What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

Apr 29, 2010 Ben rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

"Nothing in the real world is as beautiful as the illusions of a person about to lose consciousness."

Murakami's mind has always fascinated me; that he transcends the normal and dull, spreading them into a realistic, dreamlike, colorful, soulful reality, amazes me. And I think when most of us read someone that fascinates and/or amazes us, we want to know what that person is like -- what makes him or her tick. And obviously we're almost always disappointed: an amazing mind doesn't equal an amazing...more

"Nothing in the real world is as beautiful as the illusions of a person about to lose consciousness."

Murakami's mind has always fascinated me; that he transcends the normal and dull, spreading them into a realistic, dreamlike, colorful, soulful reality, amazes me. And I think when most of us read someone that fascinates and/or amazes us, we want to know what that person is like -- what makes him or her tick. And obviously we're almost always disappointed: an amazing mind doesn't equal an amazing person: an interesting mind doesn't equal an interesting person. Who can live up to the novel they write? If the novel is any good, it's impossible. Life is like that: full of disillusionment. What takes place in our imagination sure as hell beats "reality". And yet we go through moment to moment thinking we're living in reality-- but really we aren't: Why else do we all disagree so much? We're all living in our own alternate realities and no two are the same.

Getting into a "runner's zone" is an experience in which you immerse yourself in your own reality while simultaneously escaping "reality" by seeming to look down at it and poke fun of it from afar. During this time your own reality is a directly elevated version of itself; a mimicked but increased version -- full of, and due to -- pain and body awareness. While this is happening your consciousness -- while in part far more adeptly aware than normal (because of the pain) – also seems to float away, allowing you to view your reality from high above. All together, you feel how silly everything is: how intense it all is: how lacking it all is: how everything it all is. And you feel....and you float. And you realize how very much the body and mind are connected, and that patience really is a dear virtue. Life itself is enhanced.

"Emotional hurt is the price a person has to pay in order to be independent."

One thing I really like about running is how individualistic it is. You choose where you run; you choose when you run; you choose your own pace; you don't have to worry about getting hit in the head with a ball; no asshole is going to wrestle you to the ground or kick you in the shins: you are by yourself in every important way. It's all you. You listen to yourself, the inner rumblings of your mind and body; you get to know pain and pleasure at their extremes. It's all within you: your choice, your body, your consciousness.

We know the world better by knowing ourselves better. And let's be honest: you is all you'll ever be able to trust. You was there from the start and is there now. And you is all there ever was and ever will be.
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Aug 11, 2008 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: writing runners; running writers; probably no one else, really

Shelves: phys-ed

I'm a bit baffled by how anyone who's not a distance runner could possibly be interested in this book, but I personally got a lot out of it. This is in spite of the fact that I'm not a Murakami girl, and honestly didn't enjoy the style of this book at all. I always feel when I'm reading him that I've somehow wound up with a crappy translation, but then I realize that I'm reading the same version as all the English-only Murakami lovers out there, so apparently I just don't like the way he writes....more I'm a bit baffled by how anyone who's not a distance runner could possibly be interested in this book, but I personally got a lot out of it. This is in spite of the fact that I'm not a Murakami girl, and honestly didn't enjoy the style of this book at all. I always feel when I'm reading him that I've somehow wound up with a crappy translation, but then I realize that I'm reading the same version as all the English-only Murakami lovers out there, so apparently I just don't like the way he writes. Still, I did enjoy this book, and I've given it four stars because I've found since finishing that it's really helped me with my own running. Now when I'm out there pounding the pavement, I think of Murakami and some things he wrote about, and it keeps me going. That's just what I'm after with these exercise books!

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running covers three main themes: running, writing, and growing older. This last was sort of a surprise, and was where I drew a large and unexpected amount of comfort, not exclusively related to running. Murakami was in his early thirties when he sold his jazz bar to write a first novel, and he took up distance running around that time. If Murakami can change careers, quit smoking, start running marathons regularly, and become a writer beloved of everyone in the world except for me, well then.... there's hope still for all of us! My life isn't necessarily decided yet, just because I'm nearing thirty. So now when I'm out running, I like to fantasize that I'm a sort of Haruki Murakami/Tilda Swinton figure, who's quit my job in social work to devote myself to my writing career. When I'm not on sabbatical in Hawaii, I live in a sprawling Manhattan castle with my older husband, younger boyfriend, and adorable children, and I take these long, rambling runs through the city to clear my mind for the novel-writing that sustains our unconventional and extremely good-looking family. I am currently at work on a sort of vanity project, this book about exercise called Where I'm Running From, which chronicles my personal journey from indolent vice to literary genius.... I know not all my adoring fans will necessarily enjoy this unconventional little piece, but if it helps a few poor schlumps discover the benefits of running, well then my work is not in vain!

I ran 15 miles yesterday, and not a few of those can be dedicated to Murakami, who really isn't a bad running buddy at all, as far as things go. Running is a solitary sport, which is why I like it, and Murakami understands and in some ways ameliorates the legendary loneliness of the long-distance runner. This is why I'm giving it four stars, even though I thought it was badly written. Again, I don't quite see how anyone who isn't a distance runner could get much from this book, and in fact I got bored towards the end when he started talking about triathlons, as I personally don't swim or bike. I do think non-runners could appreciate the description of his ultra-marathon, which was luridly fascinating to me as someone who would never consider running 62 miles and who believes people who do this sort of thing are complete mental cases. However, the main appeal of this book was in being able to relate to it. Murakami wrote about running, writing, and growing older in a way that made me feel better equipped to slog through all three of these often exhausting activities.... that's no small thing!(less)

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Apr 29, 2013 Zenmoon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Murakami, or sports fans

Shelves: murakami, memoir

As a non-runner, this is likely to be the one and only book I’ll ever read about running so it’s just as well it’s written by Murakami. This is my second read of it (yes really … non-runner) and it’s a lot less about writing than I remember it. Until he writes a memoir dedicated to an analysis of his life and his work though (if ever), barring discussing it in articles, this is probably the closest I’ll get. Reading this is proof positive that I’ll read anything written by this man, though I’d h...more

As a non-runner, this is likely to be the one and only book I’ll ever read about running so it’s just as well it’s written by Murakami. This is my second read of it (yes really … non-runner) and it’s a lot less about writing than I remember it. Until he writes a memoir dedicated to an analysis of his life and his work though (if ever), barring discussing it in articles, this is probably the closest I’ll get. Reading this is proof positive that I’ll read anything written by this man, though I’d have had to draw the line if he’d been into steroid-free weight lifting or deep sea bass fishing. Truly, I would have.

Having read this again, I’m jealous. This man is – cue capitals - DISCIPLINED … which is why he’s fit and has written a raft of novels, and I’m not/haven’t, and am surrounded by chocolate bars and empty word documents.

Murakami opens his dual-focussed memoir in Hawaii in 2005. At the time, he’s involved in a number of projects, including translating Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby and the works of Raymond Carver. The title of this memoir pays homage to Carver, echoing one of his defining pieces of fiction, What we Talk about When we Talk about Love.

Once again, here we see Murakami’s trademark straight-forward writing style as he details his passion for running, and discusses how this discipline intersects with his dedication towards writing. As he says, he wrote this in order to determine just what running means to him, reminding me of Flannery O’Connor’s famous dictum, ‘I write to see what I have to say’. What emerges here are Murakami’s patterns of solitude – through running, by the act of writing – and this in itself sheds some light on his tendency towards often desolate characters in his fiction.

"Sometimes, however, this sense of isolation, like acid spilling out of a bottle, can unconsciously eat away a person's heart and dissolve it. You could see it, too, as a kind of double-edged sword. It protects me, but at the same time steadily cuts away at me from the inside. I think in my own way I'm aware of this danger - probably through experience - and that's why I've had to constantly keep my body in motion, in some cases pushing myself to the limit, in order to heal the loneliness I feel inside ..."

There are lengthy descriptions of the effects on his body, mind, and wider life, of participation in several major marathons, including, sadly, Boston. It also details his unwavering pragmatism: 'If I wanted to have a long life as a novelist, I needed to find a way to keep fit and maintain a healthy weight'. God, he's so sensible. My Dad would have loved me to have brought this guy home.

This is truly only a memoir for fans of him and his fiction, or running, though. If you happen to like both then you’ll have hit the jackpot.
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Aug 13, 2008 Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An ideal book for writer runners (or running writers), but also probably worth it for non-running/non-writing readers as there's enough straight talk and suggestion about serious themes: enduring pain, aging, the importance of routine, self-awareness/alertness. Quick, lean, honest, at times amazing, occasionally mundane, definitely worthwhile. BUT WAIT! The really cool thing about this book is that it's also about authority. Murukami has run +25 marathons (including a +62-mile supermarathon) and...more An ideal book for writer runners (or running writers), but also probably worth it for non-running/non-writing readers as there's enough straight talk and suggestion about serious themes: enduring pain, aging, the importance of routine, self-awareness/alertness. Quick, lean, honest, at times amazing, occasionally mundane, definitely worthwhile. BUT WAIT! The really cool thing about this book is that it's also about authority. Murukami has run +25 marathons (including a +62-mile supermarathon) and written several novels. He's repeatedly done very difficult things to do. It makes sense to listen up when someone like him talks about what he talks about when he talks about how he's sucessfully spent his life. Some seem to object that this book wouldn't have been published by an unpublished author. But the deal is it COULDN'T HAVE BEEN WRITTEN by anyone else.

This second paragraph is more a review of a book review than a review of a book: I just read Geoff Dyer's kind of idiotic review in Sunday's Book Review. It's sort of idiotic because half of it is sort of devoted to the translated use of "sort of" and "kind of." I used to like Geoff Dyer, but I think he just pretty seriously slipped. Much better would've been a quick suggestion that a Knopf editor could have cleaned things a bit, or a more generous approach saying that the "sort of" repetitions make for easy, conversational, congenial reading, or maybe even an interpretative stretch about a Japanse hesitancy to make unqualified assertions? Instead, Geoff Dyer condescends to Murakami (a man who's written how many novels and run how many marathons?) when Dyer suggests that Murakami is uncool for listening to Clapton or the Lovin' Spoonful! I'm sure when Dyer writes about fingerblasting his girlfriend in Southeast Asia ("my fingers grew so wet it was like oil pouring through them"), he listens to something way cooler - my guess: later work of Todd Rundgren. The immortal masterpieces of Sting? Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's duets with Eddie Vedder? The Buena Vista Social Club?!

I also realized yesterday that this book helped my endurance while on a long run - wasn't feeling so hot but I thought of Haruki on the 62+ mile run and made it all the way home without stopping. If just to please Geoff Dyer, you ask what was I listening to? "Paris au Printemps," a live album by Public Image Limited -- perfect running music for me.(less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Tfitoby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bio, non-fiction, translation

What I Talk about When I Talk about Running by Haruki Murakami

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As close to a Murakami memoir as we're likely to receive for quite some time.

I'm not making any secret of it, I am two weeks shy of my 30th birthday (original text written previously, obviously because I just wrote my brithday blogpost) and my health and fitness levels have been at all time lows in the past twelve months. I think back to when I was a younger man and wonder about the transition from athletic b...more

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May 26, 2009 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir, reviewed-books, on-writing, running

3½ stars

Haruki Murakami is new to me, but evidently not to many: he has quite a number of fans on Goodreads. I decided that by way of introduction, I would begin with reading his Memoir because the title suggests it’s about running, and I like to think of myself as a runner. The book jacket goes further, telling us that Murakami reflects upon the influence running has had on, not only his life, but, more importantly, on his writing. He runs; I run. He writes novels; I’m writing a novel. Why woul...more 3½ stars

Haruki Murakami is new to me, but evidently not to many: he has quite a number of fans on Goodreads. I decided that by way of introduction, I would begin with reading his Memoir because the title suggests it’s about running, and I like to think of myself as a runner. The book jacket goes further, telling us that Murakami reflects upon the influence running has had on, not only his life, but, more importantly, on his writing. He runs; I run. He writes novels; I’m writing a novel. Why wouldn’t I pick it up?

Now that I’ve read it, I wouldn’t say I regret doing so, but I confess I was a little disappointed to discover that references to running -- mainly marathons, actually -- far outweighed comments connecting the sport with his writing. And that’s another thing. I didn’t think this book was that well written, overall. But I am sure novel-writing is his strength, so I haven’t “written the guy off”, so to speak.

