What I Talk About When I Talk About Running audiobook cover - A memoir about running and writing

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

A memoir about running and writing

Haruki Murakami

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Categories:
Biography & MemoirMotivation & Inspiration

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What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Writing and Running Parallels+
Mental Benefits of Running+
Lifestyle Transformation+
The Foundation of Creativity+
Physical Discipline and Limits+
Aging and Potential+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What is Haruki Murakami's primary motivation for running nearly every day?
  • A. To compete with other runners and win local races.
  • B. To maintain a peak physique for his public appearances.
  • C. To clear his mind and reach a meditative state he calls 'the void.'
  • D. To actively brainstorm and plot the narratives of his surreal novels.
Question 2 of 8
What lifestyle change prompted Murakami to take up running in his early thirties?
  • A. He gained weight rapidly after selling his jazz bar to become a full-time, sedentary writer.
  • B. He suffered a health scare caused by his 60-cigarette-a-day smoking habit.
  • C. He was assigned to write an article about the historical Athens marathon route.
  • D. He moved back to Tokyo and needed a way to commute through the busy city.
Question 3 of 8
According to Murakami, what two learned qualities are essential for both long-distance running and writing a novel?
  • A. Imagination and empathy
  • B. Focus and endurance
  • C. Speed and competitiveness
  • D. Passion and spontaneity
Question 4 of 8
How does Murakami view the stereotype that artists must live wild, unhealthy, and dramatic lives to create great art?
  • A. He completely agrees, which is why he pushes his body to the brink in ultramarathons.
  • B. He believes it is true for musicians, but not for novelists.
  • C. He embraces it, frequently staying up late in Tokyo to find inspiration.
  • D. He rejects it, arguing that physical health is necessary to safely confront the toxic, dark emotions required for writing.
Question 5 of 8
What was the long-term psychological effect of Murakami completing a 62-mile ultramarathon in Hokkaido?
  • A. He experienced a profound surge in creativity and immediately wrote a new novel.
  • B. He became obsessed with extreme distances and vowed to only run ultramarathons.
  • C. He suffered from 'runner's blues,' losing his joy and sense of meaning in running for months.
  • D. He developed a fear of running and temporarily switched his focus entirely to swimming.
Question 6 of 8
How does Murakami react to his slowing marathon times as he ages, such as his mediocre finishes in New York and Boston?
  • A. He accepts them with mild disappointment but continues running because it is an integral part of his nature.
  • B. He becomes deeply frustrated and constantly changes his training regime to beat his personal records.
  • C. He decides to retire from marathons and focus strictly on short-distance jogging.
  • D. He blames his poor performance on his intense travel schedule and lack of proper equipment.
Question 7 of 8
Which specific event in a triathlon caused Murakami the most difficulty, ultimately teaching him about overcoming personal faults and discovering hidden potential?
  • A. The long-distance cycling
  • B. The final marathon run
  • C. The transition periods between events
  • D. The open-water swimming
Question 8 of 8
What was unique about Murakami's first-ever marathon?
  • A. It was the New York City Marathon, which he ran without any prior training.
  • B. It was run along the original historical route in Greece during the midsummer heat.
  • C. It was a 62-mile ultramarathon around Lake Saroma in Hokkaido.
  • D. It was an impromptu race he joined after having an epiphany at a baseball game.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running — Full Chapter Overview

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running Summary & Overview

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2009) is a memoir about the intersection of two solitary passions: running and writing. In this personal work, author Haruki Murakami gives an intimate look into how these two practices inform his inner world. 

Who Should Listen to What I Talk About When I Talk About Running?

  • Fans of Murakami’s surreal prose style
  • Writers who run, or runners who write
  • Late bloomers looking for inspiration

About the Author: Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author best known for his quirky and cerebral fiction including best-selling novels like Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore. In addition, he has published more than 40 works of nonfiction including Underground and Portraits in Jazz.

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