Customer Reviews

Everything I Needed To Know In Life I Learned In Football (Soccer): A Passage Into The Beautiful Game With Middle Eastern Accent!

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I finished reading this easy, fun but intelligently written book thinking what a great gift this makes for this holiday! It's a gift that keeps giving....it's about real life stories that most of us identify with, then applies these memories and events to our everyday life! It brought tears to my eyes by reminding some past and current history while made me laugh when describing events that could end up being disastrous and learning lessons from it that we all can use. Love the inspirational quotes and love the humor. I strongly recommend this book for all ages.

I just finished reading this little gem of a book. It was a very easy read but I found myself taking my red pen(the one I always use to underline things I want to reread, remember and really spend time to absorb) and circle my favorite parts. Let me say there were many of them!! It is written in a very friendly conversational manner yet packs a great wealth of information about the great game of Football(Soccer) from the perspective of an ardent fan from Iran. The way the author relates and weaves in his own story of emigration, leaving his loved ones behind but never giving up on his own true identity was commendable. But it is not just about Football in Iran, it has much more to offer. The play by play in inspirational quotes as well as author's own thoughts was refreshing despite the fact I was expecting a play by play about the games ( yet I did not feel that I was short changed at all!) I even went back and watched a few highlights of the games and the football legends he spoke of and learned more than I expected. The way Nader Jahanfard related the game to politics, human relationships, personal empowerment and self-awareness through his writing style was truly a gift. It certainly is worth going back in and re reading some of the facts and certainly posting a few of the quotes for inspiration! thanks for a great read and inspiration.

Wonderful, witty and passionate writing !
It is so "honestly" written that I imagined myself there at every step !
Even if you're not a soccer fan, you will be after reading this book !
Can't wait for the sequel !

This book is easy to read, very informative, funny, nostalgic, and colorful. But above all the book has a distinct political background that draws you into a world very different from yours, yet so comparable.
I strongly suggest this book to anyone with interests in football, Middle East, and sports history.
You won't be disappointed!

I finished reading this book during a flight. I was so tired coming back from a vacation but I couldn't stop reading this book.

The book is really informative and gives a realistic view of Iranian people to the other nations specifically Americans.

Nader, with his great sense of humor, has successfully explained most of the moments I was following about Iranian soccer during my childhood and my teenage life. If you have had a chance to watch the Iranian national team football matches against Australia and USA in 1997 and 1998, reading this book brings the nostalgia of those days back to you.

The quotes at the end of each chapters are also informative. It helps you to get the sense of what Nader wants to say from a soccer hero in a short sentence.

I also love the pictures Nader has included in the book. They simply bring you in the mood to not close the book until it is finished reading.

Last but not least, if you are a soccer fan don't miss this book. Even if you are not a big fan of soccer don't hesitate to choose it.

I loved reading this book because it was informative and full of historical and technical facts about the real football in general and Iranian football in particular.

The author's writing style was easy to follow and his sense of humor was great and enjoyable. Some of the play by play accounts of football matches involving the Iranian national team were breath-taking and exciting to read, which took me as far back as 35 years or so to the scene of the Iran-Israel match in Tehran, and as recent as the '98 match between Iran and US in Lyon. I felt I was there sitting in the stadium with Mr. Jahanfard, listening to his interpretation of the games and seeing the action first-hand. The feeling gave me goosebumps!

The bulleted format of some of the stories was a great way to get the reader engaged, and the ends of chapter quotations were very helpful and insightful.

Mr. Jahanfard's knowledge of the sport is unparallel and I very much enjoyed reading his perspective on the sport and certainly learned a lot more about the sport by reading the book. I encourage him to write again.

I also loved the pictures. They were certainly helpful in creating the proper mood and atmosphere, and helped me relate to the stories better.

I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in learning about football.

Good luck and please write again!

Arsalan Namdar

This book was full of energy. The book seems as if the author tells the story with play by play action, making sure you don't miss anything. It would make a good coffee table book. Easy to read, and full of interesting facts. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sports like soccer. It belongs on the shelf of every book store.

(personal note: please watch your account. Mine was hacked. Everything deleted and most likely got all my personal information. Change your password frequently)

It's funny, heartworming and touching. He brings back a lot of wonderful memorie and rekindles the love and passion we all have for this wonderful game.

It is written with simplicity and honesty, it is as if the author himself is sitting in front of you telling you the stories. A must read for football lovers of the Middle East.

Thank you Nader for a great read. Walking the memory lane was a fantastic experience; however, what really elevated my interest level were all the new life lessons that I picked up by reading this book about soccer. There are also plenty of well written short stories in this book making this a very pleasant, informative and exciting book to read.

Me and Nader share the same nationality and considering being Iranian (I am not calling myself Persian, which I think politically, is not right!), both love football.
Although, since I reside in California in late 90's I didn't get a chance to follow the football events more often, but still I am enjoying watching a nice game from time to time.


When I finished reading this book I said to myself, if I knew, I can learn this much from a simple game, I would getting involve with this sport more effectively. I find his thoughts is right in most cases.


There are many football related stories in this book which I myself remember, like victory of Iran vs. Australia. Or three type of flag that we Iranian have, which is really confusing. The reporting style of his writings about the world cup events or any other ones, are really great.


Beside the sports events he was involved, Germany and France world cups, there are general rules of living in this book for those people who like to live a better life. In general, I find this book more inspirational rather than just football related stories.


Also he submit photos of himself from the prerevolution Iran, which I find very nice.
There is one thing that I really don't understand, why Nader trying to say Iranians are not Arabs in several occasions. I think educated people can tell the difference and we do not have to amply this fact more often. I read this statement several time through the book, which I did not find it necessary.


I recommend this book for the people who are eager to learn about IRANIAN attitude toward life.


I wish Nader best luck, which we all need in our life in some point, and I hope this book opens the doors for him in the future publications.