I gave this book three stars because parts of it are well written, and I definitely could relate to much of it. As Haruki says, “Even if the skill level varies, there are things that only runners understand and share. I truly believe that.” As do I. And when he does talk about writing, he has specific things to say. For instance, he says that the most important quality a novelist has to have is talent: “If you don’t have any fuel, even the best car won’t run.” The next important quality for a novelist to have is focus; that if you have focus, “you’ll be able to compensate for an erratic talent or even a shortage of it.” And after focus, “the most important thing for a novelist is, hands down, endurance.” Both distance-running and distance-writing require focus and endurance. He says you’ll naturally sharpen both by sitting down every day to write; likewise with daily running – by running, that is, not sitting down. “Almost imperceptibly you’ll make the bar rise.”

But what made me smile, and the reason for the extra half-star: Writing novels, to me, is basically a kind of manual labor. Writing itself is mental labor, but finishing an entire book is closer to manual labor.... Most people, though, only see the surface reality of writing and think of writers as involved in quiet, intellectual work done in their study. If you have the strength to lift a coffee cup, they figure, you can write a novel. But… sitting at your desk, focusing your mind like a laser beam, imagining something out of a blank horizon, creating a story, selecting the right words, one by one, keeping the whole flow of the story on track – requires far more energy, over a long period than most people ever imagine. You might not move your body around, but there’s grueling, dynamic labor going on inside you. Everybody uses their minds when they think. But a writer puts on an outfit called narrative and thinks with his entire being; and for the novelist that process requires putting into play all of your physical reserve, often to the point of overexertion. This is so true. And it is why I try to make myself take a break, go for a run. It not only allows me to stretch my limbs, it allows me to let my brain run free.

Murakami says that expressions on the faces of people who run regularly are all the same: they look like they’re thinking about something as they run even though they may really be thinking about nothing at all. This reminded me of when I used to run 10 km at least six days a week. I did that for years. Unlike Haruki, though, I never did and never do, listen to music when I run. I take in the scenery, and as I said, allow my mind to wander. When on a run as a break from working on my novel, I have learned that carrying a notepad and small pencil is a must, because if I don’t, any idea — and there will always be an idea, or I’ll realize I need to change something – will get lost in the wind if I don’t stop to write it down. I learned this lesson when I found that repeating an idea over and over again until arriving back home didn’t work, either. Running and mind-wandering go together.

So who is this book for, really? Anyone who either runs marathons or participates in triathlons or does both, would at least find a kindred spirit in this author. Actually, I don’t race anymore, and the longest race I ever participated in was a half-marathon, but it was interesting reading about his training, the inevitable pain, his aging, and how that has changed what he can expect from his body. Yes, aging means one must adapt, something I’ve certainly had to come to terms with, as has Haruki Murakami. An interesting man; I must read something else by him. I have decided on Norwegian Wood. That is, unless anyone has a better suggestion.
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Aug 09, 2008 RandomAnthony rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: murakami

Spare and meditative. I'm not a runner (more of an elliptical guy) but this book is as much about aging, creativity, acceptance, and finding your own peace with who you are (ok, that sounds way more new agey than I mean) as marathons. Murakami fans will recognize the author's lean, simple prose and new readers may find an easy introduction to Murakami's work. Don't be fooled by the slim nature of this volume; you can tell Murakami put a lot of soul into What I Talk About When I Talk About Runnin...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Greg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think I'm hitting my GoodReads "reviewing" wall because I can't seem to come up with anything interesting to say about books these days. It's all, "I loved Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, but did you watch Homeland last night?" Or, "what did you think of Heat? Shut up, I'm listening to Babel." Or the worst one of all, "What did I think about the Murakami memoir? I'll just ignore you because I'm going to watch Cloud Atlas", which as a book I've started and stopped about 20 million times alrea...more I think I'm hitting my GoodReads "reviewing" wall because I can't seem to come up with anything interesting to say about books these days. It's all, "I loved Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, but did you watch Homeland last night?" Or, "what did you think of Heat? Shut up, I'm listening to Babel." Or the worst one of all, "What did I think about the Murakami memoir? I'll just ignore you because I'm going to watch Cloud Atlas", which as a book I've started and stopped about 20 million times already (only a very slight exaggeration) and I bought the motherfucker in hardback when it first came out.

So what did I think of What I Talk About When I Talk About Running? Umm...Hmmm...Murakami is a great writer, kind of sounds like a dick though, an uncompromising dick though.

I hate when people talk about how you'll only enjoy something if you have a preexisting interest in its subject matter. I'm sorry, but that's bullshit. If you can't get it up for running or ballet or supply-side economics or killer robots or cancer just because it doesn't interest you, you need to dream a little bigger, darling. I'm not saying you're not allowed to have an aversion to a certain genre, but come up with a better reason than it doesn't interest me. I won't go near horror, but that's because I'm a pansy-ass control freak that doesn't like having nightmares about killer clowns coming out of the shower drain and stabbing me to death (I swear I didn't make that up, it was on TV when I was a wee child and that shit still makes me check the drain pipes before I take a shower, y'know, just in case). This has been a long-winded message brought to you by: Don't not read Running just because you have no interest in running. Don't read it if you don't like Murakami, or think running writers sound oxymoronic, like Hell's Angels or Microsoft Works.

I happen to run and thought it might be interesting to read about running from an amateur's perspective. I'm not a good runner. I did run for an hour just before I finished this book (yes, I'm bragging), but I'm a bad runner. Murakami actually doesn't really sound like an amateur here, with all his talk of times and running down opponents and flipping them the bird (that didn't happen? oh, that was just me then), but I think any sport breaks down into beginners, amateurs, serious people, pro-amateurs, and pro-pros. Murakami is a serious runner and Running is a serious account of what he thinks about running. The writing has incredible ease and flow that only comes after umpteenth million drafts, but what stuck out to me was its honesty. Murakami is not a persona here, this sounds like a simple, direct self-portrait, scabs and all. He doesn't draw attention to his flaws (well, he does say twice that most people wouldn't like him, but that's more general), he just presents himself as truthfully as possible and doesn't give a fuck if you like him or not. I love that. I still think he sounds like a prick, but I fully admit that I'm probably a prick as well so I'm no great judge of character.

