The language of the game : how to understand soccer

Title:

Author:

Dubois, Laurent, 1971- author.

Summary:

"A passionate and engaging introduction to soccer's history, tactics, and human drama. Profiling soccer's full cast of characters--goalies and position players, referees and managers, commentators and fans--historian and soccer scholar Laurent Dubois describes how the game's low scores, relentless motion, and spectacular individual performances combine to turn each match into a unique and unpredictable story. He also shows how soccer's global reach makes it an unparalleled theater for nationalism, international conflict, and human interconnectedness"-- Amazon.com.

Edition:

First edition.

Contents:

Introduction -- The Goalkeeper -- The Defender -- The Midfielder -- The Forward -- The Manager -- The Referee -- The Fan.

Physical Description:

vii, 309 pages : illustration ; 22 cm

Subject Term:

Soccer.

Soccer fans.

Publisher:

Basic Books,

Publication Date:

2018

ISBN:

9780465094486

Publication Information:

New York : Basic Books, 2018.

Call Number:

796.334 DUBOIS

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003322537	Adult Nonfiction	796.334 DUBOIS	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Essential reading for soccer fans as the 2022 World Cup approaches, this lively and lyrical book is "an ideal guide to the world's most popular sport" (Simon Kuper, coauthor of Soccernomics ).

Soccer is not only the world's most popular game; it's also one of the most widely shared forms of global culture. The Language of the Game is a passionate and engaging introduction to soccer's history, tactics, and human drama. Profiling soccer's full cast of characters--goalies and position players, referees and managers, commentators and fans--historian and soccer scholar Laurent Dubois describes how the game's low scores, relentless motion, and spectacular individual performances combine to turn each match into a unique and unpredictable story. He also shows how soccer's global reach makes it an unparalleled theater for nationalism, international conflict, and human interconnectedness, with close attention to both men's and women's soccer.

Filled with perceptive insights and stories both legendary and little known, The Language of the Game is a rewarding read for anyone seeking to understand soccer better--newcomers and passionate followers alike.

Author Notes

Laurent Dubois is a professor of romance studies and history at Duke University, where he teaches the popular course Soccer Politics. The prize-winning author of five books, including The Banjo, Haiti, and Soccer Empire , he lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Instead of a history or a guide to the rules of soccer, Dubois (romance studies, history, Duke Univ.; Soccer Empire) shares his musings on the sport and human nature. With chapters on each position as well as fans and referees, the author examines the sports' past and influence on national identity. The thoughtful and eye-opening narrative looks at the simple game that can be played with minimal equipment and has universal appeal, bringing together players and fans from around the globe. The game may be dominated by men, but weaved into this account is the long history of women in the sport, specifically how they are marginalized. After World War I, English women's teams played before tens of thousands of fans, until soccer officials banned women's teams from stadiums. The debate about pay equity for players and whether women should be allowed to wear burkas on the field brings currency to the text. This may be the only book that examines how philosopher Albert Camus's years as a goalkeeper contributed to existentialism. VERDICT Fans and neophytes alike will appreciate this eclectic offering and its passionate view of soccer's global influence.-Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Introduction	p. 1
1 The Goalkeeper	p. 23
2 The Defender	p. 57
3 The Midfielder	p. 89
4 The Forward	p. 125
5 The Manager	p. 165
6 The Referee	p. 195
7 The Fan	p. 227
Acknowledgments	p. 273
Notes	p. 277
Index	p. 293

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents