Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Vintage (2009), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 192 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. HTML: From the bestselling author of Kafka on the Shore comes this rich and revelatory memoir about writing and running and the integral impact both have made on his life. Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers Murakami's four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon. Settings range from Tokyo, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston, among young women who outpace him. Through this marvelous lens of sport emerges a cornucopia of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after age fifty, of having seen his race times improve and then fall back..… (more)
Media reviews
You need be neither runner nor writer to find resonance in this slender but lucid meditation.
So what does he think about while running? The disappointing answer is not much apart from the rhythms of feet on tarmac and blood pumping round the body.
It is not just these perversely impressive physical feats that sharpen what might otherwise be a dull treatise on a healthful habit; Mr. Murakami's work has always combined the ordinary and the extraordinary, and this memoir is no exception.
To characterize it as briefly as possible: easy on ear and mind alike, it’s the type of prose I would call sort of pretty poor. Running is “sort of a vague theme” (i.e., not just vague but vaguely vague), and the book is “a kind of memoir.” Murakami sort of likes this kind of thing, not
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just as an indistinct modifier but as a form of category-definition. He’s the “type of person,” “kind of person” — I lost track of the number of times this came up — who likes “sort of laid-back” music and is “sort of a brazen person” who sometimes has “a sort of arrogant attitude.” Show Less
When I closed the book, I found myself fantasising not about athletic feats, but that more readily available satisfaction that Murakami evokes so tellingly: the stinging joy of a very, very cold beer.
Each chapter finds him doing a practice run or a bike ride in Hawaii, Japan or Cambridge, Mass., wherever his schedule takes him. These training sessions are described at great, dozy length.
Jag förstår om det kan verka konstigt att rekommendera en bok som handlar om långdistanslöpning. Dessutom av en japan som skriver romaner som räknas till den absoluta, litterära eliten. Men Haruki Murakamis bok om löpning rekommenderar jag verkligen till alla. Författare, joggare eller
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människor som aldrig lyft ett sportsligt handtag i hela sitt liv. Det må vara livsvisdom eller inte, men det är en jävligt intressant bok. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member jnwelch
In the introduction, [Haruki Murakami] explains that [What I Talk About When I Talk About Running] is not intended to urge everyone to run and be healthy. "instead, this is a book in which I've gathered my thoughts about what running has meant to me as a person. Just a book in which I ponder
This turned out to be another long review, so my apologies. I have no excuse this time - this is a slim memoir. It's just he's one of my favorite authors, and such a direct connection from him made me think a lot.
[[Murakami]] has become a famous novelist worldwide, and his books frequently feature bizarre and surreal content. [A Wild Sheep Chase] involves a man who dresses like a sheep and a woman with magical ears. [A Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World] has a human encryption system caught up in a data war between the Calcutecs and the Semiotics, which is somehow connected to a surreal walled Town where there are people without shadows and unicorn skulls have a disturbing significance. [Kafka on the Shore], which may be his best, follows a 15 year old boy who runs away and ends up working in a tranquil library, where he gets caught up in a murder investigation, and Zen-like Nakata, finder of lost cats, my favorite [[Murakami]] character. As [[Murakami]] has said, [Kafka on the Shore] is filled with riddles that readers can answer in different ways, depending on the connections they make within the novel. In his most recent one, [1Q84], a woman late for an appointment descends an emergency stair from a busy highway and finds herself in an alternate world that has two moons.
That's part of what makes this one so interesting for me. It's totally straightforward, like sitting across the table from him at his home. He has written one other straightforward nonfiction book called [Underground], but it is a report on the 1995 religious cult gas attack on the Tokyo subway system (well worth reading, BTW). But this is the only book he's written in which he speaks simply and plainly to the reader about his life, running, writing novels, and other thoughts that cross his mind.
It mostly takes place in the 2005-2007 time period, some of it in Hawaii, some in Boston, some in Japan, some in New York, all revolving around marathons and triathlons and his preparation for them. For more than 20 years he has run "nearly every day". "When I'm running I don't have to talk to anybody and don't have to listen to anybody. All I need to do is gaze at the scenery passing by. This is a part of my day I can't live without."
