An excellent memoir told from the view point of what Murakami truly is at heart - a runner and a novelist. Even if these are also just things he randomly decided to do one day.

Murakami as a writer has a keen knack for understanding, describing, and accepting reality as it truly is, even if his plots take surreal and nonsensical turns. This type of understanding stems from his practice of running; to be able to reach a certain distance, in addition to physical training one has to achieve a level of mental presence to accept the realities (and pains) of pushing ones body to its limits, and continue to carry on regardless. He states that suffering is optional, that a situation is what you make of it.

Additionally, he accepts the reality of training and running with little to no improvements at times, and asserts that it is the process and the feeling you consequently receive in your heart that makes the whole ordeal worthwhile, even if it is seemingly absurd. This is the mentality of a true distance runner.

I would recommend this book to anyone who gets profound enjoyment from actively practicing at something they are passionate about, running or otherwise.