Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life (Paperback)

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Amazon.co.uk Review
Futebol is sub-titled "The Brazilian Way of Life", and if any sport can truly be deemed to be such a thing for any country on the planet, then surely the sport must be football, and the country Brazil. Alex Bellos's study of football in Brazil, its history, its players, supporters and legends, works from the standpoint that Brazilian football is one the modern wonders of the world, "the beautiful game" being an art form in itself and a universally recognised trademark and brand. From such a view, he is able to entertain the reader not only with stories about great players and matches well known by the followers of world football, but also about the unique position of the game in the world's fifth largest country. Thus featured here are not only tales of Garrincha, Socrates and Ronaldo, of Flamengo and Fluminense, but also of football amongst the Indians of the Amazon, Brazilian footballers in the Faroe Islands and the story of the design (and designer) of the famous golden yellow Brazilian shirt, perhaps the most instantly recognisable icon in football anywhere. Where other books investigating the footballing culture of one country might have a more straightforward story to tell, Bellos uses this more eclectic approach. While the subjects of his observations are linked by the common threads of football and Brazil, he still captures magnificently the beauty, passion and the occasional absurdity of the world game in the world's number one footballing nation. --Trevor Crowe

Review
How Brazil changed football and how football shaped Brazil: From Rio de Janeiro to the Amazon Jungle, Alex Bellos tells the stories behind the great players, the great teams, and the great matches, mixed with local legends from people and pitches all over Brazil.

Beginning in the Faroe Islands and ending up inside the mind of player turned doctor Socrates, Futebol offers an eclectic look at the passions, high expectations and sometimes crushing reality of a country as lived through its national sport. The first-time author, Alex Bellos, declares at one point that 'Brazilians have a predisposition for colourful melodrama'. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the stadia and boardrooms of football clubs right across this vast South American nation.Brazil have won four World Cups and are the only team to have played in the final stages of each tournament. The players have earned a reputation for thrilling play that reached its zenith in the demolition of Italy in the 1970 final. To some extent, Brazil and a large number of football agents have been trading on the exploits of Pele and his colleagues ever since, for while the teams of the 1970s and '80s played exciting football they lacked a ruthless streak, and the side that eventually captured the cup again in 1994 were dull pragmatists with little of the flair of their predecessors. Bellos includes chapters on Brazilians playing overseas, braving the freezing cold of the Faroes because they could never hope to earn anywhere near as much at home; the alleged origins of the sport in Brazil and its rapid take-up; players' names; superstitions; eccentric fans; the stadium on the Equator; and, sadly, corruption. Along the way, Bellos introduces the reader to a gallery of eccentrics, but there is nothing quirky or endearing about the men who are killing the game in Brazil. The sport is so disorganized that it is a wonder anybody gets to play at all. It appears to be run by vested interest, with the bigger clubs being given a helping hand at every opportunity at the expense of up-and-coming teams. The Brazilian 'brand' is a very saleable commodity around the world, but certain unscrupulous people are in danger of tarnishing it beyond redemption if Bellos is correct. This is an essential volume for football fans and those who appreciate good travel writing. Entertaining and sobering, it makes one yearn for the style and swagger of the past teams, and fear for the future of a national obsession in the wrong hands. (Kirkus UK)

