Reviews

Futebol Nation: The Story of Brazil through Soccer by David Goldblatt

vivamonty's review

4.0

A fantastic survey of modern Brazilian history, culture, and politics through the lens of soccer. Goldblatt has an interesting theory of fireball as Brazil's most notable cultural export, and he defends it with a comprehensive analysis of this fascinating and enigmatic country. Two key takeaways: I see a lot of Trumpism in Brazil's history, which is rife with inequity and brazen government corruption. I used to think it was unfathomable that the U.S. could be like Brazil or Italy, but that's where we are heading. Second takeaway: I really wish the book had been updated with an addendum; it ends right before the 2014 World Cup. So much has happened since: the 7-1 semifinal catastrophe, the 2016 Olympics, and the rise of Bolsonaro. I'd love to hear Goldblatt's take on the last five years.