
How Soccer Explains the World
An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
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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Start with this bookAbout 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. . . .
Continue reading
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
| Soccer | 50% |
|---|---|
| Sports & Society | 49% |
| Pop Culture Studies | 18% |
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