Futebol: The Brazilian Way

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful...
Review: 'Futebol' by Alex Bellos, is an amazing book detailing the nature of brazilian fooball, and it's effect upon the entire nation, a world full of passion and corruption. Bellos shows the passion for football which Brazilians have, their love of 'jogo bonito'. Chronicling events such as Brazil's fateful 1950 world cup loss to Uruguay and the rise of players such as Garincha,who managed to win the hearts of all, more loved than Pele.
This is a must for anyone interested in the passion which football can produce, and anyone who has ever been enchanted by the beauty which the Brazilians used to produce (pre '82). Plus the cover artwork makes the book worth the purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Who put the beauty in the beautiful game?
Review: A heartfelt odyssey through the heartland of the most popular game in the world. Bellos has travelled the world in his search for the soul of Brazilian football. Along the way, it seems like he has talked to everyone who has ever played a part in its development. From former World Cup stars like Socrates and Pele, to the low-level players who ply their trade in the Faroe islands, the author finds time to explore expound upon and eventually explode the myth of 'o jogo bonito'.

When the first footballs arrived in Brazil at the end of the nineteenth century (in the baggage of a British industrialist, naturally) no one could ever have imagined the revolutionary effect they would bring about.

But add football to a huge number of displaced ex-slaves, a culture of music and capoiera, and a desire among employers to encourage physical exercise among their employees, then put it all together in a new country that desperately needs myths of its own, and you soon end up with a national sporting obsession that no other place in the world can match.

As Bellos shows, football has an unshakeable grip on the Brazilian psyche. A grip that culminated in the World Cup triumph of Mexico 1970. (Coincidentally, the first time the global football jamboree was beamed in colour around the world, courtesy of television.)

In the years since then, the myth of Brazilian football has grown while performances on the field have faded. The team that won USA 94 did so without plaudits from their own people, while the current national side has fallen from grace almost completely owing to its controversial allegiance to Nike and the sheer dullness of its football. (Which has become almost European in its one-dimensionality).

Bellos voyages to every corner of this vast and fascinating country to get to the bottom of the beguiling myth. From button football tournaments to autoball, footbull, futevolley and even to a unique tournament/beauty pageant in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, no example of football is left unexamined in his quest for truth.

At the same time, every other aspect of Brazilian cultural life takes its turn under the microscope - candomble spirituality, the architecture of Oscar Niemeyer, the singing of Astrud Gilberto, the unending differences between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo.

The result? A fascinating and beguiling blend of sociology, history and human geography, with a leavening of sport... a book that is as unmissable as one of Pele's fabulous goals.

Naturally, a must-have for anyone who loves football, but equally for anyone who is interested in Brazil, global culture or simply people.

Rating:
Summary: Brazil Through Soccer Eyes
Review: An absolutely fantastic book. I haven't finished reading the entire book yet but I'm facinated by the stories, details and importance of futebol in the brazilian culture. A great book for anyone interested in understanding why brazilians are so fanatic about soccer. It tells stories of a country so rich in culture and embraced by the magic of the Beautiful Game.

Rating:
Summary: More than 5 stars!
Review: Easily the best book written on soccer ever. If you want to learn the why and wherefores of Brazilian soccer, buy this now! There really are no words to explain how insightful and fun the writing style is and the research here is beyond amazing. You think you know all about Brazilian soccer from watching Ronaldo et al in the World Cup, then think again. It's more than samba style and goals galore. It's Brazil itself in all its glory from sun, sex and sand to completely corrupt political dealings to bizarre religious soccer rituals.

Rating:
Summary: Thank you, Alex
Review: I don't know if I can do it, but I'm giving these five stars not for the book - I haven't read yet - but for Alex's courage to write about such wonderful subject! I'm brazilian and I'm very happy to know that there's a book about FUTEBOL (thanks again for leting people know about the way we call it) writen from both points of view: extraordinary and - and this is the great point - ordinary people too! You won't be disappointed about this book, I assure you; the idea of mixing futebol's history and its influence in brazilian way of life is incredible! Alex, you'd better try to translate this book to portuguese, it'll sell a lot!

