The Secret Lives of Sports Fans: The Science of Sports Obsession

by Eric Simons

Overview

In this accessible study, a journalist examines the science, philosophy, and sociology behind being a sports fan.

Sports fandom is either an aspect of a person's fundamental identity, or completely incomprehensible to those who aren’t fans at all. What is happening in our brains and bodies when we feel strong emotion while watching a game? How do sports fans resemble political junkies, and why do we form such a strong attachment to a sports team? Journalist Eric Simons presents in-depth research in an accessible and brilliant way, sure to interest readers of Malcolm Gladwell.

Through reading the literature and attending neuroscience conferences, talking to fans, psychologists, and scientists, and working through his issues as part of a collaboration with the NPR science program RadioLab, Eric Simons hoped to find an answer that would explain why the attractive force of this relationship with treasured sports teams is so great that we can’t leave it.

Praise for The Secret Lives of Sports Fans

“Adroitly mixing research with feature reporting, Simons unveils some intriguing discoveries. . . . There’s a lot of science to digest, but Simons’s affable writing style—and his great eagerness to profile actual people, including himself—infuses the data with heart and soul.” —Publishers Weekly

“An intriguing ride through “all the wondrous quirks and oddities in human nature.” —Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781468307580
Publisher:	ABRAMS, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	318
File size:	811 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Eric Simons is the author of Darwin Slept Here, also published by Overlook. He is a contributor to NPR's Radiolab and lives in San Francisco.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Fan Nature 7

Part 1 Reflex

1 The Edge of the Seat: The Physical Experience of Fandom 17

2 Sports as Empathy: Mirror Neurons 61

Part 2 Control

3 A Case of Identity: Welcome to Cleveland 93

4 Relationships: Socrates the Sports Guy 129

5 Love: The Altruistic Fan 147

6 Addiction: Arsenal in America 165

Part 3 Consequence

7 Behavior: Who Are Those Guys? 191

8 Groups: Love the One You're With 215

9 War: Man Law 255

Conclusion: Do We Need Sports? 305

Index 313

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A true pleasure to read.” —Public Books
 
“A convincing argument that, for many people, their relationship with their chosen team is the most complicated and rewarding one in their lives.”—Maclean’s

Editorial Reviews

A true pleasure to read.” —Public Books
 
“A convincing argument that, for many people, their relationship with their chosen team is the most complicated and rewarding one in their lives.”—Maclean’s

From the Publisher