The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Off Your Shoes

By L. Daniel Howell

Americans are chronic shoe-wearers. We wear shoes almost constantly, certainly in public spaces, and often within the comfortable walls of our own homes. We need shoes. We need them for warmth and for protection. We wear shoes to be fashionable and because it's expected. And what's wrong with that?

The Barefoot Book explores this question and provides a surprising answer. What's wrong is that chronic shoe wearing is negatively affecting our health and especially the health of our feet.

According to author L. Daniel Howell, the warm, moist environment of a shoe-clad foot makes a perfect condition for fungus and bacteria to grow. Poorly fitting shoes cause or exacerbate a host of foot issues from hammer-toes, bunions, and ingrown toenails to fallen arches and Hallux valgus. And high heeled shoes are the worst culprits of all with chronic use damaging the knees, spine, and posture. In fact, continuous wearing of shoes--any shoes--is a problem.

Howell explains how shoes redistribute weight, alter joints, weaken foot muscles, decrease foot flexibility, and eliminate sensory feedback from the sole and shock absorption of the arch. This leaves feet weak, fragile, and even more dependent on shoes. BR>
If shoes are causing such problems, the solution is obvious: take them off. In The Barefoot Book, Howell describes the best and healthiest kinds of shoes to wear for the times we must wear shoes. For the rest of the time, he suggests we go barefoot, and gives tips for getting started on a more barefoot lifestyle. He suggests ways to ease into going barefoot more often, defines the best conditions and situations for going barefoot, identifies the risks, and provides ways to explain to people why you're going barefoot--particularly if you venture into public areas where shoes are expected.

Howell would like us to experience healthier feet and fewer trips to the podiatrist's office, to develop feet that are strong, flexible, and comfortable. After learning about the dangers of chronic shoe wearing and the health benefits of going barefoot, readers will likely agree.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
• Release date: Jan 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9780897935968

Reviews for The Barefoot Book

[danajean_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. I didn't realize how much time I spend barefoot until I read this book. I'm constantly barefoot at home (I'm a stay-at-home mom, so I'm home pretty much the whole day); and when I do venture out, I tend to wear sandals so my feet can breathe and I can kick them off while driving or sitting at a restaurant. And yes, my feet need to breathe. It is amazing how much feet regulate the body temperature-- and my feet need to stay cool because I'm going through menopause right now. If my feet get hot, my temperature goes up immediately and I literally feel like I can't get a decent breath. It's a weird feeling.I think this book is a nice introduction to a barefoot lifestyle. Probably more for people thinking about it more so than the ones who actually practice it. I'm from that generation where shoes were put on kid's feet to "support the ankles." I was told never to go barefoot because I would get hookworm and as a kid, the thought of any kind of worm working its way inside your feet is scary! And when I stepped on a nail out in the woods that went deep into the arch of my foot, my mother triumphantly proclaimed, "See? I told you going barefoot was dangerous."I was impressed with the anatomy lesson on the foot and I appreciate the research done and the bibliography of other sources to check out in regards to barefoot living. Dispelling myths about the foot and going shoeless, I learned that maybe some of my aches and pains in my hips and lower back might just be because of the shoes I choose to wear. After all these years, I might not be able to fix damage that has already been done, but maybe I can make what I have left work better.Lots of food for thought here, and I recommend this book. I don't know how many people would really make a change to barefoot living, but I think more time spent barefoot is a good thing. New moms should pay particular attention as they can save their children a lifetime of aches and pains by being smarter. As the saying goes, "when you know better, you do better." Let your babies feet develop correctly right from the get-go.

[sublime98 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a very interesting book. All throughout the text, there are short bits giving reasons to take off your shoes. The rest of the book is text explaining the dangers of shoes, and how relaxing it is to "kick them off." The only problem I had was that it seemed to ignore situations that, no matter what, shoes are necessary, and although he suggests going barefoot in public places, it isn't always safe, and judgement by oneself is necessary. Maybe the author thinks this should already be known, but not putting it in there makes him seem slighlty ignorant.Although sometimes I felt like I was reading a book written by a health nutjob, it certainly has its foot facts straight. Overall, the book reached it's goal, as it has definitely made me think of taking my shoes off more. It certainly can't hurt, right?

