{"product_id":"football","title":"Football","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChuck Klosterman is the bestselling author of ten nonfiction books (including \n\u003ci\u003eThe Nineties; Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs\u003c\/i\u003e; and \n\u003ci\u003eBut What If We're Wrong?\u003c\/i\u003e), two novels ( \n\u003ci\u003eDowntown Owl\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eThe Visible Man\u003c\/i\u003e), and the short story collection \n\u003ci\u003eRaised in Captivity\u003c\/i\u003e. He has written for \n\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eGQ \u003c\/i\u003e(London), \n\u003ci\u003eEsquire\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eSpin\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e (London), \n\u003ci\u003eThe Believer\u003c\/i\u003e, and ESPN. Klosterman served as the Ethicist for The \n\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e for three years and was an original founder of the website Grantland with Bill Simmons. He was raised in rural North Dakota and now lives in Portland, Oregon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Description\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A hilarious but nonetheless groundbreaking contribution to the argument about which force shapes American life the most. For two kinds of readers-those who know it's football and those who are about to find out\"-- Provided by publisher.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Chuck Klosterman's \n\u003ci\u003eThe Nineties\u003c\/i\u003e was one of the most interesting and satisfying nonfiction reads of 2022 for me, so I was thrilled to hear he was turning his inquisitive eye on American football next . . . I particularly enjoyed Klosterman's investigation of the socio-cultural layers of football in places like Texas and the Southeast.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Adam Morgan, \u003ci\u003eEsquire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[ \n\u003ci\u003eFootball\u003c\/i\u003e] is a ball-knowing account of both the game and its place in American culture . . . Over the course of 11 essays, the best-selling author of the 1990s cultural post-mortem \n\u003ci\u003eSex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs \u003c\/i\u003eframes this dumb, perfect sport with encyclopedic wit, mining its history, tracing its legends and puncturing its myths.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Kriston Capps, \u003ci\u003eBloomberg\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"With humor, self-deprecation, and appropriate gravity, [Klosterman] considers why the sport is so popular; how it serves as the ultimate icebreaker among strangers; and whether it's being unfairly targeted for health risks to players. Football is not a polemic, nor is it a love letter. Think of it as a time capsule you don't need to wait to open.\" -- \n\u003cb\u003eElisabeth Egan, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e (\"The Morning Newsletter\")\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[An] essential playoff-season read.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003ePeople\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[ \n\u003ci\u003eFootball\u003c\/i\u003e] is a wonderful addition to the genre . . . It's the exact book you'd expect from Klosterman, who has always dabbled in sportswriting or sports talking in his quest to explain the world through culture.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Jon Greenberg, \u003ci\u003eThe Athletic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eFootball \u003c\/i\u003eis unlike any book on the sport to come before: a hybrid of memoir, sports reporting, and cultural critique of both football and America itself . . . Klosterman's essays offer fresh, fascinating perspectives on a sport that has come to dominate the American consciousness like no other in recent decades.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Zack Ruskin, \u003ci\u003eSan Francisco Chronicle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eFootball \u003c\/i\u003eis . . . the most thorough exegesis since Frederick Exley's \n\u003ci\u003eA Fan's Notes\u003c\/i\u003e of how the sport bewitches a man's mind, body, and soul, becoming something more than a pastime, nearly a coherent philosophy, and just short of a religion.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Derek Robertson, \u003ci\u003eWashington Examiner\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[Klosterman] explores how football became the omnipresent phenomenon of America and a generational rite of passage. But he raises a fascinating point: football isn't necessarily 'too big to fail.' . . . I'm obsessed with this thesis.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Brandon Wenerd, \u003ci\u003eBroBible\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"As I complete this review, it is only the beginning of the third week of 2026. I will not be compiling a list of this year's best books for another 11 months. But I can say with great confidence that \n\u003ci\u003eFootball \u003c\/i\u003ewill be on there at the end of the year.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Stuart Shiffman, \u003ci\u003eBook Reporter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Chuck Klosterman's \n\u003ci\u003eFootball\u003c\/i\u003e--an investigation of the socio-cultural layers of college football in places like Texas and the Southeast--is another masterwork from one of our greatest minds.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eEsquire \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eFootball \u003c\/i\u003efeatures [Klosterman's] signature brand of humorous, sardonic and thought-provoking writing . . . A book worth keeping around and a great recommendation for the diehard and casual fan alike.