Sports Culture: An A-Z Guide (Routledge World Reference) [Paperback]

Ellis Cashmore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 18, 2003 | Series: Routledge World Reference

We live in a culture in which sports play an important role. The growth in broadcasting, merchandising, iconography and the commercialization of sports has led to an increasing interest in the emerging field of sports culture.
This book examines individual issues, people, artefacts, events and organizations in their historical, social and cultural contexts. Coverage is wide-ranging with more than 170 entries including:
aggression
Bosman Case
corruption
drugs
eating disorders
Fever Pitch
Field of Dreams
Michael Jordan
Don King
left-handedness
nationalism
paternity
racism
Raging Bull
rivalries
tobacco
The book also includes suggestions for further reading to help with further study, and a comprehensive index.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This encyclopedic dictionary claims to be concerned with the qualities and characteristics of sport and their effects on international society at large--with a heavy emphasis on race, gender, drugs, and violence. Yet the over 170 entries--90 percent written by Cashmore (sociology, Staffordshire Univ.)--are scattershot in organization, depth, and content and largely driven by a leftist agenda. Famous figures such as Hank Aaron and Michael Jordan compete for space with Big Daddy (a British wrestler!) and Bill Werbeniuk (a Canadian snooker player!) but not with Babe Ruth or Pele. A too-selective sampling of sports movies are also included. Additional entries include "Bars and Pubs," "Eroticism," "Globalization," "Imperialism," "Marxism," "Modernity/Postmodernity," Murdochization," "Spousal Abuse," and "Transsexuals." Only for libraries where the publisher's books are popular or those serving readers interested in quirky progressive titles.
-John M. Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

'Entertaining, informative and stimulating of new ideas, just the sort of reference to have close at hand and dip into from time time, either for information or inspiration. It is more suited to the academic than the public library, but a must for all those supporting studies in sport.' - Reference Reviews

'As well as being a valuable introduction to the subject, the book has suggestions for further reading, and is enjoyable to dip into.' - Library Association Record

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415285550
• ISBN-13: 978-0415285551
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,052,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best introductory books on sports sociology, September 22, 2000

By 

Nik "cavanaugh84" (Athens Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sports Culture: An A-Z Guide (Paperback)

When you try to read this book for the first time it looks like a sports dictionary. But when you get closer you see that this book covers a large part of sports culture and it gives to the reader a lot of information on the most serious critiques that have been written for sports. Inside you will find texts covering the "Protestant ethic" of sports, analysis of terms such as "videated" and articles on drugs and the IOC and also the very important works of Norbert Ellias (among others) in summary.