[eowyna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ever since I read "Born to Run", I have been intrigued by the barefoot running trend. Why would you want to run, walk, or hike barefoot? Well, this book answers those questions. The author describes the construction of the foot, and how its structures work to best advantage. This leads to a discussion of the way humans walk and run, and how the barefoot gait differs from the shod gait. He talks about the problems caused by wearing shoes, and how going barefoot eliminates or minimizes those problems. There is a full chapter on the effect that wearing high heels has on women's feet. But there are also chapters on the effects of shoes on the feet of growing children, as well. Besides the standard shoes, he also discusses the "transitional" shoes - the ones that are minimalist for one reason or another, such as flip-flops, Vibram Five-Fingers, Birkenstocks, and moccasins.He answers his initial question, Why bare your feet? in small summaries on graphical footprints throughout the book. Each quick answer appears next to the paragraphs that discuss that reason in detail. Most of the answers concern improved health, such as "strengthen feet and legs", "reduce stress on your joints" or "because shoes cause corns and calluses". A few address happiness and well-being, such as "to lift your spirits and become closer to creation," or "Because it is fun."The book is well-focused on the topic of Why, with a few welcome comments on How one starts becoming a barefooter (or nelipot). He lists problems that might happen when starting out (such as toughening up the skin, and new aches to expect as the Achilles tendon starts stretching out). There are also references to resources for further information on how. Recommended for those who are wondering why they might want to start going barefoot.

[manadabomb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I got this book as an early review from Librarything. It called out to me from the list of books because, as much as I like buying and looking at shoes, I don't like wearing them very often. I'm in my ever-present flip flops until the first snow arrives and then back in them once the snow is gone.This book gives you 50 reasons to go barefoot, a no-brainer for someone like me, but pretty compelling for people who think wearing shoes is the best thing to do for their feet. If you think about it, your feet are not fragile little things that need protecting. They withstand our weight, absorb the shock of our walking and running, help us keep our balance, etc. Wearing shoes immobilizes the feet, not letting them absorb impact or expand the way they need to in order to help us move.Women's shoes are particularly bad, and it doesn't take a PhD to note that. Just look at those things!! Of which I have many many pairs. Men's shoes are just as bad and running/athletic shoes are pretty bad too. You get an education with this book on how shoes are made and how they purposefully alter how your foot moves (twisted ankles, anyone?).An interesting note, children's feet stop developing around age 8, so they really shouldn't be in shoes up until then. I've always always wondered by people put shoes on babies and children who can't walk yet. Just for looks, obviously, but let those feet run free! Baby shoes are pretty silly.Even if you don't like being barefoot, read this book, it may change your mind about ditching your shoes. Even if it's for a little while.

[indianajane_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Barefoot Book was interesting. I'm already inclined toward being barefoot. I kick my shoes off whenever possible and spend all of my time at home--indoors and out--barefoot. I have also done major damage to my feet and joints by extended wearing of high heels, so I was very interested in the anatomy of the foot and how it all works together and how it can be thrown out of whack. I was intrigued by the thought of going barefoot in public places, but will probably stick with my Birkenstocks, in spite of the case for more extensive barefoot living. My only real problems with the book were that it was a bit repetitive and there were some editing errors. (Note to publishers: Spell check doesn't replace competent copy editors.) Overall, though, this was a very informative book that strengthens my resolve to wear shoes that are better for my feet, when I wear them at all.

[meganreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There is a guy in my neighborhood who walks around the block several times every evening in his bare feet. As a girl who is a bit obsessed with her own feet (Dozens of shoes in my closet? Check. Frequent pedicures? Check. Foot rubs? Yes please!), I merely found this amusing until my fiance mentioned that there is a growing movement of people who reject footwear as unnatural and even harmful. Woah. My interest was piqued. Thankfully, Daniel Howard, PhD has written this quick-and-easy book outlining the various physiological benefits of going barefoot and, even more interestingly, the cultural factors that cause Americans to be squeamish about public shoelessness. The latter parts alone make the book worth reading, even if you don't think you could ever buy into the idea that you should wear shoes as rarely as possible. Part historical/anthropological study, part biomechanical instruction, part activism, this 135 page treat will certainly make you scratch your head and say "huh, I never thought of it that way before."

[janemarieprice · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Disclaimer #1: I am a barefoot person. My whole family is barefoot most of the time (parents, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.). As a child it was hell trying to keep me in shoes. For Mardi Gras, two of my uncles kick off their shoes as soon as the plane lands and don’t put them back on until they leave. This is my background, so I am not a hard sell on this particular topic.Disclaimer #2: When I received the book, the first thing I noticed was that the author is a professor at Liberty University. I admit this gave me pause, but I tried not to let it influence my reading. However, I can’t say that I didn’t think about it while reading. So, I first heard about the rise in popularity in going barefoot in New York Magazine a few years ago*, and I was thrilled. I hate wearing shoes. I never wear them at home; I take them off at the office, to climb the stairs to my apartment, to walk in the park, etc. The impetus for the article as well as the book, is that there is a lot of research going on right now as to the health effects going barefoot/wearing shoes. It is a fascinating concept, unfortunately the book relies heavily on anecdotes and observations, rather than research. It also makes the mistake of ignoring contrary evidence instead of taking an honest look at differing opinions. The most interesting aspect of this type of research for me is the amount of sensory information the nerves in your feet impart to the brain while walking – this lead to softer heel strike and better grip, etc. Unfortunately, this was glossed over in one page. I think the book was written from the point of view of trying to convert people to going barefoot more often; however, it becomes extremely repetitive and for me seems ineffective at this. There are also a few tricky things going on. For instance, the author makes the claim that there are no health codes or laws in any state which require you to wear shoes in businesses and restaurants. While this is true, any place of business is a private enterprise which can make any rules about dress code it wishes. While they don’t legally have to require shoes, they can if they want to. Therefore, I can’t recommend this even though I agree with the basic premise. * This article is worth taking a look at if only for the amazing body painting of feet to look like shoes.Note: I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

[bbkim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Off Your Shoes was a big surprise to me – at first I didn’t believe that going barefoot now, at age 47 and with diabetic neuropathy, could possibly help me. I was wrong! It helps! My feet feel much better after gradually increasing the number of hours I go barefoot over a week!The day I got this book was the day my podiatrist told me that my foot muscles have atrophied “due to diabetes.” I can’t begin to say how upset I was to get yet another lousy diagnosis. I am only 47 and my feet hurt all the time! A few months ago a different doctor wanted to do ankle surgery because my left ankle also hurts all the time, but I decided against it after talking to a PT who told me he has never yet seen ankle or foot surgery work out really well.So, I read this book, and at first I wasn’t convinced. When I read this quote in chapter 2 - "I truly believe there would be fewer wars and less crime if we all went barefoot!" I was really turned and stopped reading it for half a day. Honestly, the first few chapters of the book aren’t tremendously convincing. However, when my feet began to hurt again so badly that I had to lie down and elevate them, I decided I might as well keep reading. As I read farther, and go to the chapters with more convincing medical arguments, I figured I might as well give it a try and see what happened. Since I am at home much of the time, trying to go barefoot more often hasn’t been a huge problem. I didn’t expect it to help anything because my feet already hurt all the time, especially when I walk around, and I figured I really, really needed the padding in my ugly diabetic shoes to at least reduce the pain. WRONG! What a surprise – after only a week of gradually going barefoot inside my feet hurt A LOT LESS! In fact, when I put on my lace-up diabetic shoes to go out for a few hours, I was shocked by how much my feet hurt in the shoes. My feet did in fact feel much worse in the shoes. They felt inflexible, my gait felt uneven and unstable and I couldn’t wait to get those shoes off – even though just a week ago I would have said they were the most comfortable shoes I have ever had. Now I am working on making myself some soft, flexible, non-binding “shoes” that will protect the bottom of my feet from hot cement and rocky terrain. I think I never want to wear traditional modern shoes again. Go barefoot!

