Known to be one of the more popular books amongst runners, Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is for both beginner and experienced runners. Originally published in Japan back in 2007, the book is still incredibly relevant, with readers able to walk away with a lesson learnt or, at least, a great insight into someone else’s journey with running.
In 1982, Murakami is a reflection upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing. As a serious runner who peaked in his 40s, Murakami writes in precise and short sentence structure – but many, as I’d noticed, are unsure if that’s just his way of writing or if that’s how the English translation made it out to be. It’s a relaxed-type of style, not formal at all, and he uses descriptive texts that appear easy-going and laidback.
