What I Talk About When I Talk About Running - A Memoir (Vintage International)

Haruki Murakami's memoir on running and writing is a thoughtful collection of reminiscences about the two activities that the author has dedicated his life to. The book covers about 1-1/2 years of Murakami's life, from mid-2005 to late-2006, with flashbacks to earlier years when he was a bar owner and aspiring writer in Tokyo. The narrative moves smoothly from chapter to chapter, covering various aspects of the author's training regimen, races, and recovery. His companion through all of the long-distance running is philosophy -- the philosophy of achievement, aging, and contentment, among others.

"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" is a very well written and easy-to-read book. I think that's a testament to the skills of both the author and the translator. Murakami is honest that he's late in his career, certainly as a runner if not also a writer. His running times and stamina declined throughout his 50s, and like any professional author he harbors fears that his writing skills will also fade away in the years ahead.

Murakami is highly successful in both his writing and his long-distance running. His books have sold millions of copies, with translations into more than 50 languages. He has completed more than 30 marathons, adhering to a "one per year" regimen. That said, he still harbors a lot of self-doubt, criticizing himself for the debts that he thinks outweigh his assets, and his personal shortcomings both on and off the running trail. Some of this comes across as false humility, in that it flies in the face of the many accomplishments that he also describes in the book. Or the self-criticism could be the motivation that has helped Mr. Murakami remain so productive for so many years. Either way, to fans of Murakami's fiction, this memoir on running will be an enjoyable companion, and an interesting glimpse into the philosophy of the author.

I bought this because I needed something to read and Murakami is one of my favorite authors. This book is utterly boring. It really is about running. Maybe if it was about swimming I'd feel differently but I couldn't get past 1 chapter before giving up.

Reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, I was reminded of a bit that comedian Daniel Tosh used to do, where he'd get increasingly specific with a joke until only one person in the room understood or knew what he was talking about. Murakami is very up front about the book's purpose, beginning with its title and again, quite clearly its foreword. But because of the following he's amassed, I had to believe that despite the opportunity to learn a bit about the personal life of the somewhat reclusive author, this particular book would end up being a slog to the probably large number of people not interested in A) Haruki Murakami, B) running, C) long distance running in particular D) triathlons E)training routines and F) event specific race reports.

As it happens, I can actually report that each of those things are quite interesting to me, and I felt certain that I would be that last guy in the room still entertained. But, ironically, I discovered that perhaps the opposite might be true. I enjoyed very much the glimpses into Murakami's personal life, especially as related to writing routine, how he became a writer, and how running helps with his writing (I never before imagined that physical stamina was important). But, having long been a distance runner myself, I found the race reports and the personal philosophy on running to be the least interesting. Why? It may be because these are things I've long thought about myself, and having come to many of the same conclusions, I was often left with a feeling like "well, yes, of course, doesn't everybody see it this way?". One thing over which Murakami had no control was the fitness report fatigue that facebook and other social media would spawn in the years following this book's publishing. Want to know if someone's ever run a marathon before? Don't worry, they'll tell you! Because so many are now so vocal about their intrinsic motivations for events like the marathon, I think there is a lot less mystery and intrigue in the topic than there was when Murakami put paper to pen on this book. That's not to say there aren't still a whole lot of people for whom the topic remains fresh, however.

So, why does this book average a slightly greater than a 4 star rating and yet feel very average to someone like me who has an interest in every topic he covered? I can't say for sure, but again, I feel like the book managed to work in the exact opposite manner I thought it would, appealing mostly to those who've not yet spent much, if any, time thinking about endurance sports and the philosophies of serious participants. That is, of course, a much greater audience in the end than an audience of fellow marathon runners, (facebook fatigue notwithstanding).

I'm happy to have read the book, and would recommend it, even if not for the reasons I initially thought I would. I am fascinated by the mind of Murakami, and the inside look at his routine was worth the effort for me. Murakami was (and still is) a legitimately good amateur marathon runner who was finishing in 3:30 pretty regularly while in his 40's. His continued passion for the sport is quite admirable, and his thoughts on the aging runner were for me, the most valuable. The training logs and race reports however, were nothing out of the ordinary, thus the lower rating from me, even for an author who is quickly becoming a favorite.

In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Haruki Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, not to mention triathlons and a dozen critically acclaimed books, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and – even more importantly – on his writing. (From publisher description)

Murakami really captures the psyche, the mindset, the motivation of the runner (and probably the novelist, as well).
I think a more appropriate title might have been What I Think About When I Think About Running.

This memoir combines both running and writing; two subjects that I'm definitely interested in. And Murakami is apparently a well known author, although this is the first I've read of his works. And I can see why, it was interesting and well written.

Murakami was running a jazz bar and in college when he first got the notion to run. And it stuck. And then he decided to sell the jazz bar and take up writing. And that stuck too. From then on it was a passion that would spread over decades for him, although lagging at times when he developed other interests. And running is weaved with writing for him so that both have a place in his life. Although triathlons are taking hold now as well.

This is a translated work, but I think it was done very well. Murakami has a nice approachable voice to his writing and while he doesn't really describe anyone but himself in this book (it is a memoir after all), the few that he does are approached kindly and with positive attributes highlighted. For himself, he does show all his strengths and weaknesses. He isn't shy about sharing his success in writing, but nor is he shy about showing his less than stellar run times and goals that he didn't make. It shows him as a very balanced person.

The running is what really interested me in this book. In fact, Murakami does such a good job of describing running and its effects on the mind and body that it made me feel rather guilty that I haven't been running lately, but blamed it on moving and work and other things in my life. In fact, if I hadn't already packed my running clothes, I probably would be out there right now the book inspired me so much. And I liked the way he tied it in with writing. This book was actually written in short little pieces and then combined together, but the transition was easy and you'd never know it started out that way if he hadn't of told you. And it was a quick read so it never had a chance to get boring either. I did think that maybe this book would offer some tips on how to cure my short attention span while running, but Murakami just says that most runners don't always want to run and you can feel that way sometimes. It apparently is more natural for him and while he does admit that he thinks about all sorts of things when he runs, he is never very precise because he says his thoughts are never very precise. Not feeling that way when I run, it is hard to relate in a way.

But regardless, that fault lies with me, not him. And this was a very good book to read, although maybe a bit limited in audience. I don't really see non-runners getting into this book, but that's ok. For those of us who want to run, it's there for inspiration.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Copyright 2008
174 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2013

I had never had Haruki Murakami before. This book is as candid as it can be about his life as a person, as a writer and obviously, as a runner.

As a runner myself I have identified myself with Mr. Murakami struggles and mindset when it comes to hit the pavement. He's run some of the most iconic races in the world (which I haven't) but I can clearly understand what goes on his mind as it's the same for me.

This memoir is an affirmation of how a runner's life is.

Now, I'm curious to read his other novels.

Writing about running is like writing about the self - more honesty in one becomes truer approach in the other, Murakami says.
He intimates reader with seemingly disconnected cycles of arduous preparation to the competitions, such as the marathon, the triathlon and the ultra marathon. While Murakami never mentions winning one, he does talk a lot about keeping certain pace and level. His competition though is more in the level of trees and leaves, rather than human. He never competes with the others, just with himself. The greater result means that he has learned something new.

Murakami successfully nails this particular nonchalant, Zen like style of writing. There is seemingly little going on in it - just some natural occurrences such as the breeze, or perhaps animal corpses on the ground where applicable...yet there is a lot going on in that. Like life itself his running experience is full of that, something, and undoubtedly it is almost impossible to not get philosophical when that happens. I found the book enjoyable, and realistically long.

Haruki Murakami leaves a certain literary footprint. His stories are dreamlike but not vague, understated but don't leave the reader confused. His long novels often culminate in odd anticlimaxes without complete resolution that leave many unanswered questions but are simultaneously satisfying. Leave it to Murakami to write a memoir that is similarly structured and executed. Rather than going in depth into his history and influences as a writer, Murakami focuses on his hobby as a long-distance runner and how that vaguely ties into his artistic pursuits. The novel is relatively brief but does offer some important insights, however more than anything Murakami motivates readers to pursue their own path and do what they are passionate about. Murakami's conclusion to the memoir mirrors his tendencies as a novelist perfectly.

Summary:
A short, insightful analysis of one man's relationship with running. Running is discussed (with great success) as a lens into personal philosophies on work, aging and body image.

Thoughts and Observations:

Murakami is very frank about how personal (and biased) his account is, and does not use the work to draw universal conclusions about human life or human nature. I appreciated this.

The book's analysis on body image and aging is profound. Anyone who has ever felt less than blissfully perfect will find a few or many moments in this work where they are nodding their head as Murakami notes the same, irrational mindset that plagues many who are unhappy with what they are, what they seem to be, or where the stand in the grand scheme of sexual politics.

I was really able to connect with the essays on running, but not those on running *marathons.* This, of course, is because I have never run a marathon. I have never read Murakami, so I was interested to see how he mapped authorship onto athletics, having no previous biases about the quality or content of his work.

I initially bought this as a gift for an influential teacher that ran competitively – think Boston Marathon, etc.. As an occasional Murakami reader, I enjoyed Murakami's fiction and the emotions that he was able to convey, and at that time I hoped that I could share my interest with my teacher by taking bringing together Murakami and my teacher's love for running.

I didn't have the chance to pick up the book until long after I graduated, but now I feel even more confident that I made the best choice that I could. The autobiography explores how Murakami thinks as well as the mental stamina required for him to run these marathon. He reflects on the nostalgia of his life and how it's molded him to become the writer and runner he is today. He draws parallels between his two passions in life, running and writing, both of which require a great deal of mental stamina. He is definitely prideful of his work, but also humble in examining the philosophy he's built to continue his work.

It's genuinely a good and short read, but if you're picking up this book expecting his usual fiction, you're going to be disappointed. Take this opportunity to look within the author. I highly recommend it.

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Written over the course of several months in 2005 as Murakami prepared for the New York City Marathon, this memoir is about more than just running--though it is most certainly about the mindset of a long-distance runner and the type of commitment and life a dedicated runner leads. The book is just as much about aging, being a novelist and Murakami himself. Providing an insight into the kind of person Murakami is while also sharing his particular worldview, this memoir is a must-read for his fans and runners alike.

MY THOUGHTS

After being unjustly accused of stealing this book from my brother, I downloaded the audio version from Audible, and I'm actually glad I did. I listened to it while walking my dog, and it was a perfect fit. The memoir unfolds in a meandering, stream of consciousness way that was fulfilling and gave me much food for thought as I walked. Listening to it while outside and active seemed like the ideal way to fully appreciate the book--giving me a view into the experience of running as I simulated it on a much slower and less punishing level.

I liked that the book wasn't just focused on running. Many times, Murakami asserts that running and being a novelist are two similar activities. In fact, he began long-distance running when he decided to become a novelist, and the two have gone hand-in-hand ever since. As Murakami says, you have to be a certain type of person to be a novelist and a long-distance runner--one who has the stamina and endurance to go the distance, whether in a marathon or in a long-form novel. The process for both is often punishing and requires significant training and preparation. Both require a significant amount of pain.

In addition, since Murakami wrote the book later in life, it often muses on the process of aging--when you realize that no matter what you do, your body is just not going to respond as well as it once did. Coming to terms with this is one of the main themes of the book, and I think Murakami's attitude of acceptance but unwillingness to stop pushing himself is one that we should all consider.

For people searching for a narrative about running, the memoir also provides detailed information about Murakami's extensive running experiences--from his participation in an ultramarathon (which ended up becoming an almost out-of-body experience) to his recent decision to do triathalons. He also discusses the rhythms, pleasures, pain, and solitary nature of long-distance running.

About the Narration: Ray Porter was an excellent narrator. He read with a commitment that made it seem as if he had written these words himself. In fact, it felt like someone talking to you rather than someone reading another person's book. The translation from Japanese must have been top-notch too as I found the language to be wonderfully lucid and flowing. After hearing so much about the strangeness and weirdness of Murakami's fiction, I feel relieved that he was so accessible in this book. Hopefully this is the start of a beautiful relationship between the two of us.

Recommended for: Murakami fans, runners and those who appreciate well-written memoirs.

I'm a tough audience when it comes to essays. I've only read two collections in the last 6 years. One was Point to Point Navigation: A Memoir which I would never have read were the author not Gore Vidal. The other was more typical, The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of the United States presented interesting topics, but a good essay or two was packed between a lot of filler. In other collections, I cringe as essays ramble or serve as vanity pieces.

Like a Marukami novel this book of essays is quirky and satisfying. I liked the unifying theme. Strangely I thought the last essay was the weakest.

