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The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It Paperback – April 6, 2005

4.6 out of 5 stars 920 ratings

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In The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb, the New York Times bestselling author of Faster, presenst the riveting, true story of the three world-class athletes who individually became the first runners to break the four-minute mile.

There was a time when running the mile in four minutes was believed to be beyond the limits of human foot speed, and in all of sport it was the elusive holy grail. In 1952, after suffering defeat at the Helsinki Olympics, three world-class runners each set out to break this barrier.

Roger Bannister was a young English medical student who epitomized the ideal of the amateur — still driven not just by winning but by the nobility of the pursuit. John Landy was the privileged son of a genteel Australian family, who as a boy preferred butterfly collecting to running but who trained relentlessly in an almost spiritual attempt to shape his body to this singular task. Then there was Wes Santee, the swaggering American, a Kansas farm boy and natural athlete who believed he was just plain better than everybody else.

Spanning three continents and defying the odds, their collective quest captivated the world and stole headlines from the Korean War, the atomic race, and such legendary figures as Edmund Hillary, Willie Mays, Native Dancer, and Ben Hogan. In the tradition of Seabiscuit and Chariots of Fire, Neal Bascomb delivers a breathtaking story of unlikely heroes and leaves us with a lasting portrait of the twilight years of the golden age of sport.
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Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister, a British medical student who squeezed in track workouts between hospital rounds, became the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes. It was a feat that had widely been thought impossible, but within seven weeks an even faster time was posted by the Australian John Landy, setting up a showdown later that year in a race that was billed as the "Mile of the Century." In masterly fashion, Bascomb re-creates the battle of the milers, embellishing his account with fascinating forays into runner's lore. (In the seventeenth century, athletes had their spleens excised to boost speed; in the nineteenth, they were advised to rest in bed at noon naked.) It's a mark of Bascomb's skill that, although the outcome of the race is well known, he keeps us in suspense, rendering in graphic detail the runners' agony down the final stretch.
Copyright © 2005
The New Yorker

Review

The Perfect Mile returns the reader to a time when a sporting ideal was not an oxymoron . . . Enthralling.
The New York Times Book Review

A rare literary win... Bascomb has penned a sports tribute book that transcends the genre.
The Oregonian

A splendid book... Well-written, suspenseful.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A vivid human-interest story... Engrossing, excruciating, and exhilarating.
Boston Herald

A fine, gripping book.
The Chicago Sun-Times

A marvelous book.
Kansas City Star

A thriller.... This being an Olympic year, The Perfect Mile comes just in time to remind us what being an athlete can, and should, be about.
Newsday

The Perfect Mile captures the awe-inspiring quality of ordinary men who achieve what had been thought impossible.
TimeOut New York

Captivating.... Much joy and inspiration to be found here.
Entertainment Weekly

Compelling human drama. [Bascomb's] crisp, detailed narrative helps readers step into the milers' spikes. A resplendent story of an epic event in sports history.
Christian Science Monitor

Bascomb delivers, with stylish and swift prose well matched to the subject... This is an agile and informative read, and we should compare Hillebrand's "Seabiscuit" to it, not the other way around.
MSNBC.com

In masterly fashion, Bascomb re-creates the battle of the milers, embellishing his account with fascinating forays into runner's lore... It's a mark of Bascomb's skill that, although the outcome of the race is well known, he keeps us in suspense, rendering in graphic detail the runners' agony down the final stretch.
The New Yorker —

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 6, 2005
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0618562095
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0618562091
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 920 ratings

About the author

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Neal Bascomb
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Neal Bascomb is the author of ten award-winning, national, and international bestselling books, including most recently FASTER, a tale of the greatest upset in motorsports history. He is also a critically acclaimed young adult writer. His book NAZI HUNTERS (Scholastic) won the YALSA Non-fiction Award for young adults, as well as a number of other national and state-level awards. Also from Scholastic, SABOTAGE and THE GRAND ESCAPE were breakout hits. A former international journalist and book editor, he has also written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. He lives in Philadelphia with his family.

Bascomb is also the creator of the popular newsletter WorkCraft/Life (www.workcraftlife.com). Illuminating stories of people and the work they do. One feature profile, once a week, that will inspire, inform, infuriate, or just make you say wow. Sign up for free.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
920 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a must-read for runners, praising its well-researched and engaging content. Moreover, the narrative is full of suspense and drama, and customers appreciate the detailed character development of the remarkable sports people involved. Additionally, the book effectively conveys lessons and inspiration beyond the sport itself, and one customer notes its meticulous detail and structure.

