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What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
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What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
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Summary
In 1982 Murakami began running to keep fit. Here he reflects on his running experiences. Equal parts travelogue, training log, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon.
By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, this is a must-listen for fans of this masterful author and for the increasing number of people who find a similar satisfaction in running.
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What listeners say about What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sue
- 05-04-17
Surprising little gem
I was a little apprehensive at first to listen to a book about running especially for someone who doesn't run but once again Haruki Murukami brings the subject to life through wonderful little anecdotes, takes and philosophies. Only he can do such a thing. It actually inspired me to take up running some day.
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14 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Wras
- 21-04-17
A fascinating monolog about life.
I am a walker never liked running or competing in events, not my thing, but this is a book about so much more than running or competing, it is about what you get from doing something you enjoy, about growing old, the pleasure of enduring, strugling and achieving not some great goal but a personal triumph that only you understand.
This is my favourite Haruki Murakami book it is honest and beautiful, full of insight and humanity, it is a pleasure that gives you a way to find joy in your own very personal achievements.
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Phil D
- 24-01-19
A beautiful book beautifully narrated
This is an absolutely wonderful book. I love how it is both about running and also nothing to do with running whatsoever. It is in no way a self help book or a manual on exercise, but more Murakami's autobiography told through the act of running.
You can see how the structure of the book was conceived as it could easily be the passing thoughts and memories thought up by someone during a run.
The book's themes run very deep. I suppose overall it is about life and its deep complexities. Health, longevity, tenacity, achieving your goals, mortality.
Murakami's clean Japanese prose style is beautiful to read and this performance is beautifully narrated without any embellishment or unnecessary drama. I've already listened to it twice.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- LC
- 15-05-17
Very poor narration
What disappointed you about What I Talk About When I Talk About Running?
Its about the worst narration of a book I have ever heard. The reader keeps giving exaggerated emphasis in all the wrong places, completely changing or distorting the meaning.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
As above - I have listened to over 300 audio-books so far, and this is the worst narration of them all
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- fahad
- 21-03-17
A simple, yet great memoir
Here you will know more about Murakami San
It is not only book about running, it is also about life, and the will to keep on going.
After finishing many of his novels, Honestly i didn't expect Mr. Murakami to have this peaceful view about life!
If you love his novels, then this is definitely a book for you, and you will find interesting things about them :)
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ross
- 21-03-17
Worth a listen if you're a runner
Any additional comments?
A reasonably interesting listen if you're a runner. Worth the price as it is a slightly cheaper audiobook, but nothing to write home about necessarily. It's more like having a chat with a fellow runner than a book that is going to blow you away. Having said that, I don't regret the purchase.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- sealion
- 24-03-21
Seriously disappointing
I was so looking forward to this book. It’s hailed as a running classic and source of inspiration but I found it a turgid, self-indulgent ungrateful monologue of great superficiality. The moments that almost resembled something akin to self reflection or a probing of the deeper emotional relationship with running led nowhere. The prose was immature and boyish, and the potentially philosophical elements linguistically crude with simplistic and pointless metaphors. Written from a (self confessed) self centred perspective I struggled to get through each whining chapter and gained no insight, wisdom or even enjoyment. Seriously disappointing.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jack Williamson
- 19-09-16
Run Haruki, run...
Narrator was a great fit, totally convincing. Murakami's fiction has often left me cold but this was a pleasant and interesting journey into the psyche of a writer and runner who's fascinated about why those two pursuits intertwine so naturally. Great for listening to at the gym or...surprise surprise...whilst out running.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- mahabibi
- 12-04-17
Always worth reading
Murakami is one of today's best writers, with great insight and ability to relay it on.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- FaMa
- 10-04-17
Not really a running book
Book mixed with the writer's other life experiences. I was expecting a lot more emphasis on the running part with more details but didn't really get that. Whilst I have no issue with the writer talking about his novel writing experiences, how he started etc but the book title is about running l, not novel writing.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kasper
- 27-01-18
Like listening to a friend
For what it is, it's perfect. Want to hear a man talk about running and how it has been an intricate part of his daily life as a writer? If yes this is the book for you.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sólveig
- 21-05-17
Fantastic book!!!! Could not stop listening to it!
Fantastic book!!! Could not stop listening to it!! The storyteller does a good job!! I will now look at other books from this writer :-)
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- shannagen
- 29-12-16
Very natural and real
Loved this book.. the author kept it so real.. loved his approach and honest view about everything in this book.. it inspires me to define my own goals n not be disturbed/distracted about the general notion of "success"
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 21-01-23
Pretentious
Like a long self absorbed blog post. Barely about running. Overrated. . . .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Raiya Kishwar Ashraf
- 20-11-21
Banter with a friend
Listening to this book was like having a long conversation with a friend. Haruki’s storytelling together with the matter-of-fact reading made for a great listen during walks. Recommend to anyone with a desk-based job!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- kferic
- 10-10-21
Simple but brilliant book
Interesting book, very modeste writing style. Since it a biography I like it even more because H. Murakami is a simple, organised, openhearted person. The narator is perfect.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Not
- 04-01-21
Easy short read
As a runner I really enjoyed this book. It left me feeling and wishing he had a part two of this story. He definitely helped me realise alot of runners think and feel alot of similar things. And our competitive behavior is very similar. live it. Will definitely read it again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 26-05-20
10/10
Such an amazing book, made my runs so much more enjoyable. One of the best books i have ever read.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-01-20
What he talks about when he talk about himself
What he talks about when he talk about himself -is running.
Mixed bag this one, annoying lack of insight at times but there are lessons to be learned from this book for sure.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Cari Batenburg
- 08-01-20
Didn't know if I would like this but...
I loved it so much! Who would have imagined that listening to a person's thoughts and experiences of running would be so enjoyable and thought-provoking.
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