Name: What I Talk about When I Talk about Running
Rating: 3.914666666666667 (375 reviews)
ISBN: 9781433243882

Haruki Murakami

Reader: To be announced

What I Talk about When I Talk about Running

Sven Schmidt

From the best-selling author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and After Dark, a rich and revelatory memoir about writing and running, and the integral impact both have made on his life. In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Haruki Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he’d completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, not to mention triathlons and a slew of critically acclaimed books, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and–even more important–on his writing. Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and includes settings ranging from Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston among young women who outpace him. Through this marvellous lens of sport emerges a cornucopia of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his greatest triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after the age of fifty, of seeing his race times improve and then fall back. By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is both for fans of this masterful yet guardedly private writer and for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running.

A Memoir

thya

Tiff W

Feb 5, 2024 <br />A great first introduction to Murakami, and an encouraging read as an aspiring runner and writer! Will be taking a lot of his thoughts with me as I train for my first half marathon, and setting time to write for myself apart from my writing job.<br /><br />Notes from second reading Dec 15, 2025<br />Rereading this after my first full marathon, feels like everything is coming full circle! Fell in love with Murakami’s fiction after reading this memoir last year, and have done so much more running since then. Pretty much agree with his philosophy to running and writing, that it requires both discipline and focus, that our minds and bodies can be trained to accomplish these tasks. Have visited the Murakami Library at Waseda twice since reading this, love getting to know Murakami as more than a writer but also as a runner, jazz enthusiast and teacher.

In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he’d 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 important—on his writing.

Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and takes us to places ranging from Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston among young women who outpace him. Through this marvelous lens of sport emerges a panorama of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his greatest triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after fifty, of seeing his race times improve and then fall back.

By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is rich and revelatory, both for fans of this masterful yet guardedly private writer and for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in running.

a memoir

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

The first nonfiction book I read by Murakami. I related to this man on so many levels, from sleeping schedule to humor to an obsession with the things we love. I may not be ready for read his fictional work yet, but this was a great introduction to his philosophy on running and the writing process. Would recommend to anyone looking for relatability on how writing and running intersects and complement each other. 

Ivy Chen

Very insightful book. But I guess I was   hoping that there would be deeper parallels between running and novel writing, this was probably not the point really. Nevertheless it was very interesting, and helps get a grasp of Murakami’s psychology. It also helps understand what running as a lifelong discipline really means. This, as an amateur runner, was particularly interesting. One other things is that I regret not reading more of his books before this one, which is what I will do now, and maybe revisit this book with a new perspective. 

Owen Kasparian

"In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing.

Equal parts travelogue, training log, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and settings range from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston. Funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a must-read for fans of this masterful yet private writer as well as for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running."

What I talk about when I talk about running

Murakami is so full of it and also a climate denier(?). He depicts himself as the most boring normal person while have a superhuman level of willpower and self reflection. It’s very Murakami. Average Murakami: “I became a writer when I decided to write a book just because I felt like it” … “other writers have an unlimited supply of creativity but not me I have to work incredibly hard at it” 

Finn James

first murakamis book ive read thats not overtly horny:) as a novice endurance runner this gives me a lot of perspectives to hear from someone whos been doing it his entire life. the struggles, disappointments, and the joy of running captured so well in these proses, to quote my favourite piece:

'most runners run because they want to live life to the fullest. If you are going to while away the years, its far better to live them with clear goals than in a fog, and i believe running helps you do that'

mimi nguyen

first murakamis book ive read thats not overtly horny:) as a novice endurance runner this gives me a lot of perspectives to hear from someone whos been doing it his entire life. the struggles, disappointments, and the joy of running captured so well in these proses, to quote my favourite piece:

'most runners run because they want to live life to the fullest. If you are going to while away the years, its far better to live them with clear goals than in a fog, and i believe running helps you do that'

Cosy and well paced like long distance running. Beautifully written.

Cassandra Tang

As someone who has only run once in their life… this book was very interesting. Some parts felt a little repetitive but I loved the chapters about Greece, very engrossing!! Nice short read.

gracie

I’m no runner. At least not a long-distance runner. But this was more than about just running. 

Pratik M

I knew the book was going to be a memoir kind of thing. It was really interesting to see a different side of a person for something he is not known for. I loved some of the chapters about running marathons. I did my first 10k this year and the way he wrote about running marathons was so well that it felt like I was literally there watching it happening. This was my first murakami book and i want to read more now.

Rutik 

I knew the book was going to be a memoir kind of thing. It was really interesting to see a different side of a person for something he is not known for. I loved some of the chapters about running marathons. I did my first 10k this year and the way he wrote about running marathons was so well that it felt like I was literally there watching it happening. This was my first murakami book and i want to read more now.



Such a wonderful book, makes me want to try and do a triathlon ☺️

Patrick Arminio

Interesting insights into Murikami through his ritual of running. Even as a runner I didn’t find him the most relatable and don’t feel like the book left me with much wisdom or takeaways. It’s more of a diary about his rather anticlimactic experience with running over the course of a few years. Beautifully written. 

Jacob Hopkins

An intimate look at writing, running, and the incredible way they intersect, from the incomparable, bestselling author Haruki Murakami. --publisher.