103 customers mention "Readability"103 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a well-researched, exciting, and must-read for runners, with one customer noting it reads like a story.

"...(the book itself is a great achievement as well)." Read more

"...talking with a frined who is and mentioned that he was reading this great book about the quest to break the 4 minute mile...." Read more

"Very engaging g read. Brilliant story of how the 4 min mile barrier was broken. Inspiring and motivating. Must read" Read more

"A great, fun read full of suspense and drama...." Read more

69 customers mention "Inspirational content"69 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, with one customer noting how it conveys lessons and inspiration beyond the sport, while others appreciate its great insights and anecdotes about true athleticism.

"...I found it to be a very inspirational story about 3 heroic individuals and their pursuit to break the 4 minute mile barrier...." Read more

"...Bascomb does an extraordinary job providing history and narrative to the quest to break the barrier of the four minute mile...." Read more

"...who runs will love The Perfect Mile, but it's more a cultural history than a sports biography...." Read more

"...But there is also historical significance in learning more about this event along with what was going on in the world at the time it took place...." Read more

63 customers mention "Narrative quality"60 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the narrative of the book, describing it as an exciting true story full of suspense and drama.

"...The story of the race is well told and after reading it, I recommend watching the video of the race (which is available on the internet)...." Read more

"...Bascomb does an extraordinary job providing history and narrative to the quest to break the barrier of the four minute mile...." Read more

"...I gave The Perfect Mile four stars because it got my interest from the beginning and held it by showing what each competitor had to go through in..." Read more

"...with words of people and events so that they come alive and are so relatable...." Read more

34 customers mention "Pacing"34 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing and writing style, with one customer noting its meticulous detail and structure, while another mentions how it reads like fiction.

"...introduced me to true heroes and role models of our day, and the writing is superb...." Read more

"...Great drama. Fine, fine writing, meticulous in its detail and structure, built upon a nomenclature and a time that I hold fast to, having been..." Read more

"...But worry not: Bascomb is a brilliant writer and the tale he spins in these pages makes me want to become a track and field fan...." Read more

"...The book does a good job of giving you the stories of each runner and the obstacles they faced...." Read more

23 customers mention "Character development"23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, describing the athletes as remarkable sports people and very likable characters.

"...This book also introduced me to true heroes and role models of our day, and the writing is superb...." Read more

"...An amazing book about amazing athletes of a bygone era. Makes me want to get back into running again." Read more

"This book tells the stories of three exceptional amateur athletes (Australian, American, and British) trying to be the first to break the seemingly..." Read more

"...Bascomb does a fine job of presenting each runner's character and experiences as their running careers progress and intertwine...." Read more

11 customers mention "Resilience"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of athletes' resilience, with one review highlighting their incredible grit and how they overcame adversity, while another notes the intense degree of commitment required.

"...The competition brings out the best in each them. Each man shows incredible grit and determination to trying to break the 4 minute barrier...." Read more

"...This book brought these men, their stories, lives,achievements against all odds, and the era, back to life so vividly that I recalled and relived..." Read more

"...It is a great account of human will and perseverance in breaking barriers. Highly recommended!" Read more

"...both the stats and facts, as well as the feelings and emotions that each athlete experienced...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2013
    I highly recommend "The Perfect Mile" by Neal Bascomb. I found it to be a very inspirational story about 3 heroic individuals and their pursuit to break the 4 minute mile barrier. It is a very well written story about the pursuit of human excellence through running.

    The book starts by giving us the background of our 3 runners: Wes Santee from the United States, John Landy from Australia and Roger Bannister from England. We also get to meet some interesting characters at this time: 2 very interesting ones are Emil Zatopek and Percy Cerutti.

    As the narrative unfolds, you will find yourself rooting for each individual to be the one to break the record. Each one works hard towards his goal while keeping that goal in the context of his overall life. Here is a passage from the book about Bannister's approach:
    "Bannister wanted to capture the four-minute mile to show how one could achieve athletic greatness without the sacrifice of everything else in life."

    While they each have coaches, they also need to determine what worked best for them individually. John Landy learned a lot from Percy Cerutti but then reached a point where there was no longer anything to be gained (and plenty to be lost) by continuing to follow his advice. Here is a quote from Landy: "I'm taking no more advice from anyone. I simply want to put together the best of what I've seen."

    As they work through their respective challenges and setbacks, we see them each continue to push to achieve their goal - while being aware that all 3 of them were trying to achieve the same thing on 3 separate continents. The competition brings out the best in each them. Each man shows incredible grit and determination to trying to break the 4 minute barrier.

