Haruki Murakami chose to keep a journal of his progress while training for the New York City Marathon. The result is a fascinating memoir of his entangled obsessions with running and writing, complete with vivid recollections and insights, including the eureka moment when he chose to pursue a career as a writer. This is a rich and revelatory work that raises the human urge for motion to an art form, by turns hilarious and serious, lighthearted and intellectual.