Marukami tells about how marathon running is done. He explains why, but to a non-runner like myself, the cost-benefit ratio does not seem balanced. It's endless. Distance logs. Shoes. Pain. Even massages hurt. Knees give out. Legs give out when you don't expect it. After a double marathon race, he couldn't walk for two days. There is a discussion of aging and diminishing performance.

There are many observations on life and his work. I learned a lot about him. He once owned a jazz bar. Now he obsessively collects jazz and pop albums and CDs, hence the many references to music in his work. He's run 26 marathons and participated in 4 triathlons. He's translated quite a number of classics from English to Japanese.

Buried in here is an autobiography. For Murakami his running, like his writing, is part of who he is.

This is an unusual look at a gift writer who has spanned cultures with his literature..

I think there are probably three groups of people that will get something out of this book: 1) long-distance runners, 2) aspiring novelists, and 3) fans of Haruki Murakami's own novels. Only being in the first category myself, I wasn't really hooked on what Murakami had to say here, as he ponders the connections between his running and writing habits. But it is something of a novelty to read a memoir focused on running, and I think most runners will recognize a bit of themselves in these essays.

3.5 stars. A sort of odd mix of musings on running and thoughts on being a novelist, sprinkled with bits of memoir. I enjoyed getting a look at Murakami's life and a peak into his mind, but it was hard to discern a real thread -- if this were just a set of essays, it would cover a wider range of topics, but it doesn't read smoothly as a memoir or as a manifesto on running or as a chronicle of how he came to be a novelist. Still, for fans of his novels, time well spent.

I should start by confessing that I don't enjoy running (it's rather hard on my knees). I read this book only because I'm a fan of Murakami's fiction, and one of his previous nonfiction works - the chilling and unforgettable "Underground."

Unfortunately, this book is nowhere near as good as "Underground." Everything about "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" - including that silly title, inspired by Raymond Carver - feels half baked. Murakami admits that he wrote the book in a piecemeal fashion over a long period of time, and it shows. His descriptions of participating in various marathons, triathlons, and grueling training sessons get repetitive after a while, and never really come together to form an interesting whole.

In Murakami's defense, in the context of discussing his history as a runner, he does make some good (if predictable) points about commitment and determination. And his writing style, at least in translation, is as breezy and unpretentious as ever. So the book is a smooth read, and honestly it's not terrible in any way. It's just bland and underdeveloped.

By the time I finished reading this, I came to the conclusion that Murakami is too private a person to write an effective memoir, even though the major theme is exercise and not his personal life. He buries too much of his true personality under superficial observations about things like the kind of music he enjoys, the kind of beer he drinks, and his shockingly silly views on global warming. Sure, he does a good job of explaining how he became a novelist in an early section of the book; but soon after, the interesting biographical details fade out, and Murakami starts to depict himself as a pure and simple running machine. (Of course, my lack of deep interest in running only increased the frustration I felt at the book's transformation; I kept wanting to hear more about, I dunno, Murakami's wife or something.)

Naturally, readers who are more interested in running as a sport, and a discipline, will get more out of this than I did. As a Murakami fan, I was indecisive about whether I should bother reading this, and it took me a long time to get around to it. Well, I can now say to his other fans that, in my opinion, this book is skippable.

It has been a while – this is a book that gives the urge to do a review (or a recommendation).

This book covers his 4-month preparation for the 2005 New York Marathon, at the time when he is around 55 years old. At times, he goes back to his first-ever experience in Athens, or at Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien Gardens, or the 62-mile run in a day or the Boston Marathon.

As Mr. Murakami closes his Jazz bar, and takes up writing full-time, he gives up smoking and turns to running to keep himself fit. In 1983, he had his first –ever experience running (nearly) 26 miles in Athens gruelingly under extreme hot condition. He was able to run the whole course by himself. His immediate reaction was not one of pride, but one of relief that “I don’t have to run another step. Whew – I don’t have to run anymore”. Since then, he has run a marathon every year.

Running for Mr. Murakami goes way beyond keeping him physical fit, most of what he knows about writing fiction he learns by running every day. It helps him to crystallize the important quality of a novelist : talent, focus, endurance and patience to rerun marathonspeat the process again and again to train willpower.

What makes this book special is not just in the training and the story of his various marathons, but also in his writing style, and the parallel that the author is able to draw among running, writing and living. He brings a refreshingly vivid account of his thoughts, as he experiences in his marathons. If you are in middle-age, there is that additional appreciation on the bit of his struggle, when he has to accept below-his-expectation result, or being passed by other runners in some last stretch of a run.

Whether you are a runner, a to-be runner, or not a runner, you would enjoy this book.

Rating 3.75
I'm not a runner. Not in the least sense am I a runner. But this book was still highly enjoyable. In this book Murakami talks of his life as a runner. He is a full-time novelist who has been running for the past 25 years. Murakami being a novelist is able to beautifully describe his running experiences. It is almost like time slows down for him during his runs. He has all kinds of details about various runs like the amount of roadkill he has passed.

He also discusses the dilemma that we all face as we grow old, our bodies not working like they used to. But even with his marathon times not what they used to be he continues to run.

What an amazing memoir, but not quite a memoir! What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is the memoir of Japanese author Haruki Murakami. But even Murakami admits that it's not a "traditional" memoir, and in fact his original concept was to publish it as a book of essays. The story has its roots in Murakami's training for the New York City Marathon, but what makes this story so interesting is his veering off the track to share thoughts about his life, career, his childhood, music, and love. He reflects on living in Boston and Hawaii. He shares his views of the world around him, and in doing he innocently gives the reader food for fodder for our own lives. And all cleverly linked together by his training.

"Once you set the pace, the rest will follow. The problem is getting the flywheel to spin at a set speed - and to get to that point takes as much concentration and effort as you can imagine."

What's particularly interesting to me is the insights he gives on writing and the origins of his writing. Not knowing much about Murakami except for his being a brilliantly popular writer, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running really let me get to know the man behind the writing. The bar owner turned writer, who loves to run even though his aging body is slowing down. And even a book "about running" in the hands of Haruki Murakami is beautifully written. It's inspiring, it's humbling.
"Sometimes when I think of life, I feel like a piece of driftwood washed up on shore."
I listened to the audiobook of What I Talk About When I Talk About Running as part of the Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge, which includes listening to audiobooks. But I enjoyed the story so much I intend to buy a copy of the book! The audiobook itself is a little over 4 hours, and is narrated by Shakespearean actor Ray Porter, who has an extensive audiobook background. Although the voice of the narrator is pleasing, at first I was a little taken aback, because I really expected a different type of voice to represent Murakami, but I slowly got use to Mr. Porter, who did a great job with all the subtleties of sharing the story with us.

I would definitely recommend What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami to any runner or athlete, because it's a wonderful love story to the hard work of training for any event, but it's also a love story of living. There are so many other reasons to praise this book- it's inspiring, it's beautifully written, it's a great way to get to know the man behind the wildly popular books you can find in any bookstore. I loved it for all those reasons. And, if I could I would put on a pair of running shoes right now and go out running! I give this a High 5 in Running Shoes!

"As long as my body allows, I'll keep on running," claims the writer of the oddest books I've ever read (especially Kafka on the Shore). Words that everyday average runners (like me) live by. Suffice it to say, though, that learning (while looking through the Explore collection at our local library) this ultra famous, Japanese author (who readers might think would take up equally odd pastimes) is also a long-distance runner, triathlete and ultrathoner was a complete surprise. Thus, as soon as I saw it, I moved Murakami's memoir about writing and running (especially his training for the 2005 New York City Marathon) to the top of my reading list. What I learned (while feeling guilty for not putting in more miles myself lately) is that in spite of his over-the-toppishly strange stories, he seems like a pretty normal guy, especially when it comes to running. In it, he tells how he came to be a runner (25 plus years ago), recalling the specifics of choosing this sport as a means of staying in shape after he sold his business to take on writing full-time. Later in the book, he states his personal reason for running, simply, (p 44) "It suits me." It turns out that Murakami not only trains for and participates in a marathon per year; he also participates in triathlons regularly and has even run an ultrathon. Budding writers will appreciate his opinion on what it takes to be a good novelist, traits that include (p 76), talent, focus, and endurance. As a runner, I loved reading his thoughts about organized races (he's not competitive against other runners, I confess I am) and his frustration (which I share) with his inability to improve his race times as he's gotten older. He even goes so far as to say what he wants on his epitaph (p 174), which includes something about running! Best of the book is the sort of philosophical thoughts and words of wisdom, like (p 19) "...the fact that I'm me and no one else is one of my greatest assets," (p 113) "I run; therefore, I am," (p 115) "An end point is simply set up as a temporary marker, or perhaps as an indirect metaphor for the fleeting nature of existence," (p 121) "...one of the privileges given to those who've avoided dying young is the blessed right to grow old," and (p 153) "...since your faults and deficiencies are well nigh infinite, you`d best figure out your good points and learn to get by with what you have."

Lastly, my favorite of his sentiments (as I feel the same) is, (p 172) "Long-distance running (more or less, for better or worse) has molded me into the person I am today, and I'm hoping it will remain a part of my life for as long as possible." Hear, hear! Fans of Murakami, especially those who are also runners, are sure to like (or even love) this memoir about a humble, average seeming long-distance runner, who happens to be a writer of extraordinarily strange fiction. Also good: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami, The Girl I Left Behind by Shusaku Endo and The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata.

This book mimicked a dull series of journal entries. As an avid runner, I expected to like this book more, but it did not keep my interest. The best parts are when Haruki writes about non running things, like when he owned a bar and how he goes about writing novels. Overall, what I read when I read about running maybe should stop with blogs and Instagram posts.

I think even the most stallwart Murakami fan would have to be a little disappointed with this light book which focuses almost exclusively on his running habits. As a piece for Runners World this might be fine but for a book it seems more an exercise in vanity than anything else. The pages seems spliced together from notes Murakami made to himself over the years in regard to running. Some of the chapters read better than others. I liked his piece on the ultramarathon he ran along Lake Saroma in Hokkaido, Japan, where he stretched the limits of his endurance to the extreme, discovering new parts of himself. But, other chapters like "Autumn in New York" were oddly bland, seeming to focus more on his insecurities in preparing himself for his fourth New York marathon.

There is the occasional glimmer of sharp prose but for the most part this is a runner's journal, letting us know what running shoes he prefers, the music that spurs him on, how he battles with fatigue both in training and during the marathons, and a few of the thoughts that cross his mind while running, like finding the bouncing blonde pony tails of Harvard co-eds fun to focus on. You discover passion for F. Scott Fitzgerald and Raymond Carver, the occasional note on his own writing, his preference for 70s and 80s pop music like Bryan Adams, 18 Till I Die, while in training, and his thoughts on the ancient Greek marathon, which he ran in reverse from Athens to Marathon one scorching hot summer day for an article for a running magazine. He tells us repeatedly he is not in this for the competition, but seemed to relish passing a hundred or more runners on the last leg of his ultramarathon in Hokkaido after finding his second wind. He mentions his wife early on, who must not have been too happy about him giving up their jazz bar for his venture into writing and running, but hear no more about her until the end, as if to say his success merited his decision. For Huraki, everything seemed to fall into place once he established this strong regiment of running, 36 miles per week, which he has kept up for 23 years.

The book does draw to a pleasant close, mentioning some of the other personalities he meant during his marathons, like John Irving, noting his translation of Setting Free the Bears, and his ability to overcome his fears in swimming so that he was finally able to complete a triathlon. His wife resurfaces in her supporting role. Maybe they had some tacit agreement that he wouldn't mention her too much. Lastly, he notes the adapted the title from a short-story collection by Raymond Carver, which his widow graciously permitted.

Let me preface this review with the fact that this is the first thing I've read by Murakami and that I've read a lot of sub-par reading books. Hopefully this will excuse my enthusiasm.

What I Liked:
- As someone who runs and writes I thoroughly enjoyed the marriage of the two topic in this book
- I appreciated the subtle motivation without the instruction manual feel
- That someone has written about running well; so many running books have sloppily written prose. This one retained a slightly formal, yet fluid feel.
- His honesty in regards to aging and his sub-par triathlon performances.

Drawbacks:
- There were some parts towards the middle that were a little slow, but not horribly so. But, then again, so is training- there are always highs and lulls to books, just like the miles you put into a marathon.
- For a memoir, I felt that I didn't really "get to know" Murakami. I definitely respect his privacy, but I didn't feel a sense of, I don't know, kinship, that I do when I've read others.

Great read- definitely recommend.

"Long-distance running has molded me into the person I am today, and I'm hoping it will remain a part of my life for as long as possible. I'll be happy if running and I can grow old together" (172).

