In my recent conversation with Dan Schlesinger, we covered an extraordinary range of experiences: elite marathon running, injury and recovery, a long quest for the Olympics, life and work in East Asia, and an unexpected artistic career that included illustrating the Japanese editions of the Harry Potter books, and ultimately led him to meeting his partner and supporting the cause "Freedom from Torture" through his writing and art. Dan is a remarkably multidimensional guest. Before becoming a professional artist and illustrator, he trained and worked as a corporate lawyer for ten years. But it was not where he found his deepest sense of purpose. Over time, he followed his lifelong connection with art and developed a career as an oil painter and illustrator. His work has been exhibited internationally, including in galleries in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. His newest book endeavour, "Injury Blues and the Red Running Shoes" deals with the challenges of injury, recovery and the value of friendship, both written and beautifully illustrated by Dan Schlesinger, is a reflection of his own life experiences, and will be published by Whitefox Publishing on 19 October 2026. You can also explore his artwork here: https://www.danschlesingerart.com/ Dan is also widely known in Japan as the illustrator of the Japanese edition of the Harry Potter series. His illustrations reached a vast readership, with more than 22 million copies of the Japanese editions sold. His fluency in Japanese, along with his years living and working in Korea earlier in his professional life, helped shape a rich cross-cultural career that he discusses in the interview. Since 2002, he has held more than fifty solo exhibitions in Japan under the auspices of the Prova Gallery. Of course, running is another essential part of Dan’s story. Injury Blues and the Red Running Shoes is a short illustrated book about resilience, recovery, friendship, and the lasting joy of running. The central character is a former champion runner who has retired from serious competition and rediscovered the simple pleasure of running for fun. He dreams of visiting a friend in Rio de Janeiro and exploring the city’s hills in his trusted red running shoes. Before he can make the journey, however, an injury brings his training to a halt and leaves him facing the familiar emotional challenge that many runners know all too well: the injury blues. How to find it: The paperback edition of Injury Blues and the Red Running Shoes is listed at $16.95 in the United States and can be pre-ordered through Barnes & Noble or Amazon from Whitefox Publishing, and releases on October 19th, 2026: https://www.amazon.com/Injury-Blues-Red-Running-Shoes/dp/1918661170 One of the most meaningful aspects of this project is Dan’s decision to donate all proceeds from the book to "Freedom from Torture". Freedom from Torture is a UK charity that supports people who have survived torture, providing clinical psychiatric care, specialist therapy, care, rehabilitation, and support as survivors work to heal, rebuild trust, and establish safe lives. He has a personal connection and has listened to many survivors, through his own work and family affiliation with the organization. You can learn more about Freedom from Torture here: https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/ Follow us @runninganthtopologist on social media, or visit blogsite for more run culture - www.Runninganthropologist.com
