Reddit reviews The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Off Your Shoes

There are two popular studies out there:

Conclusions Drawn From A Comparative Study Of The Feet Of Barefooted And Shoe-Wearing Peoples

Conclusion: It is very significant that in the one hundred eighty six pairs of primitive feet examined, I did not find a single foot associated with the symptoms of weakness so characteristic and common in adult shoe-wearing feet, which are weakened by the restraint the shoe exerts over function.

SURVEY IN CHINA AND INDIA OF FEET THAT HAVE NEVER WORN SHOES

Conclusion: People who have never worn shoes acquire very few foot defects, most of which are painless and non-debilitating. The range of their foot motions are remarkably great, allowing for full foot activity. Shoes are not necessary for healthy feet and are the cause of most foot troubles. Children should not be encouraged to walk prematurely and should not wear any footgear until absolutely necessary. Footgear is the greatest enemy of the human foot.

Also there's some interesting stuff referenced in The Barefoot Book.

I think he meant Daniel Howell.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Barefoot-Book-Great-Reasons/dp/0897935543

Also... ran across this article recently:

http://blogs.sjsu.edu/kinesiology/2012/10/15/the-benefits-of-forefoot-walking-a-rethink-of-biomechanics/

And his blog entries on the subject are interesting as well:

http://realworldbiomechanics.blogspot.com/search/label/Forefoot%20Walking