The flow is nice, with subtle transitions back and forth between running, writing, and aging like a three-partner dance. Fatigue did start to set in with the running passages. They have a repetition that seems right when talking about running, but they just blurred together after a while.

I had one big problem with the flow and that has to do with the New York Marathon. He keeps us informed about the training up to and including the preparation to the race, but then ends the chapter on a cliffhanger, skips ahead months in time and starts up a new topic, only coming back to tell us about the marathon after a couple pages. I really could not think of a good reason why he did this. Leave us hanging? Build suspense? Possible, but this is a short book that's heavy on philosophy, but light on plot, so to try and build suspense is stupid. (less)

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Sep 23, 2011 Anh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Đây không phải là một bài review, chỉ là mình viết lảm nhảm về những suy nghĩ của mình sau khi đọc hơn một nửa cuốn sách này. Mình thấy thật là hay vì mình đọc cuốn này ngay sau khi đọc lại lần thứ 2 cuốn" Tuổi trẻ, Tình yêu, Lý tưởng" của Thích Nhất Hạnh. Đọc 2,3 cuốn sách của Thích Nhất Hạnh có thể thấy ông là một người cổ súy cho lối sống chậm rãi, ung dung, nhàn nhã : "Giấc mơ Việt Nam là dân tộc Việt Nam biết để thì giờ ra để đi chơi, ngồi chơi, leo núi, đi biển, sống với cảnh đẹp thiên nhi...more Đây không phải là một bài review, chỉ là mình viết lảm nhảm về những suy nghĩ của mình sau khi đọc hơn một nửa cuốn sách này. Mình thấy thật là hay vì mình đọc cuốn này ngay sau khi đọc lại lần thứ 2 cuốn" Tuổi trẻ, Tình yêu, Lý tưởng" của Thích Nhất Hạnh. Đọc 2,3 cuốn sách của Thích Nhất Hạnh có thể thấy ông là một người cổ súy cho lối sống chậm rãi, ung dung, nhàn nhã : "Giấc mơ Việt Nam là dân tộc Việt Nam biết để thì giờ ra để đi chơi, ngồi chơi, leo núi, đi biển, sống với cảnh đẹp thiên nhiên, hàng ngày có nhiều cơ hội dựng xây tình huynh đệ mà không để hết thì giờ chạy theo sắc dục, tiền bạc, quyền hành và danh vọng." (Tuổi trẻ, Tình yêu, Lý tưởng ). Ngược lại, Haruki Murakami có lẽ là người chủ trương gò mình vào kỷ luật, tự đặt ra các mục tiêu, coi trọng việc chiến thắng bản thân, vượt qua các giới hạn của chính mình. Điều này được thể hiện rõ qua việc ông miêu tả cách đặt ra kế hoạch, duy trì chạy bộ hằng ngày trong nhiều năm; cách ông tập trung hết sức 3-4h/ngày vào viết lách ( thậm chí phải ngồi tập trung từng đó thời gian tại bàn làm việc mỗi ngày, kể cả khi không viết lách gì). Và tuy không đề cập đến nhiều trong tác phẩm, nhưng có thể hình dung ra việc ông duy trì kỷ luật trong các sinh hoạt khác của đời sống hằng ngày ra sao.Điều này không khó hiểu khi Murakami là người Nhật( ai cũng biết người Nhật coi trọng kỷ luật như thế nào) và bị ảnh hưởng nhiều bởi lối sống và văn hóa Mỹ.

Việc đọc 2 cuốn sách gần như kế tiếp nhau, giúp cho mình có nhiều suy nghĩ và so sánh giữa 2 phong cách sống. Không hoàn toàn chính xác, và cũng không phải là tất cả, mình thấy phong cách sống thứ nhất có vẻ là phong cách sống của nhiều người Việt Nam và người dân ở nhiều nước châu Âu.Quan sát có thể thấy được rằng thanh thiếu niên, dân văn phòng Việt Nam ngồi cà phê cà pháo, trà chanh trà đá, uống bia hơi nhiều đến mức nào. Trong " Tuổi trẻ, Tình yêu, Lý tưởng" Thích Nhất Hạnh cũng nói về việc nhiều người dân Pháp làm việc 35h/tuần ( tức là trung bình 5h/ngày; còn nếu tính là 1 tuần 2 ngày nghỉ tức là làm việc 5 ngày/tuần thì trung bình cũng dưới mức 8h/ngày). Họ dành thời giờ cho người thân, gia đình và đi du lịch. Đọc " Ngón tay mình còn thơm mùi oải hương" cũng thấy Ngô Thị Giáng Uyên mô tả về những người châu Âu rất hay ngồi quán cà phê , bia hơi " lười biếng nhìn cuộc đời chậm rãi trôi". Cách sống thứ 2 có lẽ là cách sống của người Nhật và người Mỹ. Khỏi phải nói về người Nhật. Còn những người mình quen đã và đang làm việc ở Mỹ, luôn kêu ca về áp lực và cường độ công việc. Kỷ luật, kỷ luật, kỷ luật. Công việc, công việc, công việc. Luôn đứng trước nguy cơ có thể bị sa thải bất cứ lúc nào, nếu bạn không đứng trong nhóm những người xuất sắc và chăm chỉ nhất.( Điều này càng rõ hơn khi suy thoái kinh tế xảy ra gần đây).

