Download PDF Levels of the Game John McPhee 9780374515263 Books

Product details Paperback 149 pages Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1st edition (November 1, 1979) Language English ISBN-10 9780374515263

Levels of the Game John McPhee 9780374515263 Books Reviews

• I've loved John McPhee's writing for years but had no idea he had written about tennis until stumbling across this title, which is a stroke-by-stroke account of a men's semi-final match at the first (1968) US Open, between Clark Graebner and Arthur Ashe, the eventual champion. But it's so much more, with biographical info on both players, background on the history of tennis, the important changes that were occurring in 1968 (not just in the tennis world), and much more. It's even more interesting as an historical document, as the world of tennis has hugely changed in the last 50 years. I can unreservedly recommend it!
  
  And incidentally, I also recommend another early McPhee title "Oranges" about the growing and processing of oranges in central Florida in the 1960s -- which I found especially fascinating since my family moved there at that time, and the book treats areas of Florida that I know well!
• a great book if you're a tennis fan. mcphee is so good a writer he was able to get me to read 200 pages, 2/3 of a book, on the geology of california. in this book he spends time with arthur ashe and clark graebner and watches a film of their forest hills final with each of them, revealing what they were each thinking from moment to moment. he weaves in biography and other material. in all, a fascinating and fun read.
• What an amazing and one-of-a-kind book. You'd think from the description that it would exhausting -- I don't even play tennis -- but McPhee's writing is just so good, it becomes about so much more than tennis. I plan on reading it again already. I am a writer, and often sports-writer, and this book is what I would aspire to write like. (Also got a wealth of knowledge from reading his "The Fourth Draft" about the act of writing.)
• This book is not just about a tennis match, it is about what makes great players succeed, it gives in depth background about the players and it is compelling to read. You will wish it kept going!!
• This book was assigned reading in my journalism course. I like tennis but it's not a sport that I am crazy about. I also was none to happy about reading an entire book dedicated to a single match. To my surprise, this was an interesting read that kept me turning the pages. As the title implies, there are levels to the game and that is the same approach the author took in writing this book. It is biographical and insightful. McPhee explores how each of these mens lives inform their game.
• A masterclass in writing. If you want to read a well written book, look no further. Learned a lot about the legend Arthur Ashe. But learned more about how a world class author can make a boring subject matter ridiculously entertaining.
• This is a terrific book that takes you inside the minds and games of two great players. I've just re-read this book to research a book I'm working (I'm the author of The Courts of Babylon, and a tennis writer by trade) on and what really touched and impressed me is how freely and openly Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner discussed issues like race and personal politics. Made me realize who recriminatory, filtered, and coded our conversations about such issues are today. This book was declared a classic for a reason, and it has had the legs to endure.
• I'' m just discovering what a fantastic writer John McPherson is and this story is wonderful. What a pity Arthur A. Ford so young. I own a Coby Whitmore painting of AA when he played on Hilton Head and I met this remarkable guy!