Squash

“A well-paced account… For a game said to require, simply, ‘a bat, a ball and a wall,’ its lore is rich, and Zug is a good storyteller.” —New York Times   “Something about squash—the white walls, the cloistered courts and the cruel ring of a tinned volley—inspires eccentricity… [Zug] excels in describing the game’s outsized personalities and how they won clubhouse fame and infamy.” —New Yorker “It doesn’t take much reading to warm to the goofy, quixotic coaches, party animals, angry loners, footloose scions and racquet-wielding Holly Golightlys who traipse through the pages of Mr. Zug’s book.” —Peter Bodo, Wall Street Journal “With its narrative vivacity and wealth of historical settings, this classy piece of sports writing is not just for squash nuts.” —Kirkus   “[Captures] an interesting parallel between the game and American social movements… Zug’s passion for and knowledge of the game make this a unique addition to the library of sports histories.” —Publishers Weekly   “Accessible… Contains enough squash esoterica to excite the most dedicated squash junkie.” —Columbia Magazine “The squash world has been waiting for a book like this. I bet even the most dedicated and knowledgeable maestros of tight rails and feathery drop shots will learn lots of fascinating stuff they never knew before.” —Tom Wolfe “From schoolboys swatting balls on outdoor walls to the pros competing on portable glass courts in Grand Central Station, Squash beautifully conveys the fierce battles, exciting developments and many unforgettable personalities who have loved our game.” —Mark Talbott “Expert/hacker, hardball/softball, doubles/singles—all squash devotees should read James Zug’s comprehensive and passionate account of the history of their game.” —Frank Deford

James Zug received his MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia. His work has appeared in numerous national magazines and newspapers like The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Outside, and he is the author of a half dozen books. The world’s leading squash journalist, he has traveled to six continents covering the game. Since 2005, he has been the chair of the US Squash Hall of Fame committee.