When we discovered that we were going to Okinawa, Wendy suggested one of her favorite authors, Haruki Murakami. I never read one of his books until I saw this in the library. Strangely enough, it's about running, a topic I have little interest in reading an entire book about. What compelled me to read something from him was the fact that he translated Raymond Carver's short stories into Japanese. In fact, I thought he ripped off Carver's title, What We Talk about When We Talk about Love, my first Carver collection.

This is a memoir of sorts, both of his training for several marathons and his writing process. I enjoyed his ability to use running as a metaphor for writing, and writing as a metaphor for running. Murakami has an easy style of writing without pretension, something that books about writing rarely have.

I loved the descriptions of his runs around both Tokyo and Boston best, but I found the most inspiration in his recounting of his run in an ultramarathon (62 miles). That serves as a reminder for me to persevere in my Christian faith and to pursue Jesus as the ultimate prize.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it" (1 Cor. 9:24).

I am a fan of Haruki Murakami's writing, as I would guess just about every reader of What I Talk About When I Talk About Running would be. Why listen to some guy talk about running on and on - he's not giving any advice about being a better runner, as he clearly states - unless you already were a fan?

The book is basically Murakami ruminating about running, telling personal history, letting us follow him as he trains for the New York marathon, as well as other races.

When I started reading What I Talk About, it made me really happy. I thought "wow, this is a guy who thinks a lot like I do," and found a lot of sentences that I wanted to read to my friends because he stated something about life in a fresh interesting way that felt really true and elucidating, like something I knew but hadn't been able to put my finger on before.

Then I didn't read the book for many months (because I loaned it to my friend and she lost it for a while, if you have to know), and when I came back, I had a different reaction. It was still interesting and I definitely looked forward to reading it. But it mostly felt like some guy just talking - talk talk talk - the sort of talk we do when we talk every day to someone with whom we're comfortable. We have run out of sweeping and profound observations, by and large, and mostly cover the day to day details. Which is great - day to day details need loving attention too, just as much as big profound ideas. And since I'm a fan of Murakami, it was okay by me to hear about his daily details.

Murakami is an interesting guy. He is droll and sort of weird. But he's not very self-conscious about being weird, even though he does think about himself a lot. I'll admit, my impression of him is shaped by the characters in his books; several protagonists seem a lot like him. He has a quality of someone who submits to fate - and I'm somebody who finds the fatalistic outlook very compelling - even as he has this strong sense of shaping what he does. For example, he find himself to be a long-distance runner - there it is, he is one, and he sort of shrugs and doesn't question why a lot. But now that that's established, he is intricately involved with how to be a good long-distance runner, at least by the standard of his own potential, how to drive his body to its peak.

I'm not a runner. I've never been able to run more than a mile, even though I worked at it for a year once. But I'd like to be, at least to break a mile sometime. So that part of the book is a little interesting to me. But I have to say here that Murakami can drive me crazy with the running stuff. He says he's not such a great runner, which I guess is true if you're in this rarified runners' world with lots of people doing marathons. He may just be a guy in the pack, and it is sort of nice that he's not a show-off. But what Murakami does as a runner is really quite extraordinary when you compare it with the real pack, all of us reader-people out here, probably more than half of which can't run over a mile. Get this, Murakami runs a 26.2 mile marathon every year, and once ran a super-marathon of 62 miles. So I find his humble-pie a little irritating, even if it's genuine.

What is most vivid and useful is when Murakami shows how he uses this runner's outlook and discipline in his novel writing. He talks about how it is crucial to develop focus and stamina, as both a runner and a novelist, and describes his own writing work schedule. After all, novel writing is sort of like long-distance running.

I found few great revelations in this book, but it was definitely alluring. In one anecdote, Murakami tells how he wanted to talk to John Irving because he was translating one of Irvings's books. Irving told him that he was too busy, but that Murakami could come jog with him and they could talk then. Not the best way to interview an author, but that's what Murakami got, and he seemed to relish the experience. That's what this book is like. We get to hang out and hear Murakami talk about this and that, but only if we run with him.

It is sometimes amusing to realize that authors, through the ideas they share, have the power to change behavior. This is such a change that Haruki Murakami initiated in my behavior through his book "Autoportrait de l'auteur en coureur de fond".

He describes in synthetic terms the three ingredients that makes a great writer, i.e.: talent, concentration and perseverance. Throughout the book, Murakami explains how he became a long distance runner and how his running discipline helped shape his writing style.

Apart from elevating my own goal setting, I was impressed enough with his tight and simple writing style that I bought two of his earlier works: "La ballade de l'impossible", et "Le passage de la nuit".

I will keep in mind the very humane quotation from a Japanese Olympic champion when asked by Murakami if he found it difficult sometimes to wake up and go training. "All the time", the champion responded!

Pain is always there, but suffering is optional.

If you are a runner, then this book provides plenty of material on running for you to absorb and digest. If you are a fan of Murakami's other works, then you might be interested in learning more about the man himself and his thoughts on writing. But I am neither of those things. Consequently, there was not a lot of value for me in this book. Murakami casually makes observations such as 'Writers who are blessed with inborn talent can freely write novels no matter what they do'. Malcolm Gladwell's rigorously researched 'Outliers' suggests that this is not the way that talent works. There are numerous other observations that are similarly not entirely accurate, and I found that this detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

I didn't even find Murakami's story particularly inspiring. Whilst it obviously takes a lot of grit and determination to complete marathons, Murakami freely admits that he never had to deal with any injuries or illnesses. There are people who have had to overcome far greater adversity, and I find their stories more inspiring than Murakami's. Ultimately, this is a memoir that will appeal to a very specific audience. If you are part of that audience, then you should very much enjoy the read. Otherwise, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

Thank God for airport book stores. I've never been one to pick up exhausting tomes while traveling--too much to read too much to carry--therefore when Haruki Murakami's new memoir, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" caught my eye at Atlanta's Hartsfield, it looked just right. Short, light, with a little bit of F. Scott and a little bit of Zen philosophy tucked inside (He never mentions Zen directly but his lifestyle screams it). As a runner who runs and doesn't believe in walking during a marathon Murakami captures this essential truth with quality and gives us his recipe for endurance. Not just with running but with life in general. His analogies to running and writing are simple yet powerful. For fans of Murakami's work this book should provide some insight into his his daily life, simple yet somehow powerful. For those unfamiliar with his novels, such as myself, I was sufficiently intrigued by his prose to grab a copy of "Norwegian Wood", one of his acclaimed works, as my next read. At 60 Murakami still intends to publish novels and run marathons, presumably without walking. His recipe seems to work.

Simple in words: The book is excellent. I recommend this book to my work colleagues who are in the beginning of their vareer or approaching a mid-career crisis without any specific achievements to satisfy themselves. The running-writing challenge is also an excellent source of motivation and example for the hard working-success challenge in business life. I keep recommending this book as a business book to read for a leader’s library.

This was my first Murakami book, given as a gift to me with my running enthusiasm in mind. It's a smooth, easy read. It's fluid with its philosophy, meaning even if you don't know Murakami's other works, it still has plenty of value. Murakami's writing style is very simple and direct, which I can appreciate even if it's not my favorite. I think there's value here for anyone who likes running, philosophy, writing, or any pursuit involving personal enrichment.

I was excited to read this book as I prepare for my first marathon I have been consuming everything and anything running related. I finished the book Born to Run by Christopher Mcdougallin a matter of days and looking forward to finding my next book on running for continued motivation. However this book did not provide that. Haruki Murakami’s style of writing is very dry and matter of fact. I felt like I was reading someone’s journal of their day to day tasks and not a memoir edited for publication. While I did relate to some of the struggles and discipline that is required for long distance running and how he compares to being a writer. I was disappointed that the book seemed to lack focus and talked more about his struggles as a writer than what it really means to be a runner.

Our son gave me the book, knowing that I am a runner, but not knowing that I would move a little later to Cambridge/MA one of the loctions of Murakami's Marathon-training and narrative. I was a bit hesitant in reading the book, because some of the reviews have not been particularly kind. Reading it, however, I was able to relate very closely to Murakami's experiences and impressions. I smiled at his impressions of running along Boston's Charles River, seeing the young varsity athletes passing at a fast clip - I experience the same. I share his sentiments on aging (I am two years younger than Murakami) and its effect on running and I enjoyed his more meditative thoughts on running and the meaning of life.

I still wonder, however, about the meaning of the book for somebody who is not an aging runner or a fan of Murakami's. I haven't read any of his other books yet and I do not feel a particular urge or need after reading this one.

So weird...this of course was real life vs Murakami's imagination. I absolutely love how this man can stump me on one single sentence for minutes at a time...I just read them over and over again....this book was not like that....it was pretty straight and to the point....with most of his books I give them 4 stars right off the bat and then go back a month later and bump it up to 5 because, honestly, it sometimes takes me that long to fully appreciate him....yes, a month later, I still often think of the latest Murakami book I have read. It's true...for me, his words become part of me...they seep into my very bone marrow...but for whatever reason, this one got 5 stars right off the bat....why? I am not sure...I just know it deserves it....stupid reason, but there you have it...and really, who knew he could run 60 plus miles in a single day? Who knew he has more albums then I have books? But most of all, I felt a real connection to him after reading this book. I don't write. When I write down my thoughts they start to consume me. I loose control. It is a very scary thing for me. It's why I avoid it when I can...Murakami spends some time in this book explaining why he must run to offset the unhealthiness of his imagination...How you have to go deep inside you to be able to tap your creative vein...if you don't stay healthy on the outside, the inside will take over....me? I just have never learned how to do that...I fear one day I would just bleed out....

Obviously a memoir by a novelist about running will be of most interest to those whose personal Venn diagrams overlap one of those two circles, but I think even to those who don't fit those categories (or who have only read HM's fiction) said book would prove worthwhile. As someone who is coming to terms with his own aging and decreased athletic potential, I found his musings and hard-won lessons about same meaningful and instructive. To wit: "In most cases learning something essential in life requires physical pain." Along similar lines (regarding the increased effort required to keep fit): "I'm getting to the age where you really do get what you pay for."

But beyond incisive observations on exercise, there are even more general ones on life. I think this was one of my favorite; I thought of it as I went out to run over lunch instead of eating inside with my co-workers: "Emotional hurt is the price a person has to pay to be independent."

When I went to the running section of my local bookstore, I didn't want advice about specific running techniques. I wanted a book that shared someone's experience as a runner. This was the perfect book for me!

Haruki shares his thoughts about running and writing - which I found refreshingly honest. He didn't write this book to be liked or to brag about his accomplishments. He wrote this book to share with you his own personal experiences, and I gobbled it up in three or four nights.

I underlined several passages in the book, and I will be returning to them over and over in my journey as a runner.

This book reminded me what it is I like most about running: the alone time with my thoughts. Murakami's book reads somewhat like a journal organized, not by chronology but more, by topic. I've never read any of his other books, but this one has made me like him enough to give them a shot, albeit they are outside my preferred genres. I did not pick up this book expecting some great literary work nor did I know who Murakami was before then. It was a satisfying read, in a Zen sort of way. I run, so what. I ache, so what. I race, so what. I push, so what. I win, so what. I lose, so what. I get up and run again, and so. . . I live. If this describes you (or not), this book may be for you. And, no! Murakami's writing is not as esoteric as this review has been. Very down to earth.

Most of us probably have had the unpleasant experience of being collared by a friend who is intent on sharing the details of some passion --- whether it's golf, stamp collecting or scuba diving --- about which we know little and care less. As a non-runner, I approached Haruki Murakami's memoir with some of the trepidation that attends those conversations. Instead I found a spritely, engaging story of one writer's quarter-century encounter with serious running and how that pursuit has threaded its way meaningfully through his life. Focusing in the main on the period from August 2005 through the New York City Marathon on November 6, 2005 (his 24th marathon since 1982), Murakami blends snippets of autobiography, descriptions of his running life and insights on the craft of writing into an entertaining mix.

Murakami, author of critically acclaimed and popular novels like THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE and KAFKA ON THE SHORE, started running at the age of 33, turning to it as casually as he apparently did writing ("One day, out of the blue, I wanted to write a novel. And one day, out of the blue, I started to run --- simply because I wanted to."). Refreshingly, he's no proselytizer for the sport, conceding that "I've tried my best never to say something like, Running is great. Everybody should try it. If some people have an interest in long-distance running, just leave them be, and they'll start running on their own."