For him, the running is essential to the writing. A novelist must have talent to start with, but he or she must also have "the energy to focus every day for half a year, or a year, or two years." The necessary focus and endurance, like running, "can be acquired and sharpened through training." "Writing novels, to me, is a kind of manual labor. Writing itself is mental labor, but finishing an entire book is closer to manual labor. . . . The whole process, sitting at your desk, focusing your mind like a laser beam, imagining something out of a blank horizon, creating a story, selecting the right words, one by one, keeping the whole flow of the story on track - requires far more energy, over a long period, than most people ever imagine." For him, the running ensures he'll have that energy.
For Murakami fans, there's the novelty and fun of getting direct glimpses into his life and insights into his worldview. Many Western influences show up in his novels, and it will not surprise those who have read them that music comes up often, from the Luvin' Spoonful he's listening to as the book opens to the Stones and Eric Clapton and any number of other Western pop and rock performers. He also talks about his famous running of a Japanese jazz club in his 20s and early 30s, before he became a novelist. It seems that the beat of pop and rock that matches up with his running in a way jazz doesn't. In Boston, his big expenditure is for LPs for his collection.
He discusses Western novels he loves, like [The Great Gatsby], and this memoir's title is based on the title of a favorite [[Raymond Carver]] book. He talks about his work translating English novels into Japanese, and his preference for public speaking in English - he finds himself overwhelmed with word choices when he speaks in Japanese, and that the simplifying he has to do in English helps him. Of course, he also talks about running, including what he experiences in marathons and triathlons, and the rewards in life of overcoming pain.
Throughout he shows characteristic modesty, and - - what's the word, obstinacy? "{I}s it ever possible for a professional writer to be liked by people? I have no idea. Maybe somewhere in the world it is. It's hard to generalize. For me, at least, as I've written novels over many years, I just can't picture someone liking me on a personal level. Being disliked by someone, hated and despised, somehow seems more natural. Not that I'm relieved when that happens. Even I'm not happy when someone dislikes me."
The obvious irony is he is likeable, particularly in this book where he brings us into his life. Who will enjoy reading this? Those who like his novels, for one. Those interested in what goes into writing novels, and those who find running or other exercise a significant part of their life. There are some challenging ideas, some philosophical insights, and a fair amount of wisdom based on many years on this planet. But mainly this is a modest book in which he tries to share some simple ideas that have been very important in his life.
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various things and think out loud." This turned out to be another long review, so my apologies. I have no excuse this time - this is a slim memoir. It's just he's one of my favorite authors, and such a direct connection from him made me think a lot.
[[Murakami]] has become a famous novelist worldwide, and his books frequently feature bizarre and surreal content. [A Wild Sheep Chase] involves a man who dresses like a sheep and a woman with magical ears. [A Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World] has a human encryption system caught up in a data war between the Calcutecs and the Semiotics, which is somehow connected to a surreal walled Town where there are people without shadows and unicorn skulls have a disturbing significance. [Kafka on the Shore], which may be his best, follows a 15 year old boy who runs away and ends up working in a tranquil library, where he gets caught up in a murder investigation, and Zen-like Nakata, finder of lost cats, my favorite [[Murakami]] character. As [[Murakami]] has said, [Kafka on the Shore] is filled with riddles that readers can answer in different ways, depending on the connections they make within the novel. In his most recent one, [1Q84], a woman late for an appointment descends an emergency stair from a busy highway and finds herself in an alternate world that has two moons.
That's part of what makes this one so interesting for me. It's totally straightforward, like sitting across the table from him at his home. He has written one other straightforward nonfiction book called [Underground], but it is a report on the 1995 religious cult gas attack on the Tokyo subway system (well worth reading, BTW). But this is the only book he's written in which he speaks simply and plainly to the reader about his life, running, writing novels, and other thoughts that cross his mind.
