John Connell's work has been published in Granta's New Irish Writing issue. His memoir The Cow Book was a #1 bestseller in Ireland and won the 2018 An Post Irish Book Award/Ireland AM Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year. He lives on his family farm, Birchview, in County Longford, Ireland.
A compelling insight into the mind of someone who loves to run for running’s sake, and who is keen to immerse himself fully into the world around him. * Irish Independent * Takes the theme of running and opens it out into something much wider * Irish Times * In this difficult new world where a walk or a run around the block might be the only respite your mental health gets in a day of isolation, Connell’s paean to the activity couldn’t be better timed * Sunday Independent * Read The Running Book and you see life in every route you run: past, present and future. Life is for running -- Sonia O'Sullivan A book rich in history, personal reflections and questions . . . a book about life * RTÉ Culture * This book explores wonderfully the joys and pleasures of running . . . Through running journeys that are interspersed with interesting anecdotes and memories, the history and beauty of Ireland are brought to life . . . Every runner will find something poignant that resonates within this book -- Paula Radcliffe Some books are for runners, some are for history lovers. This charming volume is for both. It has made me vow to keep my eyes more widely open the next time I put my running shoes on – whether the ground beneath my feet is new or familiar -- Adam Hochschild, author of <i>King Leopold’s Ghost</i> A celebration of the primal joy of running * RTÉ Guide * A lovely testimonial to all the seeing to be done by eyes and hearts that hold themselves open. And he shows us that, wherever we run, the world remains with us, to be grasped in all its grief and majesty -- Zia Haider Rahman, author of <i>In The Light of What We Know</i> Sensational! John Connell has done it again! -- Dean Karnazes A thoughtful book that begins with putting one foot in front of the other and opens up to encompass a great deal more * Herald * British colonialism is a topic that demands coverage and I am glad that Mr Connell is approaching it from this new lens -- Shashi Tharoor, author of <i>Inglorious Empire</i>