nrosenbloom's review against another edition
4.0
This is a gripping and fascinating look at hooligan culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As someone who was born during this time, I was largely unaware of the truth of hooligan culture and just how dangerous it could be to go see a soccer match in Europe at this time. The book is part first-hand account of some truly terrifying violence between fans (and police), part sociological analysis of what drove young men in England to act in such a way. My only critique is that the author tends to bring himself into the narrative and story line more than I felt was necessary. He goes out of his way to make it clear that while he did what was necessary to imbed himself with the hooligans, he doesn't agree with their worldview, and in fact finds it abhorrent. He seems to find it necessary to draw this distinction repeatedly, and to point out how little he looked forward to his foreign trips to observe and report on the behavior.
octavia_cade's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This is one of those random books I pick up in order to try reading new things and all that. I did not expect to be as riveted as I was. I don't read many sports books, and I have less than no interest in soccer, so you understand I wasn't going into this with high hopes, but it was fascinating. Buford wanted to learn about the phenomenon of English soccer thugs, the fans that use sport as an excuse for violence, theft, and general mayhem (including, at one point, actual cannibalism - that story about the eye? Disgusting). All the people profiled in this are pretty wretched, actually, but the interesting thing is how years spent in their company begins to alter the author himself. There's a lot here about the psychology of crowds, of how being part of a mob encourages people to act in ways they may not normally, and Buford describes how he too gets caught up in the emotion of the riots, although admittedly he has the self-control to mostly keep hold of himself and act more as observer than participant.
I have to say, as the reporting of these dismal losers goes on and on, I feel even less interest in soccer than before... but I did feel a sustained interest in why these vicious, awful people weren't just plain shot. By the end, when they were rioting in Sardinia, I was actively hoping for them to be mown down by the Italian army. Which is tribalism of another kind, I realise - the desire to inflict suffering on deserving targets - and believe me, I see the parallels. Which is not exactly comfortable reading, but then it shouldn't be.
I have to say, as the reporting of these dismal losers goes on and on, I feel even less interest in soccer than before... but I did feel a sustained interest in why these vicious, awful people weren't just plain shot. By the end, when they were rioting in Sardinia, I was actively hoping for them to be mown down by the Italian army. Which is tribalism of another kind, I realise - the desire to inflict suffering on deserving targets - and believe me, I see the parallels. Which is not exactly comfortable reading, but then it shouldn't be.
charlie_miller's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a great book- the fruits of years of ethnographic research. Every few years, an incident happens in English football which makes people question the culture- is it racist, violent etc. This book describes a time that was on a whole different order of magnitude. The level of tribalism, and the thirst for violence was something largely forgotten or never even known of by most of us in the modern day. One of the great pieces of sociological research in recent decades, certainly one of the best I have read..
julinino19's review against another edition
5.0
"I had not expected the violence to be so pleasurable."
Bloody brilliant.
Bill Buford, an American that studied and resided in the U.K., decided one day that he needed to go to an English football game. You can't live in England and never have that experience, can you?
What came after was a journalistic deep dive into the gruesome world of football – specifically its "hooligans" and the overly passionate "firms" that wreak havoc anywhere they can, all in the name of the sport.
Why did I pick this up?
Because I want to read what I have dubbed "footy books," which are essentially books about football, or at least where football plays a major role. This one was highly recommended when I looked up "best books about soccer."
It did not disappoint.
Pros
- Brilliant writing
- Fascinating subject matter
- Crazy, real life accounts of football hooliganism
- Theories are presented and analyzed
Cons
- Probably not for everyone
- Can be very grotesque
It's tough to read sometimes. These men (they all seem to be just men) are insane. They use their obsession with their teams as an excuse to be violent. They loot, they destroy, they punch, they stab, they drink, and even piss everywhere they go on a match day.
Buford vividly describes his encounters, and I was constantly curious to see what conclusions he would come to.
It hurt to see it all take effect on him. Turns out it can be easy to be aggressive for aggressiveness sake after a long day of being around literal deviants.
"Violence is their antisocial kick, their mind-altering experience...I understood this and was convinced by it, but was still not satisfied."
This isn't just a fantastic piece of journalism – this is a brilliant analysis of the sociology behind the "crowd" and the power that lies in numbers.
Buford did his homework, citing several ethical studies that attempt to break down why a crowd has been something to fear since human existence.
"The second principle was the most important: everyone – including the police – is powerless against a large number of people who have decided not to obey any rules. Or put another way: with numbers there are no laws."
Who would like this?
Footy fans. Non-fiction readers. Those interested in social dilemmas.
Bloody brilliant.
Bill Buford, an American that studied and resided in the U.K., decided one day that he needed to go to an English football game. You can't live in England and never have that experience, can you?
What came after was a journalistic deep dive into the gruesome world of football – specifically its "hooligans" and the overly passionate "firms" that wreak havoc anywhere they can, all in the name of the sport.
Why did I pick this up?
Because I want to read what I have dubbed "footy books," which are essentially books about football, or at least where football plays a major role. This one was highly recommended when I looked up "best books about soccer."
It did not disappoint.
Pros
- Brilliant writing
- Fascinating subject matter
- Crazy, real life accounts of football hooliganism
- Theories are presented and analyzed
Cons
- Probably not for everyone
- Can be very grotesque
It's tough to read sometimes. These men (they all seem to be just men) are insane. They use their obsession with their teams as an excuse to be violent. They loot, they destroy, they punch, they stab, they drink, and even piss everywhere they go on a match day.
Buford vividly describes his encounters, and I was constantly curious to see what conclusions he would come to.
It hurt to see it all take effect on him. Turns out it can be easy to be aggressive for aggressiveness sake after a long day of being around literal deviants.
"Violence is their antisocial kick, their mind-altering experience...I understood this and was convinced by it, but was still not satisfied."
This isn't just a fantastic piece of journalism – this is a brilliant analysis of the sociology behind the "crowd" and the power that lies in numbers.
Buford did his homework, citing several ethical studies that attempt to break down why a crowd has been something to fear since human existence.
"The second principle was the most important: everyone – including the police – is powerless against a large number of people who have decided not to obey any rules. Or put another way: with numbers there are no laws."
Who would like this?
Footy fans. Non-fiction readers. Those interested in social dilemmas.
pnsk13's review against another edition
4.0
I thought the book started off better than than it ends. It delves into the fascinating but disturbing world of English soccer hooliganism but the real theme is less about the sport and more about the dynamics of “the crowd.” The journalism was good and the beginning anecdotes were some of the funniest things I’ve ever read. However the humor is overwhelmed by descriptions of violence that become redundant. By the closing chapter my progressively fading interest seemed to directly parallel the author’s own building disillusionment with the material.
minega31's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely electrifying chronicle of the football hooligan culture in England in the 1980's. The author is an American journalist living in England who-despite having no interest in football-decided to embed himself with football hooligans to see how they tick, and the results are very absorbing. Some of the stories covered here are jaw-dropping, and it covers a whole host of subjects: crowd dynamics and mob violence, the role of identity in sub-cultures, racism in England and plenty more. Its beautifully written and very insightful. Essential reading even for non-football fans.
pdmarquart's review against another edition
3.0
First few chapters were great... then it turned into ramblings...