The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer

David Goldblatt

Apr 2020 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Liam Gerrard

About this audiobook

The definitive book about soccer, from the author of The Games: A Global History of the Olympics. There may be no cultural practice more global than soccer. Rites of birth and marriage are infinitely diverse, but the rules of soccer are universal. No world religion can match its geographical scope. The single greatest simultaneous human collective experience is the World Cup final. In this extraordinary tour de force, David Goldblatt tells the full story of soccer's rise from chaotic folk ritual to the world's most popular sport-now poised to fully establish itself in the USA. Already celebrated internationally, The Ball Is Round illuminates soccer's role in the political and social histories of modern societies, but never loses sight of the beauty, joy, and excitement of the game itself.

About the author

David Goldblatt is the author of three acclaimed books about soccer, including the international bestseller The Ball Is Round. His podcast Game of Our Lives has been nominated for a Webby Award. He teaches at Pitzer College in Los Angeles and lives in London.

Liam Gerrard is an award-winning voice artist with over ten years of experience working in every field of the voice industry, as well as a highly acclaimed stage and screen actor. A 2017 Audie Award nominee, he has narrated over thirty audiobooks in a wide range of genres and styles.