Rating:
Summary: Should have been better
Review: I expected an exciting, informative book full of interesting anecdotes, but was disappointed. The beginning is simply boring, and the end is a superficial criticism of the current state of corruption in Brazilian football. The only chapter I found entertaining was on the life of Garrincha.

Rating:
Summary: Superbly explains the joy and beauty of Brazilian Soccer
Review: The author has superbly combined sports journalism with anthropological analysis and written a splendid book. If you like soccer, or want to know why Brazil has won the World Cup five times, this book will explain it. If you want to understand the nuances of Brazilian culture, this book explains it through Soccer.
I especially enjoyed the chapters on Garrincha and the 'Pelada' in Manaus. In addition, the sense of humor that the author has is funny, and provides great insight into Brazilian life.
In short, highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: entertaining and well-researched, but in need of editing
Review: This is an entertaining and well-researched book, although at over 400 pages it could do with a bit of editing. It's not so much a book about Brazilian football, but one about the Brazilian obsession with football. As such, it's more about Brazilian history, culture, society, politics and national identity, and the relationship of football with Brazil's other obsession - sex. This is not a book about the technicalities of football itself. Pelé, Garrincha, Tostão, Ronaldo, Rivelino, Zico, Carlos Alberto, Roberto Carlos and Romário all feature (though surprisingly not Rivaldo), with interesting insights and information presented (not always of a footballing nature). However, the real stars of the book are those eccentric characters who have extended Brazil's love of football to autoball (football involving cars!), button ball (table football), beach soccer and ball juggling (especially by women, including Ronaldo's wife). The names of Brazilian footballers are deciphered, emphasising the Brazilian preference for nicknames and the names of famous film stars and singers. Bellos discusses at some length the deep trough that Brazilian football sunk into after the defeat in the 1998 World Cup final, in particular the controversy around Ronaldo. The extent of corruption in Brazilian football that was uncovered at the time is also exposed. In a fascinating interview, Socrates explains his reasons for Brazil's failings in the couple of years before the 2002 World Cup. It's only a pity that the book was published before Brazil's subsequent success. Such a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, both for Brazil and Ronaldo, cried out for further explanation. Bellos states more than once that Brazilians view football as "a game in which prodigious individual skills outshine team tactics, where dribbles and flicks are preferred over physical challenges and long distance passes". The Brazilian team of 2002 showed that a combination of these attributes can be both successful and highly entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Futebol: The Brazilian way (of writing)
Review: This is an outstanding book about the Brazilian soccer and culture. As Brazilian and top soccer fan, I can say that the book is rich in details and realistic information that few Brazilians know. It is clear that Alex did extensive, diligent, and almost Herculean researches all over this continental size country. The author clearly described the history of Brazilian soccer, our passion for soccer, idols, martyrs, the bad-guys, the culture behind soccer, memorable moments, episodes we are ashamed, the corruption, and justice in this sport. The superior English sense of humor makes this book a very relaxing and entertaining reading.
This book should be translated to Portuguese. It is top reference in any Brazilian soccer fan library. It really worth the reading.

Rating:
Summary: Futebol: The Brazilian way (of writing)
Review: This is an outstanding book about the Brazilian soccer and culture. As Brazilian and top soccer fan, I can say that the book is rich in details and realistic information that few Brazilians know. It is clear that Alex did extensive, diligent, and almost Herculean researches all over this continental size country. The author clearly described the history of Brazilian soccer, our passion for soccer, idols, martyrs, the bad-guys, the culture behind soccer, memorable moments, episodes we are ashamed, the corruption, and justice in this sport. The superior English sense of humor makes this book a very relaxing and entertaining reading.
This book should be translated to Portuguese. It is top reference in any Brazilian soccer fan library. It really worth the reading.