What I Talk about when I Talk about Running

always interesting to get a glimpse inside murakami's head

amelo

Not incredible, but the traditional truisms about a healthy creative life and the audio book is good company. Listened to a lot of it while actually running

Farah Aisha Shabrina

BESTTTT BOOK of the (1/3) year, but i’m sure it’ll still be the best book i’ve read until the end of this year, or ever. not just about running tips and stuff, the memoir also shares contemplation on mundane things that we do, according to Murakami, can be meditative acts if we keep them long enough. as a person who keeps failing to stick to routine(😭) i was encouraged by the book. i sense a delicate nudge in me, a slight-but-profound revelation. i love how the book is not trying to lecture us readers about being a healthier, more productive human being, but to be more aware of how we see ourselves & how we want to live our lives💯👍 bonus point: it contains many life lessons (from the life of Murakami himself) that we can learn from

p.s i’m the living proof of a 10K finisher after (although not straight after) reading the book😭✋ am not bragging but it is what it is. it is all because of Mr. Murakami🏃‍♀️🤍

Cece Page

A collection of meditations written from various races, training runs, and just runs for the fun of it. This will only be appealing to you if you’re a runner and even more so, if you have a creative career in any way. I personally loved a lot of Murakami’s philosophies on running, progressing, creating, and starting again, etc. I have many similar trains of thought while I run and/or create. Good book and quick easy read :)

jess

Memoir + Murakami = utter happiness. Whatever respect I had for Haruki Murakami as a writer - which is (beyond) considerable - it is as nothing to the depth of my bow down before the Japanese novelist on discovering that he has run an ultramarathon. His description of the physical and mental agonies as he struggled to complete the 62-mile course, followed by the near-religious experience of the last few miles, when he knew he was going to finish, is one of the highlights of what he calls "a kind of memoir". Non-running readers of his novels will probably ask: "Why on earth did he run 62 miles when he knew it would hurt so much?" Runners ask a different question: "Why have I never done that?" This book is in some ways the story of the workings of Murakami's mind, dressed up as a book about running. Maybe he doesn't want to do a more standard autobiography. He should. He is a fine writer, and an interesting man. As I closed this slim volume, I was left wanting to know more about him, not less, also let my adoration for him to go beyond limits!. Then I went for a run and tried to imagine what the last half-hour of a 62-mile run would be like. He knows, and I'm jealous.

Haritlak Thawikasikam

The only Murakami's book that i can't engage. Anyway, Murakami obsession still work for me.

In a best-selling memoir, the award-winning Japanese writer recalls his preparation for the 2005 New York City marathon, interweaving his reflections on the meaning of running in his life, his thoughts on the writing process and career, and his greatest triumphs and disappointments. Reprint.

Laura Mauler

I was disappointed in this book. The writing felt so amateurish and unpolished, like a collection of stream of conscious notes that were in the process of being turned into a first draft. He repeated points over and over within paragraphs as well as throughout the book, over-explaining and in the process killing the vitality of the ideas. Also, there was the big problem that the book didn't make any point - it felt like listening to a very detailed and long-winded description of a mildly interesting person's day.

‘Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional’ A compelling mediation on the power of running and a fascinating insight into the life of this internationally bestselling writer. In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing. Equal parts travelogue, training log and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and settings ranging from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston. By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, this is a must-read for fans of this masterful yet private writer as well as for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running. 'There can never have been a book quite like this memoir of running and writing before. In its self-contained way, it's nothing less than an inspiration' Evening Standard 'Hugely enjoyable...You don't have to have run a marathon to be captivated' Sunday Telegraph 'Comical, charming and philosophical...an excellent memoir' GQ

Bilge Ince

If you’re looking for an inspiration to run, this is not the book you’re looking for. At least it’s not to me, more like a diary with random thoughts and memories of running and nothing more.

Loaned by Mariana, post Frauenlauf, perhaps in an attempt to inspire me to train for a half marathon (still unsure if I have the drive/focus for this).

Great Sunday afternoon read. I particularly liked how Murakami explains the physical and emotional feeling of running long distances, and how that changes over time. It's part memoir, which also makes it enjoyable to follow.

My favourite quote - "Sometimes I run fast when I feel like it, but if I increase the pace I shorten the amount of time i run, the point being to let the exhilaration I feel at the end of each run carry over to the next day. This is the same sort of tack I find necessary when writing a novel. I stop every day right at the point where I feel I can write more. Do that, and the next day's work goes surprisingly smoothly". 

g.m.

Loaned by Mariana, post Frauenlauf, perhaps in an attempt to inspire me to train for a half marathon (still unsure if I have the drive/focus for this).

Great Sunday afternoon read. I particularly liked how Murakami explains the physical and emotional feeling of running long distances, and how that changes over time. It's part memoir, which also makes it enjoyable to follow.

My favourite quote - "Sometimes I run fast when I feel like it, but if I increase the pace I shorten the amount of time i run, the point being to let the exhilaration I feel at the end of each run carry over to the next day. This is the same sort of tack I find necessary when writing a novel. I stop every day right at the point where I feel I can write more. Do that, and the next day's work goes surprisingly smoothly". 



Fell even more in love with this excessively selfcritical sweetheart.

Klára Kováčiková 

it's like murakami is writing me a love letter at this point 

What I Talk about When I Talk about Running

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