Running with Sherman

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness and animal cruelty.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What aspects of Christopher McDougall’s storytelling, with its blend of personal narrative and historical digressions, did you find most effective?

2. In what ways does Running with Sherman compare to McDougall’s earlier work, Born to Run? If you haven’t read his previous work, does this book inspire you to explore his other writing?

3. Which recovery story in the book resonated most strongly with you, and why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. When have you needed to set aside your own agenda to build trust, similar to McDougall’s “Donkey Tao” approach?

2. The book suggests that having a purpose is essential for healing from trauma and despair. Describe a time when finding a purpose helped you through a difficult period.

3. Have you ever faced a situation where you needed to communicate with someone who expresses themselves differently? How did you approach that challenge?

4. What role have animals played in your life during challenging times?

5. McDougall relies on a community of experts and friends to help Sherman succeed. Who makes up your support team during challenging endeavors?

6. What personal disciplines, such as intense physical activity, have you found liberating rather than constraining?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Do you see evidence of the human-animal disconnection, which McDougall attributes to the Industrial Revolution, in today’s society?

2. Why might preserving cultural traditions like burro racing be important in contemporary technological societies?

3. The Amish community portrayed in the book maintains traditional connections to animals and the land. What lessons from such communities could benefit modern society?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. In what ways do the mentorship relationships in the book advance McDougall’s understanding of Sherman?

2. What techniques does McDougall use to build tension despite revealing the race outcome early?

3. The motif of “reading” body language appears throughout the book as McDougall learns to understand Sherman. What does this suggest about communication across species boundaries? How does McDougall’s portrayal compare to that of works that touch on similar topics, such as Lawrence Anthony’s The Elephant Whisperer?

4. How does McDougall’s application of the “Tao” philosophy evolve throughout the narrative?

5. What literary techniques does McDougall employ to balance humor with serious topics like animal abuse and depression?

6. The book presents several parallel recovery journeys between humans and animals. Analyze how these parallel narratives strengthen the book’s central themes.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. What qualities would you look for in an animal partner if you were to train for a burro race?

2. If you created your own animal-inspired philosophy like McDougall’s “Donkey Tao,” what species would you choose, and what principles would it include?

3. What might an epilogue set five years later reveal about Sherman and McDougall?

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