Ping-Pong Diplomacy

Ping-Pong Diplomacy PDF Author: Nicholas Griffin
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1451642814
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 352

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Book Description
Combining the insight of Franklin Foer’s How Soccer Explains the World and the intrigue of Ben Affleck’s Argo, Ping Pong Diplomacy traces the story of how an aristocratic British spy used the game of table tennis to propel a Communist strategy that changed the shape of the world. THE SPRING OF 1971 heralded the greatest geopolitical realignment in a generation. After twenty-two years of antagonism, China and the United States suddenly moved toward a détente—achieved not by politicians but by Ping-Pong players. The Western press delighted in the absurdity of the moment and branded it “Ping-Pong Diplomacy.” But for the Chinese, Ping-Pong was always political, a strategic cog in Mao Zedong’s foreign policy. Nicholas Griffin proves that the organized game, from its first breath, was tied to Communism thanks to its founder, Ivor Montagu, son of a wealthy English baron and spy for the Soviet Union. Ping-Pong Diplomacy traces a crucial inter­section of sports and society. Griffin tells the strange and tragic story of how the game was manipulated at the highest levels; how the Chinese government helped cover up the death of 36 million peasants by holding the World Table Tennis Championships during the Great Famine; how championship players were driven to their deaths during the Cultural Revolution; and, finally, how the survivors were reconvened in 1971 and ordered to reach out to their American counterparts. Through a cast of eccentric characters, from spies to hippies and Ping-Pong-obsessed generals to atom-bomb survivors, Griffin explores how a neglected sport was used to help realign the balance of worldwide power.

Ping-Pong Diplomacy

Ping-Pong Diplomacy PDF Author: Nicholas Griffin
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1451642814
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 352

Get Book Here

Book Description
Combining the insight of Franklin Foer’s How Soccer Explains the World and the intrigue of Ben Affleck’s Argo, Ping Pong Diplomacy traces the story of how an aristocratic British spy used the game of table tennis to propel a Communist strategy that changed the shape of the world. THE SPRING OF 1971 heralded the greatest geopolitical realignment in a generation. After twenty-two years of antagonism, China and the United States suddenly moved toward a détente—achieved not by politicians but by Ping-Pong players. The Western press delighted in the absurdity of the moment and branded it “Ping-Pong Diplomacy.” But for the Chinese, Ping-Pong was always political, a strategic cog in Mao Zedong’s foreign policy. Nicholas Griffin proves that the organized game, from its first breath, was tied to Communism thanks to its founder, Ivor Montagu, son of a wealthy English baron and spy for the Soviet Union. Ping-Pong Diplomacy traces a crucial inter­section of sports and society. Griffin tells the strange and tragic story of how the game was manipulated at the highest levels; how the Chinese government helped cover up the death of 36 million peasants by holding the World Table Tennis Championships during the Great Famine; how championship players were driven to their deaths during the Cultural Revolution; and, finally, how the survivors were reconvened in 1971 and ordered to reach out to their American counterparts. Through a cast of eccentric characters, from spies to hippies and Ping-Pong-obsessed generals to atom-bomb survivors, Griffin explores how a neglected sport was used to help realign the balance of worldwide power.

The Metaphysics of Ping-Pong

The Metaphysics of Ping-Pong PDF Author: Guido Mina di Sospiro
Publisher: Quest Books
ISBN: 083563194X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
When a mortifying defeat to his teenage son rekindles his lifelong passion for table tennis, keen philosopher Guido Mina di Sospiro sets out to learn the game properly. Guido’s love for spinning a feather-weight ball takes him from his local Ping-Pong club, populated by idiosyncratic players with extraordinary stories to tell, to training drills with a world-class coach. This seemingly harmless game also leads him into sticky situations in the CIA headquarters and the ganglands of Washington, D.C. Woven throughout his Ping-Pong epiphany are philosophical ruminations on Plato and Aristotle, metaphysicians and empiricists, Jung’s dark shadow, Sun Tzu’s war tactics, the I Ching, and much more. As Guido’s journey takes him from Big Sur to a nail-biting showdown in China against a string of elite players, he finds that Ping-Pong can teach us a surprising amount about life.

Ping Pong for Fighters

Ping Pong for Fighters PDF Author: Tahl Leibovitz
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781500575908
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description
This book is called Ping Pong for Fighters, and it's about fighting all the different elements that are attached to table tennis. The fight starts inward and eventually moves outward, from within ourselves, to the ball, to our opponents, to the environment and the external conditions. I think what's interesting about this book is that the reader takes the journey with me. All that I learned in over 20 years of competing in table tennis, is in this book. The goal of this book is to try and get the reader to approach the game differently. The book is basically a philosophy for the thinking and feeling player. A philosophy that encourages one to stay in the present moment, have self confidence and compete to the best of their ability. This book is also very direct and very easy to understand. It is not an intellectual discourse of any kind. The book reads more like a conversation consisting of helpful direction through experience and a philosophy of table tennis that is concerned more with experiencing what it feels like to think and play table tennis like a top table tennis player.

Ping-pong

Ping-pong PDF Author: Arnold Parker
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Table tennis
Languages : en
Pages : 140

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Book Description


Ping-pong (Table Tennis)

Ping-pong (Table Tennis) PDF Author: Arnold Parker
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Table tennis
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Expert in a Year

Expert in a Year PDF Author: Sam Priestley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781515184492
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
Sam Priestley was never Mr Sporty. After failed attempts at rowing and running he had all but given up on the possibility of becoming a sportsman. That was until childhood friend, and table tennis coach, Ben Larcombe convinced him to act as the guinea pig in an experiment he had concocted - The Expert in a Year Challenge. Starting 1st January 2014 novice Sam was immersed in the world of competitive table tennis. He began training every day and over the course of the year notched up hundreds of hours of practice in an attempt to reach a seemingly impossible goal. There was blood, sweat, tears, injuries, frustrations and moments of elation as the pair travelled up and down the UK, and beyond, in their quest for training, mentors and competition. Sam found potential he never thought he had, got better at table tennis than most people thought possible, and discovered what it feels like when 1.5 million people watch you fail. Here is their story, including all the ridiculous training methods and unreachable goals, and the surprising lessons they learnt from playing table tennis every day for a year.

Winning Table Tennis

Winning Table Tennis PDF Author: Dan Seemiller
Publisher: Human Kinetics
ISBN: 9780880115209
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
Whether you're a competitive tournament player or a serious recreational player, Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies will help you improve your game. Dan Seemiller, 5-time U.S. singles and 11-time doubles champion, shows you all the shots and strategies for top-level play. The book features 19 drills for better shot-making, plus Seemiller's own grip and shot innovations that will give you an edge over the competition. Featuring the most effective table tennis techniques and strategies, Winning Table Tennis shows you how to choose the right equipment, serve and return serves, use proper footwork and get into position, practice more efficiently, prepare for competitions, make effective strategy decisions in singles and doubles play, and condition your body for optimal performance.

Ping-Pong (Table Tennis); The Game and How to Play

Ping-Pong (Table Tennis); The Game and How to Play PDF Author: Parker Arnold
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780243648849
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Everything You Know Is Pong

Everything You Know Is Pong PDF Author: Roger Bennett
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 006201661X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 274

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Book Description
One billion Chinese pong fans can’t be wrong. With an all-star team of contributing writers—including Nick Hornby, Will Shortz, Davy Rothbart, Harold Evans, and Jonathan Safran Foer—and quirky, fascinating images of table tennis from around the world, editors Eli Horowitz (McSweeny’s) and Roger Bennet (creator of Bar Mitzvah Disco and Camp Camp) deliver a humorous but heartfelt paean to ping pong, the world's most popular, yet least appreciated sport. Everything You Know Is Pong is a beautifully designed literary tribute to every aspect of table tennis, the true global pastime.

Ping-pong (table Tennis)

Ping-pong (table Tennis) PDF Author: Arnold Parker
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Table tennis
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description