Departing from the central time frame of the memoir (the origin of whose title should be readily known to fans of Raymond Carver, for whose work he confesses his admiration and which he has translated into Japanese), Murakami provides a lyrical account of his first "marathon," one that took him backwards on the original route, from Athens to Marathon (in fact, one mile shorter than the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles) in the searing heat of a Greek summer. He describes his single ultramarathon (62 miles, completed in 11 hours and 42 minutes) in such grim detail as to make one question the sanity of anyone running such a race. While doing so, he brings to bear the novelist's keen eye for detail in describing the closing stretch of the race: "Evening had come on...and the air had a special clarity to it. I could also smell the deep grass of the beginning of summer. I saw a few foxes, too, gathered in a field. They looked at us runners curiously. Thick, meaningful clouds, like something out of a nineteenth century British landscape painting, covered the sky."

Murakami hasn't confined his athletic activities to long-distance running. In the 1990s he competed in his first triathlon. His account of the training to overcome the panic he experienced at the beginning of the swimming leg in an event in 2000, ultimately disqualifying him, is both candid and instructive. In the final triathlon described in the book, he makes gentle sport of how the Vaseline he applied to make his swimsuit easier to remove fogged his swimming goggles and how his shoelaces became untied during the running leg.

Although Murakami offers brief glimpses into the subjects that engage him and his view of the writing craft ("manual labor," as he describes it at one point), there's no strained effort here to draw parallels between his running and writing lives or to import cosmic lessons from one realm to the other. More by indirection, he hints at the ways in which similar qualities --- dogged persistence, attention to detail, a willingness to press on in a solitary way through extended periods of effort --- inform and enrich both pursuits.

Although he admits to something of a prickly nature, Murakami's tone throughout is self-effacing, even self-critical at times. He's a realist about the ravages of age: "Even when I grow old and feeble, when people warn me it's about time to throw in the towel, I won't care. As long as my body allows, I'll keep on running." And while he hopes to pursue his passions for many years, he has already decided he wants to be buried under a tombstone that reads, in part, "At Least He Never Walked."

Murakami's small memoir didn't inspire me to leap from my chair and lace up my Nikes, but you don't have to be a runner to enjoy this reflective book by one of Japan's most prominent contemporary novelists.

--- Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg

I have loved Murakami's writing ever since encountering Kafka on the Shore. His graceful prose, dreamlike reveries and descriptions of even ordinary objects and occurrences transfix me. But I was skeptical about a nonfiction memoir by Murakami; would I be disappointed by his musings about his real-life running and writing?

Answer: No.

As a writer and a runner, I have to confess that I had hoped for more tactical lessons in both topics. But Murakami is just as enthralling when writing about the exhaustion and exhilaration of long-distance running as he is when he spins a fantastical, hallucinatory yarn about a Japanese man in a Through-The-Looking-Glass search for his missing cat. And What I talk About When I talk About Running is not just about running; it's also a window to Murakami's creative soul. At heart, the book is about the writing process. For both runners and Murakami fans interested in how he works, this is a captivating read.

What a gem, this book. It's inspiring, it's a quick read, and it makes me desperately want to get back on the road running. Plus, it's an abrubt 90-degree turn away from everything else I've read by Murakami. For one thing, it's a memoir. But it's such a simple, honest, charming memoir, as well; you can't help but love Murakami by the time you're done.

The picture we get of Murakami is of a very mortal human being, talented and intelligent but more diligent and focused than anything else; these the same attributes have allowed him both to write a novel every year or so, and to run at least one marathon in the same interval. I was reminded of Stephen King's description of how he writes, from the intro to The Stand (revised, uncut, and excessively long edition):

When asked, "How do you write?" I invariably answer, "One word at a time," and the answer is invariably dismissed. But that is all it is. It sounds too simple to be true, but consider the Great Wall of China, if you will: one stone at a time, man. That's all. One stone at a time. But I've read you can see that m****r****er from space without a telescope.

Or Nora Roberts's method, as revealed in her New Yorker profile:

At Vesta, she said that she has one key commandment of writing: "[Butt] in the chair."

Murakami's writing and his running, he says, both have this one-stone-at-a-time, butt-in-the-chair method behind them. He runs every day, even on days when he doesn't want to. He sits his butt in the chair and writes. He keeps at it; eventually, with lots of hard work, a novel appears on the other end, and he finishes a marathon.

The reader -- this one, anyway -- could be excused for thinking that this humdrum tone is false modesty: that beneath it all, Murakami writes a lot and writes well because he's brilliant. He wouldn't deny for a moment that one needs a measure of talent to be a writer, but he says focus and discipline are at least as important.

You might wonder whether Murakami thinks of clever plots for novels while he's running. Turns out he doesn't; he just listens to a lot of music and zones out. His zoning-out reached its peak during a 60+-mile ultramarathon in northern Japan. There he felt for 10+ miles that he wouldn't be able to make it, but he just.kept.pressing.on. Eventually he reached a state where he could no longer feel pain, and where thoughts flowed in one ear and out the other. He reached the finish line after passing many of his fellow marathoners. He has completed one marathon annually for the last 20-some years, ever since his early thirties.

That's one of the reasons why What I Talk About... struck me so strongly. I got my start running last year, and had gotten up to really enjoyable 45-minute runs, when my flat feet knocked me out of commission and made my left ankle continuously achy. I've been itching to get back into running, trying to find a doctor who won't tell me, "Your feet are too flat; you should never run again." Murakami's book is the inspiration I need, both to get back on the road and to write a book I've envisioned. One foot in front of the other, butt in the chair.

Finally, not a small part of What I Talk About...'s charm, for me, is that much of it takes place within Cambridge, Massachusetts. Apart from indicating that he taught at Harvard and gave some lectures at MIT, it's not clear why Murakami was here, but he was, in the middle of this decade. He lovingly describes his runs along the Esplanade, often getting passed by comely Harvard undergrads; he has a real appreciation for my beloved city, which can only endear him to me.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a quick read. It's inspiring and charmingly unassuming, and a perfect little delight.

I received this as a gift from a good friend who understands my passion to run marathons. I honestly never heard of Murakami. I am no literary genius by any stretch, but I found his writing quite enjoyable, entertaining and liked his openness and honesty about how he views life, people, etc. Given what is going on in my life at the present moment, I definitely could relate. I absolutely loved this book and am going to pass this on to all of my running friends. You don't need to be a runner to appreciate this book. I also think there is definitely a correlation between creative types and taking to the road of running. It has always been my way exploring my inner creativity and thought process.

As a runner and a big fan of Murakami's bizzare yet captivating fiction, I couldn't wait to read this book. Who would've guessed that one of my favorite authors is also an avid runner? As its title suggests, this book is a memoir of sorts. It is organized in the form of essays written over the course of almost two years about Murakami's meditations on various aspects of running. Presented in chronological order, readers follow Murakami's training for his annual winter marathon.

I enjoyed reading Murakami's personal musings on his running and training schedule. As someone who always runs by myself, I always wondered what goes through other runners' minds. It is quite fun and feels quite voyeuristic to get an insight into my favorite author's thoughts while he's running and to find some similarities between his and my routine. The essays are rather slow-paced and relaxed, which I enjoyed thoroughly.

It is refreshing to read Murakami writing in the first person. Readers may get a sense of this intensely private and guarded writer's personality through this memoir. Although the main topic is his running, readers also enjoy a view into Murakami's view of life and how it changed or evolved through the years with his running. I loved this book as it inspired me in not only running, but also in trying to be happy with life. I will definitely re-read this gem again in the future!

This is the first Murakami book I've read and I'm now convinced I should read more. I decided to read this book because I've been wanting to read a Murakami book, it's short and because I tend to judge books by their covers (I liked the cover on this one).

Murakami's style is accessible, conversational and honest. I could relate to several of the insights he had and appreciated the simple, un-exaggerated way he presented his thoughts. It reads more like snippets from a journal than a typical memoir with a central point to prove. To me, that's the way to do a memoir because it aligns better with how people learn things, experience things and gain insight: picking up little things here and there while you're living your everyday life.

It's not a page turner, but it's real.

I kept thinking something was going to change in this book to make it "great" and "National Bestseller"-worthy, but it baffled me right up to the bitter end. As a writer, I could vaguely appreciate his parallels between running and writing, though distance running can be paralleled with an endless array of activities/goals/struggles/creations. As a runner, I was pretty much just embarrassed for Murakami. I read vastly better running blogs written by friends on a daily basis. These amateur blogs have humor, expertise, thoughtfulness, and inspiration: all things Murakami is lacking when he "talks about running."

And I mean seriously, dude. You pin your race number to your back? You worry that running will ruin your knees? You think that 150 miles a month is very serious mileage? You attempted an ultra without training for it and were surprised by the results?

Ay caramba.

Got more out of this than I expected to; it's not just for fellow runners. Murakami touches on aging, his mid-life transformation from jazz club owner to runner–novelist, and recaps some important races in which he has participated. As usual, his translator sometimes churns out a cringeworthy phrase on occasion, but I don't know if the fault lies with him or Murakami. I enjoyed getting to know the author in a more relaxed setting: he collects vinyl, he used to smoke 60 cigarettes a day (!), and has completed a 100km ultramarathon. Plus, from what I hear, he's humbler than most other runners who write books—maybe it helps that he's a writer who also happens to run.

Haruki Murakami offers an extended, albeit concise, meditation on distance running that is both introspective yet absorbing. Unpretentious and not self-absorbed, Murakami draws interesting parallels between the life of a distance runner and that of a writer, in his specific case, a novelist.

He also offers trenchant insights on the aches and pains of distance running, triathlon competitions and the lifestyle issues that confront those who pursue such pastimes. Murakami is not in any way attempting to proselytize and his understated style may win many converts nonetheless.

My sole quibble is his bias against walking in marathons. He wants his tombstone epitaph to read, "At least he never walked." Yet, I firmly believe that there is nothing shameful - either in a race, a training run or a life -- in stopping to walk. The point is not always the completing time, but the fact that one keeps moving forward, even at a walker's gait. Sometimes slowing down to a more measured pace is good.

Walk or run to get a copy of this book to read. If you consider yourself a runner or an endurance athlete - whether it's a journeyman or an elite competitor -- "What I Talk About:" is a genuine treat and may give you more to talk about, and think about!

`What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' is a part running and part writing memoir from Haruki Murakami and although relatively short it kept me engrossed the whole way through. This follows Murakami as he talks about how he started running and how he trains for various events. It also looks at how his running has affected his writing and how one often helps the other. It is made up of many short essays that follow on from one another and flow well chronologically and sit well together as a complete book. It is written in a deceptively simple way and although this has many short sentences, each one is expertly crafted and is describes what he is writing about perfectly. He also talks about his triathlon training which breaks up the book slightly and adds to the overall dynamic of the book. His tenacity whilst running ultra marathons is impressive and his resolves in maintaining his training schedule, come what may, should be an inspiration for those of us (I.e. all of us) runners who struggle to get out of the door sometimes. The part where he runs the Athens to Marathon route was especially good but to be honest this is packed full of many such stories to keep you reading and interested. I'd suggest you will enjoy this more if you run regularly, but that is in no way a prerequisite and you can enjoy this just as much if you are a couch potato. Well worth checking out.

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What an odd little book. I have read nothing else by Murakami, but knew the name, and this seemed an good place to start. The connections that Murakami makes between running and writing were quite fascinating, as are his thoughts on owning a jazz club and running an ultra marathon.

Ironically, although Murakami attributes success in writing novels and running marathons to the ability to focus, the book as a whole lacks focus. While each chapter is about running or writing, Murakami jumps randomly around the world in detailing his experiences in training for the NYC Marathon, running the Boston, running an ultra marathon in Japan, etc.

Still, a very intersting concept that makes me want to read more by the author.

This book is a quiet, simple memoir and a brisk read. It's about writing and running, and their relation to one another through the common themes of discipline, finding one's calling, and the course of life. I found Murakami's description of his own story very pleasant, too. (And his writings about Cambridge a bit nostalgic, as I am a Boston native.) I think the style of this book is probably hit-or-miss. I definitely recommend it if you're a fan of "After Dark" or existential novels, but it's not very similar to Murakami's more surreal stuff or more heavy nonfiction. Probably also worth a shot if you're interested in running or writing.

This book is part personal diary, part biography, and part meditation on running. I have not read Murakami Haruki's other works, although they are on my wishlist, and came to this book while exploring the literature on running as a sport and a recreational activity. If you are exploring running as a sport, this book is more contemplative than instructional and I would recommend you take a look at "Born to Run", or "Confessions of Ultramathon Man" instead. Having said that, if you have an interest in writing, or enjoyed Stephen King's "On Writing" and have an interest in running, this is definitely a great read - you'll learn about the life and habits of Murakami, as well as get to enjoy a great story along the way.

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 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.

