In this extraordinary tour de force of a book, David Goldblatt describes the rise of football, from a chaotic folk ritual to a sector of the global-entertainment industry. It's the story of players and managers, fans and owners, clubs and national teams; a chronicle of who won and who lost. But it's also a history of states and markets, money and power. And, above all, how all these forces interact. It is a history which attempts to locate where the line between the realm of glory and the realm of power has been crossed, that celebrates the love of the game, but knows that it can be bought. Thus the book describes and accounts for the careers of Pele and Maradona, Puskas and George Best; the histories of the Wunderteam and the incomparable Hungarians, the anti-futbol of Estudiantes de la Plata and the futbol arte of Brazil 1970. It explores the cultural meanings and political uses of football in Peron's Argentina, Adenauer's West Germany, Stalin's Soviet Union and Mussolini's Italy. It ranges from the postcolonial politics of African football to the manufacturing history of the football boot; from the history of stadium architecture to the architecture of power in global football's leading institutions.
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About the Author
David Goldblatt was born in London in 1965 and inherited, for his sins, Tottenham Hotspurs from his father. He has flirted with and abandoned careers in medicine, stand-up comedy, broadcasting, politics and academia. In previous lives he has published amongst other books, Social Theory and the Environment, Global Transformations and the World Football Yearbook. In this life he has been lucky enough to put them all together. He currently lives in Bristol, the Bermuda triangle of footballing prowess, where he spreads his affections amongst Spurs, Bristol Rovers and Bristol City.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Hurst
Format:Paperback
'The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football' by David Goldblatt is an attempt to tell the story of fooball - from it's origins in the newly burgeoning industrialised and urbanised United Kingdom in the 19th century 'spread through both the formal empire and the immense informal empire of Britain's economic and cultural connections' to the truly global spectacle it is today - but also to place the game in it's social, cultural, economic and political contexts also.
Goldblatt's book does not just tell you the history of the game - the book is replete with stories of it's great games, players and managers - but also the historical currents that have spurred and shaped the game. It is here that Goldblatt excells, like Simon Kuper and David Winner before him, he seems to understand the way football (on the field and off) both reflects and expresses deeper insights into the cultures into which the game is taken into it's heart. The sections in particular concerning Latin America are indicative of this. I feel I have learned more about Latin America from reading this book than any number of books and documentaries previously.
Goldblatt argues in the book that the game is not taken seriously by the world's academic elites despite it's stake to the claim that it is football and not Christianity or McDonald's say for the sake of example that is currently the most globally universal cultural practice, this is a book that must go some way to remedy that disjunction. 'The Ball is Round' whilst over 900 pages is a hugely entertaining as well as informative read that can be read from cover to cover or dipped into, read by the football fanatic or merely by anyone interested in history.
Goldblatt's book does not just tell you the history of the game - the book is replete with stories of it's great games, players and managers - but also the historical currents that have spurred and shaped the game. It is here that Goldblatt excells, like Simon Kuper and David Winner before him, he seems to understand the way football (on the field and off) both reflects and expresses deeper insights into the cultures into which the game is taken into it's heart. The sections in particular concerning Latin America are indicative of this. I feel I have learned more about Latin America from reading this book than any number of books and documentaries previously.
Goldblatt argues in the book that the game is not taken seriously by the world's academic elites despite it's stake to the claim that it is football and not Christianity or McDonald's say for the sake of example that is currently the most globally universal cultural practice, this is a book that must go some way to remedy that disjunction. 'The Ball is Round' whilst over 900 pages is a hugely entertaining as well as informative read that can be read from cover to cover or dipped into, read by the football fanatic or merely by anyone interested in history.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By allan
Format:Hardcover
i take issue with the previous reader who says mr goldblatt writes poorly. he is no tolstoy but he has a crisp and enjoyable style in keeping with the overall subject matter. this is a great value book. what a surprise from a man who from his photograph inside the cover looks like an old heavy metal rock guitarist! this would be a great birthday present as it can be kept and dipped into.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By ben
Format:Hardcover
In this superb, breathtaking and wonderful tour de force of a book, David Goldblatte describes the rise of soccer, from a chaotic, homosexual-tinged fest or folk ritual to its present incarnation as a macho global-entertainment industry. It's the story of players and managers, fans and owners, clubs and national teams; a chronicle of who won and who lost. So what you might say,we know all this. We do, but not told as Mr Goldblatt does. I take my hat off to him. He is no writer and instead assembles his facts, like a well trained archer. It's a book about money and power and the allure of men in shorts. And, above all, how all these men interact. It is a history which attempts to locate where the line between the realm of glorious lust and the realm of power has been crossed, that celebrates the love of the game and of players for each other. Shame on all those who condemn this. Thus the book describes and accounts for the careers of Pele and Maradona, Puskas and George Best; the histories of the Wunderteam and the incomparable Hungarians, the anti-futbol of Estudiantes de la Plata and the futbol arte of Brazil 1970. It explores the cultural meanings and political uses of football in Peron's Argentina, Adenauer's West Germany, Stalin's Soviet Union and Mussolini's Italy. It ranges from the precolonial politics of African football and its anti-gay platform - which Mr Goldblatt deplores - to the manufacturing history of the football boot; from the history of stadium architecture to the architecture of power in global football's leading institutions. It has everything. Buy it and be thankful. I am so glad I got hold of an early copy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just superb......
This is far and away the best book written about the history of football, in my opinion. Quite superb and a wonderful addition to my ever-growing library of football-related books.
Published 10 months ago by W. Markham
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth the effort
This is a monster of a book - I really can't imagine slogging through it on the Kindle, but it was a great read in actual book-form. Read more
Published 11 months ago by DCollins77
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Got My Rose Tinted Glasses On?
Whilst reading previous reviews for this book, I was expected something exceptional and out of the ordinary: a real grasp you by the scruff of the neck read. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mrs. Aine Wimpenny
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating - Great Read
I have been following football only since the last 8 years and have been building my knowledge slowly about the history of the game. This book has probably taught me the most. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by S. Patel
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than just football
You dont have to be a football fanatic to enjoy this book, as it can be read as a social and political history of the 20th century with football as the theme running through. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by D. Moseley
4.0 out of 5 stars
A must-read for anyone interested in football's place in world...
This book is immense. It was really hard-going, not because it wasn't interesting, but because it was so amazingly comprehensive. Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2009 by C. Ball
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautiful Book for the Beautiful Game
A back cover review of this book describes it as `the only football book that you are ever going to need'. Read more
Published on 3 April 2009 by Jim
5.0 out of 5 stars
A marathon, not a sprint. But I'm over the moon, Brian
First things first, this is a massive book. 978 pages long(including index), it weighs about half a hundredweight. Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2008 by Chris Widgery
5.0 out of 5 stars
essential reading
This book is a mine of information A passionate social political economic history of world football. Want to know why this game is the 'world game'? read this book. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2008 by Duncan C. Mcphie
5.0 out of 5 stars
MONUMENTAL & DEFINITIVE
There are an enormous number of football books to choose from and I have read a very small number of them. This quite simply is the best. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2007 by Matthew Thorpe
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