What I Talk about When I Talk about Running

A Memoir

By: Haruki Murakami

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of Kafka on the Shore comes this rich and revelatory memoir about writing and running, and the integral impact both have made on his life. Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers Murakami's four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon.

Settings range from Tokyo, 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 cornucopia of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after age 50, of having seen his race times improve and then fall back.

Translated by Philip Gabriel.

©2007 Haruki Murakami (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Murakami crafts a charming little volume notable for its good-natured and intimate tone....An early section recounting Murakami's transition from nightclub owner to novelist offers a particularly vivid picture of an artist soaring into flight for the first time." ( Publishers Weekly)
"A brilliant meditation on how his running and writing nurture and sustain each other....With sparse, engaging prose....Murakami shares his runner's high." ( Sports Illustrated)
"Provides a fascinating portrait of Murakami's working mind and how he works his magic on the page." ( The Plain Dealer)

best book on running. Will inspire and is easy to

great book on running is easy to get through because it doesn't just drone on about running like some books on the topic.

Little flat.

I was expecting a more introspective book.
I feel it is a list of flat sensations .

interesting and inspiring

an interesting and insightful personal account of murakami's running practice that also offered thoughtful reflections on his writing. (as an unexpected personal side note, this book got me excited about running again!)

Interesting. Thoughtful.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to friends who are good conversationalists and enjoying listening more than speaking. It's very entertaining if you are interested in other people who share your interests, but who have differing perspectives.

What was one of the most memorable moments of What I Talk about When I Talk about Running?

You know the cliffhanger as soon as you hear it, no mysteries there. But my favorite really is the great reveal. It wasn't whether or not he met his goal, but what would he think of the outcome? How would the outcome of this major effort affect his future plans?

I also liked Haruki's mention of living up to the standards you have set for yourself. The matter-of-fact,-no-excuses,-you-are-accountable-to-yourself way he set that was quite an eye opener.

(BTW... I did NOT expect Lovin' Spoonful to be one of Haruki's inspirations. Awesome.)

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ray Porter brought a good balance to the narration. (It's weird to write this next part, but I want to be honest with reviews)
I wanted authenticity without being stereotypical. I was a little hesitant about a book narrated by a "guy named Ray" written by an author who was Japanese.
What I really liked is that Ray brought a 'matter of fact' narration to Haruki's words. He emphasized where he should have and he just spoke well. "Enunciation" comes to mind first. But also Ray brought the conversational pace and tone of a man's memory.
I'm not sure how the whole thing fit together, maybe Haruki (Japanese) -> Philip Gabriel (printed english translation) -> Ray Porter (audio narration)
Overall, I think Ray Porter was a good fit and enjoyable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really. But I generally ended each listening session with a good feeling.

Runner? Worth the Listen.

“I hope running and I can grow old together.” - ch.9

Relaxing memoir on running - not a book for everyone, but I enjoyed the author’s honest reflection about a sport that gives so much to creativity, perseverance, and life in general.

Great writing, inspiring, superb narrator

Great writer. Fun to hear his thoughts on running as I'm reading books to keep the fire stoked to keep running consistently myself. Beyond inspiration to run more I enjoyed his beautiful writing with which he described things well and poetically.

Also, Ray Porter is a fantastic narrator. He made the great writing sing.

so inspiring

the way he describes his running experiences are so relatable. sometimes I feel like I am the only runner who struggles a lot, but this gave me hope

Meditative and motivating

It’s hard to explain why I like this writing. A large portion of the book is minutiae of running, training and everything that goes with it. It’s too subtle to be reduced to saying “he talks about life and running and their similarities” though there is an element of that. But if running is a character in murakami’s life, this book is a memoir of their experience and life together, telling the tale of both of their lives in an interwoven way. I couldn’t put it down, and the audiobook was wonderfully narrated!

Hokey smokes, I loved this book!

OK, a lot of this is about running....or is it?
While it is an amazing book for runners it is equally valuable for anyone looking for a creative, introspective look at self.
I am better for reading this book.

Strangely enjoyable…

This was strangely enjoyable. It was a perfect accompaniment to my own thoughts as I drove and worked, and while I’m not a runner, I felt a similarity to the randomness, depth and not so deep or specific thoughts as I hike in the woods. I felt much of what he wrote can be applied to many things in life, which is really how I listened, needing to hear that little confirmation within myself. I’ve never heard of him or his books, and am now going to look up his novels to see what they’re like.