Sport, Culture and Society: An Introduction [Paperback]

'An excellent book that is a must-read for anyone interested in the study of sport and society in an increasingly globalized world. It provides a compelling and convincing case for why sport matters in everyday life and why its socio-cultural significance deserves to be treated more seriously than ever before', Dr Andy Smith, University of Chester, UK

‘Sport, Culture & Society is simply terrific. In this new edition, Professor Grant Jarvie provides a brilliant synthesis of research and provides a telling interpretation of the role and meaning of sport in society. The book is structured into four parts, and, in each chapter Grant Jarvie shows an expert command of the topic. This is a must read for colleagues and students alike', Professor Joe Maguire, Loughborough University, UK

‘From its multidisciplinary socio-cultural foundations through to the multi-layered analyses of sport, this text expertly brings together the interconnections between sport, culture and society in an accessible and meaningful way. It equips readers with the tools to think critically about the place of sport in the fabric of society and their own lives', Dr Jason Tuck, University of Winchester, UK

‘This is an extraordinarily useful book. It is superbly organized, thoughtfully researched and cogently argued. What I like most about it is the way it places contemporary sport in the dynamics of recent history, so that readers can see sport and ourselves in the changes and decisions humans can influence, even make. Jarvie challenges every one of us to think about sport and social responsibility', Professor Bruce Kidd, University of Toronto, Canada

‘This vastly expanded and researched second edition gifts both the interdisciplinary international community and academy　a clear assessment of sport's place in the world to-day along with　some of the key emerging social issues. Comprehensive and accessible ... anyone genuinely interested in the potential of sport to make a difference in the world we live in should definitely read it', Professor Synthia Sydnor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US

This exciting, accessible introduction to the field of Sports Studies is the most comprehensive guide yet to the relationships between sport, culture and society. Taking an international perspective, Sport, Culture and Society provides students with the insight they need to think critically about the nature of sport, and includes:

• a clear and comprehensive structure
• unrivalled coverage of the history, culture, media, sociology, politics and anthropology of sport
• coverage of core topics and emerging areas
• extensive original research and new case study material.

The book offers a full range of features to help guide students and lecturers, including essay topics, seminar questions, key definitions, extracts from primary sources, extensive case studies, and guides to further reading. Sport, Culture and Society represents both an important course resource for students of sport and also sets a new agenda for the social scientific study of sport.