In this re-publication of his 1982 classic, MURDER IN THE SQUASH COURT, Jonah Barrington looks to the mental side of squash, to the talents you cannot see, but which divide the champion squash player from the also-ran. These Nine Points of the Lore Fire, Fitness, Fastness, Feel, Force, Fibre, Fear, Flair and Faith. And, in an extra chapter, Barrington records Jahangir Khan’s journey to his victory over Geoffrey Hunt in the World Open in Toronto in November 1981, and then the British Open in the following spring, holding that coveted title for 10 extraordinary consecutive years.
No one actually gets murdered in this book. However,squash is such a strenous sport that players have actually died on the court (most famously the older brother of former world champion,Jehangir Khan). Jonah Barrington was a squash champion and this book is full of tips and tricks on how to run an opponent ragged and "murder" him in the court.
A different book to why I usually read, but still an enjoyable one. I just feel at points it feels like a memoir whilst others it feels like a lesson, I can’t work out which it’s trying to be.
The author was a fantastic player and to get the insight behind this is very fascinating. It is great to see how a professional squash player approached big match ups both mentally and physically.
I would reccomend the book to anyone who likes to play squash but as a book it isn’t amazing.
Riveting and accessible, Barrington’s serious account helps me further appreciate both the old school and modern games - when you learn he mentored Mo El Shor.