The Running-Shaped Hole is a tale of one man's struggle with himself. The title is based upon the Christian concept of the God-shaped hole that supposedly exists in every heart, that only God can fill and complete. For Robert Earl Stewart the hole is filled by running.

Robert struggles with his inner demons - loneliness, low self-esteem and a penchant for self-destructive appetites for alcohol and food. He loses his mother before her time when she dies at only 58, an event which serves to propel him further into his self-destructive patterns of over-eating and heavy drinking. When a serious warning from his physician finally frightens him into facing his obesity, he turns to running and within a year has turned his lifestyle and his health around. But for Stewart, life doesn't turn around that easily, since his outer struggles are minor compared with the struggles inside his own head.

This memoir is raw and honest, alternately evoking feelings of frustration and satisfaction, annoyance and admiration. Stewart spares himself nothing - he shares his humiliation, sadness, joy and triumph. His unflinching honesty about his weaknesses and flaws allows us to commiserate with him and also to root for him. Whatever his flaws might be, lack of courage isn't one of them. I look forward to reading more from Robert Earl Stewart.