Published: 2007 (Bungeishunju) Setting: Japan, Greece, Cambridge U.S. Summary: Haruki Murakami’s running memoir starts with the saying: “suffering is optional,” and ends with his proposed epitaph: “at least he never walked.” Murakami is equally interested in systems and experience. Running is the metaphysical key that unlocks the rest of the body and mind, and the way you trainContinue reading “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running-Haruki Murakami”
Category Archives: Non-Fiction
Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story-Chuck Klosterman
Published: 2005 (Scribner) Setting: 2000’s U.S.A. Summary: Chuck Klosterman’s third major work of non-fiction explores how the death of a rockstar changes our memory of them. Klosterman further posits the question: How does how we remember the dead highlight what we think of ourselves, and how we see ourselves in relation to popular culture? Klosterman, having been sentContinue reading “Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story-Chuck Klosterman”
Haruki Murakami goes to meet Hayao Kawai
Published: 1996 (Iwanami Shoten) Setting: A Room Summary: Haruki Murakami and Hayao Kawai sat down in 1996, and the transcript of their conversation informs the reader as to what they think about life, love, violence, the novel, and psychotherapy among other topics. This conversation lends particularly crucial insight into Kawai’s sand play methods, as well asContinue reading “Haruki Murakami goes to meet Hayao Kawai”
Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock-Jesse Jarnow
Published: 2012 (Penguin) Setting: The World, Maxwell’s Summary: Jesse Jarnow’s book on the history of Yo La Tengo (YLT) blends the rise of Indie Rock and the rise of Ira, Georgia, and James. Their respective rises often happened in tandem and in parallel spaces, YLT was just over the river from the main scene in NYCContinue reading “Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock-Jesse Jarnow”
The Nineties-Chuck Klosterman
Published: 2022 (Penguin) Setting: Chuck Klosterman’s Mind Summary: Chuck Klosterman recaps and dissects the Nineties as a feeling, not as a stated fact in his newest book, The Nineties. Weaving cultural analysis, political commentary, and personal experience Klosterman paints a picture of the Nineties with a deft hand and an inquisitive mind. Klosterman is interested in how theContinue reading “The Nineties-Chuck Klosterman”
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking-Malcolm Gladwell
Published: 2005 (Little, Brown and Company) Setting: Gladwell’s Brain Summary: Blink is a study about “thin slicing”, how we make snap decisions, when we are most used to making them, and what they mean. Gladwell produces economic and psychological case studies which explore the phenomenon of seconds and the decisions we make within them. Police shootings, marbleContinue reading “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking-Malcolm Gladwell”
Don’t Put Me In, Coach-Mark Titus
Published: 2012 (Anchor Sports) Setting: Columbus, Ohio Summary: Mark Titus’s rollicking adventure as a walk-on superstar for the Ohio State Buckeyes is one worth following. He benchwarmed, pranked, and shit his way to minor fame as the most interesting walk-on in college basketball. Titus’s humility and humor shine, and his keen awareness of the flow ofContinue reading “Don’t Put Me In, Coach-Mark Titus”
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs-Chuck Klosterman
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs-Chuck Klosterman Published: 2003 (Scribner) Setting: Chuck Klosterman’s Mind Summary: Chuck Klosterman’s collection of essays touches on born-again apocalyptic literature, Celtics vs. Lakers, why the Dixie Chicks matter, and the pretentiousness of rock critics (him included). Klosterman tries to put on paper what he (we) really thinks about the world around usContinue reading “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs-Chuck Klosterman”
Fargo Rock City-Chuck Klosterman
Published: 2001 (Scribner) Setting: The North Dakota in Klosterman’s Mind Summary: Chuck Klosterman’s s debut book prompts the reader to journey back to the 1980’s, a time where Klosterman was obsessed with hair metal and everything that came with it (boozing, virginity, aimless drives). Klosterman is both sharp and vulnerable when he ponders the artistic, commercial,Continue reading “Fargo Rock City-Chuck Klosterman”
The Tipping Point-Malcolm Gladwell
Published: 2000 (Little, Brown) Setting: Malcolm Gladwell’s Brain Summary: Malcolm Gladwell’s debut book is a thought experiment about how we can change our world, and a treatise on how we need to change how we think about solutions to these problems. Malcolm Gladwell shows us why Blue’s Clues was the evolutionary Sesame Street, and whyContinue reading “The Tipping Point-Malcolm Gladwell”
Will Reviews Things 