The book discovers the extent to which human development and advancement can be put down to the fact that we could move about on two limbs, leaving the others free to develop tools and thus our brains. The book explores walking in all its forms, from the first unsteady steps of our ancestors through to the first mountaineers and the flaneurs of the city, for whom walking had become something more than just a means of getting from A to B. It is not necessarily that these people are being lazy, saving their legs for the part of the week designated as time set aside for hiking in the nearest national park, but because even if you wanted to, this particular city has been made so unfriendly to the pedestrian that to walk from one clothing store to the other would be to put oneself in harm’s way. There are others for whom “walking” has become compartmentalised – there is a wonderful section in Wanderlust where Rebecca Solnit describes outdoor enthusiasts driving from the car park of one equipment store to the other, even though they are basically on the same street, in order to compare prices on the high tech equipment that they will need to take to the hills. We might go for a walk on the weekend, for fresh air or to spend time with friends. The walk to school, or to work, or down to the pub.

Why do we walk? For some of us, walking is a normal part of our everyday transport. “A solitary walker is in the world, but apart from it, with the detachment of the traveller rather than the ties of the worker, the dweller, the member of a group.” – Rebecca Solnit

Rebecca solnit walking