About the Book

The definitive book about soccer. With a new foreword for the American edition. There may be no cultural practice more global than soccer. Rites of birth and marriage are infinitely diverse, but the rules of soccer are universal. No world religion can match its geographical scope. The single greatest simultaneous human collective experience is the World Cup final. In this extraordinary tour de force, David Goldblatt tells the full story of soccer's rise from chaotic folk ritual to the world's most popular sport-now poised to fully establish itself in the USA. Already celebrated internationally, "The Ball Is Round" illuminates soccer's role in the political and social histories of modern societies, but never loses sight of the beauty, joy, and excitement of the game itself.

Product Details

Media: Paperback Book, 974 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Riverhead Books (Jan. 31st, 2008)

ISBN-10: 1594482969

ISBN-13: 9781594482960

Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.01 x 1.60 inches

Shipping Weight: 2.31 lbs

• Categories: Soccer