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14 Reviews 5 star:  (9) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:  (4) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars An odyssey through Brazil and its football, 3 May 2002 By A Customer Much more than just a book about Brazilian football, and much more interesting than a book just about Brazilian culture, this wide-ranging work takes the reader right into the heart of the spiritual homeland of what Pele may or may not have called 'the beautiful game'. From the sweltering depths of the Amazon to the barren wastes of the Faeroe Islands, Bellos takes us on a voyage of discovery into the cultural significance of Brazil's most important gift to the rest of the world. Want to know what made kicking a pig's bladder around the most appealing game for Brazil's poor huddled masses? You'll find the answer here. Puzzled by the connections between samba, candomble religion and Brazilian football? Look no further. Interested in whatever happened to auto-football/button football/futevolley? Bellos is your man. Along the way, we discover a football tournament where beauty queens score as many points as the players themselves; meet the man who designed Brazil's iconic strip (and supports the team responsible for the national tragedy that led to its creation); and delve into the heart of darkness that characterises Brazilian football's current relationship with its paymasters. As we all gear up for the moneyfest that will be the forthcoming World Cup in Japan and Korea, this book represents a valuable reminder of the deep humanity at the heart of our planet's most valuable sporting commodity. Anyone who has ever marvelled at the perfection of Carlos Alberto's goal in the 1970 World Cup Final should read this book. Anyone who hasn't, should get themselves a tape of the game, then read this book. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, 2 Oct 2003 By  rigsby (london United Kingdom) - See all my reviews This review is from: Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life (Paperback) A wonderful annecdotal, factfile of Brazilian life and how it's seemingly totally entwined with football. Football is life to Brazilians and they take the playing of the game to extremes of all kinds! The wonderful telling of beautiful but tragic tales of players such as Garrincha and Barbosa and the "Fateful Final" of the 1950 World Cup where the whole of Brazil seemingly mourned the defeat against Uruguay. Terrific book and a real eye opener on Brazilian culture and life... Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars entertaining and well-researched, but in need of editing, 17 Dec 2002 By A Customer This is an entertaining and well-researched book, although at over 400 pages it could do with a bit of editing. It's not so much a book about Brazilian football, but one about the Brazilian obsession with football. As such, it's more about Brazilian history, culture, society, politics and national identity, and the relationship of football with Brazil's other obsession - sex. This is not a book about the technicalities of football itself. Pelé, Garrincha, Tostão, Ronaldo, Rivelino, Zico, Carlos Alberto, Roberto Carlos and Romário all feature (though surprisingly not Rivaldo), with interesting insights and information presented (not always of a footballing nature). However, the real stars of the book are those eccentric characters who have extended Brazil's love of football to autoball (football involving cars!), button ball (table football), beach soccer and ball juggling (especially by women, including Ronaldo's wife). The names of Brazilian footballers are deciphered, emphasising the Brazilian preference for nicknames and the names of famous film stars and singers. Bellos discusses at some length the deep trough that Brazilian football sunk into after the defeat in the 1998 World Cup final, in particular the controversy around Ronaldo. The extent of corruption in Brazilian football that was uncovered at the time is also exposed. In a fascinating interview, Socrates explains his reasons for Brazil's failings in the couple of years before the 2002 World Cup. It's only a pity that the book was published before Brazil's subsequent success. Such a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, both for Brazil and Ronaldo, cried out for further explanation. Bellos states more than once that Brazilians view football as "a game in which prodigious individual skills outshine team tactics, where dribbles and flicks are preferred over physical challenges and long distance passes". The Brazilian team of 2002 showed that a combination of these attributes can be both successful and highly entertaining. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 14 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a book This is quite simply one of the best football books you'll ever read. Rather than a dry history of the game in Brazil, Bellos has attempted (and very much succeeded)... Read more Published on 24 Mar 2007 by Fat-Old-Sun 3.0 out of 5 stars Bits of it were good, bits of it were soso I like football and I like Brazil, but somehow this book fell through the cracks. It was interesting to get what is an in-depth and knowledgable view of a fascinating country,... Read more Published on 12 Feb 2007 by Robert Francis 5.0 out of 5 stars Now i Understand Having read this book I now know why Brazil are far more superior at Football (Futebol) lots of Amazing stories and at times very funny - a good educational book for football fans... Read more Published on 29 Jun 2005 by super_nesta 5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting and beguiling I have been a fan of Brazilian football since the 1970 World Cup. Now, after reading Alex Bellos' superbly written and painstakingly researched book, I am a fan of Brazil itself... Read more Published on 10 Nov 2003 by O. Ahmed 4.0 out of 5 stars The Futebol Journey Futebol is the Brazilian way life. Alex Bellos' description of how a simple game has changed the face of this vast country is both fascinating and hugely entertaining. Read more Published on 16 Aug 2003 by Graeme Parker 5.0 out of 5 stars MAURO SHAMPOO - A Living Legend Armed with this fantastic book I set out to find the legendary Mauro Shampoo - proud to be captain of Brazil's, if not the world's, worst football team. Read more Published on 25 Mar 2003 by alenardinilargs 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent This is one book that I really enjoyed reading. It's original, witty and humorous, and its uncomplicated diction renders it easily entertaining. Read more Published on 15 Mar 2003 by Paul Farrugia 3.0 out of 5 stars The Brazilian romance with football This is an entertaining and well-researched book, although at over 400 pages it could do with a bit of editing. Read more Published on 6 Dec 2002 5.0 out of 5 stars Full of fun I really like this book. It summarizes not only Brazilian football but also Brazilian life. From making footballs, nicknames, clubs, football pitches, religious rituals, culture,... Read more Published on 28 Aug 2002 3.0 out of 5 stars Great on Paper... But Doesn't Always Deliver... Much like the country's national futebol team, this book looks great on paper. Also, like the team, it often doesn't entirely produce the high standards expected. Read more Published on 17 Aug 2002 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 14 customer reviews...

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