Name: The Ball
ISBN: 9780062101624

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Games Across Time

A global history-travelogue asks why balls have held our attention across centuries.

Come here for

Sports history that travels beyond baseball
The origins of familiar games across centuries

Expect

A mix of history and travelogue
A look at the ball’s place in our passions and lives

Book Details

Authors: John Fox
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: May 15, 2012
Format: Print & ebook
Theme: Baseball History · Baseball Statistics
Reading lane: Baseball History

Affinity

Publisher Categories

Social History
How Cultures Work
Sociology
Baseball History

Show all 8 publisher categories

Cycling
Sports
Sports History
Hunting

About This Book

Anthropologist John Fox sets off on a worldwide adventure to thefarthest reaches of the globe and the deepest recesses of our ancientpast to answer a question inspired by his sports-loving son: "Why do we play ball?" From Mexican jungles to the small-town gridirons of Ohio, frommedieval villages and royal courts to modern soccer pitches andbaseball parks, The Ball explores the little-known origins ofour favorite sports across the centuries, and traces how a simpleinvention l...

Read full description

Anthropologist John Fox sets off on a worldwide adventure to thefarthest reaches of the globe and the deepest recesses of our ancientpast to answer a question inspired by his sports-loving son: "Why do we play ball?" From Mexican jungles to the small-town gridirons of Ohio, frommedieval villages and royal courts to modern soccer pitches andbaseball parks, The Ball explores the little-known origins ofour favorite sports across the centuries, and traces how a simpleinvention like the ball has come to stake an unrivaled claim on ourpassions, our money, and our lives. Equal parts history and travelogue, The Ball removes us from the scandals and commercialism of today'ssports world to uncover the true reasons we play ball, helping us reclaimour universal connection to the games we love.