The Boy Who Runs

The Odyssey of Julius Achon

By: John Brant

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Uzodinma Iweala's Beasts of No Nation by way of Christopher McDougall's Born to Run, this is the inspirational true story of the Ugandan boy soldier who became a world-renowned runner, then found his calling as director of a world-renowned African children's charity.

"Julius can't remember who first saw the men. He heard no warning sounds - no dog barking or twig snapping. Until this point, events had moved too swiftly for Julius to be afraid, but now panic seized him. In another instant he realized that his old life was finished."

Thus begins the extraordinary odyssey of Julius Achon, a journey that takes a barefoot 12-year-old boy from a village in northern Uganda to the rebel camp of the notorious Lord's Resistance Army, where he was made a boy soldier, and then, miraculously, to a career as one of the world's foremost middle-distance runners. But when a devastating tragedy prevents Julius from pursuing gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he is once again set adrift and forced to forge a new path for himself, finally finding his true calling as an internationally recognized humanitarian. Today Julius is the director of the Achon Uganda Children's Fund, a charity whose mission is to improve the quality of life in rural Uganda through access to health care, education, and athletics.

While pursuing his destiny, Julius encounters a range of unforgettable characters who variously befriend and betray him: the demonic Joseph Kony, a "world-class warlord"; John Cook, a brilliant and eccentric US track coach; Jim Fee, an American businessman who helps Julius build a state-of-the-art medical center deep in the Ugandan bush; and finally Kristina, Julius' mother, whose own tragic journey forms the pivot for this spellbinding narrative of love, loss, suffering, and redemption.

Written by award-winning sportswriter John Brant, The Boy Who Runs is an empowering tale of obstacles overcome, challenges met, and light wrested from darkness. It's a story about forging your true path and finding your higher purpose - even when the road ahead bends in unexpected directions.

“Brant proves again why he is one of our best sportswriters, masterfully weaving a compelling narrative of an African country at war, along with the transformation of a young man from athlete to humanitarian.... [Achon’s] life story is a shining example of the Olympic spirit.” (Booklist, starred review)

“Fantastic... Brant does a beautiful job of chronicling the tension.... Indeed, his work is first-rate throughout the book, and it makes for a read-in-one-sitting story.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

©2016 John Brant (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"This is an astonishing story about an amazing athlete who outruns not only the grinding poverty and deprivation of the Ugandan bush but brutal war and imminent death, then dedicates himself to saving his family and friends. This man has the heart of a lion. I couldn't put this book down." (John L. Parker, Jr., author of Once a Runner)

"An instant classic.... John Brant has given us an epic, moving, and ultimately hopeful story about the power of sport and friendship to transcend boundaries and make the world a better place." (Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code)

"Ace writer John Brant unearths meanings and connections forged in the fires of competition. Julius Achon runs for his life, then for his sport, and finally for his people. This is a book you can't put down and won't forget." (Benjamin Cheever, author of Strides: Running Through History with an Unlikely Athlete)

A 'human person'

I can't say enough good about this book! I'm so glad I took the time to listen to it. I was a little daunted at facing a 'serious' book that was over 10 hours long but the author successfully blends many threads of the story that influenced the development of the 'human person' Julius Achon: the land, politics, horrors, ambition, and internal struggles. Every aspect is well-balanced and leads to a phenomenal story and history that everyone should be exposed to. Thank you for sharing and for the efforts put in to craft an informative memoir. Well done!

A Beautiful, Heart-breaking, Inspirational Story

Just listen to this story. Even if you are not a runner you will be moved by the narrative as well as Julius' attitude towards life and the cruelest of its realities. If you are a runner, you'll be moved to put your shoes on and get to work - for the sake of your own heart and other's hearts.

Julius and his family have lived through some very dark times in human history by moving forward, keeping the faith and remaining patiently hopeful in what good people can do when they dream big and put their heads together.

Not just for Runners

This book will appeal to a wide variety of people. It's the story of a runner from a country that's been in turmoil for most of his (and my) life. It tells of his success, his failure, his mistakes. Julius is both achingly humble and frustratingly proud, and I found John brant did a terrific job of fleshing him out in both of these regards.
The narrator didn't add to nor distract from the story, which I personally prefer in books like this. He characterized as needed, but did nothing overtly dramatic.
Well worth your time and credit if you are at all interested in running, Uganda, NGOs assisting the poor... You know what? If you like reading, this is by all counts a good book.

very riveting story and the narration was excelle

I loved it could not stop listening, got my husband who is a sports person but not a reader to listen. my most memorable moment was when at 14 Julius ran
40 miles to his first track meet, by himself.