How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

underwhelming

this is not a story of globalization. This isn't "Tom Friedman on soccer". I was very disappointed that this book chose to focus on all the negative aspects of the game around the world and missed the opportunity to talk about so many other soccer stories. Way too much on hooliganism. The book started to hit a stride on the story of Brazil and Nigeria, but just never brought it together. I kept looking for a common theme or something to tie these stories together, to tell a story of globalization, but it just never came.

If you're looking for a summary of all the negative sides of soccer (dirty owners, criminal fans, etc) you might enjoy this read. If you're looking for a book that explores sport & globalization, you will be sorely disappointed.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An Amazing Book!

This was a awesome book about soccer and the ties to other issues in the world. Also how America is scared of soccer, this is why America doesn't accept that soccer is the greatest game in the world. It also covers racial issues and the battle of religion even in the game. I encourage anyone to read this book. I am not a big fan of reading and dislike it for the most part but I really enjoyed this book. Even if you aren't a soccer fan, this is still a good book for you because it addresses many other issues in the world and Foer has many very interesting stories about his own experiences. All readers should really enjoy this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

started it

it is good so far. i'll write back when i'm done. gary114

Globalization? No, not really. Good Book? Yes.

Let me start out by saying I am one of those conservitive "troglodytes" that Foer describes in work, so this review might be somewhat skewed, but being a real football supporter, I did enjoy the depth in which he described his stories. I did not see any connection in terms of globalization other then football is enjoyed in all parts of the world for generations. What I think the readers will enjoy is the way Foer goes into detail about the aspects of the game he covers. For example, I am aware that the Brazilian game is full of corruption, but the book describes the detail the ins and outs, both past and present. One could argue Foer's conclusions with his observations (given the state of Scottish Football, I would think that the hatred of the Old Firm would be holding them back, not sustaining them) but still the book is very interesting. So much so that this conservitive boor will be buying a Real Madrid jersey as soon as he can!

Soccer for Dummies!

A great introduction to the wide world of soccer. Written by an American seemingly for an American audience, this book does a great job of helping to enlighten soccer fans to the deep history of the sport. From Asia to Brazil, North America to the Middle East, Foer travels the world researching soccer as an extension, or reflection, of world politics, economics and society. A fun read with plenty to be learned from it!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Who Knew?

Fascinating exploration of the world through the world of soccer... very interesting journey and book...

What every American sports fans needs to read!

The title is deceiving, it really has little or nothing to do with globalization. The title 'How Soccer Explains the World' alone fits the book perfectly. This book will explain to Americans what world football is all about. One of the greatest book I've read. Not only do you learn about football culture, you learn about the problems going on in the world and how it is noticable in football.

I love soccer, but I'm not convinced.

Soccer fans will love this book, but those looking for a coherent argument may be dissapointed. Foer's case-study approach makes for an enjoyable read that takes readers across five continents, but there is so little effort to draw connections between the themes of each chapter that the whole book seems to be more of a collection of anecdotal examples than an illustration of general trends in soccer and globalization. The book is a very good read, and the chapters on Barcelona and American soccer (8 & 10) are great, but this book should be appreciated only as a collection of short stories about soccer culture and not accepted as a completely coherent argument about globalization.

Not Really About Globalization, But Interesting

If you are an economist like me, this is not a book about globalization. This is a book about soccer. However, in the end he does make some good points about global culture, nationalism, and how U.S. soccer differs from the rest of the world. If you like soccer, you will probably like this book, but its connection to globalization is tenuous at best.

A new way to look at the world

As a soocer fan it was great to read a book that used soccer and compared it to what was going on in the world. It is a must read for all soccer fans and current affairs junkies!!

delightfully insightful

Being a huge soccer fan, I was cautiously optimistic that this book would be true to my favorite sport and still have something substantial to say. I was not disappointed. Franklin Foer travels the world from Brazil to the Ukraine with plenty of stops in between probing and observing. The stories he tells demonstrate how trends in soccer are a reflection of globalization. The book shows the effects of globalization at a cultural and national level as well as its effect on the lives of individuals. The individual stories are the glue that holds the overall narrative together. I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. I would highly recommend it.

Soccer or Football

Whatever you call it, its always going to be the same. The only sport or culture that people all over the world talk the same. I just started reading this book mostly in study hall at school. This gave me a better understand why the world loves soccer or better yet understands it. From communist to democracy this game is all about goals, fans, yellow cards and championships can only define by its love of the game. No matter if you have no leggs, can't talk, or hear the game will still able to capture you.

Opens eyes to a new way of thinking.

'an [unlikely] theory of globalization.' much like the book says, it show great insights on certain subjects i.e. Serb crisis, Brazil's corruption. Though, on the outside, seem like meaningless stories (though very interesting) go indepth into 'who, what, when, where and how?' An interesting read.

Good Primer

While this book is not an academic tome on globalization it does a good job of explaining globalization using an easy example in soccer. The book is entertaining and takes the reader acorss the globe to visit the various manifestations, both culturally and athletically, of the Beautiful Game.

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