a book

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Name: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)
Author: Haruki Murakami
ISBN: 9780307389831

Haruki Murakami · 2008 · 179 pages

An intimate look at writing, running, and the incredible way they intersect, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is an illuminating glimpse into the solitary passions of one of our greatest artists.

While training for the New York City Marathon, Haruki Murakami decided to keep a journal of his progress. The result is a memoir about his intertwined obsessions with running and writing, full of vivid recollections and insights, including the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer. By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, here is a rich and revelatory work that elevates the human need for motion to an art form.

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recommended by 4 people

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Ryan Holiday
“Some of the books that have changed my life and had the most influence on me: The Power Broker by Robert Caro, 48 Laws of Power, The Black Swan, life is unpredictable. Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club. Four Hour Work Week - Huge! 33 Strategies of War, obviously Robert Greene's Mastery. Pia Mellody, one of my favorite authors [Facing Codependence]. This biography of John D Rockefeller, maybe you remember it from The Obstacle is the way? This book by John Boyd [...] Malcolm X the autobiography, Great Gatsby, What Makes Sammy Run. A friend of mine recommended this biography William Lee Miller on President Lincoln. It was one of the books that changed his life. Had totally changed how I thought about leadership. The War of Art, Turning Pro - two favorites from Steven Pressfield. Haruki Murakami's book on running 'What I talk about when I talk about running'. Ellison's Invisible Man. Again another book from Pia Mellody [Facing Love Addiction]. Cheryl Strayed's Tiny Beautiful Things. Thích Nhất Hạnh's Taming the Tiger Within. The Brass Check - this book inspired the name of my marketing company and my book Trust Me I'm Lying. This is one of my copies of Meditations. Why Don't We Learn From History by BH Liddell Hart. Prescription For Adversity, a strange book biography of Ambrose Bierce that I like. Candide, interesting story I stole this from where I got married they had this on the shelf. I read it while I was waiting for my wife to get ready to get married and I thought hey I'm keeping this. [...] Second Mountain, this is a new addition to the shelf. Dr. Drew [The Mirror Effect] who introduced me to stoicism, Great! This is a cool book -Lincoln: the Biography of a Writer it's an analysis of Lincoln as if he was a writer. This book: Strategy by BH Liddell Hart influenced how I think about strategy.John Graves Hard Scrabble, influenced how I think about my farm. Fishing For Fun is a new book, I just read by Herbert Hoover about the philosophical benefits of fishing and yes Herbert Hoover, the president. Chesterfield's letters to his son [...] Seth Godin's the Dip, great book. Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves To Death. Jane Jacobs also amazing. Daniel Boorstin, great. Death Be Not Proud, beautiful book. So these are some of the books, it's my life shelf. [...] Oh Austin Kleon's Steal Like An Artist, great! The Way To Love by Anthony De Mello.”
Jack Edwards
Brian Koppelman
Anya Taylor-Joy