It mostly takes place in the 2005-2007 time period, some of it in Hawaii, some in Boston, some in Japan, some in New York, all revolving around marathons and triathlons and his preparation for them. For more than 20 years he has run "nearly every day". "When I'm running I don't have to talk to anybody and don't have to listen to anybody. All I need to do is gaze at the scenery passing by. This is a part of my day I can't live without."
For him, the running is essential to the writing. A novelist must have talent to start with, but he or she must also have "the energy to focus every day for half a year, or a year, or two years." The necessary focus and endurance, like running, "can be acquired and sharpened through training." "Writing novels, to me, is a kind of manual labor. Writing itself is mental labor, but finishing an entire book is closer to manual labor. . . . The whole process, sitting at your desk, focusing your mind like a laser beam, imagining something out of a blank horizon, creating a story, selecting the right words, one by one, keeping the whole flow of the story on track - requires far more energy, over a long period, than most people ever imagine." For him, the running ensures he'll have that energy.
For Murakami fans, there's the novelty and fun of getting direct glimpses into his life and insights into his worldview. Many Western influences show up in his novels, and it will not surprise those who have read them that music comes up often, from the Luvin' Spoonful he's listening to as the book opens to the Stones and Eric Clapton and any number of other Western pop and rock performers. He also talks about his famous running of a Japanese jazz club in his 20s and early 30s, before he became a novelist. It seems that the beat of pop and rock that matches up with his running in a way jazz doesn't. In Boston, his big expenditure is for LPs for his collection.
He discusses Western novels he loves, like [The Great Gatsby], and this memoir's title is based on the title of a favorite [[Raymond Carver]] book. He talks about his work translating English novels into Japanese, and his preference for public speaking in English - he finds himself overwhelmed with word choices when he speaks in Japanese, and that the simplifying he has to do in English helps him. Of course, he also talks about running, including what he experiences in marathons and triathlons, and the rewards in life of overcoming pain.
Throughout he shows characteristic modesty, and - - what's the word, obstinacy? "{I}s it ever possible for a professional writer to be liked by people? I have no idea. Maybe somewhere in the world it is. It's hard to generalize. For me, at least, as I've written novels over many years, I just can't picture someone liking me on a personal level. Being disliked by someone, hated and despised, somehow seems more natural. Not that I'm relieved when that happens. Even I'm not happy when someone dislikes me."
The obvious irony is he is likeable, particularly in this book where he brings us into his life. Who will enjoy reading this? Those who like his novels, for one. Those interested in what goes into writing novels, and those who find running or other exercise a significant part of their life. There are some challenging ideas, some philosophical insights, and a fair amount of wisdom based on many years on this planet. But mainly this is a modest book in which he tries to share some simple ideas that have been very important in his life.
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LibraryThing member freddlerabbit
I've enjoyed every single one of Murakami's works of fiction, so I put off "What I Talk About" for a long time - I wasn't sure I wanted such a personal connection with someone whose work I've come to love so much, and feared it might change my relationship with his other pieces. But I needn't have
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worried. It's written in the clear, frank style found in his novels, and it presents the right balance of introspection and reflection on what it means to run - just as the author hoped it would. I'd recommend it to runners and readers alike. Show Less
LibraryThing member realbigcat
I never read anything by Murakami before so I really didn't know what to expect. However, being a runner, marathon runner and triathlete myself I found the title interesting. I can very much relate to Murakami reflections on training and racing. I was hoping to get a little more insight into what
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is behind the novelist aspect of Murakami's life. Granted it's tough to write about running and make it interesting to a wide audience. Murakami shows how the writers life fits perfectly with the novelist life. I found the book at times a little repetative and slow, jumping around quite a bit. However, I have heard a lot of praise for his novels and I expect I will try one of those sometime soon Show Less
LibraryThing member JMC400m
Enjoyed reading this memoir which is really not about running but the challenges of growing old and challenging oneself. It is an interesting insight into the personality of Murukami.