[valerieweak · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For me, the highlight of this book was learning about the anatomy of the foot (25% of the bones in the human body!) and the mechanics of walking, and then, how shoes impede that process. I'm not sure I'm ready to live the barefoot life 24/7, but this book has given me a lot to think about.

[joannemepham29_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book has a cute and readable concept, and I enjoyed it a great deal. It was interesting to learn about the ideas bed behind why we wear shoes and why we do not wear shoes. Well written and a joy to read.

[quilted_kat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Barefoot Book explores the history of shoes and what they are doing to our feet. Why is it socially unacceptable to be barefoot in public? Why do we put shoes on infants who can’t even walk yet? How does encasing your feet in a rigid “cast” change your physiological structure?Howell backs up his facts with eight pages of endnotes as well as listing five pages of lawsuits related to bare feet. He makes a good case that shoes are in fact the cause of a myriad of health problems, and are not the protective footwear that many shoe sellers and even doctors claim. The Barefoot Book is detailed scientific data compiled in an easy-to-read and enjoyable book. Kick off your shoes and read with pleasure; he promises there won’t be a quiz!

[06nwingert · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 Shoes. Some people love them, some people heate them. No matter where you stand, this book is definately informative. The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Off Your Shoes is a highly-researched book about the dangers of shoes (they're made to be fashionable, not foot-oriented; thus, your feet are constrained and, over time, damaged). I've heard of barefoot running, but haven't tried it yet. Maybe I'll ignore the disclaimer in the book (going barefoot has it's risks, and some of the information maybe outdated or unreliable) and kick off my shoes.

[sjmccreary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting, and eye-opening, look at the different effects that shoes have on our feet. We all know that the high-heeled, pointed toed shoes favored by some women cause problems for more than the feet of the wearers. But in this book, Dr Howell presents evidence that even athletic shoes are harmful to our feet. By immobilizing our feet inside of rigid shoes (he actually compares them to the casts that are placed over broken bones), we prevent our feet from performing the way nature intended. 20% of our bones are located in our feet - they are designed to be both flexible shock absorbers as well as strong and rigid levers. This paradox is what enables us to walk and run over all kinds of terrain, painlessly, and for our entire lives. The shoes we wear to protect our feet and improve our performance are actually doing just the opposite, according to the author.His discussions of the anatomy of the foot (that is his speciality) were interesting and informative, but just a little too technical to me to follow easily. If I had slowed down and re-read it a second time, I'm sure I could have gotten it, but that aspect of the book just wasn't the important thing for me. I was willing to take him at his word. This was all very interesting, but the last part of the book talked about the practical aspects of living a barefoot life. There are some people who are choosing not to wear shoes - ever. He talks about several myths about going barefoot - including the question about whether there are laws requiring people to wear shoes in restaurants or at work (no and no). For people who wear shoes occasionally, for whatever reason, he includes a list of "minimalist" shoes that are closer to barefoot than standard shoes. Number one on that list is basic flip-flops - the no-support kind that the young kids wear. But my favorite were the bottomless shoes - actually nothing more than an ankle bracelet attached to a toe ring that look like skimpy sandals at a glance. If I ever got up the nerve to go out in public barefooted, I would definitely get these!Overall, I thought the book was an interesting examination of the damage we're doing to our feet, and our kids' feet, in the name of convention and fashion. It made me determined to keep my shoes off as much as possible and to be more aware of the shoes that I do wear. Of course, I don't wear shoes unless I'm forced to anyway, so he didn't affect much of a conversion in my case. 4 stars.