The Barefoot Book

Can something that feels as good as going barefoot also be good for you? (Yes!)

Most of us kick off our shoes when we get home from work or an outing. It just feels good. Well, as Daniel Howell points out in this timely guide to barefooting, it feels good because it is good for us.

Research shows that going barefoot strengthens our feet, makes them more flexible and improves body alignment. Why, then, are we buying shoes for infants who can't yet walk? Wearing high heels that hurt with every step? Spending hundreds of $$ on running and hiking shoes? Some of us are following social conventions or fashion trends. Most of us think we're protecting our feet and keeping them clean.

Not so, says Dr. Howell. An expert on human anatomy, he explains how shoes can:

upset natural weight distribution

overload joints

decrease foot flexibility

reduce shock absorbtion of the arch

cause bunions and in-grown toenails

Put your best-bare-foot forward

Howell offers practical tips--and 50 good reasons--for easing into a barefoot lifestyle. He describes the best shoes to wear (if we must) but strongly encourages us to try going barefoot and to feel the life-changing health benefits.

With barefoot hiking and running clubs springing up all over and the recent success of minimalist footwear, the time for bare feet is here. Whether you want to create more barefoot time for you and your family or go bare 24/7, The Barefoot Book will help you every free and natural step of the way.