LibraryThing member sarah-e
I liked this book. I do not usually like memoirs – they seem self-serving. This book is an introspective collection of linked essays that move forward through the author’s training for marathon and triathlon. It is plainly written and elegantly composed. Murakami lays his insecurities and
The book was engaging and any runner would enjoy reading it.
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defeats out alongside his triumphs. He presents an honest view of himself as a runner/writer/human.The book was engaging and any runner would enjoy reading it.
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LibraryThing member phredfrancis
As expected, this book contains a lot of discussion of running. I was okay with that, because I knew that the was the focus, and I appreciated the degree to which Murakami drew parallels between his approach to running and his approach to writing fiction. So the book is instructional as well as
As often seems to be the case, I am torn about the way to rate a book. When I see a book rated with just 3 of 5 stars, I don't feel compelled to read it myself. There are so many absolutely excellent books out there, and there will never be time enough for me to get to all of them. So I do wish there were some additional way to weight my rating, because this is a book that I'm glad I read. I would even recommend it to myself, if that were possible, since I'm pretty certain of the kind of things that appeal to me. Yet I see ways the book could have been a better version of itself. I wanted to know more about some things and a bit less about others. I wanted the meandering, repetitive style to straighten itself out and become a surer conveyance of the ideas.
And, as always, I'm puzzled by the degree to which one can really criticize the language of a book in translation. So I stay for the ideas and the images, and I try not to get hung up on a style that's certainly been imposed to a certain degree. Murakami talks at one point in the book about giving speeches in English, about how much he prepares and practices, about how in some ways the limitations of giving a speech in a language not one's own make things simpler. I think the same is true of translation and interpretation as well. A certain kind of linguistic variety can diminish in the process.
What I came away with, apart from some insight into Murakami's character and work ethic, is a deeper appreciation for the application of regular practice to anything one cares about. As a writer long on desire but short on discipline, this is a story I can never hear too much. Anyone who has an interest in improving in a chosen discipline can get something from this book, but one has to be prepared to think a lot about running. Haruki Murakami sure does.
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informative, but the primary reason to read it is because you are interested in the interests, personality, and seriousness of purpose of this particular author.As often seems to be the case, I am torn about the way to rate a book. When I see a book rated with just 3 of 5 stars, I don't feel compelled to read it myself. There are so many absolutely excellent books out there, and there will never be time enough for me to get to all of them. So I do wish there were some additional way to weight my rating, because this is a book that I'm glad I read. I would even recommend it to myself, if that were possible, since I'm pretty certain of the kind of things that appeal to me. Yet I see ways the book could have been a better version of itself. I wanted to know more about some things and a bit less about others. I wanted the meandering, repetitive style to straighten itself out and become a surer conveyance of the ideas.
And, as always, I'm puzzled by the degree to which one can really criticize the language of a book in translation. So I stay for the ideas and the images, and I try not to get hung up on a style that's certainly been imposed to a certain degree. Murakami talks at one point in the book about giving speeches in English, about how much he prepares and practices, about how in some ways the limitations of giving a speech in a language not one's own make things simpler. I think the same is true of translation and interpretation as well. A certain kind of linguistic variety can diminish in the process.
What I came away with, apart from some insight into Murakami's character and work ethic, is a deeper appreciation for the application of regular practice to anything one cares about. As a writer long on desire but short on discipline, this is a story I can never hear too much. Anyone who has an interest in improving in a chosen discipline can get something from this book, but one has to be prepared to think a lot about running. Haruki Murakami sure does.
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LibraryThing member BillPilgrim
I enjoyed this book, but that may have been mostly because i am a regular runner. I have never done a marathon, only half-marathons as my maximum. I would expect this book to appeal mainly to runners. Novelists may be interested also though, since the author also writes novels.
LibraryThing member tyroeternal
I was a bit worried after the first or second chapter that my attention would stray. Murakami's writing is very disjointed and repetitive, but on the whole I quite enjoyed this read. I have not read any of his other works, but I enjoy running so many of his thoughts struck a familiar chord.