Vậy mình thấy mình phù hợp với lối sống nào hơn, và xa hơn nữa là mình chọn cho mình lối sống nào ? Mình không thật sự biết. Mình nghĩ lâu nay mình sống theo lối sống thứ nhất. Tuy nhiên, trong thâm tâm mình luôn nghĩ rằng để đạt được một điều gì đó, hay nói rõ hơn là để làm tốt mọi việc,để thành công trong sự nghiệp, mình phải sống theo cách thứ 2. Mình cũng nghĩ rằng: việc sống như vậy là một trong những lý do quan trọng làm cho nước Mỹ trở thành cường quốc số 1 thế giới chỉ sau lịch sử mấy trăm năm và cũng chính việc sống như vậy làm cho nước Nhật luôn phục hồi một cách nhanh chóng và trở lại mạnh mẽ sau bất cứ một thảm họa nào. Mình đã luôn nghĩ như vậy từ khá lâu. Tuy nhiên, việc đọc lại cuốn sách của Thích Nhất Hạnh khiến mình đặt ra câu hỏi rằng: việc sống như vậy có thật sự tốt cho việc tồn tại và phát triển bền vững không? Nói như vậy có vẻ mơ hồ, nhưng phần nào đó nó giống như chuyện để đẩy mạnh việc phát triển kinh tế, con người làm việc quần quật, không ngừng nghĩ ra các phương thức khai thác tất cả các tài nguyên thiên nhiên có thể, không cho thiên nhiên có điều kiện " nghỉ ngơi" và phục hồi." Không cho đất nghỉ, không ngừng tay ta" ( Bài ca vỡ đất- Hoàng Trung Thông ). Điều đó đã và đang dẫn đến hậu quả thế nào thì ai cũng thấy.

Từ chuyện sống nhanh và sống chậm( tạm gọi như vậy ), từ lâu mình cũng có nhiều suy nghĩ về việc đọc sách nhanh hay chậm. Phải nói là mình khá dị ứng với những kiểu dạy các phương pháp đọc sách nhanh và cả cái việc đặt mục tiêu cho mình tháng này, năm này phải đọc bao nhiêu cuốn sách ( có vẻ giống với việc Murakami tự đặt ra mục tiêu cho mình khi chạy bộ). Mình biết là mình KHÔNG nên dị ứng như vậy, vì RÕ RÀNG rằng cách đọc sách nhanh có rất nhiều lợi ích, không phải bàn cãi. Dù dị ứng nhưng nhiều lúc mình cũng áp dụng nó. Tuy nhiên, mình nghĩ rằng cái quan trọng không kém, thậm chí quan trọng hơn cả việc đọc sách nhanh như thế nào, đọc nhiều sách ra sao đó là việc hiểu cuốn sách đó như thế nào, áp dụng điều mình hiểu vào trong thực tế cuộc sống ra sao. Ví dụ, như trong việc mình đọc sách của Thích Nhất Hạnh. Mình đã đọc khá nhiều sách của ông. Về bản chất, nội dung của các cuốn sách này hầu như không khác nhau, lặp đi lặp vài nội dung cơ bản. Nhưng nếu như hằng ngày mình không luyện tập và áp dụng cách kiềm chế cơn bão cảm xúc, vẫn văng tục chửi bới loạn xạ mỗi khi gặp điều gì đó tức tối,vẫn giữ nhiều suy nghĩ phải nói là cực đoan, thì về cơ bản việc đọc sách của mình không có ý nghĩa gì hết. Mặt khác, có nhiều cuốn sách đáng đọc đi đọc lại và nghiền ngẫm thật kỹ. Đọc một cuốn sách vào những thời điểm khác nhau, những độ tuổi khác nhau, cảm nhận và suy nghĩ có thể sẽ khác nhau rất nhiều. Nhận ra suy nghĩ và con người mình thay đổi qua việc đọc lại một cuốn sách là một điều thú vị. Một năm chỉ đọc một cuốn sách cũng được, đọc thật chậm cũng được nếu như cảm thấy mình cần phải suy nghĩ thật kĩ và từ đó rút ra những bài học để áp dụng vào cuộc sống. ( Tuy nhiên, vấn đề là nhiều khi phải đọc nhiều để có thể so sánh và có cái nhìn toàn diện, hehe). Đọc sách không phải là nhồi đất vào đầu, không phải giống như học phổ thông ở Việt Nam để chỉ đơn thuần là đặt ra mục tiêu đọc bao nhiêu cuốn sách 1 năm, đọc bao nhiêu từ 1 phút. ( Giống như mục tiêu mỗi lớp đạt bao nhiêu học sinh khá và giỏi, tỉ lệ tốt nghiệp đạt 99,99%, chi tiền thật đậm để Việt Nam có đại học đạt tốp 200 thế giới...)

Tóm lại, đây là một cuốn sách đáng để đọc lại nhiều lần, và dù không phải điều gì mình cũng tán thành với Murakami, nhưng nó gợi cho mình rất nhiều suy nghĩ.(less)

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Trang Về cách đọc sách nhanh hay chậm, như em đã được học về kĩ năng này, phương Tây người ta rất chú trọng đến cả tốc độ đọc và nội dung tiếp thu được. Lấy...more Về cách đọc sách nhanh hay chậm, như em đã được học về kĩ năng này, phương Tây người ta rất chú trọng đến cả tốc độ đọc và nội dung tiếp thu được. Lấy ví dụ, lúc đầu mới tập, người học sẽ phải đọc nhanh nhất có thể (hơn 1 phút/trang), không cần phải hiểu hết nội dung của trang đó, chỉ cần nắm được càng nhiều thông tin càng tốt (khoảng 80%), sau đó sẽ viết ra những gì nhớ được. Dần dần tăng mức challenge lên, kết hợp với việc áp dụng nó vào việc đọc hàng ngày, từ những cuốn đơn giản, cho đến phức tạp, từ cuốn mỏng đến cuốn dày, cả báo và tiểu thuyết, bài nghiên cứu khoa học; ngoài ra còn kết hợp với việc ghi chép những gì học được, đọc được trong mỗi ngày. Việc đọc nhanh như vậy không phải để đọc ào ào lấy thành tích, mà vừa kết hợp giữa hiểu biết và tốc độ đọc, khi đã thành thạo có thể đạt được tốc độ đọc mong muốn, mà vẫn đảm bảo được sự ghi nhận nội dung sách. Và một điểm nữa đó là với sinh viên, hoặc người học, khi phải nghiên cứu về 1 chủ đề, thường sẽ không có thời gian ngẫm nghĩ 1 quyển sách quá lâu mà phải bằng mọi cách tìm được phần cần thiết cho việc của mình. Và con người ngày nay cũng quá bận bịu với công việc, gia đình, bạn bè,... thời gian đọc sách vì vậy giảm xuống, người ta phải học cách đọc nhanh hơn, ghi nhớ được nhiều hơn.
Hơn nữa, việc đọc chậm không giúp tăng số lượng thông tin tiếp thu được, nó chỉ làm giảm tốc độ tiếp nhận. Số kượng không phải là tất cả, nhưng số lượng là cần thiết, giống như việc sống nhanh hay sống chậm vậy. :D(less)
13 lug. 23:06