I was expecting great things from this book as it had rave reviews. The only thing I discovered was a lukewarm, at best, story. I disagree that it is the four month preparation for his New York City marathon as the story line jumps in and out of years and other events he has participated in. There were two interesting passages in the book that seemed philosophical to me but other than that I feel the only reason he received a book contract on this is because he had prior published novels. As a distance runner myself I found nothing of inspiration or encouragement in this book where the author could have seized the opportunity. It was just "ok".

I had mixed feelings about this book. It was interesting to me because I'm a distance runner as well, but I was turned off by the author at times. His training method seemed unorthodox and he believed a lot of myths about running. Like that you should try to run everyday, and like you should never walk in a marathon. He also talked about how he builds his endurance by a gradual increase of distance, this is not how you become faster. Running like most sports you improve faster, when you cycle your training not gradual increase. But he isn't a great runner and doesn't claim to be. He is just a runner who is very passionate about running and that shines through his writing. For what it is, it's almost like a unique look at a average runner who cares about "running" but not necessarily about getting the best time that he can.

I loved Kafka by the Sea, and Wind up Chronicle. Absolutely loved them. Then Running I realized was all about depression and how to get out of it. Just took out "Dance, Dance, Dance" Didn't like it at all.

I always loved his image of a bottomless well. Use it a lot. Hawley

For me this book illustrates perfectly the saying "is not what you take form the book, but what the book takes from you"...or whatever is the translation from spanish to english! i hope you get the idea. This is not a literature master piece of any sort, though it dosn't pretend to be it. This are the thoughts and reflections of Murakami on paper, for anyone who wants to read them...period. Some bad reviews are judging this book as a novel, their are failing right out of the bath. I personaly found a great inspiration in this book. I was trying to mantain a more stable running routine ( i always run for some days and some weeks not, then on and off) and since i read this book i'm doing it (running more often) with great progres. So, i give it 5 stars not because is a good or bad book (kind of pointless since the author is only sharing his experiences and point of view....it can't be wrong unless is not honest, and for that matter i think he is), but because, personaly, it moved me in a good and meaningful, necessary way. A very subjective review of a very subjective book i guess! Cheers.

Employing his no-frills prose, Murakami weaves together narratives on running and writing and how the two feed each other. Consistency, not talent, seems to be the key to success in both endeavors, hopeful news to those of us who aren't exactly brimming over with the latter, but have a developed a fairly decent work ethic. Murakami is, of course, supremely talented as a writer and consistent in his running. No surprise he's a success at both. Raymond Carver fans will recognize the title as a play on Carver's story collection "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" which Murakami was translating at one time.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is an interesting glimpse into the world of one of today's most interesting writers.

I had never read Haruki Murakami before this book. My cousin recommended it because I started running, and he is an avid & experience runner describing in this book his life as a writer & his parallel experience as a runner. I loved his sarcasm, honesty, frankness.
I felt I had him in front of me, like an old friend, talking about his life in an honest, humble, moving manner. You can see through him while reading this book...as well as feel reflected in the quest to run a marathon... the pressure of training...performing... the fears...
Murakami was an amazing discovery..!!!!

I was a bit disappointed, this book is not up the standard of Murakmami's other titles. I would have to summarize it as being mostly a running diary, and even though I am a runner I still didn't get a lot out of the book. It had very little 'story telling' or new insights and I skimmed over most of it. I would recommend checking out his other titles unless you have read everything already and just want anything else you can find!
His nonfiction book 'Underground' was very good. Wild Sheep Chase and Norwegian Wood are his best fiction, Kafka on the Shore is also quite good.

For some unknown reason, Murakami's writing voice is one of the few that I truly love (in the same sense that there are a few authors who I find particularly grating). So I'm not even sure how objective I can be here. Suffice it to say that I found this book a quick read, entertaining, and very inspiring. It makes me want to run, and it makes me want to write. The only thing that would have made it better for me would have been more content about his writing and process.

I did not know Murakami's work at all before I purchased this book. I saw it in the running section at a bookstore and decided to give it a read. As I was purchasing the book the sales staff got very excited- turns out they were all huge fans. One person had even done her M.A. Dissertation on Murakami!

I was expecting some running inspiration. What was amazing is that I found an honest exploration into why someone does what they do, written in a way that was simple, moving, and eloquent. It had been so long that I cried when a book was over because it was so good, until I read this.

If you are a fan of Murakami, then the details of his life will be interesting, and are outlined very nicely by other reviewers here. If you are like me and not familiar with his celebrity, then what you will find is a moving memoir that is humble, insightful, and through its simplicities, leaves you changed. Even if you cannot relate to his perspective, you come to understand him and feel a sense of empathy.

If you are a runner, you will love this book, as Murakami speaks of his running rituals and motivations as metaphor for larger life lessons. If you are a writer, you will love this book, as Murakami illustrates some of the insights he has into himself as a writer and his writing process. If you just want a nice, easy read that is entertaining and touches the heart, you will love this book, because it does just that.

Haruki Murakami ("After Dark," "Dance Dance Dance") took up both writing and long distance running in the early 1980s and has never turned away from either passion. With "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running," Murakami tries to help the reader understand just why it is that he insists on running at least one marathon every year, year after year. Unfortunately, the story rarely gets all that interesting.

Essentially the book boils down to, Murakami likes to run long distances even though distance running is a lonely, painful pursuit. He trains a lot, because training is important to distance running. In the middle of a race, he often hates what he's doing, but then he finishes and everything is OK. He's getting older, so his body is slowing down. So he tries triathlons.

That's about it, and the writing is about as flat and dull as that paragraph. There are some interesting tidbits, such as Murakami's struggle with a painful knee and his crazy entry into a 62-mile super-marathon. But these stories exist in a vacuum and don't really go anywhere - his knee stops hurting, and he finishes the super-marathon. Murakami believes that both distance running and writing a novel require tremendous endurance . . . not to be too flippant, but reading this slim memoir (180 pages for the 2008 hardcover edition) felt like a slog as well.

The memoir offers little insight into Murakami's situation. What does his wife think about his dedication to running? Hard to say - I'm not even sure that Murakami tells us his wife's name. Murakami writes a bit about the runner's blues, but offers far less insight into the distance runner's mind than, say, Christopher MacDougall's "Born to Run." Ultimately, the book has very little to offer.

Murakami must be a heck of a writer. He writes briefly about the awards he's won and the fact that he gets to lecture in Cambridge. But based on this slim volume, we have to assume that his other books must be terrific indeed.

I do not know the fiction of Murikami. But if it is as good as this small memoir it is very good indeed. Murkima tells us about his life as a runner which began when he was thirty- three. In parallel he tells us about his life as a writer. In the course of this he distills lessons about the two activities which bring him joy in his life. He at one point emphasizes the supreme importance of Focus. For four hours a day Murikami sits at his table and writes. Nothing disturbs and nothing else exists. In working he may be listening to music but he is too focusing on the goal and the task. Along with Focus the second Value he endorses is Endurance. Murikami tells us he runs every day at least six days a week. One rule of his is never let two days in a row go without running. His claim is that the muscles tend to readily lose their good condition, and lapse back into a lower level of fitness. He also speaks about the pain which comes with running, and the option of regarding it as suffering or instead knowing how to work through it. The book is full of stories of various marathons triathalons that Murikami has gone through. He is obviously a person of superior will and discipline. He in the course of this also tells the story of how he became a novelist, of how he persisted in this encouraged by the support of his readers. Murkami also analyses his own character in this memoir. He points out how much he enjoys being alone and working by himself. He speaks about his running and his writing as activities in which he is not in competition with others but rather only contending with his own goals and the tasks he has set for himself. He writes in a very clear and vivid way. The book is well- paced and is a real pleasure to read.

I am having a hard time understanding the positive reviews.
This is a really poorly written book and coming from a great novelist even more disappointing. It's written in such a colloquial style loaded down with "kind of" and "sort of" modifiers the whole book comes across as a dictation of stream of consciousness babbling. Even more irritating are the times when he tries to define himself as this or that type of person. Show and don't tell Mr. M.
I probably would not of rated this book so harshly had I not known that the author was highly acclaimed and if I hadn't read and enjoyed his fiction. But my expectations were a lot higher for this book and I say that as a runner and a reader.

The plodding title of Haruki Murakami's memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running telegraphs the content; Murakami treads along the pages at the measured clip of a mid-pack runner. Two quick sentences in the forward appear like staccato marks accenting a jaunty note: "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." There it is--the plot laid bare. For the remaining pages Murakami's prose slows to a meandering pace as he runs the streets of Athens, Tokyo, and New York, musing on the meaning of life.

This is no ordinary running guide or how-to book; Murakami's memoir is a series of "life lessons" delivered with the same precision as he lives--"more like a workhorse than a racehorse." Downplaying his writing talents, Murakami attributes two qualities to his success: focus and endurance--his gouge and chisel for carving out a writer's life amid the malaise of a chaotic world.

A poster of Steve Prefontaine hangs behind the register at a local running store in town. Above the legend's photo his words embolden patrons: "To give anything less than the best is to sacrifice the gift" Murakami echos the running hero's sentiment: "Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: That's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life."

On the surface Murakami's words sound like something from a Knute Rockne biopic. Beneath his trite inspiration are strains of a more imploring message: in a long-distance run it is not enough to simply brace for pain. You must train for its inevitable arrival--somewhere around mile twenty if memory of my one marathon experience serves me correctly--and the very act of training, of pushing your body to its limits, is where you'll find meaning. Murakami puts it this way:

"It's precisely because of the pain, precisely because we want to overcome that pain, that we can get the feeling, through this process, of really being alive--or at least a partial sense of it. Your quality of experience is based not on standards such as time or ranking, but on finally awakening to an awareness of the fluidity within action itself."

Couch happy Murakami fans may not be inspired to lace up a pair of Nike's after reading that passage and for good reason. Who wants to hurt? But pain and suffering are different animals, says Murakami--the former does not presuppose the latter. In fact, it may even guard against it.

It's well-documented that the work of writers and artists requires toiling in "toxic" places, says Murakami. They live an interior life of the mind inertly examining the banality of human existence, seeking out the truth of our being. Marathon training gives Murakami the emotional energy for handling the strain of the writer's task. Time out on the road seems to strengthen his capacity for nurturing his craft. His continued success as a novelist is perhaps proof that the effort is paying off.

This is a good book for those interested in running or in the author. It's a very quick read, and brief, probably too brief in parts. At less than 180 pages, that's not a lot of space to talk. In addition, he wanders into discussion of triathlons for several pages, which those running purists will not like. However, for the space involved, it is worth reading as there are a lot of insightful things said about how running interacts with one's head and with one's life and work, even if you are not an author. Worth reading!

He mind-read my diary, nailing the psychology of running and writing. I especially loved the early chapters--first printed in the New Yorker--about quitting his job running a bar to devote himself to writing. He philosophizes beautifully about the solitude and endurance required of the writing life and how similar that is to distance running. At times it felt too much like a training diary, rather than a personal journey, but it is a powerful look inside the soul of a runner and writer.

Love Murakami's honest style - he's like a friend chatting to you. If you're into running and have run marathons and maybe an ultra or two, you'll enjoy his philosophy and the way he verbalises his experiences, how his training is going and his performances. I loved reading this book and will move on to his novels.

If you are a big fan of Murakami work, you will enjoy this book on human endurance mental and physical as the author inflicts upon himself some of the toughest sports to compete in at any age! From author, translator, long distance runner to ultra-marathoner to triathlete- Murakami takes you on his journey from the east cost of United States to the northern point in Japan. Along the way you feel his pain and frustration with his body and the affects of long distance events have on the body and mind.

brilliant book by world famous Murakami...about running really..from his expertise into slow running, annual Marathon to run under 3 hours 45 mins (impressive)..to his 100K UltraMarathon experience..the runners' blue, the process, the learning, paradoxically with his writing life..such a relax book to enjoy..and his latest: Triathlon..Murakami on triathlon.

When I read through this book I couldn't help but nod my head at some of the things Murakami wrote in it. I think every runner has at one point in their lives shared the exact same thoughts during the process of the long hard run. Written over a sporadic period of time this collection of notes on running is a wonderful philosophical diatribe that speaks to the happy runner in all of us. "The end of the race is just a temporary marker without much significance. It's the same with our lives just because there's an end doesn't mean existence has meaning."

I picked this book up because I'm a fellow marathoner and ultra runner and thought I'd give Murakami a try. Having said this I must admit that it is not much of a running book. He is such an ordinary runner and his stories are so typical that it gave me little motivation to keep reading.

I can say that the book is very well written and there are some great points and even a few places where I could really relate, but it just does not come across powerful from a runners perspective.

On a good note the prose is artful and even through translation it flowed nicely and made for an often uplifting read.

