On Tennis: 5 Essays
$0.99
Worth: $0.99
(as of Apr 23, 2025 13:51:55 UTC – Particulars)
From the writer of Infinite Jest and Take into account the Lobster: A set of 5 sensible essays on tennis, from the writer’s personal expertise as a junior participant to his celebrated profile of Roger Federer on the peak of his powers.
A “long-time rabid fan of tennis,” and a regionally ranked tennis participant in his youth, David Foster Wallace wrote concerning the recreation like nobody else. On Tennis presents David Foster Wallace’s 5 essays on the game, printed between 1990 and 2006, and hailed as a few of the best and most modern sports activities writing of our time.
This energetic and entertaining assortment begins with Wallace’s personal expertise as a prodigious tennis participant (“Spinoff Sport in Twister Alley”). He additionally challenges the sports activities memoir style (“How Tracy Austen Broke My Coronary heart”), takes us to the US Open (“Democracy and Commerce on the U.S. Open”), and profiles of two of the world’s best tennis gamers (“Tennis Participant Michael Joyce’s Skilled Artistry as a Paradigm of Sure Stuff About Alternative, Freedom, Limitation, Pleasure, Grotesquerie, and Human Completeness” and “Federer Each Flesh and Not”).
With infectious enthusiasm and massive coronary heart, Wallace’s writing reveals us the sweetness, complexity, and brilliance of the sport he cherished finest.
Prospects say
Prospects discover the guide’s essays to be implausible fast reads, with one assessment noting how the writer could make even the smallest particulars fascinating. Furthermore, the writing fashion receives optimistic suggestions, with clients saying it drags them in.
Elizabeth Naidoff –
Brilliant
If I had to pick the best tennis book I have ever read, it would be this one. Wallace is an amazingly creative and inventive writer who can make the smallest details fascinating. His unique writing style with it’s long sentences, unusual use of vocabulary and acronyms is both lyrical and clever and funny at times. These five essays stand alone and are linked through his particular interests which even if one knew nothing about tennis would none the less be engaging and enjoyable to read. His sheer skill at writing, his keen observation and use of language make these essays riveting. I couldn’t recommend them more highly. Treat yourself and explore this genius if you don’t know his works.
actress1 –
Pretty good
I liked this. I’m not an avid tennis player not do I play at all but the writing dragged me in and I learned a lot about the beauty and mathematics of the game.
mathete5 –
Wallace’s writing is the treat here. I read elsewhere …
Wallace’s writing is the treat here. I read elsewhere a description of him as “the Federer of writing.” It’s appropriate. Gracefully reflecting on life itself, on the geometry of the midwestern land where he learned to play, and how that land and its winds enhanced his own “near-great” play. He aces each essay.
Actionable Intentions –
Fantastic quick-reading essays
Fantastic quick-reading essays. DFW had a command of the English language that was pretty well staggering. His insight into the world and play of tennis is great for players and non-players alike. A little footnote heavy, but the footnotes ended up being great reads, as well.
xhighbar –
insightful read
I liked his stories of junior tennis. It took some time to get used to his heavy use of words that made me grateful for “ highlight and get instant dictionary “. I loved his stories of Michael Joyce .Interesting takes on the top pros of tennis.Saddened to learn of the author’s passing in 2008.
A part time prof –
Great subject great writer.
The writing is so good the subject doesn’t really matter. But the subject, that the writer clearly loves, comes alive in theses pages. A great talent.
Michael Sofronas –
Four Stars
Interesting!
Richard Bennett –
Four Stars
I like his writing style. Very good wordsmith to convey his meaning
Peer Sylvester –
David Foster Wallace war nicht nur ein begnadeter Autor (Infinite Jest), sondern auch begabter Tennisspieler in seiner Jugend. In fünf Essays schrieb er über den Sport und diese fübf Essays sind hier zusammengefasst:Im ersten geht es primär um seine Erfahrungen als Jugendspieler. Dieses Essay war auch schon in “A supposingly fun thing I never do again” zu lesen (nicht in der deutschen Ausgabe allerdings).Im zweiten geht es vordergründig um eine Biographie eines Tennisstars (Tracy Austen), wobei er generell über Sportbiographien und den Lebenslauf von Sportlern und deren Fähigkeiten sinniert.Im dritten geht es um die US. Open, wobei der Schwerpunkt weniger auf den Spielen selbst liegt, sondern um die Veranstaltung – Um die Logistik, um das Essensangebot usw.Im vierten geht es wieder um die US Open, diesmal liegt der Scwherpunkt aber eher auf den Qualifikationsturnier davor.Im fünften geht es um Roger Federer und warum dieser ein so starker Tennisspieler ist.Insgesamt geht Wallace immer auch auf das Tennisspiel selbst ein und erklärt hervorragend, was das Spiel ausmacht und warum Topspieler so gut sind, wie sich das Spiel entwickelt hat und wo der Unterschied zwischen Profis und Nichtprofis liegen. Das alles sind unglaublich gut geschriebene Erklärungen, die ich mir durchaus auch mal von Sportkommentatoren gewünscht hätte.Auch sonst bleibt Wallace sich treu: Es sit durchweg toll geschrieben und immer mit einem humorvollen Unterton. Drei der Essays habe ich bereits mal gelesen, aber ich habe sie erneut gelesen, weil sie einfach so gut sind!Wer sich für Tennis interessiert -und sei es als Laie und/oder Fernsehzuschauer, dem seien diese Essays ans Herz gelegt! Wann kommen sie mal auf deutsch??
Shibashish –
Very few people have written so affectionately and with so much detail about this lovely game. If you have played it, you will get goose bumps and smiles throughout…
Ninon Laforce –
It is written in an interesting way but I miss the point of some of the essays.