\" \n\u003ci\u003e \u003cb\u003e--\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eEdward Banchs, \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e Pittsburgh Post-Gazette\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Klosterman's thoughtful and revealing exploration of his and America's obsession is insightful and richly infused with his engaging and entertaining perceptions.\" \n\u003ci\u003e \u003cb\u003e--Booklist\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"It is not a controversial thing to say that football is America's game: it is violent, martial, and tribal; it makes billions of dollars and exploits thousands of people; it is brash and jingoistic, clinging all the while to an antiquated paternalism that fetishizes hierarchy and patriarchy. Yes, indeed, it is America's game. And if you have any doubts, there is no better writer alive than Chuck Klosterman to walk you through all of the above . . . and much, much more.\" \n\u003ci\u003e \u003cb\u003e--\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eJonny Diamond, \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e Lit Hub\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e (Most Anticipated Books of 2026)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\"Eye-opening and entertaining . . . Approaching the subject with rigor and drawing on his lifelong fascination with the game, Klosterman sheds light on football's 'outsized and underrated' role in shaping contemporary culture. The result is a transcendent appraisal of America's favorite sport.\" -- \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Funny, thought-provoking . . . Marshalling [Klosterman's] customary blend of learned and low-culture references--Noam Chomsky, meet AC\/DC . . . a smart, rewarding consideration of football's popularity--and eventual downfall.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Kirkus (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Klosterman is one of those writers whom I find it truly joyous to read, taking pure satisfaction in the simple act of reading words from a writer who cares about his craft, knows what he's doing, and is clearly having a blast. It doesn't matter what he's writing about: I find it actively fun to read him, and have done so for more than two decades now. Whenever he has a new book come out, I find it difficult not to finish it in one setting.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Will Leitch\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"An excellent and highly conceptual book about America's favorite sport. Could this be the best book on (American) football ever?\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Tyler Cowen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTHE INSTANT \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Could this be the best book on football ever?\" --Tyler Cowen \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Another masterwork from one of our greatest minds.\" --\u003ci\u003eEsquire \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[An] essential playoff-season read.\"\u003ci\u003e --People\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA hilarious but nonetheless groundbreaking contribution to the argument about which force shapes American life the most. For two kinds of readers--those who know it's football and those who are about to find out.\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eChuck Klosterman-- \n\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling critic, journalist, and, yes, football psychotic--did not write this book to deepen your appreciation of the game. He's not trying to help you become that person at the party, or to teach you how to make better bets, or to validate any preexisting views you might have about the sport (positive or negative). \n\u003ci\u003eFootball\u003c\/i\u003e does, in fact, do all of those things. But not in the way such things have been done in the past, and never in a way any normal person would expect. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCultural theorists talk about hyperobjects--phenomena that bulk so large that their true dimensions are hidden in plain sight. In 2023, 93 of the 100 most-watched programs on U.S. television were NFL football games. This is not an anomaly. This is how society is best understood. Football is not merely the country's most popular sport; it is engrained in almost everything that explains what America is, even for those who barely pay attention. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eKlosterman gets to the bottom of all of it. He takes us to a metaphorical projection of Texas, where the religion of six-man football merges with America's Team [ \n\u003ci\u003esic\u003c\/i\u003e] and makes an inexplicable impact on a boy in North Dakota. He dissects the question of natural greatness, the paradox of gambling and war, and the timeless caricature of the uncompromising head coach. He interrogates the perfection of football's marriage with television and the morality of acceptable risk. He even conjures an extinction-level event. If Zizek liked the SEC more than he liked cinema, if Stephen Jay Gould cared about linebackers more than he cared about dinosaurs, if Steve Martin played quarterback instead of the banjo . . . it would still be nothing like this. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA century ago, Yale's legendary coach Walter Camp wrote his unified theory of the game. He called it \n\u003ci\u003eFootball\u003c\/i\u003e. Chuck Klosterman has given us a new Camp for the new age, rooted in a personal history he cannot escape.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eBooklist\u003c\/span\u003e 01\/01\/2026 (EAN 9780593490648, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 11\/24\/2025 (EAN 9780593490648, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 12\/01\/2025 (EAN 9780593490648, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Penguin Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496090566934,"sku":"9780593490648","price":38.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9780593490648.jpg?v=1783052984","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/football","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}