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The Ping Pong Player and the Professor

An Anthropologist Explores Fatherhood and Meaning in an Extraordinary Sport

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The Ping Pong Player and the Professor

Written by: Richard Sosis
Narrated by: Richard Sosis
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About this listen

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
Parenting & Families Relationships Sports Heartfelt
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Great writing (and reading/narration) from the author! Heartfelt and very interesting stories! I must admit I was a junior TT player myself in the late 80s/early 90s so a lot of he author and his son's stories resonated with me. I still play the odd time (like once a year?) but enjoy watching a lot of TT on youtube. Thanks for the great book!

One of the best books I have ever read (listened)

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