"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" is unintentionally inspirational but possibly one of the most inspirational books we've read!
Haruki Murakami's running diary provides entertaining and thought provoking life lessons. Using his experiences of marathons, ultramarthons and triathlons as metaphor his readers tag along on a most motivating 180 page jog.
He talks of why he a "mediocre" runner runs. He explores the welcome void long distances gives a man who spends most of his time contained within his thoughts. He touches on goal setting and persistence. He deals with the inevitable slow down that comes with age. He tackles the importance of self-expression and self-exploration.
And with all these areas covered "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" has some very memorable and empowering nuggets. Our favourite:
"So the fact that I'm me and no one else is one of my greatest assets."
Even the non-runner will find this book inspiring and seek to find the introspective, reflective, calm, meditative state that Murakami achieves on his runs and seeps into his life away from pounding the pavement.
Near the end of the book Murakami's poignant words of a throughly self-examined man leaves you pretty wowed:
"It doesn't matter how old I get, but as long as I continue to live I'll always discover something new about myself. No matter how long you stand there examining yourself naked before a mirror, you'll never see reflected what's inside."
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