The Ping Pong Player and the Professor

An Anthropologist Explores Fatherhood and Meaning in an Extraordinary Sport

De: Richard Sosis

Narrado por: Richard Sosis

Most Americans view ping pong as either a basement recreation or the focus of a fraternity-party drinking game. Yet table tennis is an Olympic sport and one of the most popular athletic activities in the world. The Ping Pong Player and the Professor is a quirky memoir about the adventures of a Jewish anthropologist and his son, an elite player, in the colorful subculture of this extraordinary sport. The tale of their exploits in this hidden world is peppered with anthropological wisdom--the professor can't help himself--on a range of topics, including ethnicity, religion, sport, family, and how humans create and discover meaning in life. At its core, The Ping Pong Player and the Professor is a heartwarming love story about the relationship between a father and son, two introverts who share a common bond over a nine-foot by five-foot table.

©2023 Richard Sosis (P)2023 Wildhouse Publishing

Wonderful story about an amazing father son table tennis relationship!

Beautifully told narrative. As someone who has competed only as an adult, I enjoyed the insights into the experiences of juniors and their parents. Rare case where the author is the perfect narrator. I enjoyed learning about some of the history of the sport and the author’s anthropological, philosophical and religious insights. Tournament and club players will enjoy this easy read/listen and non-players will hopefully learn to appreciate the sport more as well.