How Soccer Explains the World by Franklin Foer

How Soccer Explains the World

An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

Franklin Foer

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · May 11, 2010

“An eccentric, fascinating exposé of a world most of us know nothing about. . . .

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Who it’s for
Soccer opens onto a wry, wide-ranging view of the forces shaping societies around the world.
Themes
Soccer and globalization, Sport and social divisions, Cultural change and persistence
Genres
Sports & Society, Soccer, Pop Culture Studies

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About this book

“An eccentric, fascinating exposé of a world most of us know nothing about. . . . Bristles with anecdotes that are almost impossible to believe.” —New York Times Book Review “Terrific. . . . A travelogue full of important insights into both cultural change and persistence. . . .

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Foer’s soccer odyssey lends weight to the argument that a humane world order is possible.” — Washington Post Book World A groundbreaking work—named one of the five most influential sports books of the decade by Sports Illustrated—How Soccer Explains the World is a unique and brilliantly illuminating look at soccer, the world’s most popular sport, as a lens through which to view the pressing issues of our age, from the clash of civilizations to the global economy. From Brazil to Bosnia, and Italy to Iran, this is an eye-opening chronicle of how a beautiful sport and its fanatical followers can highlight the fault lines of a society, whether it’s terrorism, poverty, anti-Semitism, or radical Islam—issues that now have an impact on all of us. Filled with blazing intelligence, colorful characters, wry humor, and an equal passion for soccer and humanity, How Soccer Explains the World is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times.

Beyond the Pitch

Soccer opens onto a wry, wide-ranging view of the forces shaping societies around the world.

Come here for

  • A global soccer journey with politics and culture in view
  • The sport’s social fault lines, from poverty to religious conflict

Expect

  • A travelogue threaded with cultural insight and wry humor
  • Soccer treated as a lens on globalization, not just a game

Where it sits

Soccer50%
Sports & Society49%
Pop Culture Studies18%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • International Business
  • Business and Government
  • Globalization
  • Latin American History
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • U.S. History
  • International Relations
  • American Government
  • World Politics
Authors
Franklin Foer
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
May 11, 2010
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Soccer and globalization · Sport and social divisions · Cultural change and persistence
Reading lane
International Business