misleading title | How Soccer Explains the World

How Soccer Explains the World


	• How Soccer Explains the World HarperCollins e-books, 2008 average customer review:based on 97 reviews view larger image
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How Soccer explains the world?

Or how Soccer explains antisemitism, racism and sectarianism? With "How Soccer Explains the World" Franklin Foer has written a very enjoyable book about the long history of Soccer and its legions of devoted fans but more often then not he highlights the very ugly and troubling aspects of the game. He splits his book up into ten chapters, each covering the effects of soccer in different cultures. One particular chapter entitled "How Soccer Explains the Pornography of Sects" Foer goes into great depths about how the age old rivalry between Rangers and Celtic is nothing but an excuse for its fans to reenact Protestant/Catholic hatred. Many other chapters cover subjects like this. "How Soccer Explains The Jewish Question" Foer again highlights how soccer fans use the support of their clubs as an outlet to express vulgar antisemitism. For example, supporters of clubs that play against Ajax, an openly pro Jewish club, make "hsssssing" sounds to mimic the release of Zyklon B while chanting "The Trains are leaving for Auschwitz!" As a soccer fan I enjoyed this book because it provides an in depth look into the history of the game from the view of a number of different cultures. Foer should of considered titling the book "Soccer Exposed!" because he rarely discusses the positive effects Soccer has on people. If you're new to the game and would like a good history lesson then you should consider reading this book because it is well researched and fun to read, just keep in mind that the game isn't as ugly as Foer sometimes likes to paint it.

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misleading title

This was an easy and entertaining read but did little to "explain the world"; it primarily detailed hooligan fans and corrupt officials.

Religious, economic, political and ethnic divisions around the world are dramatically illuminated using the world's most popular sport as a lens and metaphor. A groundbreaking work.

Soccer is much more than a game, or even a way of life. In fact, it's a perfect window into the cross?currents of today's world, with all of its joys and sorrows. Soccer clubs don't represent geographic areas; they stand for social classes and political ideologies. And unlike baseball or tennis, soccer is freighted with the weight of ancient hatreds and history. It's a sport with real stakes ?? one that is capable of ruining regimes and launching liberation movements.In this remarkably insightful, wide?ranging work of reportage, Franklin Foer takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shattering the myths of our new global age. Instead of destroying local cultures, as the left predicted, globalization has revived tribalism. Far from the triumph of capitalism that the right predicted, it has entrenched corruption. 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, colourful characters, wry humour, 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.

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