journey, its ups and downs and candidly discusses all his fears, hopes, and passions. Since the author is based in Egypt, readers get a good glimpse of what it is like for a young accomplished physician/runner to try to make it through life's struggles in contemporary Egypt, and try to make reason of what happens, and what does not happen, on the national, social and personal level. Highly recommended reading for young Egyptians, and also non-Egyptians, hoping for a better future.
April 5, 2021
The author posted about this book in The Runners’ Bookshelf and I was curious namely because I was also interested in his boots err sneakers on the ground perspective during the Arab Spring as it hit Egypt. This book really was both stories: the author as an activist and a runner. I enjoyed seeing as he grew in both roles to be a half marathoner and podcaster. Quick read.
June 21, 2022
Enjoy reading your book. I have a better understanding of life in Egypt and also about running. Easy and enjoyable read. Very well written. Recommended.
March 28, 2021
One of the greatest running books I've ever reead. It hacked me into flow so much that I couldn't stop reading all at once.
June 21, 2022
Informative and enjoyable read
Enjoy reading your book. I have a better understanding of life in Egypt and also about running. Easy and enjoyable read. Very well written. Recommended.
Enjoy reading your book. I have a better understanding of life in Egypt and also about running. Easy and enjoyable read. Very well written. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews