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? Need more inspiration for your next meeting? <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/resources/#book-club-resources" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Browse all of our Book Club Resources</a>

Creative Engagement

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, <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/born-to-run-mcdougall/summary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Born to Run</a>? 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?

General Impressions

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 <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/the-elephant-whisperer/summary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Elephant Whisperer</a>? 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.﻿

Literary Analysis

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?

Personal Reflection and Connection

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?

Societal and Cultural Context

Genres

Action & Adventure

Natural World

Animals in Literature

Society

Community

Nonfiction

Inspiring Biographies

Memoir

Popular Book Clubs

Popular Book Club Picks

Science & Nature

Social Issues

Sexual Harassment & Violence

Christopher McDougall

Adult

Autobiography / Memoir

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Running With Sherman and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Running With Sherman Summary and Study Guide

Background

Get ready to explore Running with Sherman and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Running with Sherman Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Running with Sherman Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 5-8

Running with Sherman Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 9-12

Running with Sherman Chapters 9-12 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 13-16

Running with Sherman Chapters 13-16 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 17-20

Running with Sherman Chapters 17-20 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 21-24

Running with Sherman Chapters 21-24 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 25-27

Running with Sherman Chapters 25-27 Summary & Analysis

keyFigure

Key Figures

Running with Sherman Key Figures

theme

Themes

Running with Sherman Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Running with Sherman Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

character

Important Quotes

Running with Sherman Important Quotes with Page Numbers

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Running with Sherman Essay Topics

generalImpressionsTitle

generalImpressionsContent

personalReflectionAndConnectionTitle

personalReflectionAndConnectionContent

societalAndCulturalContextTitle

societalAndCulturalContextContent

literaryAnalysisTitle

literaryAnalysisContent

creativeEngagementTitle

creativeEngagementContent

Book Club Questions

Running with Sherman Book Club Questions

Running with Sherman

Book Club Questions

Related Titles

Featured Collections