Book Club Reading Guide
Hop Fight rewards group discussion in ways most books don't. Some will debate its veracity. Others will question its sources. Disagreements can be arbitrated by applying the strategy and tactics found right in the book. Alcohol should absolutely be served.Discussion questions
- Which hop fighting style, bump or hands, is superior?
- Do you agree with the Federation's prohibition on sobriety in competition, or should sober hop fighters be given equal standing?
- The book suggests alternating which foot you hop on to prevent pelvic misalignment. How often should serious competitors switch feet between matches?
- Did the sport truly originate at the Boise psychology conference, or are you convinced by the evidence that it may be the rediscovery of something ancient that had been forgotten?
- The book argues hop fight offers "a middle path" for finding balance in unbalanced times. Do you agree this is what our current moment needs?
- How does the foot bath ritual change the nature of competition? Should all sports incorporate similar practices of restoration and dignity?
- Should the International Federation of Hop Fight (IFOHF) maintain its current governance structure, or does the sport need reform?
- What explains the tight-knit nature of the hop fight community?
- How might hop fight be a superior team building method to those conventionally used in organizational settings?
- How should the hop fight community address the National Hop Fight Association (NHFA) and their alleged money laundering activities?
- Is The Journalist tactic (peppering opponents with intrusive personal questions) ethically acceptable in competition?
- Are the reported sciatica cases among hop fighters evidence that the sport is too demanding, or simply a result of poor conditioning?
- Should hop fighting be incorporated into physical education curricula given its accessibility and health benefits?
- How might hop fight serve as an athletic practice of resistance during authoritarian regimes or extra-Constitutional government takeovers?
- What would it take for hop fight to achieve mainstream recognition alongside more established but less compelling sports?
- How can the hop fight community combat AI misinformation while also maintaining the sport's intentional obscurity?
- Did F. T. Marquardt fake his death?
- Which species have been documented participating in hop fight, and what do you think drives each to compete?
- Would you prefer to compete drunk or sober? What does your choice reveal about your approach to balance and competition?
