What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: Amazon.co.uk: Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel: Books

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`wonderfully written account' --The Daily Mail Christmas Books

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`comical, charming and philosophical...excellent memoir'

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38 Reviews

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4.1 out of 5 stars (38 customer reviews)

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109 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen running, Zen writing, 10 Aug 2008

By	emma who reads a lot (London) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Haruki Murakami has run for his entire writing life, taking it up when he realised that the sedentary existence of a novelist was making him fat; he has eventually tackled more than twenty-five marathons, half-marathons aplenty, and even one gruelling 100 kilometre "ultra-marathon" whose odd spiritual benefits are described here in satisfying detail.

His simple approach to running is set down on the page with great skill and grace. But is it a hobby? An obsession? A way to keep fit? Or something more spiritual and meaningful? You can't help plumping for the latter when you read this book, so evocative and powerful are his thoughts on the way in which running requires tenacity, persistence, and a willingness to make the mind and body do things they don't really want to do. Running becomes a way of talking about all the difficulties of life - self-discipline, lack of willpower, the need for consistency.

On the other hand, he's also fantastic on the joys and delights of running: a "very attractive" young Japanese runner who smiles at him everyday on his Tokyo circuit; the mists of the wintry Charles river in Boston; a quick turn around Central Park reservoir in the company of fellow novelist John Irving.

If you aren't even slightly interested in running the book still has something to offer. It goes into detail about his philosophy of life, and he gives his thoughts about being a writer, which is intriguing for anyone who's read his strange and delightful fiction. But in the end I kept thinking about Zen buddhism - not a subject he directly touches upon. But there is something Zen about the simplicity with which he is determined to live his life, eliminating people he doesn't really want to see, pursuing single-mindedly his time and distance goals as a running, admitting that he really prefers just being on his own. The book is charming, completely thought-provoking, and I think very profound. You might even put on your trainers and go for a run after you read it. I have to admit, I did.

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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lonliness Of A Long Distance Writer, 30 Sep 2008

By	pjr (London, England) - See all my reviews

Anyone who knows anything of Murakmi's work should be aware that a book about running written by him won't just be a book about running. Short, but never slight, the book muses on many subjects from memory, to why he started writing, perfecting a swimming technique, to some of the best music to run to. All written in Murakmi's own distinctive voice.

Whatever he writes about this is Murakami's voice you're hearing. There is insight into the kind of person he is and also the kind of person runners are. There is plenty of running here and at times it does almost feel like the book has been written at the pace of a long run as its energy is brisk yet economical. For anyone looking for a big novel, it's not here. For anyone who wants a look into the world of a man who likes to write and run and tell you about it there's enough here to keep you entertained for a while.

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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I know how he feels, 16 Aug 2008

By	M. J. Mooney "villafan82" (Leeds, West Yorkshire) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well I'm coming at this from he opposite direction from Emma (above), but I agree with her assessment of the book.

As a 50-something runner and lover of Murakami's novels I found this fascinating - read it in one sitting (well, lying - it was an overnight hospital stay).

Recmmended for runners and couch potatoes alike.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Road Runner. Good.
Try venturing inside the mind of a middle-aged Japanese man with an addiction to long-distance running. The experience will be far more enjoyable than you may imagine. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Dublinia

4.0 out of 5 stars nice
this is a pleasant easy read from Haruki Murakami. It follows him through training for one specific marathon, whilst recounting many other marathons, triathalons and even an... Read more

Published 1 month ago by L. Beer

4.0 out of 5 stars If you want to know what it feels like to run an ultra marathon...
... without actually moving from your chair, then this is the book for you. I was horribly mesmerised by Murakami's vivid account of what it feels like to run an ultra marathon... Read more

Published 2 months ago by lilysmum

4.0 out of 5 stars What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
`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... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Spider Monkey

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the essence of obsessive running for pleasure
A short, pleasant, relatively easy read (for a Murakami).
I found he articulated many of the feelings and emotions that I have felt as a middle-aged semi-obsessive runner... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Pete Lanc

3.0 out of 5 stars Surprised people love this book
Coming from a perspective of a marathon runner who has never heard of or read any of Murakami's novels, I found this book was not quite what I expected or wanted. Read more

Published 3 months ago by evilbendyone

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond running
Others have said Haruki Murakami uses running as a metaphor for the process of writing, and whilst there are parallels, I disagree; running is used as a metaphor for life - those... Read more

Published 3 months ago by John Boy

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much of a gentle jog
I've not read any of Murakami's novels, nor have I seen him run, but this gentle philosophical jog gives a good impression of both his art and sport. Read more

Published 4 months ago by C. Young

4.0 out of 5 stars quite interesting but not sheepish

If you want a little personal history and motivation it'll deliver but strangely you're left knowing less about the author than you would if you read one of his novels.

Published 4 months ago by Maccoll Hamish

4.0 out of 5 stars Inside track
I had heard about this book some time ago and since I have taken up running recently I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Read more

Published 5 months ago by M. Johnson

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	89% buy the item featured on this page: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running 4.1 out of 5 stars (38)
	3% buy Kafka on the Shore 4.2 out of 5 stars (81) �5.57
	3% buy Norwegian Wood 4.1 out of 5 stars (105) �5.08
	3% buy Born to Run: The hidden tribe, the ultra-runners, and the greatest race the world has never seen: The Rise of Ultra-running and the Super-athlete Tribe 4.8 out of 5 stars (26) �10.17

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