A collection of books by the most famous master of contemporary Japanese literature, compiled, as he says, “sketches about running—but nothing to do with secrets of a healthy lifestyle.” With the same signature ease and what’s left unsaid, Murakami expertly balances at the edge of everyday reportage and allegory, capturing his reflections on running—which, thanks to its daily repetition, acquires a certain meditative essence. “To write honestly about running,” he says, “means to write honestly about yourself.”