52 Ways to Walk

November 1, 2021
“Walking is not—and has never been—boring,” writes novelist Streets (The Joyce Girl) in this inviting exercise guide to a year’s worth of walking. The plan’s divided into a weekly program, with each week dedicated to a certain type of walking. Week one consists of a stroll in winter, as the advantages of walking in the cold are significant and include increased cognition and reduced stress, according to Streets, and she describes the “extraordinary changes that take place in our bodies and brains when we spend time in moderate cold.” Later chapters advocate for slow walks (shown to lower cholesterol and help regulate insulin levels), ambles through muddy terrain (soil has “mood-enhancing effects”), early morning treks (exposure to sunlight helps start the day off right), and post-meal strolls (which help with digestion). Streets carefully breaks down the psychological and physical benefits of each type of walk, and makes a solid case that getting some movement in outside can help one “appreciate the exquisitely complicated and beautiful world we inhabit.” Readers ready to hit the pavement will find plenty of inspiration and information here.

December 1, 2021

The newest work by fiction and nonfiction author Streets (who also writes under the name Annabel Abbs) continues her research on walking that began in Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women. Her new book takes readers through a year's worth of intentional walks, one week at a time. Streets here encourages readers to plan walks in advance and focus on either external factors (e.g., landscape) or internal factors (e.g., spiritual direction), in order to recontextualize walking: the walk itself should be the goal, instead of a means of going from point A to point B. Walks themed around sounds or smells challenge readers to think about sensory perception or reengage with surroundings. Walkers are encouraged to think about both comfort and safety prior to stepping out; Streets acknowledges privilege, stating that walking is not necessarily a safe activity for all. Each short chapter encompasses a bit of science as a framework and ends with a list of tips to help readers maximize their experiences. VERDICT Recommended for walkers looking to add more variety to their routines, as well as readers looking for motivation to get outside and move.--Rachel M. Minkin, Michigan State Univ. Libs., East Lansing

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2021
Streets grew up in a carless household with little access to public transportation and had to walk to most destinations. That changed when she bought a Fiat and drove everywhere. However, upon learning that the average American only walks 1.4 miles a week, she vowed to "reoxygenate her life," and here she shares the numerous benefits of walking. In a complementary volume to her 2021 Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women, which she wrote as Annabel Abbs, she challenges readers to rethink their relationship with walking. Many of the 52 short chapters detail the distinctive benefits of walking in different conditions or venues, such as inclement weather (rain or cold) or particular landscapes (beside the sea, a riverbed, in the mud). Other chapters note unusual reasons to walk (to forage or to purposely get lost). She even talks about the joys of walking backwards and includes plenty of firsthand experience, as in "Take a City Smell Walk," in which she discusses losing her sense of smell after contracting COVID-19. Spiritual, educational, and informative.

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