Sơn Phước Ôi hay quá, cả bài viết lẫn comment. Em chỉ xin có một ý kiến là đã thử đọc nhanh cuốn này nhưng không thể :)
13 lug. 23:43

Anh Trang wrote: "Về cách đọc sách nhanh hay chậm, như em đã được học về kĩ năng này, phương Tây người ta rất chú trọng đến cả tốc độ đọc và nội dung tiếp...more
14 lug. 03:58

Sep 16, 2011 K.D. Oliveros rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoirs, sports

I bought this book almost two years ago after reading Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore (4 stars) and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (4 stars). I liked those novels a lot so I purchased and read most of his other books right away like Sputnik Sweetheart (3 stars), After Dark (4 stars), Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (3 stars), After the Quake (1 star - this used to be 3 stars until I saw my brother's review) and even his biography, Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words (3 stars). A couple of month...more I bought this book almost two years ago after reading Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore (4 stars) and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (4 stars). I liked those novels a lot so I purchased and read most of his other books right away like Sputnik Sweetheart (3 stars), After Dark (4 stars), Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (3 stars), After the Quake (1 star - this used to be 3 stars until I saw my brother's review) and even his biography, Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words (3 stars). A couple of months back, I read his most challenging-to-read novel, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and it was just okay, 2 stars. I think the more books of him I read, the less I like him. Those first 3 books of him that I read were really good. His style of writing was very different and his imagination was overwhelmingly beautiful. However, as I read his other books, even though I gave enough distance in between two books, I got tired of his style so the stories just felt ordinary. He had the tendency to re-use his materials: characters, plot, conflict, setting, etc. There were just obvious similarities that were just hard to ignore.

This is my 8th book by Haruki Murakami and this makes him one of my two most-read authors. He's now tied with Bob Ong, a Filipino writer whose works I read not because I like him but because many young Filipinos adore him and keep on talking about his books in our group here in Goodreads.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is his only memoir (so far). My first non-fiction of him. It is about his hobby, running that he tried to compare with writing a novel. The memoir tells so little about his life like how he became a novelist and only mentioned his wife in a couple of anecdotes. The narration was fragmentary as he said in the epilogue that it took him four years to write his thoughts and so he just collated everything and presto, this book. He used so many words but for me his main message was: Even if I am already old, I run because I want to keep fit so I can continue writing great novels. It was as simple as that.

The thing is we all do that. We take care of ourselves so that we can continue earning and provide for our family. So, the book came to me as bragging, self-serving, presumptuous and stating the obvious. Haruki Murakami was born in 1949 so he was 51-55 y/o (this year he is now 62) when he was writing entries to this memoir and he was telling here about his training for triathlon (swimming, biking and running). So when, he was describing here that he was experiencing all sorts of pains and injuries while barely mentioning about getting old and seeing doctors, my brain was shouting: "You are already old, stop being hard on yourself!" . Bottomline, I think he was trying to hold back the hands of time. He was a late-bloomer as he only thought of writing when he was 30. He was not comfortable about getting old so he wanted to prove that he could still compete with much younger men. I am so sorry for him. It's just so pathetic.

But still, it was hard for me to give this a lone star (I didn't like it!). Haruki Murakami's narration was still as beautiful as ever.(less)

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Apr 07, 2009 Hannah Messler rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was great! But I was kind of hoping it would make me want to quit smoking and start being a runner. It did not. If anything, it solidified my already-pretty-solid hatred of the idea of running. God damn stupid healthy Haruki.

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Dec 23, 2008 Trin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, sports, japanese-lit

Yet another way in which Haruki Murakami is more awesome than you: not only does he write amazing novels and nifty short stories, he’s also a long-distance runner who’s raced in marathons, triathalons, and even a day-long supermarathon in Hokkaido. This book, the first piece of nonfiction I’ve read by him, chronicles a year in his life as a runner. I liked it less than his fiction. Parts are slow: the endless tally serious runners have to make of distances run in such-and-such lengths of time. I...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book signaled to me why this year has been so tough -- my life strayed from its usual structure and important rituals, leaving me on a slippery footing for most of 2012. The absence of regular bikram practice was felt most deeply. Bikram helps me establish and maintain grace and focus in life outside of the practice room. The same words and series of poses form the foundation of each practice and set a kind of baseline allowing you to understand the nuanced ways your body changes each day....more

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Dec 24, 2011 Fahima Jaffar rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-challenge

ليس من صنف الكتب العظيمة التي ستحدث بها أصدقاءك - المهووسين منهم بالكتب طبعاً ! - كلما جمعكم حديث عن القراءة،
ولا من الكتب التي تود أن تمسك قلماً وتعلّم كل عبارةٍ فيه بخطٍ أو اثنين، أو قلوبٍ أو نجومٍ صغيرة، أو بقوسين. أو إن كنت أكثر رهافة، فستمسك دفترك الصغير لتدون من جديد هذه العبارات التي لا تتكرر.
لكنها ليست قراءة تود أن تتخلص منها بسرعة، أو أن تقذف الكتاب في أقرب حاوية أو تعيد عقارب الزمن كي لا تشتريه - ليس بالنسبة لي على الأقل - .

الكتابُ - رغم شاعرية عنوانه - ليس شاعرياً جداً. هو وصفٌ أوتوبيو...more ليس من صنف الكتب العظيمة التي ستحدث بها أصدقاءك - المهووسين منهم بالكتب طبعاً ! - كلما جمعكم حديث عن القراءة،
ولا من الكتب التي تود أن تمسك قلماً وتعلّم كل عبارةٍ فيه بخطٍ أو اثنين، أو قلوبٍ أو نجومٍ صغيرة، أو بقوسين. أو إن كنت أكثر رهافة، فستمسك دفترك الصغير لتدون من جديد هذه العبارات التي لا تتكرر.
لكنها ليست قراءة تود أن تتخلص منها بسرعة، أو أن تقذف الكتاب في أقرب حاوية أو تعيد عقارب الزمن كي لا تشتريه - ليس بالنسبة لي على الأقل - .

