'I didn't think any book could make me interested in marathon running. Two Hours did that and much more. Ed Caesar's in-depth reporting explores one of sport's ultimate questions: is there a final human boundary and, if so, where? A terrific book: elegant, engaging and rewarding.' Ed Smith, former England cricketer and author of Luck. 'Ed Caesar's treatment of the near-mythical two-hour marathon is both implacably scientific and wonderfully reverential. As a former marathoner I deeply appreciate both. The prose hums along effortlessly and the topic is one of the most profound there is: the absolute limits of human performance. Reading a book that combines those two things is one of the great pleasures in life.' Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm and War. 'Like a good runner, Ed Caesar carries the story along with grace, ease and generosity. He brings us to Kenya, New York, London and Berlin, but ultimately allows us to look inside ourselves. It's the human story that shines through.' Colum McCann, author of Let the Great World Spin. 'A fabulously entertaining and thought-provoking ode to perseverance, Two Hours will make you fall in love with elite marathon running even if you can barely jog a mile. It is filled with richly drawn characters whose grit and talent are wonders to behold, as well as keen observations about the twists and turns of the human mind. Read it and marvel.' Brendan Koerner, author of The Skies Belong to Us.