Training the Body for China was an interesting read. I’m a fan of anthropology, so reading it was pretty enjoyable. However, I agree with Skye and that my expectation of the book would be more based in Brownell’s firsthand hand experience with sports and Chinese culture. The part about Nike capitalizing on the Chinese sports industry was interesting and not surprising. The way sports and athletes are praised in the U.S and China is expressed in different ways. The U.S leans more toward material rewards, whereas China banks more on spiritual gratification. This difference was curious to read about. The gender disparities between women and men in the western world in comparison to China were another intriguing topic Brownell discussed. It was interesting to read about why it was easier for Women in China to be integrated into sports than in the Western world. Especially the whole section on women’s volleyball and how it became to be paramount in China. The topic of sports has been way more relatable to discuss and thus, the readings have been more enjoyable.

As of right now, I am going to do my research paper on the importance of play from childhood through adulthood and it’s social, emotional, and physical affects. A few sources I’ve found so far are: http://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_says_play_is_more_than_fun_it_s_vital
http://www.importanceofplay.eu/IMG/pdf/dr_david_whitebread_-_the_importance_of_play.pdf
http://www2.aap.org/pressroom/playfinal.pdf
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/benefits-of-play-for-adults.htm