الكتابُ - رغم شاعرية عنوانه - ليس شاعرياً جداً. هو وصفٌ أوتوبيوغرافي لحياةِ موراكامي الماراثونية، ولا أقول ذلك مجازاً. فالرجل يعشق المارثونات ويعد نفسه كل عامٍ للاشتراك في واحدٍ أو اثنين منها. هذا ما يتحدث عنه طيلة هذا الكتاب: ما يتحدث عنه حين يتحدث عن الجري.
عن بداياته معه، كيف يشعر وهو يركض، فيم يفكر، ماذا يرتدي، أين يركض، عن المارثونات التي اشترك فيها، كيف يتهيأ لها.
الكثير الكثير عن الجري في هذا الكتاب، والقليل عن الكتابة والتأليف.. وأظن أنه أدرجه كي لا يخيب أمل قارئه فقط.

لكن أملي لم يخب. لم أشعر بالملل وأنا أقرأ، ربما لأن الكتاب كان مكتوباً على شكل يوميات.. وإن كانت هذه اليوميات تغطي مدة أطول من يوم، لكنها على كل ترسم صورة حية ومباشرة لما يفعله مما يرضي فضولي الشخصي. أعجبني على الأخص قدرته الشديدة على الالتزام بتحقيق أهدافه، إلى جانب القدرة على اكتشاف محدودية إمكاناته - ككاتب ورياضي - والعمل على تجاوزها أو تحسينها.

بالنسبة لكتاب يتحدث عن ثيمة محددة جداً كالمارثون على امتداد أكثر من ١٨٠ صفحة، أجد أن موراكامي كان ناجحاً.

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Jan 06, 2013 Kubi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads, favorites

Murakami writes “running suits [him].” I like to think it suits me too. I know myself as an inward person, and running allows me to indulge this. He writes that “[he] runs to acquire a void.” I repeatedly have to tell myself to stop thinking. Running lets me think about everything and nothing at once.

Murakami writes “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” As a beginner, I spend a lot of time in pain. My legs, I imagine, are still getting used to all the physical labor. At any time during my...more Murakami writes “running suits [him].” I like to think it suits me too. I know myself as an inward person, and running allows me to indulge this. He writes that “[he] runs to acquire a void.” I repeatedly have to tell myself to stop thinking. Running lets me think about everything and nothing at once.

Murakami writes “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” As a beginner, I spend a lot of time in pain. My legs, I imagine, are still getting used to all the physical labor. At any time during my runs, my calves, thighs, feet or entire legs act out. They scream bloody murder. There are many occasions where, as Troy on Community puts it, my “whole brain is crying.”

Murakami writes “Patience is a must in this process, but I guarantee the results will come.” Three months ago, doing some research, I’d come across a blog on the benefits of running. The writer said that people who take up running start preferring healthy sources of fuel over the usual heavy fare. The diet eventually falls into place without too much bloodshed. Six months ago, you’d have found me topping off a bag of pork rinds by myself, but since I started running, I find it easier to turn down junk food.

Murakami’s reflections in the book come nearly 25 years after he first started running. The man has run at least one marathon a year since. But for me, in this fledgling stage, nursing a small ember that could go out any minute, I can’t even conceive successfully running a 5K. When he writes that he probably knows pain better than anyone else, I believe him. What I feel on my runs is child’s play. Running is ingrained in his life, whereas I'm still discovering what it means. It is a great divide, to be sure, but I feel like his words belong to me.

I’ve only known Murakami through his strange/ beautiful novels, but it is with this book that I feel closest to him as a writer. His thoughts on writing novels being a physical act (“…a writer puts on an outfit called narrative and thinks with his entire being; and for the novelist that process requires putting into play all your physical reserve, often to the point of overexertion”) remind me of long days finishing papers for graduate school and offer a glimpse of the months I will be drafting my thesis. When I read about his epiphany to become a novelist professionally, I became mindful of the decisions I must eventually make about my own pursuits.

My original post is found here: http://kubiyat.blogspot.com/2013/01/w...(less)

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Jan 11, 2010 Dini rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Murakami fans

Recommended to Dini by: Cici

Shelves: nonfiction, favorites, lendable

Haruki Murakami can be daunting at times. I've only read a few of his works; some I don't understand (e.g. The Elephant Vanishes, an anthology which I didn't finish) while some I don't really like (Norwegian Wood). But this book I love, because it's understandable (unlike most of his novels, that deal with the surreal) and likeable. In this memoir Murakami does not only discuss his lifelong passion for distance running, but also its relationship with his vocation as a writer and his life as a wh...more

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Sep 11, 2010 Bucletina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Más que para un corredor, este libro es de lectura obligada para los fanáticos de este autor tímido y bastante reacio a las entrevistas y a estar en el ojo público. Una buena oportunidad para conocerlo y verlo en acción.

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Jul 19, 2011 Halik rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All runners, everywhere

Recommended to Halik by: Carmen

Shelves: non-fiction

Loved the tome. Murakami puts into words pieces of running insight so eloquently that the moment i finished the book, i grabbed my shoes and hit the asphalt. I stopped for a bit cause my shoes were giving me trouble, and i need to make some huaraches (or barefoot runners) probably but that is unimportant.

I used to run in the beach at my old home before, and loved it. There is something glorious about simply moving your feet one after the other, propelling yourself through the air, pretty soon yo...more

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Jun 30, 2012 John rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first book I’ve read by Murakami. I only learned of him recently when his novel 1Q84 was released, but since have encountered his name often, especially on Goodreads. I decided to read this book as an introduction to his writing and also to see if it might rekindle my interest in running. I used to run for enjoyment and exercise but gave it up some time ago for walking. I like to listen to audio books which I can do while walking but not while running. For me, running demands complet...more This is the first book I’ve read by Murakami. I only learned of him recently when his novel 1Q84 was released, but since have encountered his name often, especially on Goodreads. I decided to read this book as an introduction to his writing and also to see if it might rekindle my interest in running. I used to run for enjoyment and exercise but gave it up some time ago for walking. I like to listen to audio books which I can do while walking but not while running. For me, running demands complete attention.

I enjoyed this autobiographical story. Murakami gives us some glimpses of his personal life: his transition from owning a bar to becoming a novelist; how he evolved to become a long distance runner; and how running balances and contributes to his writing.

