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3.5 

God is Round

By Juan Villoro & Thomas Bunstead
God is Round by Juan Villoro & Thomas Bunstead digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

A brilliant, kaleidoscopic exploration of soccer—and the passion, hopes, rivalries, superstitions, and global solidarity it inspires—from Juan Villoro, “Mexico's top fútbol expert” (NBC News).

On a planet where FIFA has more members than the United Nations and the World Cup is watched by more than three billion people, football is more than just a game. As revered author Juan Villoro argues in this passionate and compulsively readable tribute to the world’s favorite sport, football may be the most effective catalyst for panglobal unity at the time when we need it most. (Following global consensus, Villoro uses “football” rather than “soccer” in the book.)

What was the greatest goal of all time? Why do the Hungarians have a more philosophical sense of defeat than the Mexicans? Do the dead play football? In essays ranging from incisive and irreverent portraits of Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, Pelé, Zidane, and many more giants of the game to entertaining explorations of left-footedness and the number 10, Juan Villoro dissects the pleasure and pain of football fandom. God Is Round is a book for both fanatics and neophytes who long to feel the delirium of the faithful.

3 Reviews

3.5
“I always enjoy making room on my bookshelf for one strong piece of sports literature a year. This year I dove into the work of a renowned author, playwright and journalist, who just happens to be a soccer fanatic. Juan Villoro captures a beautiful sense of the universal nature of fandom, aspirational, irrational, ecstatic, mournful fandom, that applies to readers anywhere around the world. He also offers a personal window to his experience as a fan in Mexico, the local habits, traditions, tics and story arcs that mark him out as different from others. At times, particularly near the end, he (or perhaps his translator, Thomas Bunstead) seems to rest on standard issue sports bar conversation: simplistic play-by-play recaps or generic applause for well-known stars. Perhaps, it's that Villoro strongest sections overpower the basic pieces and create a lukewarm aftertaste. However it happens, Villoro offers a wide sampling of opinions, ideas and reflections on how even the most strident cynic falls back into a child-like love of magic when the ball hits the back of the net.”
“interesting book looking at the game of football though mainly latin american in nature. looks at the emotions, great players and sometimes the illogical nature of the great game.”

About Juan Villoro

Juan Villoro is Mexico’s most prolific, prize-winning author, playwright, journalist, and screenwriter. His books have been translated into multiple languages. Several of his books have appeared in English, including his celebrated 2016 essay collection on soccer brought out by Restless Books, God Is Round. Villoro lives in Mexico City and is a visiting lecturer at Yale and Princeton universities.

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