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How Soccer Explains the World - An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

4 stars (Good writing and reporting, though the title's a stretch) - Reader Derrick Peterman's review here on these pages nails it squarely on the button for me: while these 10 essays by Franklin Foer are good writing and reporting, to say for each of them "How Soccer Explains..." is really quite a stretch. Who knows if Foer himself came up with this hook or whether it got foisted on him by editors and PR types, but it really doesn't do the book or its well-meaning author justice. For example, in the chapter "How Soccer Explains the Jewish Question," we get some good reporting on the anti-Semitic overtones of some teams and well as the Jewish roots of others. But to say, therefore, that soccer 'explains' the 'Jewish Question'? Ummm...No. But don't let that dissuade you from picking up a copy of Foer's work. Again, there's terrific reporting here - standouts include chapters on "The Black Carpathians" (my personal favorite) which focuses on a Nigerian import to a top Ukranian club team, and "The New Oligarchs," an excellent overview on soccer's shift from paternalistic industrialists like the Agnellis (owners of Juventus) to new-styled "oligarchs" like Silvio Berlusconi (owner of AC Milan). By using a term like 'oligarch,' I was hoping for some red meat on Chelsea's Roman Abramovich. The oligarch's oligarch, he gets only passing mention in "The Sentimental Hooligan" chapter. Still, Foer's discection of the machinations and interactions of Italian media, business interests and the game are fascinating. And, for those of you wondering: yes, Franklin Foer is the brother of novelist Jonathan Safran Foer, author of "Everything Is Illuminated." 4 stars (The book I wish I had written!) - This is a work based on an interesting concept and complemented by well-researched journalism, with the exception of a few overt inaccuracies such as this one: "Celebrations for Romania's 1990 World Cup qualification carried over into the Bucharest squares, culminating in a firi...
HarperCollins :: Sports & Recreation & General :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Sociology Of Sports :: Soccer :: International Economic Relations :: Globalization :: General :: Fra :: How Soccer Explains the World - An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

 

Sunday Money - Speed- Lust- Madness- Death- A Hot Lap Around America with Nascar

5 stars (reading pleasure) - "Sunday Money" is all about NASCAR. Subtitled: "Speed! Lust! Madness! Death! - a hot lap around America with NASCAR", it fulfills its promise of an exciting ride. The author and his photographer wife bought a motorhome and spent an entire racing season following the NASCAR circuit. The book describes the allure of NASCAR from the several different perspectives of superstars, fans, history and politics, mythology, American culture. To this non-fan, it provides a vast amount of information and insight and reading pleasure. Jeff MacGregor is a fine storyteller. 4 stars (Sunday Money) - This is both a whimsical as well as a fast paced work about the fastest paced sport in America. Jeff MacGregor has a personal story to tell about his year in a motor home with "The Beep" and the inside story about the NASCAR culture. Both stories are well told and attention gripping. MacGregor's insights into the fact and fiction of NASCAR are penetrating. At the same time he has a puckish, tongue in cheek attitude toward the sport and his own adventure. Even if one has little or no interest in the world of auto racing, this will be an enjoyable companion on a trip or a pleasant escape from the every day world most of us inhabit. By the way, although it isn't mentioned in the bio on the book jacket, I think this is the same Jeff MacGregor who hosted a game show some years back. 4 stars (NASCAR fans-got to read!) - This book details the dream many of us NASCAR fans have-traveling the whole circuit in an RV, experiencing every race. I really liked the book-the history of NASCAR, the money, and the good stories of drivers, all were great! Having camped at races, I understand the joy of it. It is like you are one big family! ...
HarperCollins :: Sports & Recreation & Motor Sports :: United States :: Stock car racing :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Sociology Of Sports :: NASCAR (Association) :: Motor Spo :: Sunday Money - Speed- Lust- Madness- Death- A Hot Lap Around America with Nascar

 

The Miracle of St Anthony- A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball-s Most Improbable Dynasty

5 stars (best sports book i ever read) - what a great book. Bob Hurley is not a perfect human being but the good he does is incredible. By far the best and most moving sports book I ever read. 5 stars (Can't Wait for the Movie) - As a high school baseball and basketball coach, this book is a must read. I could't put the book down. It is an easy read which gives those in suburbia a glimpse of America not often seen. Bob Hurley, the man,the father, the husband, the coach is a true American hero. Coaches, parents, administrators, and athletes can learn much from this well told story. I can't wait to see the movie! 4 stars (Great Story - Cumbersome Writing) - Anyone who's read John Feinstein's "A Season on the Brink" will find this story very familiar. Just as Feinstein chronicled a year with Bob Knight at Indiana, Adrian Wojnarowski spent a year with the basketball team of St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, NJ. The result is a very compelling story of a small band of sincere and dedicated educators using basketball to teach character and life lessons to a group of kids from the tough streets of Jersey City. For many of these young men, Coach Bob Hurley is the only authority figure they know and his tough style provides them with a standard to reach for on the court, perhaps the only time in their lives they've been pushed out of their comfort zones. Mixed in with these products of the inner city is Sean McCurdy from suburban Connecticut whose mother moves him to Jersey City in the belief that Hurley can attract the Division I college scholarship that she seems to think is Sean's birthright. Cindy McCurdy is every youth coach's nightmare, the quintessential little league parent. My only criticism of "The Miracle of St. Anthony" is in Wojnarowski's annoying pattern of giving a mini life story of every secondary character in the story. Of course, as a sports columnist, Wojnarowski makes a living going off on tangents, so this shouldn't be a surprise. Bu...
Gotham :: Sports & Recreation & General :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Sociology Of Sports :: New Jersey :: Jersey City (N J ) :: Jersey City :: History :: General :: Biogra :: The Miracle of St Anthony- A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball-s Most Improbable Dynasty