On writing, he says:

“In every interview I’m asked what’s the most important quality a novelist has to have. It’s pretty obvious: talent.” He further identifies focus and endurance as the next most important qualities.

“Writing novels, to me, is basically a kind of manual labor.”

“Most of what I know about writing I’ve learned through running every day.”

The book is generously sprinkled with philosophy:

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

“Nothing in the real world is as beautiful as the illusions of a person about to lose consciousness.”

“You have to wait until tomorrow to find out what tomorrow will bring.”

“It doesn’t matter how old I get, but as long as I continue to live I’ll always discover something new about myself. No matter how long you stand there examining yourself naked before a mirror, you’ll never see reflected what’s inside….in the final analysis what’t most important is what you can’t see but can feel in your heart.”

I was pleased to find Murakami mention two other authors I admire, Raymond Carver and John Irving. The title of his book is taken from Carver’s collection of short stories, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. And once, he conversed with John Irving while they ran together through Central Park. At the time, he was translating Irving’s book, Setting Free the Bears, into Japanese.

What I gained from this book was an increased interest of Murakami’s writing and the impression that he is a very down to earth likable person. I’m not sure I will start running again, but I am sure that I will soon be out walking listening to one of his novels on Audible.

Now, which novel to begin with?(less)

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Jan 13, 2013 Cintantya Sotya Ratri rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, favorites

Buku ini jadi semacam harta karun yang terpendam. Ditemukan di sebuah toko buku diskon yang memang punya rak khusus buku-buku impor tetapi jarang yang koleksinya bagus. Kemudian ada buku ini, tinggal sebuah, kondisinya macam buku yang lama banget dijual tapi gak laku-laku jadi di pinggir-pinggir kertasnya sudah menguning. Buku ini diskon 60% dan harganya gak sampai lima puluh ribu rupiah. Wah! Jelas langsung saya bawa ke kasir. Eh begitu dibayar ternyata ada tambahan diskon lagi. Bahagianyaaa :'...more

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Oct 31, 2010 Velvetink rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiography-memoir, literature-plays-authors, sports, japan, read-2010

Actually I'm updating my star rating to 4 because bits of this keep coming into my mind, haunting me.
.3 and a half stars. Haruki Murakami's memoirs about running and writing. While I said it's motivational, it doesn't read like a how to run or how to write book, it more puts you in a certain mindscape - Murakami's that is....and if you can take something from it and it enlarges your life he would be happy. It made me "feel good" about myself, and changed the way I view "failure" in sport/exercis...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Aeron rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Murakami fans rejoice: this is likely to be your best window into his soul.

I really enjoyed this book, although I have to admit I am a little disappointed. The Murakami in my head was much more interesting than the one that comes out in this memoir/essay collection. Ostensibly about long-distance running, the book is a candid collection of snapshots into Murakami's lifestyle and history, including a lot of long distance running (he's completed almost 30 marathons with a sprinkling of triathlons...more

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Jan 10, 2009 David rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Enjoyed this tremendously. A novelist's reflections on his 25-year distance running habit as he prepares for the New York marathon 2005. He's not a great runner, nor especially scientific in approach to training, so I can't say you'll learn too much you can use in that regard. It's more that he has a terrific way with words and a thoughtful perspective on running and life.

Many pleasant digressions along the way concerning famous Japanese marathoners, his voluminous record collection, his writin...more

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Dec 30, 2008 Tyson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm a tremendously huge fan of Haruki Murakami and will read whatever he publishes. This book is a series of essays , a memior, or running. it's disconcerting to read pure nonfiction from one of my favorite fiction authors. As a half-earted runner myself, I felt at times inspired. At other times I liked the direct or inferred relationship between his running and the writing process.

I'd be more more interested in reading his fiction tough, which is absolutely top flight!

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Dec 04, 2008 Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir, writing, east-asia

This was an interesting book; I would say that it has some re-readability. I became aware that it existed when I saw that the person who used a catalog computer before me searched for this ... and I thought, why not, I'll give it a read. This book is not as cohesive as it could be, but the parts toward the beginning, where he talks about running and writing and how they are connected, are interesting. So are the parts where he talks about Japanese stereotypes of writers.

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Feb 01, 2009 Sharron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-books-read, memoir, murakami

This short book is really a group of essays linked together by Murakami's activity of running. I found it to be an interesting read and a way to learn more about one of my favorite authors. And I found out we have a few things in common. I started running at a later stage in my life and find it a way to think about my life. I tend to be a solitary person which is something Murakami states about himself. I'm not sure if anyone who isn't a Murakami fan or a runner would find this book interesting....more

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Dec 30, 2008 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My first Murakami read, and I must say, I was very favorably impressed by it.

This memoir is an interesting introduction to Murakami's style. After finishing it I went on to try (and enjoy) Kafka on the Shore, and I really felt like that experience was enhanced by the knowledge of Murakami that I gained from reading Running.

Running is pleasantly engaging without being glamorous or thrilling. Reading it is rather like listening to a reserved but intelligent person talk about himself and his lifest...more

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Nov 19, 2008 Danika rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: runners

Y'know, I did not love this book. I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is not a runner. It's way too specific and longwinded for a non-runner to appreciate. Here's my gripe: he's WAY too wrapped up in times and doesn't seem to enjoy long-distance running for the sake of it. For instance, he plans to run the NYC marathon one year and his goals are 1) to finish 2) to NEVER walk, only run and 3) to enjoy himself. Sorry, but I think that's crazy! Who cares if you walk for a bit? And enjoy...more

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Dec 30, 2008 Lisa P rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You really have to be interested in running, particularly long-distance running to enjoy this book. There isn't a lot of insight into the author's life as an author, but as I said, if you're into running...

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Nov 04, 2008 mgd rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: runners, triathletes, people curious about how others live

I wanted a book called "what I think about when I think about swimming" but had to settle for running. My patience was rewarded when later in his life he takes up triathlons and goes through a complete and gradual stroke revision. The writing style is spare, honest and somehow very Japanese. I felt it was very close to his thoughts. The early part seems a bit plodding and unfocused, but by the end I felt very close to him.

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title link	preview: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
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