If you are a runner, this book will be like intersecting with your own thoughts in someone else's head. I love the plain language and tranquility in this book; the acceptance that to accomplish anything you must work tirelessly at it; and that anything is possible. An easy read but an important one, too. I haven't read Murakami's fiction but am interested to "meet" his voice in a fiction book vs. this memoir.

As a dedicated believer in the virtues of a life spent firmly attached to the sofa, the nearest I'm ever likely to come to running a marathon is running a bath. Haruki Murakami's memoir of his marathon-running exploits may, therefore, seem like an odd choice of book for a couch potato like me. Just the descriptions of some of the things he has put his body through were enough to bring me out in a sweat. An ultra marathon anyone? In fact if anyone else had written this book I wouldn't have given it a second glance, but this is Haruki Murakami - probably my favourite current author. Since reading The Wind Up Bird Chronicle I've raced through the author's novels and short stories and am so enamoured that I'm moving on to the non-fiction works that I probably wouldn't otherwise read. While I can't say that What I Talk About When I Talk About Running left me with the same sense of wonder that his fiction does, I can say that it gave me an insight into the way Mr Murakami approaches his life and his writing. My favourite snippet of information from the book? The fact that when the author was translating John Irving's Setting Free the Bears into Japanese the only way the two could find the time to meet up was to go running together. Now if only I could eavesdrop on that conversation even I might be persuaded to pull on a pair of running shoes. ( )

enjoyable. i like murakami's non-fiction and wish he'd write more. i like reading about how he finds ideas for his writing. ( )

This book provides enjoyable inspiration not only regarding running but on writing and life in general without being cheesy. Highly recommended for runners and non-runners alike. ( )

As with any book of Murakami's, this was really easy and relaxing to read. It was interesting to read a non-fiction work by him, too, especially such an autobiographical one. It's really a series of essays about running, how he took up the habit and his training for and participation in marathons and triathlons.

I don't really have much interest in running marathons, but reading this book definitely put me in the mood to go outside and do some exercise. ( )