LibraryThing member KevinJoseph
As someone who relies on running a means of revitalization and stress relief to counterbalance my demanding legal profession, and as an amateur novelist myself, I found much to relate to in this novelist's honest memoir of his running/writing life. I've always enjoyed memoirs like Stephen King's
Murakami makes a compelling case that daily training in preparation for competition has a purifying and empowering value in its own right, regardless of whether you finish in the front, middle or back of the pack. The reward is in the sacrifice itself and in the satisfaction that you're extracting the best possible performance from yourself. His observations on the impact of aging on performance, as well as the exhilarating and agonizing sensations experienced during marathons, triathlons, and ultras, while somewhat disjointed, are always touching and inspirational. After getting to know Mr. Murakami as a runner and enjoying his clear humble voice, I'm now eager to explore some of the novels he's written.
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"On Writing" that offer a glimpse into the forces that enable writers to succeed. But what makes this one unique is that the focus is more on the author's running life than his writing life.Murakami makes a compelling case that daily training in preparation for competition has a purifying and empowering value in its own right, regardless of whether you finish in the front, middle or back of the pack. The reward is in the sacrifice itself and in the satisfaction that you're extracting the best possible performance from yourself. His observations on the impact of aging on performance, as well as the exhilarating and agonizing sensations experienced during marathons, triathlons, and ultras, while somewhat disjointed, are always touching and inspirational. After getting to know Mr. Murakami as a runner and enjoying his clear humble voice, I'm now eager to explore some of the novels he's written.
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LibraryThing member MusicMom41
I really enjoyed this book. In addition to his talking about his running in marathons and triathlons he muses about writing novels and other interest of his. Along the way the reader discerns "life lessons" and a feeling of becoming a bit more acquainted with Murakami.
Murakami is Asian, from Japan,
Murakami is Asian, from Japan,
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and I have learned here in Reedley with my Japanese friends, they are reticent about revealing personal information. This memoir gives us virtually no information about his personal life. We do not see him “at home.” In fact he is usually outdoors and occasionally at work. Briefly near the beginning he mentions getting married. Near the end his wife is mentioned a couple of time as making a remark to him at the end of a race. What we do get is a friendly “discussion” (he discusses and we listen) about his passions of running and writing. He is a good story teller and this carries over in telling his stories about races he has run and places he has visited. Along the way we get to understand a little about his philosophy of life and how he feels about getting older. This could be a very fast read, but I enjoyed it a chapter at a time over the course of about a week and found it soothing, relaxing and never boring. Show Less
LibraryThing member gward101
As a dedicated believer in the virtues of a life spent firmly attached to the sofa the nearest I'm ever likely to come to running a marathon is running a bath. Haruki Murakami's memoir of his marathon-running exploits may, therefore, seem like an odd choice of book for me. Just the descriptions of
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some of the things he has put his body through were enough to bring me out in a sweat. An ultra marathon anyone? In fact if anyone else had written this book I wouldn't have given it a second glance, but this is Haruki Murakami - probably my favourite current author. Since reading The Wind Up Bird Chronicle about six months ago I've raced through the author's novels and short stories and am so enamoured that I'm moving on to the non-fiction works that I probably wouldn't otherwise read. While I can't say that What I Talk About When I Talk About Running left me with the same sense of wonder that his fiction does, I can say that it gave me an insight into the way Mr Murakami approaches his life and his writing. My favourite snippet of information from the book? The fact that when he was translating John Irving's Setting Free the Bears the only way the two could find the time to meet up was to go running together. Now if only I could eavesdrop on that conversation even I might be persuaded to pull on a pair of running shoes. Show Less
LibraryThing member LyzzyBee
20 Apr 2009 - Amazon Christmas vouchers (I think)
Interestingly, a book about running which seemed more aimed at the non-runner than the runner - a lot of explanation about what a lot of us take for granted. Which is no bad thing of course. I really enjoyed this book where you get a real feel for
Happy points: he wears Mizuno trainers like me! and I liked a mantra he mentioned: "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional". I really like that. He also has one about being a machine which I like.
