The Ball is Round
A Global History of Soccer

This is a great, 900-page book. The astute reader will note that the first adjective is somewhat surprising in light of the second. Here's what I can tell you about The Ball Is Round: As you read it, you will feel your brain getting bigger. Seriously. The author, David Goldblatt, is not only an expe......more

This is a mammoth book, just over 900 pages. Broken up by continent-specific chapters within chronological sections. Goldblatt covers soccer within the cultural context of the nation he is discussing, giving plenty of international history lessons along the way. My soccer knowledge goes no further b......more

The final whistle has been blown; the fat lady has sat down again; the boisterous crowd are flooding away through the exits from rows A-Z....shaking their heads in wonder at such a memorable game. I feel a little churlish,after reading such a tome,of both profound depth & touch-line-hugging width,to......more

Extraordinarily detailed, if inevitably Anglo-tinged look at the history and context of football.......more

Excellent. A tour-de-force. A history of the modern world told through football. Unbelievably broad in scope, surprisingly deep in detail and also very, very long. If you don't care for football very much but are interested in social, political and economic history, there's a lot of value on this boo......more