Barefoot running is actually what you used to do like a kid. You would go outside and run around in the grass with your bare feet. You won't ever thought about the way your feet were supposed to land or how you were designed to land under your center of gravity, you simply ran. Whenever we grow to adulthood most of us lose that natural, free-form that we had whenever we were kids. That is where barefoot running is necessary. There are a number of books and documentaries out there which help you regain that barefoot form. But, barefoot running isn't something you can just go out and do, you will likely hurt yourself if you do.
Is barefoot running safe? It depends. As stated before, should you simply take off your shoes and begin running you are able to incur some serious injuries. Conventional athletic shoes that many people use have built-in cushioning. The body have grown to be familiar with that extra help and if we just take that away it may be disastrous. What exactly do we do? Minimalist shoes or transition footwear is what we should need. These are shoes that give a barefoot feel but provide some cushion to help the body transition.
Also what we should have to take into account is that thousands of years ago when humans were running down their food they weren't running on asphalt and concrete. So while transitioning to barefoot running it is advisable to get it done on a softer surface than the roads. If you're able to find a grassy area to run on that is the best place to begin your transition. Be prepared for some soreness despite the softer surface. This is because you use different muscle than you're used to.
Barefoot running gives you better feedback on your running form too. Traditional athletic shoes protect you from the outcome from the ground, which is what they're designed for. This can create problems because you can't feel the way you are running. Barefoot running gets you more in tune together with your running form. You'll be able to feel if you are landing too hard or too far in front of your center of gravity. Being an added bonus many people feel more in tune with their surroundings and feel better about their runs while barefoot running.
Ultimately barefoot running does seem to be something which can help many people out. Could it be best for you? That is your decision to decide. But if you're continually injuring yourself together with your high dollar cushioned running shoes it may be something for you to try. Try to run a few hundred meters barefoot and see if you like it. Boost the distance slowly and introduce new surfaces for your barefoot runs. Many people start like this and never take a look at running shoes again.