How Soccer Explains the World : An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
by Franklin Foer
Our Price: $41.21
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.39 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Franklin FoerEdition: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2004-07-01
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 272
Book Reviews of How Soccer Explains the World : An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
Book Review: Soccer
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was found in a collection of the "greatest books selections" included in THIS WEEK magazine. I was pleased to find it at Amazon and have enjoyed reading it. Informative, a lot of information and food for thought. I recommend it.
Summary of How Soccer Explains the World : An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
Soccer is much more than a game, or even a way of life. It is a perfect window into the cross?currents of today's world, with all its joys and its sorrows. In this remarkably insightful, wide?ranging work of reportage, Franklin Foer takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shining a spotlight on the clash of civilizations, the international economy, and just about everything in between. How Soccer Explains the World is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times.
The global power of soccer might be a little hard for Americans, living in a country that views the game with the same skepticism used for the metric system and the threat of killer bees, to grasp fully. But in Europe, South America, and elsewhere, soccer is not merely a pastime but often an expression of the social, economic, political, and racial composition of the communities that host both the teams and their throngs of enthusiastic fans. New Republic editor Franklin Foer, a lifelong devotee of soccer dating from his own inept youth playing days to an adulthood of obsessive fandom, examines soccer's role in various cultures as a means of examining the reach of globalization. Foer's approach is long on soccer reportage, providing extensive history and fascinating interviews on the Rangers-Celtic rivalry and the inner workings of AC Milan, and light on direct discussion of issues like world trade and the exportation of Western culture. But by creating such a compelling narrative of soccer around the planet, Foer draws the reader into these sport-mad societies, and subtly provides the explanations he promises in chapters with titles like "How Soccer Explains the New Oligarchs", "How Soccer Explains Islam's Hope", and "How Soccer Explains the Sentimental Hooligan." Foer's own passion for the game gives his book an infectious energy but still pales in comparison to the religious fervor of his subjects. His portraits of legendary hooligans in Serbia and Britain, in particular, make the most die-hard roughneck New York Yankees fan look like a choirboy in comparison. Beyond the thugs, Foer also profiles Nigerian players living in the Ukraine, Iranian women struggling against strict edicts to attend matches, and the parallel worlds of Brazilian soccer and politics from which Pele emerged and returned. Foer posits that globalization has eliminated neither local cultural identities nor violent hatred among fans of rival teams, and it has not washed out local businesses in a sea of corporate wealth nor has it quelled rampant local corruption. Readers with an interest in international economics are sure to like How Soccer Explains the World, but soccer fans will love it. --John Moe
Soccer Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Soccer Books
Jimmy: The Autobiography of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbainkby Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
HarperCollins UK; Published: 2006-08-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $29.65
Price in other shops:
David Beckham: My Sideby David Beckham
PerfectBound; Published: 2003-10-14; Unknown Binding; Book
David Beckham: My Sideby David Beckham
PerfectBound; Published: 2003-10; Unknown Binding; Book
Times Football Yearbookby Richard Whitehead
Times Books; Published: 2003-08-04; Paperback; Book
David Ginolaby Ginola
Harpercollins Pub Ltd; Published: 2001-12; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Football Pools With the Commodore 64by F.H George
Sheridan House; Published: 1985-11; Paperback; Book
Complete Book of the World Cup Hbby Cris Freddi
Willow; Published: 1998-05-05; Paperback; Book
Chelsea Azzurri Pbby Brian Scovell
Collins Willow; Published: 1997-10-13; Paperback; Book
How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalizationby Franklin Foer
Harper; Published: 2004-06-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $32.92
How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalizationby Franklin Foer
Harper Perennial; Published: 2010-05-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.78
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Fever Pitchby Nick Hornby
Riverhead Trade; Published: 1998-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.93
Price in other shops:
Soccer Men: Profiles of the Rogues, Geniuses, and Neurotics Who Dominate the World's Most Popular Sportby Simon Kuper
Nation Books; Published: 2011-10-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.64
Price in other shops:
Brillant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Footballby David Winner
Bloomsbury Paperbacks; Published: 2001-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.17
The Nine Nations of North Americaby Joel Garreau
Avon Books; Published: 1982-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $168.95
White Angels: Beckham, the Real Madrid and the New Footballby John Carlin
Bloomsbury USA; Published: 2004-11-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $27.52
Bloody Confused!: A Clueless American Sportswriter Seeks Solace in English Soccerby Chuck Culpepper
Broadway; Published: 2008-08-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
Theories of International Politics and Zombiesby Daniel W. Drezner
Princeton University Press; Published: 2011-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.53
Price in other shops:
The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccerby David Goldblatt
Riverhead Trade; Published: 2008-01-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.15
Price in other shops:
Soccer Against the Enemy: How the World's Most Popular Sport Starts and Fuels Revolutions and Keeps Dictators in Powerby Simon Kuper
Nation Books; Published: 2010-04-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops:
Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey--and Even Iraq--Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sportby Simon Kuper, Stefan Szymanski
Nation Books; Published: 2009-10-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.14
Price in other shops: