How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

"An eccentric, fascinating exposé of a world most of us know nothing about. . . . Bristles with anecdotes that are almost impossible to believe." —New York Times Book Review

"Terrific. . . . A travelogue full of important insights into both cultural change and persistence. . . . Foer’s soccer odyssey lends weight to the argument that a humane world order is possible."  — Washington Post Book World

A groundbreaking work—named one of the five most influential sports books of the decade by Sports Illustrated—How Soccer Explains the World is a unique and brilliantly illuminating work of political journalism that looks at soccer, the world’s most popular sport, as a lens through which to view the pressing issues of our age, from the clash of civilizations to the global economy.

From Brazil to Bosnia, and Italy to Iran, this is an eye-opening chronicle of how soccer culture and its fanatical followers can highlight the fault lines of a society, whether it’s terrorism, poverty, anti-Semitism, or radical Islam—issues that now have an impact on all of us. Filled with blazing intelligence, colorful characters, wry humor, and an equal passion for soccer and humanity, How Soccer Explains the World is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times.

In this unlikely theory of globalization, you’ll discover:

• Globalization’s Fault Lines: How the world’s most popular sport reveals the surprising ways ancient hatreds and local identities resist the march of a global economy.
• Sports and Politics: From the gangster-run clubs of Serbia to the bourgeois nationalism of Barcelona, see how soccer becomes a vehicle for political identity, revolution, and corruption.
• Cultural Commentary: A journalistic tour that explores why hooligans in England embrace a Jewish identity, what makes Brazilian soccer clubs so corrupt, and how the game offers hope in Iran.
• A Unique Worldview: Through a blend of travelogue, history, and economics, Foer provides an entirely new way to understand the forces shaping our world.

Franklin Foer is a staff writer at The Atlantic and former editor of The New Republic. He is the author of several books, including most recently The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future. He lives in Washington, DC, with his family.