If you are looking for a Dean Karnazes type of book you are looking in the wrong place. If you are a marathoner, you have probably run farther and faster than Mr. Murakami, but if you are looking for some inspiration and some tips about how running fits into his life and is even a big part of what gives him real meaning to life then this is the book for you.

This is Murakami Haruki's meditation on running, which seems to be an activity that is just as important to the acclaimed novelist as writing. It is written in his usual writing style, which is casual, comfortable and chatty, and he regularly uses some of his favourite repetition markers, such as "as I have already mentioned..." and others, phrases that would be a sign of a bad writer or quickly edited out if they weren't coming from a writer as popular and critically-acclaimed as Murakami. The book is largely anecdotal, but also attempts to present big ideas about the meaning of running, the meaning of writing, and the meaning of life. It is as its most enjoyable when it is at its lightest and most shallow, when it describes the look and feel of things and the little patterns and routines of daily life. Ultimately, however, it is a dull and meandering mini-book that is coyly self-referential as it goes through a laundry list of running-related events without any apparent direction, and his attempts at giving some meaning to his running come off as a bit nonsensical. It is often clinical in its description of running, and Murakami actually describes his passion quite passionlessly. Certain passages are better than others, and his description of running on Kauai island in Hawaii makes me want to go there quite badly. He is at his finest when he ruminates on other runners that he admires greatly, and I can feel his frustration at describing the tragic loss of two young runners, newlyweds, in a traffic accident. His description of his life is also quite interesting; his youth as a jazz club owner, his memory of the moment he decided to write a novel and his years as an early writer, his extreme devotion to whatever it is that he is doing, and some aspects of his relatively cosmopolitan lifestyle. And just as much as any writer, you get a good sense from reading this book of how he controls his life-regimen: no more cigarettes, limited drinking, limited diet, in bed before 10 and up before sunrise in order to run and write while the day is still young. It seems like a dull, stoic lifestyle but, ironically, also one that I envy as a fellow writer who is still struggling to publish his first novel and who also counts running as an interest and a preferred activity. Admittedly, I haven't finished reading this book - I read the first half or so while on vacation in Taiwan, staying in a house where someone had a copy of the book - and I might still finish reading it if I ever come across another copy. Like the rest of his books, there's nothing that leads me to believe that anything in the second half will illuminate what is in the first half.

I have read a few of Murakami's novels. While I enjoyed them as a whole, at times I had trouble discerning exactly how I was taking the meaning or relationships in them. So, with this book I had some preset expectations. I expected to read a novel of a complex man, who struggles with the eccentricities of human nature, but found a warm recount of a man trying to live the best life he knows how.

Murakami touches on his past, his come up, and how he personal strove to be a different person and change his life. Much of the message came shining through to me as a story of perseverance. While life did not give him a free pass, it was not a trek down the mean streets either. He adeptly covers how we can find our calling (even later in life), and if we diligently work towards it, can achieve a sort of contentment. In the story we call "life", I'm not sure what more can be asked for.

"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami is an odd little book. It's a memoir, of sorts, in which Murakami writes about running. In addition to running, he describes his views on writing novels and compares writing to running.

In this book Murakami rambles a bit as he describes what running means to him. Even with the rambling, if you enjoy running, you'll enjoy this book. His obvious passion for running is evident on every page. Time after time, I found myself relating to his thoughts on running. He runs most days and has done so for more than 20 years. At one point in the book he writes about a 100K race he ran, which is interesting. He also writes about doing triathlons and the challenges involved with doing a triathlon.

I enjoyed this book - I enjoy reading about running. If you do as well, check out this book.

As a runner, I was looking forward to reading a well-known novelist's thoughts on the sport. His prose is pleasant enough, and his recitation of experiences is good-natured and occasionally philosophical. However, I just never found it enthralling, or even more than mildly interesting. When I reached the end, I thought, "That was it?" Not a bad way to spend some idle time, but not terribly incisive or inspiring or lyrical either. (Maybe it reads better in Japanese.)

This is the first book I've read by Murakami and I was very pleased. As a life-long solo athlete (strength & cardio) I could relate and appreciate many of the points Mr. Murakami expressed. This work blends memoir and introspective training insight. By the end of the book the author had gained my affection and respect. Because of his grasp of nuance and clarity of thought, I would strongly recommend this book to life-long athletes particularly those of solo events.

For a number of years, I was a big Murakami fan. Then a few of his books disappointed me so much, I sort of 'fell out of love' with his work. This non-fiction work appealed to me and I'm glad I purchased it. In fact, I purchased the audible version which is great. It reminds me a lot of Stephen King's "On Writing," which is half about living your life, half about the art of writing. I pulled a lot of useful information from this book that I won't soon forget. Don't expect some grand climax to this book, however. For what it is, I think it's a great book and a short read (or listen if you're on audio)

Murakami's book is great for anyone who has ever done anything with the long view. In the context of the book he's talking about marathon running and writing but the message will resonate with anyone else who knows what it's like to grind out an activity over years, whether it's hobby or profession.

The book is very light and readable. I recommend it to anyone.

I'm a total Murakami fan, so when I saw this new book--with a playful title from another fave author of mine, Raymond Carver--I couldn't wait to indulge myself with a good read. I was not disappointed. I'm a runner and a reader and a curious watcher of other runners--Murakami lets me indulge all three passtimes, with an overall free-flowing movement that covers the many self-assumptions and insights runners are privvy to in their practice.

I chose to read this book as I was looking for running inspiration, and remembered that some years ago a doctor friend of mine had recommended this book to me. Admittedly, I'm not familiar with Haruki Murakami, but through listening to this book I learned what an accomplished and celebrated novelist and translator he is both here in the US and in Japan. Along with being a successful novelist, he is an avid marathon runner and triathlon competitor. He seemed to fit the bill for the running inspiration I was looking for, and was hopeful this book would put into words what it is about running that just makes runners tick. Running is part of who I am and that's hard to explain to other people. Unfortunately, this book didn't deliver on that front. Murakami was miserable for most of his runs, couldn't come to grips with getting older and never patted himself on the back at the end of a race (despite completing 20+ marathons!). I'm all for humility, but not to the point of refusing to celebrate your own accomplishments (like running from Athens to Marathon all by yourself) and realizing that even if you don't meet goal times, you still got out there and gave it your all both mentally and physically which is more than most people in this world can say. I think most of his negative disposition stemmed from his Type A personality. Type As can be extremely hard on themselves and Murakami is proof positive of that. Anyway, it was an interesting albeit different personal experience with the sport of running. Although it didn't inspire me in a running sense (I enjoy running so much more than he seems to), I am interested in reading some of his novels. I feel like I know who is now and am intrigued to see how that plays out in his fictional works.

This book was really similar to having a conversation with the author over the course of a couple of long distance runs. The insights about his training, suffering, and victories throughout the running seasons were fun and reflected ways that I've felt through my running adventures. I liked the mostly positive thoughts and the unique insights about running in different cultures and geographies.

I would recommend this book to runners who are looking for a good literary work that is easy to read and a joy to explore.

It’s been a busy reading week here at Messenger Central, with three books knocked over already (albeit short ones). I’m now suddenly two reviews behind. Lucky I am also a runner so that endurance piece of the puzzle isn’t too daunting.

Readers of this blog would certainly heard of Haruki Murakami, in fact his 1,318 page tome “1Q84” is sitting on my shelf as part of the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Shortlist, unread at this stage as that is the definition of endurance. It will probably accompany me on a long holiday. Readers of my charity driven blog ([...]) will have probably heard of this book and not know a lot about Murakami’s other writings.

This book is subtitled “A memoir” and it is basically a nine chapter diary style entry where Murakami talks about how running is intricately linked to the other parts of his life, including his giving up running a jazz club to pursue a career as a novelist. Murakami is a very private man and is rigorous about his rules for writing each day and as we learn also about his need to run every day. He runs at least one marathon per year – of course all the famous New York, Boston, Tokyo style ones. However Murakami may be revered as some sort of super human when it comes to writing, he clearly points out in this memoir that he is simply blood, flesh and bones like us mere mortals when it comes to running. He is never going to win a marathon, to him it is a race against himself, not against others, it is to conquer himself. AT one stage just short of the New York marathon he believes that he has injured his knee:

For my full review go to [...]

Very simply written, the book is literally over in a couple of hours (the time that Murakami may take for a half marathon).

What I did like is that the book is part memoirs, part running log and part philosophy, thus appealing to a variety of readers.

What could have been better is that considering the book is marketed on the running platform, that particular aspect could have been dealt with in more depth. To name one, runners go through many obstacles - physical as well as psychological. Though Murakami touches upon this (i.e. I just lost all motivation for running after my 62 mile run and did not enjoy running for the next few years),there is no explanation on what he did to get back into the running groove, etc..The running parts seem superficial....

What I talk about when I talk about running - Haruki Murakami

Theme:
Making best use of ones talents in running as a metaphor for life and especially for running is the main theme of this book. Murakami started running at 33 after realizing that smoking an average of 60 cigarettes a day wasn't doing him any good. Twenty four marathons later and well over fifty years old, he is penning his thoughts on running and the part it plays in his life as an individual and as a writer.

Essentials:
* You have some talents in any sphere - running/writing. You can just do "as best as you can", by developing endurance and focus, without which one cannot "push his possibilities".
* Long distance running is an excellent example wherein need for endurance, both during preparation and during the race, is visibly apparent. It is ditto with writing and in general, for most activities in life.
* You should do whatever you want to do irrespective of the talent you have, but be aware that you are only pushing your possibilities.
* You need to be honest about yourself, honest about what you would want to achieve and paddle on to achieve it.
* It is not possible to please everyone, but the key element is to please a few. If you run a Jazz Bar or write a book, you do not expect every visitor or reader to like what you dish out, only a few would. The measure of your success in your professional life is how many of such "customers" you have and how much joy they derive from your enterprise. Though you'd never realize the extent of it.

Some thoughts
How about walking? Doesn't it achieve all the ingredients of "pushing the limits" and at the same time permit one to enjoy the places at a much leisurely pace, it is much more natural, remember, as natural as walking! It is therapeutic and maybe meditative as well. Agreed, it is not "glamorous" or competitive as running, but it has major plus of being something natural, safe and perfectly healthy activity while permitting one to reach places at a leisurely pace.

P.S
* Somerset Maugham: "A philosophy lies in each shave": Given enough time and contemplation on single act, the act become deep, acquires a meaning and life of its own. It makes up for a metaphor, maybe a microcosm of life itself.
* We come back to the rebellion of the existential philosophers: it really doesn't matter what one does, except the cadence one does it with. That is the revolt and that is the perhaps the philosophy that Maugham refers to.
* "18 till I die" (Bryan Adams): Means that you die at 18!

To say that Haruki Murakami is a fantastic writer is to shed light on the obvious. Unfortunately, only two of Murakami's nonfiction books have been translated into English (Underground and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running), but what's been given to us has showed that Murakami's charms and talents transcend that found in the pages of his novels.

With What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (a great play on a Raymond Carver collection title), Murakami gives us a memoir that incorporates the theme of running into tales of aging, relationships, perception, drive, wisdom, and fear.

To non-runners, we see this theme as a means to an end, but it seems that runners are also taken by the familiar scenes that Murakami enters into the text.

The reason this writer in particular can draw in such a wide degree of readers is simply because he tends to have no overbearing agenda. Simply speaking on the issues and events that have struck him as important on a personal level, Murakami preaches nothing, he simply speaks. And when he speaks what he speaks, people tend to listen.

If you're not a Murakami fan, then this book may be a great introduction. Small in content but just as effective in its goals and performance as several other Murakami writings, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is quite simply a great read.

To anyone who enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle and loves their career, this is a great book to read. Murakami expresses the joys and low times in his running and how it has (or hasn't) influenced his career as a novelist.

I randomly discovered this book in the new book section of my library. I thought it was a great book about a man in his 50s who has been running for many many years and the thoughts and feelings behind his running. I like it best because I can really relate to him on a personnel level. His running life seems similar to mine. I like his prose, the book reads really well. You will especially enjoy this book if your running is in a bit of a slump, and you need a motivational pick-me-up. Enjoy!

I don't even run but I loved this book. Murakami is a truly gifted writer who manages to draw his reader into his work and keep them entertained, interested and challenged by his writing. This little gem of a book gives us a small insight into the man himself and how a little part of his psyche works. For the runner or the non-runner like me, well worth a read.

It's actually not about running, but the life of a runner and novelist. So if one looks for specific advice/instruction for long run, this is not the book for you. However, once you read the book, you will definitely try to run, or like me, restart to run. This book tells an insightful story of an amazing life.

but it just didn't grab me. I'm a long distance athlete myself, so I could relate all too well to his anecdotes about various races. It just read like a loosely edited diary. I think this would have been a very enjoyable late-evening conversation over a beer, but I just didn't find the book gripping.

