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Federer and Me: A Story of Obsession Kindle Edition

by William Skidelsky (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 154 ratings
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In this wildly entertaining and informative memoir reminiscent of Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch—but set in the world of tennis—one man recounts his all-consuming obsession with Roger Federer and delves into the fascinating history of professional sports and fandom.

For much of the past decade, William Skidelsky has had an obsessive devotion to Roger Federer, whom he considers to be the greatest and most graceful tennis player of all time.

In this mesmerizing memoir, Skidelsky ponders what it is about the Swiss star that transfixes him and countless others. Skidelsky dissects the wonders of Federer’s forehand, reflects on his rivalry with Nadal, revels in his victories, and relives his most crushing defeats. But in charting his obsession, Skidelsky also weaves his own past into a captivating story that explores the evolution of modern tennis, the role of beauty in sports, and the psychology of fandom.

Thought-provoking and beautifully written, Federer and Me is a frank, funny, and touching account of one fan’s life.
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  1. Print length
    273 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Atria Books
  5. Publication date
    May 3, 2016
  6. File size
    1757 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A Champion's Worth of Praise for Federer and Me

“Skidelsky is excellent at deconstructing the appeal of Federer…This is the kind of book that sports fans will read over the summer, sitting in their gardens or in the stands of the All England Club, with a bowl of strawberries near at hand. It is gentle and wise, discursive but pointed.” (Matthew Syed The Times)

“Skidelsky…knows that Federer’s tennis is more than just Federer’s tennis; but for him it is not a metaphor, rather something which has been absorbed into the texture and meaning of his own life.” (Booker Prize-winning author Julian Barnes The Guardian)

“Thought-provoking, instructive and highly readable. Positively gripping.” (Simon O’Hagan The Independent)

“With clarity he illuminates the champion’s striking position as both a preserver and innovator of the sport." (Laurence Scott Financial Times)

“Compelling. Its excellent chapters on the technical changes in the game, the rivalry with Nadal, and the relationship between sport and beauty are well worth the admission money.” (Simon Barnes Newsweek)

“Brave…Engaging…Ultimately poignant.” (Edmund Gordon The Spectator)

"Here is tennis's answer to Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch..." (Simon Kuper Financial Times)

"The author is at his best when describing Federer's skill and innovation, and fans of the player will likely not dispute the assertions of his grace on court." (Amanda Mastrull Library Journal (Starred review))

"With his careful attention to the evolving talent of Federer and the debates around surface, rackets, strategy matches, and celebrity, Skidelsky scores." (Publishers Weekly)

“[Skidelsky] situates the Swiss in historical context, describing him as simultaneously a throwback to traditional tennis and an avatar of modern technology and training . . . He’ll certainly get no argument from the Fed-heads when he observes that the contemporary game of relentless baseline retrieving is boring compared with their man’s graceful, instinctive construction of points.” (The Washington Post)

About the Author

William Skidelsky has been literary editor of the Observer (UK) and the New Statesman, as well as deputy editor of Prospect magazine. He has written about tennis for the Observer, Prospect, and The Economist. He played tennis to county level as a junior and now plays at a club in southeast London, where he is first team captain. He lives in London with his wife and two children.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B012OS8VX8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books; Reprint edition (May 3, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 3, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1757 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1501133942
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 154 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
154 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ben Hannani
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful read for tennis fans
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
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As a tennis fan and avid Roger Federer supporter, I found this to be a wonderful read. In addition to some great observations about Federer, I also learned some fascinating details about the history of the sport. If you're looking for an easy, enjoyable read about one of the greatest athletes of our time, I highly recommend this book.
One person found this helpful
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Rajesh Batra
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2015
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Must read for any Federer fan
One person found this helpful
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Benjamin D Jubilee
3.0 out of 5 stars but a bit dull in some sections
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2016
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Interesting reading especially if you are a tennis fan, but a bit dull in some sections.
One person found this helpful
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Lin
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect condition with dust cover
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2016
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Perfect condition with dust cover, and a fun read besides A mix of the author's life history - mildly interesting - and his observations on the evolution of tennis in the modern era through his admiration of Fed.
3 people found this helpful
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DEPPFAN4EVER
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it and very interesting
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2017
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Loved it and very interesting! My mom and I both read it! We are fanatic Roger fans and could definitely relate to the author!
Sandra and Addie
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Happy Cooker
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2016
Light entertaining read but I think I learned more about the author's private life than Federer's.
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Marla Tanada
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2016
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Great reading for a Fed fan, or any tennis player.
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Dr. Laurence Raw
1.0 out of 5 stars Spurious Account of One Man's Passion for the Great Tennis Player
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2016
Sometimes readers are often prompted to wonder why books were actually written; why agents spemt so much time and energy promoting them; and why publishers spent so much money in printing and publicizing them.