So, a memoir, a book about writing and a book about running. Not too long, always interesting and I will definitely re-read this.
Interestingly, a book about running which seemed more aimed at the non-runner than the runner - a lot of explanation about what a lot of us take for granted. Which is no bad thing of course. I really enjoyed this book where you get a real feel for
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how he runs, trains, how he started running, why he does it.... Loosely based around a sort of memoir and a look at a couple of marathons and a triathlon, there's a fair bit about how he writes too. I've only read one of Murakami's novels, I think, but I enjoyed this insight, too. The bliss, the zoning out and the pain of the long distance runner is evoked beautifully with none of the yucky, my-injury-trumps-yours stuff which often creeps into the subject. Murakami runs to be alone, and runs because it's a thing to do alone; he bonds with other competitors in his annual marathon and triathlon, but is very much his own person.Happy points: he wears Mizuno trainers like me! and I liked a mantra he mentioned: "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional". I really like that. He also has one about being a machine which I like.
So, a memoir, a book about writing and a book about running. Not too long, always interesting and I will definitely re-read this.
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LibraryThing member furriebarry
Beautiful and thoughtful look back at twenty five years of running and writing. Reading Murakami is like enjoying the company of an old friend and in this memoir he allows us closer to himself than before. He finds universal insight in personal revelation.
LibraryThing member frisbeesage
Just finished listening to What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. What an interesting book! Its non-fiction, basically his musings on long distance running, writing, his career, and life in general. Its short (4 discs). If you are a long distance runner (I am) this is a
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must read. He puts into words many feelings I have about running that I have never been able to articulate. If you like Murakami's work (Kafka On the Shore is my favorite) then it's also a must read. He's a very different person then I would have expected based on his novels! I really enjoyed the story of how he became a professional writer. This one was a good one to listen to, the flow just seemed right for audio. Show Less
LibraryThing member DRFP
A disappointing piece of non-fiction from Murakami. He continues to reveal little about his life, which was what I was hoping to read about in this book. Perhaps, given the title, I shouldn't have been so hopeful. Yet when Murakami gets away from running and does talk about his life, or about his
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writing process, then it's good stuff. It's merely a shame so much is devoted to matters that don't interest me. Show Less
LibraryThing member tronella
As with any book of Murakami's, this was really easy and relaxing to read. It was interesting to read a non-fiction work by him, too, especially such an autobiographical one. It's really a series of essays about running, how he took up the habit and his training for and participation in marathons
I don't really have much interest in running marathons, but reading this book definitely put me in the mood to go outside and do some exercise.
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and triathlons. I don't really have much interest in running marathons, but reading this book definitely put me in the mood to go outside and do some exercise.
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LibraryThing member sruszala
If you are a runner, this book will be like intersecting with your own thoughts in someone else's head. I love the plain language and tranquility in this book; the acceptance that to accomplish anything you must work tirelessly at it; and that anything is possible. An easy read but an important
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one, too. I haven't read Murakami's fiction but am interested to "meet" his voice in a fiction book vs. this memoir. Show Less
LibraryThing member siafl
Very inspirational. True and sincere. I love this book.
For anyone who needs a familiar support-group type person in their life when they are engaged in longterm projects, in the middle of them, perhaps a little stuck, perhaps finding the outlook a little grim, and can use a bit of encouragement. I
Not the best writing in English I've read, and I suppose mostly due to the awkwardness of a Japanese mind manifested in English. On the other hand it's very clean and clear, and no gimmicks. Just pure truth and sincerity. Personal, and a very important read for me.
If you are the type to see a show of Ironman coverage on TV and think those participants crazy beyond rescue, this is going to be boring and meaningless for you. But if you are like me, and think that one day you'd want to complete an Ironman race after seeing other finish, this is a must-read.