I started running when I was 19 years old. I was a stringer for a technical college cross-country team. I got to go to the national tournament for division three tech schools during my freshman year. I'd like to say I was hooked from that time in my life. As life goes, though, I went on to be an art school drop out whom smoked too much and became jaded about everything. Mr. Murakami brought me back. I'd been engrossed by his writing for years. But 'What I Talk About...' got me running again. I dropped thirty pounds and I'm running my first half marathon this year. Mind you I'd fell in love with his writing years ago. I just think I needed to understand this part of where it came from to get me going again.

Rarely do "writing" and "exercise" appear as the main topics for a memoir--there's something almost un-writerly about working out. Aren't all the great novelists supposed to be drunks? Well, no. Murakami compares running marathons to writing novels, and it's a damn fine analogy. His prose is masterly yet humble. Whether you're a writer, a runner, or just someone who enjoys a good book, Murakami delvers with "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running."

This is a book dedicated to every runner in the world. Running is an act that defies logic, leisure and modern habits. It is comforting to see how Murakami allows us runners, to understand better why we run, why we love to run and why we will keep on running until our legs and minds allow us. If you love running you will love this book.

I am a beginner at running and often in the past spoke aloud that I hated the activity. However, this past year I have committed myself to running 10 miles consecutively. This book transformed my perspective on running and expanded my physical and mental reach.

Thank you,
Ps. I have my 10mile race this Saturday!
Pearl Scott

I first heard of Haruki Murakami by looking up the the store running book stats. Since I check these often it wasn't the ranking that got my attention but the title. I was intrigued. The title: It's too long by modern standards, and it speaks to deep thought as well as another culture. I ordered the book and anticipated its arrival.

To my surprise, it wasn't the running that stood out. In fact, I found the running sections ordinary. Now, understand that I am a runner, and have read about running day-in and day-out for the last 13 or so years. I know triathletes, ultra runners, and people who thrive on doing the extreme. So running with goals, sticking with it, running on a daily basis, marathons, triathlons, never walking- always running, are ideas that I hear and see everywhere. To a non-runner, Haruki will seem like a star, but to me, it's fairly ordinary, even with Haruki still having these goals in his 50s.

What did intrigue me (besides the title) was his style of writing. It's a simple book, very clear, and easy to comprehend, so what clues are there in the book to his style, the style that has made him a famed writer? This is what I wanted to discover. Surely not the repetition of "I'm the kind of person who...," to explain This is who I am. This is my way. This is me.

After a few chapters, I started the book over and read each sentence carefully to see what I could discover. And here are a few samples, quotes so to speak, that make Haruki's writing special.

"As if the concept of clouds doesn't even exist." - Haruki's way of describing a sunny day.

"...as if it remembered, 'Oh, I've got some errands to do,' it whisked itself away without so much as a glance back." - Description of a rain shower.

"...slicing through the air like they had robbers on their heels." - Sprinters

"...pound the rock with a chisel and dig deep into the hole..." Finding his creativity.

RECOMMENDED FOR
- Anyone who likes to read about running.
- A new marathoner looking for inspiration for reaching goals and sticking with running.
- Writers who want to look closely at style and sentence structure.
_ People who enjoy biographies.

A BIT MORE - Other things that made the purchase of this book of value to me:
I enjoyed the little things Haruki would talk about when he wasn't running in a "cozy homemade void" - the Italian lady who wore a different outfit every day, his loss of patience with everything in sight at the end of his first marathon (a reverse running of a famous course in Marathon, Greece.)

So running log aside, this was a book that caught my interest, and intrigued me enough to want to read more by this author. I'm starting at the beginning and am going to read the first book that Haruki wrote as a novelist, Wild Sheep Chase. I'll go into this blind. I have no idea what this book is about - and hope it's not about running, but pray that the style will intrigue me enough so that I will want to absorb and analyze every line.

"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." This is not a book about running, it's about life. Mr. Murakami is the author I admire most, and with every book he publishes, I become more and more convinced that everything he writes is worth reading, over and over again.

I'm training for my first triathlon in July and this book perfectly dovetailed with early morning swims and afternoon runs. Loved his honesty and candor. Terrific read, recommended to runners and non runners.

I gave this book 5 stars because it was interesting and well written. This would be a great book to re-read every now and then. I really didn't dislike anything. I liked how naturally everything flowed together and I got to enter the mind and get to know the author. I would recommend this book for fans of Murakami and fans of memoirs in general.

The great Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami provides a thoughtful and humble meditation on running and writing with ling distance running being a metaphor for life. Highly recommended, especially for those looking to start or improve running and writing routines.

Realizing Murakami likely wasn't trying to create anything if laying literary merit, I was able to enjoy the bits of wisdom and insight peppering his memoir. Murakami's descriptions of his writing and running processes are enlightening and inspirational, and reveal a pleasing approach to life any reader can enjoy.

I am not a runner, but truly enjoy this book. This book is not necessarily about running, but about running one's life. It is not merely about running from the starting point to the finish line, but about the life-long pursuit to unify one's mind, body, and soul, while using running as a vehicle. Whatever one' vehicle is -- running, tennis, golf, quilting -- Murakami's superb book is enlightening.

I'm an enormous fan of Murakami's work, and I'm also a long distance runner and a budding triathlete, so this book was almost tailor made for me. I think if you fall into any one of those three buckets you will find this book compelling and enjoyable.

Murakami's insights into the significance of running in the lives of runners is perfect -- it's a very hard thing to articulate to the majority of people who think you are crazy for running and would never do so voluntarily.

Also, the autobiographical tidbits are a joy for Murakami fans: they feel like clues to some of the mysteries in his novels.

I'm not sure if I would take any training advice from Murakami, but I loved the book!

I enjoy Murakami's free flowing thought process which is the basis of this book and central to his novels. It is clear from this memoir that his central characters in his fictional works are closely based on the writer himself. I have read all his books that have been translated into English. I also have a copy of his book " Sydney" written around the olympic games in Sydney where I live . Unfortunately it is in Japanese and although I have studied Japanese my knowledge of the language is not nearly good enough to read it properly. I would very much appreciate it if the store could ask Murakami-san to get the book translated into english.
Murakami Fan
Gordon Conroy
Sydney Australia

My Sister-in-Law is a fan of Mr. Murakami's novels. For Christmas she decided to give me this book about running. Since I love running and love to read about my hobbies I gave it a shot. Truthfully, the book is more like reading a blog or diary of a runner. While it provided insight to the life of a writer and Mr. Murakami's growth as a writer, it did not provide much else. Unless you are a fan of his works I wouldn't expect much.

Murakami recounts his running life in Japan, Cambridge, and many races including an ultra and triathlons around the world. He reflects on ways that running has influenced his personal life and his writing.

An inspirational, yet short read! I received this book as a gift as I have always been interested in Murakami's work. This is a very different piece of literature than what he usually publishes, but was a good read nonetheless. I enjoyed seeing how running effected his writing life and vice versa. I also enjoyed his take on building his life and schedule around his passion. Early to bed, early to rise and put the miles behind! A look at the sport with one of literature's current master authors!

If Murakami had never written another novel after writing 'Norwegian Wood' he would have been a great writer.... Alas he did. Not that his other novels are bad as such. Some are even good. Others are mediocre. And his most recent novels seem to have been copies of other novels he wrote before. And as if he realized by himself that his recent novels are all much too similar to each other he has started to write semi autobiographical books, about the poison gas attack on the Tokyo subway or, now, about running.
These are not badly written, after all he is a good writer and a perceptive man. But much is missing. I had been looking forward, as an avid runner myself, to read the reflections of someone more perceptive than me, someone who might have another take on running than myself. Instead, I found a mixture of semi-baked philosophical thought and cliche observations. Yes, it sometimes rains when you run. And, yes, running a Marathon requires some self discipline. And, yes, stretching helps. And Mizuno shoes are good running shoes...
The book is a quick and nice read and I cannot claim that I disliked reading it. But afterwards there was nothing left. Popcorn for the mind.

As a marathonner, I am quite familiar with the challenges he met and the ideas he got. I just don't have the talent to put it into words. He said much more than what i experienced. Running is an attitude. Very delightful to read it.

I hate to say it, but this is probably the worst thing I've read by Murakami.

On paper--or rather, on the back of the paperback--it sounded like a sure thing; I'm a writer, and I've got a few marathons under my belt, and I was spellbound by the three other books I've read of his. So I thought I'd hit the trifecta when I pulled this off the shelf (at Border's--sorry, the store!) and saw that he'd written about writing and running.

And by and large, I felt a rush of excitement in the early chapters, a sensation not unlike the fresh lively feeling one gets at the start of a marathon, when the exhilaration far outweighs the effort that's been expended. It's fascinating, for instance, to read that he'd been the owner of a small jazz nightclub and hadn't had any particular ambitions to be a writer until he was in his 30s. I couldn't identify with that, but I could relate to his persistent attitude about writing. There's a romanticized notion of writers living the bad life, drinking and smoking and doing their best to churn out a great manuscript or two before their hard living catches up with them. (I've lived that life, but in my experience it doesn't necessarily make one a better writer, unless one's writing about what it feels like to drink and smoke, and that eventually makes for boring reading. This "But-Hemingway-did-it!" attitude often eventually becomes just an extra excuse to drink and smoke. Anyway, I digress.) It turns out that the lessons of physical fitness--persistence, mental toughness, goal-setting--can be far more useful and applicable to writing, a lesson Murakami and I have both apparently learned.

But those insights are, by and large, done by the midway point, and what remains is a long and boring slog. I've heard that a writer should never confuse how they feel about a story with how good the story actually is, and Murakami would have done well to heed this advice; his training efforts and race times were obviously near and dear and dear to his heart, but they make for rather unexciting reading. Also, his observations and analyses often come off as flat and uninspired; as an author, he's great at conjuring up memorably fantastic scenarios that still seem real, characters that feel full, and plots that work like a Swiss watch, but without the ability to make things up and take them in unexpected directions, he's reduced to stating banalities like "Nobody's going to win all the time. On the highway of life you can't always be in the fast lane."

To be fair, I'm possibly a little jealous. Murakami's enough of an established author that he could probably print out, say, every email he's sent in the last ten years, staple them together and call them a book, and sell a kajillion copies, whereas some of us are still toiling away in obscurity, unable to sell manuscripts over which we've slaved for years. But it seems even Murakami has the sense that this is a substandard work. After describing a disappointing performance at the Boston Marathon, he says, "This may be a sort of conclusion. An understated, rainy-day sneakers sort of conclusion. An anticlimax, if you will. Turn it into a screenplay, and the Hollywood producer would just glance at the last page and toss it back." Elsewhere, he mentions reworking the manuscript many times; while some amount of revision is obviously necessary, too much ends up leaving the writer with no sense of perspective on whether or not the work's any good. Like a jogger slogging towards the finish line, one ends up thinking about just getting the damn thing done with and resting for a while.

In lieu of this, I'd suggest getting Ann Lamott's "Bird by Bird," which doesn't have any fitness tips but is perhaps the best book I've ever read about writing. But if your desire to read is as automatic as Murakami's desire to run, you may end up picking this up anyway. And if you're anything like me you may end up turning the final page wearily, muttering the tired marathoner's frequent post-race lament: "Never again."

Murakami = rhythm; Haruki sings the blues.

He says: "The sad spreadsheet of my life.... reveals how much my debts far outweigh my assets." However, value is the inverse function of that depreciation...

The balance sheet measures depreciation of what he can count...but who he is he finds in the soaring wail of Rhapsody in Blue. He didn't stray from himself...and he didn't get stuck...

This book can get you close to the bottom line.

Like the author, I am both a novelist and a runner -- but he's far better at both than I will ever be. Murakami has run more than 30 marathons -- me just one. He's written numerous novels -- me just three (and two of those still to be published). So it was with great anticipation that I began this book.
I found it clearly written and engaging but disappointingly slight -- the kind of book an author writes to make a few extra bucks when he's become well-known and successful enough to sell just about anything on the strength of his past record and reputation.
There are a few nice observations about life and running and the connection between them and some mild philosophizing on encroaching old age and how to approach it. But in general, I had the sense that the author was as much hiding his true self as revealing it.
His description of writing his first novel is fairly typical. He's watching a baseball game (he gives the exact date) and it's the top of the second inning and someone gets a hit and at that precise moment, Murakami decides it would be fun to write a novel. A few months later, it's written; a few months after that, it's won a prize. Just like that, easy as pie.
Running is much the same. Occasionally there's some pain but mostly it comes easy, mile after mile after mile. He gives his muscles their marching orders and usually they obey. A couple of times, there are relative failures (in running but not in writing) and the legs seize up. But in general, no challenge is too great that it cannot be overcome.
As the book wore on, my general envy passed. One can't be jealous of Superman. At the end, I found myself regarding Murakami, not as a fellow runner and writer, but more of a phenomenon whose brain and body are constructed of different materials from mine.
And I found myself, while admiring him, also somehow disbelieving him.

