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The Lost Art of Walking by Geoff Nicholson
‘Bewitchingly informative… This book is no mere miscellany, but the story of man’s love affair with the oldest means of locomotion: one foot in front of the other… Howlingly funny’ The Economist
‘Consistently erudite and witty… hugely entertaining’ Val Hennessy The Daily Mail
The history, science, philosophy, literature, theory and practice of pedestrianism.
Walking was once our principle method of transport but now, for the able bodied, it’s either something we barely notice (a walk to the bus stop, station or car) or it has become some added extra, a life style choice (trekking holidays, psychogeographic explorations). Geoff Nicholson’s Lost Art of Walking brings pedestrianism back to the centre of life by musing on his own walks (both challenging and unchallenging) and by looking at the thoughts and actions of walkers through history – the competitive, the great, the merely eccentric.
Geoff has a taste for walking in deserts, and indeed was once briefly lost in one, but he also likes walking in cities, he has walked the streets around his various homes in London, New York and Los Angeles. He is a keen observer and has an eye for the unusual and the subversive, his walks take unexpected turns and he makes discoveries in overlooked places. He reflects on writers, musicians and film makers who were walkers or were inspired by walking – Charles Dickens, Bruce Chatwin and Paul Auster, Erik Satie, Bob Dylan, Buster Keaton and Werner Herzog. The book is discursive, imaginative, funny and full of insight.
The Lost Art of Walking was first published in the USA in 2008, the Harbour edition is revised and expanded, including two new chapters, one (largely) about London, the other about walking in cemeteries and some new material about J G Ballard (and includes discussions with Will Self and Iain Sinclair).
‘a likeable mixture of fascination and bathos… this is an energetic, quirky book. Its idiosyncrasy is a fine testament to the author’s belief that “when you walk you are your own boss”’. Tom Marks The Literary Review
‘Easily my favourite book of the year… it reminded me how enjoyable enlightened pedestrianism could be – if you have a witty and informed companion. In Nicholson, you certainly do’ Jamie MacLean The Erotic Review
£8.00
