Customer Reviews

Squash : A History of the Game

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

...if you've never played golf, it's darn near unwatchable. If you've never played squash, I'm not sure this book is all that readable, save in small chunks. However, for a player such as me it's a great book. Most interesting are Zug's efforts at unravelling the origins of the game from the morass of legends, myths and speculations surrounding that whole English prison/public school debate; and his thoughts on the fairly recent conversion of the North American countries to the international softball game. He mourns, as I do somewhat, the loss of the quirky games and personalities that the American hardball game produced.
If I had one quibble it would be the author's dwelling on the stories and athletes with ties to the Ivy League's perennial squash powers. I could have used a little less history of Harvard's stars of the 1920's and a little more on some less well-known squash luminaries. For example, Heather McKay, the Australian, won the British Open 16 consecutive years, didn't lose a single game in a tournament for nine straight years, etc., etc., but merits two paragraphs?
Overall an impressive accomplishment for Mr. Zug. Well written, thoroughly researched, and heartfelt. Thanks!

Take your pick: Whether you're a sports nuts or a fan of history, you'll love this book. Zug catches you right away and pulls you into this fun, quirky, elite, competitve world. Even if you've never seen a squash game, this is a great read. You'll be delighted by the memorable characters and refreshing writing. A GREAT read!!

"Squash: A History of the Game" was a very interesting read, and I especially recommend it for all players of Squash. Although dense at points, this book really gives a great history of how squash came to be. James Zug takes us through the transformation from a game named fives, first played against a kitchen chimeny wall, to raquets made from bamboo sticks, to the regulation size courts and oversized hyper titanium raquets we know today. It even explained why "Squash" is called squash, the mysterious question that nobody on my team seems to know the answer to. Im not going to tell you however, you'll have to read it on your own. Like I said before, I belive this book is more enjoyable for squash players. This is just my opinion however, so if you don't play squash I still suggest you try reading this book.

Well anyway thats my 2 cents. Altogether I think this book is definitly a great read, and definitly very useful as a reference if you are writing an essay on the history of squash. Four star material.

-Jalper

This book, as the forward by the late George Plimpton indicates, is the first comprehensive history of American squash, and it is a hard act to follow. As such it is pretty much assured "instant classic" status.

Problems with the book: 1) The title does not indicate that it is a history of squash in America. Except for the very early history of squash in England, do not expect to find much outside the U.S. and Canada. 2) It is written for the squash player, and will be difficult to read for outsiders--except perhaps as a reference.

Good things about the book: Everything else.

This book completely underplays the dominance of Khans for 20 years, Jahangir Khan who also eclipsed the career of Mark Talbot. Janhangir won 6 Open Titles, 10 consecutive British Titles, 12 US Hardball Titles, Jahangir won 12 of 13 US Open Hard Ball titles he competed. Eclipsed the reputation of Mark Talbot of US whom he beat 10 times in 11 encounters. For 5 years : 555 consecutive matches won. The most deceptive, cunning, agressive player.

Jahangir Khan was replaced by Jansher Khan, the impeccable retriever of impossible balls who was unsquashable for next 10 years. The lanky, lean, mean. Between them, they played 37 times, score 18:19, there is no reference to such fierce and balanced rivalry.

Geoff Hunt was known to have most excruciating training regime, that included 40 sprints of 100 meters a day. 1981 World Open, against Geoff Hunt, Jahangir Khan lost the first game 7-9 to win the next three at 9-1, 9-2, 9-2. Geoff Hunt quipped," today I came to know what I have been doing to others."

Such Titanic moments are blacked out in this book. It speaks of Harvard, its players, their greatness.

The book neither looks across The Pond, nor at the Asians.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the background on the creation and evolution of the best sport in the world. Escapes me why it hasn't made it into the Olympics at this point (editorial comment on the state of sport in the world)!!!

When I asked the squash pro at my club if he'd read Zug's book, he turned up his nose. He found much of the material self-indulgent. As for me - a person who took up the sport at a time when many others my age have retired their rackets - I admired the quality of Zug's writing and the way he unraveled the story of the game's evolution. I dug those historical tidbits (did you know the Titanic had a squash court?) and the tales of some of the sport's more eccentric players. Yeah, sure, there were some parts of SQUASH which "hit the nick and died" for me, but no big deal. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has been bitten by the SQUASH bug.

The title of the book is misleading - it is purely about North American squash history.

I was expecting write ups on recognized international greats and found nothing.