This book was read so fast that I wanted more. Mr. Murakami taps into just how I feel when I am running. I have always wanted to be a writer, so it is kind of strange to find someone who does two things that I love like that. Plus, he is very descriptive and makes you feel like you are running along side of him, if not running in his place. This should be picked up by any runner, writer, or both

For those of us who love Murakami and harbor the desire to get to know the guy, _Running_ is sure to disappoint. He admits to being cold and distant--not a nice guy after all. And the mystery of the way he lives his life? Discipline, schedule, diet, and exercise. It's not exactly the cool Murakami I expected, but this book is full of inadvertently and reluctantly delivered sage wisdom. A good read if you run, and an excellent read if you write.

Read his short stories or novels. This is a runner's diary; there is not much related to writing or literature or his development as a writer, if that is what you're hoping to find. It also reads as a self-help book but it's not much in that respect either.

Murukami's books often hold a certain magical other-world quality to them. This doesn't - it's more of a biography with fairly low-level detail about his exercise habits. 3-stars, and that's only because I love running too.

This is a book full of wisdom. Wisdom aboiut running for sure. But also wisdom about like. Well written essays over many years the book charts the development of the writer as runner, but also the writer as person. A really good book and totally recommended.

Since I have run for years and suffered all the requisite injuries, this book struck a chord with me. Murakami explores the subject in depth bringing up points that are not instantly obvious No one will suffer from reading this more than once.

I was pretty disappointed with this book. I've never read any of Murakami's other works and this wasn't a good first impression. I found the writing dull and the running stories to be more self-indulgent than inspirational.

I was disappointed with this memoir. The only thing I got from this book was his preternatural gift for running. He doesn't stretch, never gets sick, and has never been injured! I enjoy his novels, and had hoped he would have something insight to say about the transcendence of long distance running. He didn't deliver.
I recommend the New Yorker article over the book, which is totally worth reading.

I have not read any of Murakami's novels (this may change soon), but in his short stories he often employs subtle nostalgia for his characters' pasts. Often this nostalgia blurs the line with philosophy, and after reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, it became apparent why Murakami enjoys crafting his fiction this way: his style of writing mirrors his perspective on life. After traveling the world, training for and participating in marathons and triathlons, Murakami wants to share his runner's experiences and how they have molded him and his perspective on life. He presents us with a thought-provoking and entertaining narrative (some of it culled from journal entries and old magazines articles he wrote years ago, but most of it original stuff).

The book is 1/3 travelogue, 1/3 self-help, and 1/3 runners guide. We read about the running environments and typical weather patterns where Murakami has trained: New York, Boston, Japan, Greece. We read about the mental discipline and courage it takes to be a long-distance runner. But, most of all, subtly emerging on each page, we read about Murakami the philosopher. His favorite topic is the merciless and stubborn passage of time and its effects on the body and mind. He writes candidly about his thoughts on training as he grows older (Murakami was in his late 50s when he wrote much of the book). He writes about what he thinks about as he runs (ususally nothing); he writes about discipline. To paraphrase one of Murakami's favorite quotes (I forget the source): "...pain is inevitable; suffering is optional."

Murakami tells us that he was neither a natural novelist nor runner. He has had to work hard at both, but both are things which require a steady effort, skills with which Murakami prides himself. As we read along, we learn about Murakami's start as a novelist, his love for baseball, his strong character, and how he applied his strong character to defy his friends and relatives and open a restaurant, become a writer, and eventually, a marathon runner (even once running a 62-mile ultra-marathon). He had opened a restaurant before he became a writer, but one day, after the success of his first novel, he decided to close the restaurant and become a professional writer. It was at this time when he also decided to start running and quit smoking (in that order).

Although the chronology of the book might be a little out of order (the book is not structured chronologically), and this might throw a few more traditional readers, this wasn't a problem. The translation seemed genuine (although I can't read Japanese!), as the translator kept all of the little Murakami-isms one would expect: little phrases such as "...as I mentioned before," or little tangents into the second person. The style remains informal throughout.

Despite its ostensible subject matter (running), this is a book for everyone, because its real subject matter is not about running -- it's about how Murakami gathers meaning from life. Using a master's touch, he shows us how this meaning derives from his simple act of running each day. I, for one, became inspired.

Though a well-intentioned tribute to the significance of running in the author's life, the narrative lacks both depth and insight. Still, it is not without value, and makes for a pleasant (though somewhat tame) read. Readers looking for a more gratifying read on running, however, should try Benjamin Cheever's "Strides: Running Through History With An Unlikely Athlete."

I have read about half of Murakami's novel and love them all for their unique perspective and deep insight. With the caveat that I am not a long distance runner, I found this book disappointing. It is very mundane compared to Murakami's other writing. I would recommend any of his novels over this book.

We have the misfortune of being trapped in the era of the 'memoir'. And apparently, tragically everyone's got one in them. It's pretty amazing this writer deemed his musings worthy of publication. This book isn't painful. But it becomes dreadfully dull, like being forced to read someone's diary. Holy god. The 'process' he describes is what you do- what anybody does- to clear your head and move on to the next thing. Obviously this is helpful to many readers of this book. But its usefullness is something of a head scratcher. What I got out of it is a huge ego stroke for the author. If they're lining up to hear his most basic thoughts there's no way he can get his head through a doorway anymore. And that's actually going to interfere with his real work.

Mr. Murakami writes this memoir in a way that really helps you see how he thinks; and you can see how full of himself he is. He writes about how he runs every day, which is difficult for most people with busy lives to do, and how impressed people are when they find out he runs every day -- even though his full time job is to write about other books he's written, and how many miles he's run this week. Then he writes about how dedicated he was able to be to continue his training after returning from vacation to his supposedly busy life, which sounds like a light schedule for most normal working people. And when he writes about writing he says the most important quality required to be a novelist is talent. No matter how much energy and willpower you have, if you don't have talent, you can't be a writer. It's like "If you don't have any fuel, even the best car won't run." Well said, by a talentless writer who can't even make a metaphor. Maybe it's better to say: no matter how much energy you have for running, you can't be a writer if your metaphors are backwards.

I had heard great things about Murakami before picking up this book - being in Japan for a term I figured knowledge of a canonized Japanese writer and some insight into the Japanese thought process would be pretty valuable. God Dammit. Poor translation (I really hope it WAS a translation), contrived metaphor (this includes and abundance of cliches) and little to no real, valuable insight left me wondering why this author is so popular. If you want an "inspiring" easy read, this book may be for you. If you're already a fan, sticking to his fiction may be for the best. 1400 yen and little to show.

This acclaimed novelist has written a very shallow and sadly vacuous book about what he calls running. Really the book is a paean to the author's "iron will" (there's an attractive quality) and is likely a cash grab to trade on his fame. Runners will find little of use here - Murakami's ideas about training and tactics (even for a very modest athlete) are deficient and unproductive. His experiences, which are very smooth by most running standards, are uninspiring. He often sounds spoilt and peevish, and is consistently humourless. He seems to have little in the way of a family to assist him in his education about himself - to make him laugh or puncture his huge ego.
From a runner's point of view, however, the big disappointment is his lack of the true runner's experience - the beyond the world forgetting that comes with distance. My training tip? I think that he should take off his headphones and listen to himself.

The publishing world has a (monetary) fondness for pushing non-fiction books by fiction writers on us, hoping to capitalize on the author's readership. Stephen King's lovely tome about writing worked. This, Murakami's book on running, did not. I, too, am a middle-aged long-distance runner but found little insight or comfort of either subject in these pages. If you want to read something of depth about running, life, and aging, buy any one of George Sheehan's books instead.

Like many people I love Murakami. I don't have 1 favorite. It can be Windup chronicles, Kafka on the shore, Dance dance dance or even Hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world. Yet, if you do like Murakami like me and don't want to be disappointed. I strongly suggest you avoid this book. It's autobiographic and has nothing of that magic of his fictional books. The only reason to read this book is when you run like he runs. If you want to read about other people preparing for a marathon this book has some insights you want to know about. If you don't run long distances and just like literature in general and/or specifically Murakami avoid this book. Don't spoil your feelings/associations/recollections by reading this book. Preserve Murakami as you know him!

Absolutely the worst book ever written by a (formerly)major writer. Honestly, it is incredible that someone could possibly have been paid to "write" this 180-page scribble. But then publishing is like the Mob: once you're in, you're in. (Or you're dead.)

Open a page, any page. Page 24:

"It's August 14th, a Sunday. This morning I ran an hour and fifteen minutes listening to Carla Thomas and Otis Redding on my MD player. In the afternoon I swam 1,400 yards at the pool and in the evening swam at the beach. And after that I had dinner--beer and fish--at the Hanalea Dolphin Restaurant just outside the town of Hanalea. [Really?] The dish I have is walu, a kind of white fish. They grill it for me over charcoal, and I eat it with soy sauce. The side dish is vegetable kababs, plus a large salad."

No desert?

Page 139:

"There were torrential rains in parts of [Japan], and a lot of people died. They say it's all because of global warming. Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. Some experts claim it is, some claim it isn't. There's some proof that it is, some proof that it isn't. But still people say that most of the problems the earth is facing are, more or less, due to global warming. When sales of apparel go down, when tons of driftwood wash up on the shore, when there are floods and droughts, when consumer prices go up, most of the fault is scribed to global warming. What the world needs is a set villain that people can point at and say, 'It's all your fault!'"

Wow. If only Karl Marx had such understanding.

88:

"Young girls in revealing bikinis are sunbathing in beach towels, listening to their Walkmen or iPods. An ice cream van stops and sets up shop. Someone's playing a guitar, an old Neil Young tune, and a long-haired dog is single-mindedly chasing a Frisbee. A Democrat psychiatrist(at least that's who I think he is) drives along the river road in a russet-colored Saab convertible."

A Democrat psychiatrist -- "a least that's who I think he is". Since Murakami, long ago, stopped being able to perceive anyone beyond his or her Yuppie externals, how interesting. As Truman Capote once said of Kerouac "This isn't writing. It's typing."

And this, from page 99:

"If possible, I'd like to avoid ... literary burnout. My idea of literature is something more spontaneous, more cohesive, something with a kind of natural, positive vitality. For me, writing a novel is like climbing a mountain, struggling up the face of the cliff, reaching the summit after a long and arduous ordeal. . . That's my aim as a novelist. And besides, at this point I don't have the leisure to be burned out. Which is exactly why even though people say 'He's no artist,' I keep on running."

Literary burnout?? This guy's become a cross between one of Billy Crystal's writing students in "Throw Momma from the Train" and John Cassavetes at the end of "The Fury". Burnout? How about an explosion from within?

What happened? For me, "Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" not only remains one of the great late-20th Century novels, but one of most important books for me privately. I was lucky enough to find it(or it found me) during a time of brutal divorce. I read the book three times and it really did help me to grieve. And there are other lovely achievements: "Sputnik Sweetheart", "South of the Border" and the short story masterpiece "Tony Takitani". I think what happened to Murakami is right here in this flyspeck of a running book: the man revels in his own navel-gazing narcissism. Has there been a writer as in love with his own thought process as Murakami evidently is? Okay, sure: Mailer, Miller, Lawrence, Henry James, Simone Weil, Goethe. But in Murakami's case, we're talking about a meatball mind. The man seems to be very hip to the notion that one must push one's strengths and forget about what one was not blessed with. And when his beautiful craft and strangeness carried the day, he produced beautiful things. Since things began to fall apart at about the same time he became a Big Time Literary Celebrity, whatever balance he once had between the unconscious magic of creation and his own "ideas" was trashed. And trash is what he's produced since.

But he sure knows his audience -- as self-involved and as incapable(or unwilling) to engage something outside themselves as is Murakami. He knows the happiness or sadness of every muscle in his body. Yet what about fatherhood, Haru-san? You've been married to the same lovely devoted woman since you were both in college, and you have all the yen in the world. Where are your children? Instead of wasting time on 62-mile Ubermarathons, try helping the poor. Try fighting in a war. Maybe try homelessness for a month, sort of a modern day "Sullivan's Travels". Prison helps the soul, so they say. Try it.

Anything. But stop eating your damn walu.