Praise for Brian Metzler and Kicksology
No one alive knows more than Brian Metzler about that great modern indulgence: the running shoe. Kicksology captures the science, the sagas, and the surprisingly tantalizing backstories surrounding a subject that's as personal and passionate to true believers as any religion. If you've ever laced rubber to your feet for a run, you'll be captivated by this delightfully probing book.
-Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run
If there's a such thing as a living encyclopedia of running shoes, it's Brian Metzler. Not only does he own more shoes than anyone I know, he knows more about them than anyone I know. His passion for running shoes, their history, evolution, and application is unmatched and speaks to my sole.
-Mario Fraioli, The Morning Shakeout
It takes a true running shoe geek to write an informative and entertaining book about running shoes. That's who Brian Metzler is, and that's what he gives us with Kicksology. Like the proverbial kid in a candy store, Metzler samples each new shoe-minimalist, maximalist, zero-drop, VaporFly, and so on-with unabated enthusiasm. He also interviews the researchers and designers behind each shoe to provide crazy stories and new insights we haven't heard before.
-Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon winner, Runner's World editor at large
Kicksology is a great survey of the modern history of running shoes. A must-read for anyone in the sneaker game.
-Matt Powell, sports industry analyst
I loved reading Kicksology and recommend it a must-read for anyone who runs. Brian Metzler has been one of the country's top running writers for a long time because he asks the right questions and delivers smart, thought-provoking answers with exceptional storytelling. He presents the untold stories of running shoes: where we are, how we got here, and what the future holds for your feet.
-Jay Dicharry, MPT, leading biomechanist, running gait expert, and author of Running Rewired
No one has more knowledge and passion about running shoes and the industry than Brian Metzler. With Kicksology, he delivers a compelling and engaging read.
-Lisa Jhung, author of Trailhead and Running That Doesn't Suck
In Kicksology, we too can run in Metzler's shoes and gain access to his hard-earned insights. The result is a fascinating journey.
-Laura Clark, American Trail Running Association
Kicksology is a personal tour of running shoe history, design, and business that only Brian Metzler could write. He has the uncanny ability to be near the center of every new trend and takes the reader on an informative journey through the many interesting characters, stories, and ideas that make running shoes fascinating.
-Jonathan Beverly, PodiumRunner
Brian Metzler's knowledge of the running shoe industry is as broad as it is nuanced. Kicksology is a great broad-based dive into the industry's evolution since its inception without getting too strung up on detail and technical language. I found it very accessible, and I expect that a layperson with an interest in the shoe business will find it similarly easy to access.
-Jonathan Stull, Editor, Outdoor Project
Kicksology is a fascinating read, giving us an insider's look at the running shoe business that Metzler has been involved with since college. It is that obsession with all things relating to shoes that gives Kicksology its breadth and depth and the reason it has been drawing national and international attention.
-Mike Sandrock, Boulder Daily Camera
Kicksology is a joyride through the history of footwear and the sport as it charts the author's personal running journey and the various styles of running shoes he's put to the test. The book is fun and informative, looking at shoes of yesteryear and offering a glimpse of the future.
-Paul Freary, Athletics Weekly
Kicksology dives into the fads and science that have shaped running shoe trends, and does a good job of helping runners learn how to separate the hype from the real in order to become informed consumers.
-Amanda Loudin, NBC News
Metzler has the uncanny ability to be near the center of every new running trend and takes the reader on an informative and entertaining journey through the many interesting characters, stories, and ideas that make running shoes and the shoe industry fascinating.
-Jonathan Beverly, PodiumRunner
Fascinating and informative, Kicksology was written with true sneakerheads in mind. It's bound to feed their passion for the world's most iconic kicks.
-Canadian Running Magazine
