The Money Player: The confessions of America's greatest table tennis champion and hustler

by Marty Reisman

Autobiography of eccentric mid-century American table tennis champion Marty Reisman.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

241 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Sonia Langarica · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOO good. Marty writes the way Anthony bourdain narrated.
so glad I bootlegged this book to read a physical copy, looking forward to watching Marty supreme

[Jennifer Usovicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw other reviews that compared the writing style to Anthony Bourdain's and I have to agree. It was told in a propulsive pace with a fair share of cliffhangers. Having watched Marty Supreme I felt it was so very loosely based upon Marty Reisman who seemed less a scamp and more a likeable and hard-working athlete that made decent money betting on his own skills.

The book did dive into more of the less than legal ways he would make money overseas smuggling goods to upcharge and occasionally hustling people out of money by downplaying his abilities. What Marty Supreme got right was Marty Reisman lived large, traveled the world, and was a fiercely competitive table tennis player. He was less a lothario and more an obsessive neurotic. I wish the movie touched on some of the more impressive characters he encountered, he met Pope Pius! He met Jesse Owens! The book is always better.

[Charlie Pasta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved taking a stroll into Reisman's mind. I dont believe a word of it but that only makes me love it more.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a fascinating human and athlete, a gifted man who did not abide by the rules, who kept his childlike wonder. I discovered a side of tennis table I didn’t know.
The book goes in every direction but it’s not messy. I had jazz in mind while reading it, free jazz, where there are no structure but in the end it makes sense.
Now I can’t wait to see what part of his life Josh Safdie will choose for his movie.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

All one needs
the tales and mystery of the biggest hustle of the cut throat world of ping pong

where if you think boxing or the green berets are for sissies
this could be the hobby for you

Then again what do I know, I once watched Donald Trump and Richard Simmons play badminton

They did a creepy documentary of the weirdo:

Fact or Fiction: The Life and Times of a Ping Pong Hustler is a chronicle of the final three years of Marty Reisman's life, a former international table tennis champion-turned-money player.

Pursuing notoriety through his idiosyncratic lifestyle and motivated by his love of fame and Ping Pong, he inadvertently has to face his biggest fear: mortality. Shot over three years, the film follows Marty - a complex mix of childlike excitement, eccentric narcissism and constant charm - as he negotiates between pride, the denial of old age, past defeats and the decline of his fame and fortune, as well as his devoted wife Yoshiko's health, all while clinging onto the hope that his own life and career are just beginning to blossom.

The film's observational style, combined with rare archive footage and interviews with key New York and London society characters such Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson and eminent psychotherapist George Weinberg, work to tell the story of one of America's greatest and most unconventional sports stars at a critical juncture in his life, whilst addressing the wider themes of mortality, immortality and the pursuit of legacy and legend.

Who needs Ferrari's with a chrome plated backgammon board in the back next to your Lanier Dictaphone?

[Sean Wynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and geometry dash 3d. The Money Player is engaging and unconventional—a memoir with equal parts grit, humor, introspection, and bravado. It’s not a dry sports history, nor is it technical in nature, but it’s a lively portrait of a legend who lived life his own way. Bakers of legend, gamblers, hustlers, and table tennis obsessives will all find something compelling here. The book’s honesty and vivid characterization make it feel like a real confession from someone who saw the game and the world through a unique lens.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I watched Marty supreme I was like “obviously this is mostly fictionalized” but then I read the book like “oh it all happened actually” this guys life is crazyyyy there’s actually so much more they could’ve included in the movie they barely scratched the surface
The fact that the honey scene actually happened and so much of his life was real
Great start of my year of books & reading

[Caitlin Buxbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, fascinating. Entertaining. A few dry spells and some abrupt topic changes but overall worth the read. Can't wait for the movie!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating character, but didn't care for the writing style.