    Roger Bannister received some key coaching advice toward the end of the pursuit and it proved to be key. His coach (Franz Stempfl) served as the last piece of the puzzle. Here is a great quote from the book:

    "Stampfl offered suggestions and guidance. He tried never to push too hard. From the start, he knew that Bannister needed three things if he was to run the four-minute mile: pacemakers to carry him through the first three laps; more strength in his legs; and complete belief in himself."

    On May 6th, Bannister broke the barrier (3:59.4). He later wrote that ""No words could be invented for such supreme happiness." On June 21st, just 46 days later, John Landy shattered Bannister's record with a time of 3:58. Our third hero, Wes Santee came very close several times but, in my view, was defeated by the only real villain in the book - the AAU.

    The book then showcases the head-to-head race between Bannister and Landy. The story of the race is well told and after reading it, I recommend watching the video of the race (which is available on the internet).

    I would like to close this book review with brief quotes from each of the runners:

    Landy: "Running gave me discipline and self-expression.... It has all the disappointments, frustrations, lack of success and unexpected success, which all reproduce themselves in the bigger play of life."

    Santee: "Hard work pays off...You have to be just as disciplined to run a business as you do to train for an athletic event."

    Bannister: "Sport is about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at the last minute. Sport, like all life, is about taking your chances."

    For anyone who enjoys reading about the heroic pursuit of human excellence, I highly recommend this book (the book itself is a great achievement as well).
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2025
    Having read Once a Runner and Again to Carthage by John L. Parker Jr, this caught my eye. (Also as an elderly slow longish-distance runner who still remembers the head space of the long distance jog.)

    You don't have to be an elite athlete to appreciate the level of training, desire dedication and competition these three runners brought to the running stage at a time when running was still a truly amateur endeavor. Bascomb does an extraordinary job providing history and narrative to the quest to break the barrier of the four minute mile. A tribute to the author's journalistic expertise and skill as a storyteller.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2013
    I've recently begun the acclaimed Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. While the opening scene hints at the hardships coming up for Louis Zamperini, the hero of the story, the first part is about his running career as a young man and the quest for the four minute mile. What serendipity when I came across The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb as a Kindle promotion. I'm no athlete; sports on TV are boring and sports reporters act like a big game has the global significance of the Second Coming. However, Bascomb introduces us to three runners from three different countries and backgrounds. The thing they had in common, besides physical ability and determination is that they were amateur athletes at a time when the rapid adoption of television was bringing massive sponsorship dollars into all sports and rendering "gentlemen scholars" obsolete. One runner was going to medical school - doing a residency and course work - while training. Another was running multiple events for his college while a full time student, and the third was also in college, but in Australia where track events had very little institutional support. The 1950s, when The Perfect Mile takes place, bridges the gap between the purer amateurism in the 1930s of Zamperini and today's world where "amateur" is really a technicality (although at the college level the issues raised regarding how organizers profit and the students are like serfs are unchanged).

    I gave The Perfect Mile four stars because it got my interest from the beginning and held it by showing what each competitor had to go through in order to run his fastest mile, without the kind of detail that gets boring. Bascomb had access to the principals, and it gives each of their story a solidity that doesn't come from collecting newspaper clippings alone.

    Anyone who runs will love The Perfect Mile, but it's more a cultural history than a sports biography. And of course, if you read Unbroken and want to know more about breaking the four minute barrier for the mile, you will also enjoy The Perfect Mile.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Luca Gallitognotta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Consigliato
    Reviewed in Italy on December 18, 2016
    Una storia epica, assolutamente da leggere, per chi è appassionato di sport e ama più le vicende da pioniere rispetto a quelle dei nostri giorni
    Report
  • Marcelo Soares de Souza
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story and book
    Reviewed in Germany on January 25, 2023
    The story is very well written. You can feel yourself at that time cheering and suffering with the main characters. Also a good motivation for the ones who are going through sports, mainly running. I fully recommend it.
  • Tyler Keay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
    Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2024
    Loved this book. A must for any runner. The story and result is not new. The details and sacrifices were incredible. This book had great pacing and more to it than Bannister's legendary 4 min mile.
  • Christopher Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and interesting
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2024
    I read many running and sport regaled books and this is an interesting and fabulous read.
  • Cesar Borges
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sensacional
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 6, 2020
    Um dos livros essenciais para quem ama esportes, relato incrível dessa busca pela quebra da barreira dos 4 minutos na milha