For anyone who needs a familiar support-group type person in their life when they are engaged in longterm projects, in the middle of them, perhaps a little stuck, perhaps finding the outlook a little grim, and can use a bit of encouragement. I
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have set myself out to do similar things as the author of this book has done, without prior knowledge of it on my part obviously, and was recommended this book. Now I am glad I've read it. It's giving me the crucial spark, or fuel, to renew my enthusiasm to move forward. To persevere.Not the best writing in English I've read, and I suppose mostly due to the awkwardness of a Japanese mind manifested in English. On the other hand it's very clean and clear, and no gimmicks. Just pure truth and sincerity. Personal, and a very important read for me.
If you are the type to see a show of Ironman coverage on TV and think those participants crazy beyond rescue, this is going to be boring and meaningless for you. But if you are like me, and think that one day you'd want to complete an Ironman race after seeing other finish, this is a must-read.
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LibraryThing member leahdawn
A must read for any fan of Haruki Murakami.
LibraryThing member helka
"As I run I tell myself to think of a river. And clouds. But essentially I'm not thinking of a thing. All I do is keep on running in my own cozy, homemade void, my own nostalgic silence. And this is a pretty wonderful thing. No matter what anybody else says."
As a runner, I loved this book.
IMO this
An inspiring book for not only non-professional runners, but also for the not-so physically active readers, who want to have an insight into runners' mind or learn a little bit about (general) endurance.
"To keep on going, you have to keep up the rhythm.This is the important thing for long-term projects. Once you set the pace, the rest will follow."
As a runner, I loved this book.
IMO this
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memoir is not just about distance running, ultra-marathon or triathlon, but also about personal standards and the life Murakami leads, both as a running novelist and as an ordinary person. An inspiring book for not only non-professional runners, but also for the not-so physically active readers, who want to have an insight into runners' mind or learn a little bit about (general) endurance.
"To keep on going, you have to keep up the rhythm.This is the important thing for long-term projects. Once you set the pace, the rest will follow."
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LibraryThing member eglinton
Genial and modest insights into the experience of running (more mental than it seems), as of writing (more physical than it seems). A light account, but evidently a candid one, of the author's lifestyle and mindset, through the reflective pursuit of running. An easy, unpretentious read.
LibraryThing member cameling
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami is a delightful memoir of the running novelist. I had no idea he was such a rabid runner. When he had finished writing this book, he had already run over 25 marathons, 1 ultra marathon (why anyone would want to run 62 miles is beyond my
His focus and dedication to what he does, both work and running, is very clear in this book and perhaps without meaning to, he does provide some great running tips and manages to impart the escape and centering to his self that he experiences through his runs.
I liked it.
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comprehension) and a number of triathlons and half marathons.His focus and dedication to what he does, both work and running, is very clear in this book and perhaps without meaning to, he does provide some great running tips and manages to impart the escape and centering to his self that he experiences through his runs.
I liked it.
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LibraryThing member labontea
Typical meandering essay by Murakami. Interesting to hear how and why he started running, and developed into a marathoner, and also to hear the intersection between his running and writing. His style is sort of like David Sedaris, goes one way, then another, then another, before finally getting to
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a point. But unlike Sedaris, not side-splittingly funny. Show Less
LibraryThing member booksbooks11
Strictly for runners only, I don't see anyone else interested in these musings. About surprising little other than his thoughts on running, don't expect alot more. As a runner for many years I did really enjoy it, it reminds me why I love to run and how I share this love with so many others.
LibraryThing member thelittlereader
i listened to the audio version of this book during my training sessions leading up to my first marathon. it was so great that i listened to the whole book during the marathon itself.the tales of running that murakami recounted touched me very personally and, as a novice runner who has been
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overwhelmed with the personal triumph of becoming a runner, i appreciated the humor and depth of emotion that both running and writing evoked in him.i would definitely recommend this book for anyone who is thinking about running, or has ever run. and this will definitely make a perfect gift for one friend of mine in particular who is both a runner and a writer. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Indies Choice Book Award (Honor Book — 2009)
William Hill Sports Book of the Year (Longlist — 2008)
Language
Original publication date
2007
Physical description
192 p.; 5.17 inches
ISBN
0307389839 / 9780307389831