Football America: Celebrating Our National Passion [Hardcover]

Phil Barber (Author), Ray Didinger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1996

Vivid black-and-white and full-color photographs accompany an entertaining celebration of America's most popular sport, capturing the joy of the game through the eyes of players of all ages, from every region of the United States. 75,000 first printing. $75,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This title is a feast for the eyes. The publisher, in conjunction with the National Football League, has produced a book that will appeal to football fans of all ages; not just professional but college, high school, and youth football receive coverage. Each chapter is introduced with a short text that focuses on some aspect of the game. The real appeal in each chapter, however, is the photography. One sees many coffee-table books about football, but this example is surely one of the best. The reader has only to see the pictures of fans with their faces painted the colors of their team or the professional player crying after a loss to realize the passion with which much of our populace cares about football. It is popular to criticize the game for its violence and dehumanization, but this book speaks for the country as a whole. Can 19,000 fans on Fridays in Odessa, Texas, or 107,000 fans in Ann Arbor, Michigan, be wrong? Highly recommended for public and school libraries.?William O. Scheeren, Hempfield Area H.S. Lib., Greensburg, Pa.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Anyone who doubts the assertion that football is a national passion need only consider the number of people who attend high-school, college, and professional games from late August through the Super Bowl in late January. This heavily illustrated volume is a companion to a TNT television program that examines the sport at every level, from pee wee league to the NFL. Among the many highlights are a profile of 60-year-old Bob Blechen, who still holds his own as a lineman in California semipro leagues, and a fine essay on winning and losing in which the viewpoint of an idealistic 10-year-old is contrasted with the cynical professional position. There are also chapters on the great college rivalries and on prison teams in Graterford, Pennsylvania. Add hundreds of full-color photographs for a thoroughly entertaining glimpse at a sport that touches so many people on so many levels. Wes Lukowsky

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Turner Pub (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570362971
• ISBN-13: 978-1570362972
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,353,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great gift book, full of wonderful photography and stories, November 18, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Football America: Celebrating Our National Passion (Hardcover)

Football America has a lot of terrific football photography featuring college, pro, pee-wee, high school and even prison football shots. Also, the stories are interesting and fun. Overall, it's a nice presentation that would appeal to all different kinds of sports fans

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The True Story of the Sport of Football, July 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Football America: Celebrating Our National Passion (Hardcover)

This is a book you will pick up for years to come. It is the first book I have read which shows the story of American football and how it touches each portion of our culture and lifestyle. Starting from the earliest days of "mud ball" to the collegiate and professional ranks, this journal tells the complete story though words and pictures. The photography will take anyone who has ever played even sandlot football, back to the action! Once you pick it up, be ready to sit for hours of enjoyment!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is good stuff!!!, November 18, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Football America: Celebrating Our National Passion (Hardcover)

Any sports fan must remember "75 Seasons" or Ken Burns' "Baseball," books that came out two years ago. Those were great, and this is just as good, if not better! I got three copies. One for my son, my dad and me