This is certainly the case with William Skidelsky's FEDERER AND ME. A one-time literary editör of London's OBSERVER newspaper and the NEW STATESMAN magazine, he writes about his obsession with the tennis player Roger Federer. Pages and pages of minute analysis of the tennis player's technique and appearance are intertwined with reminiscences of the occasions when the author had the chance to see Federer in action, plus fragments of autobiography dating back to the author's childhood when he first started to love the game of tennis.

Skidelsky obviously knows something about the mechanics of tennis, but for all his knowledge, he cannot capture the essence of his subject; that combination of brilliance of technique, sheer ruthlessness and lovability that has kept Federer at the top of the tennis tree for over twelve years now. Perhaps Federer just defies description; like all great sports people, you have to watch him in action to understand where true greatness lies.

As far as the autobiographical elements are concerned, Skidelsky does not write particularly interestingly. He outlines his education at Eton College and Oxford University, while embracing the particularly English trait of trying to show that privilege has not affected him; he is just as "normal" as his readers. The fact that this is patently untrue seems to elude him: from the evidence of this book, Skidelsky has had a very easy passage through school, college and work, and now operates quite happily as a member of London's journalistic élite, making sufficient money to write pointless books like this.

On other occasions he writes about his tennis travels through Wimbledon, Wembley and Halle. Although more than willing to write about his passion for Federer, he remains sublimely indifferent to his surroundings; we get little sense of the ways in which context shapes the fans' reaction. The genteel atmosphere of Wimbledon is very different from the more intimate surroundings of Halle. It could be argued that ambiance is not really Skidelsky's main interest, but it does have a significant influence on the way Federer conducts himself both on and off the court.

In the end, we are left with a book that reveals the author's narcissism rather than explains why Federer has such an attraction for tennis buffs young and old. Avoid.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Bojan Poturica
5.0 out of 5 stars Federer and his influence
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2020
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The book is quite interesting as it shows how big of an influence Roger has on the writer. A lot of us can find ourselves in this story.
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Max
5.0 out of 5 stars For true Federer lovers!
Reviewed in Italy on December 30, 2019
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Fantastic book! Will Skidelsky has a wonderful style and the story he tells is very interesting, both when it’s about tennis and when it gets more intimate and personal: highly recommended to any true Federer fan out there.
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Andreas Heede
5.0 out of 5 stars Buch
Reviewed in Germany on May 16, 2019
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Okay
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William Freire
1.0 out of 5 stars Boring book
Reviewed in Brazil on May 31, 2017
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This is a boring book. My oppinion is that this book isn't worth the price. Don't buy. Take my adivice
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Leandro
3.0 out of 5 stars The inner works of The mind to admire Federer
Reviewed in Mexico on July 31, 2017
Verified Purchase
There is a very detailed description of how The mind works when watching Federer play Tennis live, Or on tv , and how it relates to the aprecciation of beauty, of artistry, and art, and EVEN though we are talking about sport, The values that he embodies are universal and most important, timeless, so, The book succeds in explaining not an obsession that we have, but instead The clear concept of watching The GOAT in these times.
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