Walk by Courtney Conley and Milica McDowell

WALK by Courtney Conley and Milica McDowell is an amazingly uplifting text about how to “Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity - One Step at a Time.”  I was honestly surprised at how accessible and informative this book is. Conley, a chiropractor and founder of Gait Happens, and McDowell, an educator and speaker, are firm believers in the power of walking and are very adept at offering encouraging suggestions. This book allows them to share those ideas more widely in a dozen chapters dealing with subtopics like longevity, pain, walking mindset, shoes, and training. The first half of the book focuses on the importance of walking and its many benefits for physical, mental, and emotional health. For example, “A slower gate can be detected up to seven years before the clinical onset of dementia, making gate speed a valuable early marker.” The book’s second half shifts towards being even more practical, as the authors say, “giving you everything you need to know to assess your current foot health and to implement a walking routine.” Although the list of resources they include are largely tied to Conley’s Gait Happens, the authors also include several very helpful appendices (e.g., Foot Assessments, Strength Assessments, Time Inventory Tracker). My favorite one is called “The Movement Snacks” which summarizes the activities included at the end of each earlier chapter. In addition, a Notes section represents approximately ten percent of the book. WALK received a starred review from Library Journal: “Anyone seeking an individualized walking program will find this book an excellent read.” Definitely worth a look.