Essential Soccer Books

Discussion in 'Books' started by Jose L. Couso, Jan 15, 2006.

  1. Polemarch

    Polemarch Member

    Apr 27, 2013
    Sacramento, California
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    I've only read Soccernomics, which is pretty interesting so I'd say give it a shot. Also, I just found out FeverPitch isn't about Baseball...TIL.
     
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  2. Kevin Alexander

    May 27, 2004
    America's Dairyland
    Howler and XI Quarterly are fantastic, and I'd (again) highly recommend anyone checking them out. Also, if you get on XI's mailing list, they sent out a "Good Soccer Read's" email every Friday with both long and short form articles.

    Sort of related, but I had a problem w/my Zinio subscription, and the XI staff put a lot of time and energy into getting fixed-certainly more than I would've expected. That's the kind of service you just don't see a lot of anymore, and I thought it should be noted...
     
  3. Stuart95

    Stuart95 Member+

    Mar 11, 2012
    NoVA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've been looking for Howler and will probably just go ahead and order it. I've listened to their podcast and enjoyed it. Altough it covers English soccer/football, I'd add When Saturday Comes to the list. They cover unique aspects of the game with very well written features.
     
  4. pookspur

    pookspur Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 3, 2001
    Indiana
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    WSC is brilliant. i started bringing it into my bookstore around '98, and haven't missed more than an issue or two since. as much - probably more - about the culture of the english game as about what happens on the pitch, it's my favorite footy periodical by far.

    i've not seen that Howler, though. i'll have to get my hands on one.
     
  5. Jamooky

    Jamooky Member+

    Mar 24, 2006
    Cleveland, OH USA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Does WSC still publish an actual magazine or is it all online?
     
  6. pookspur

    pookspur Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 3, 2001
    Indiana
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    they still do the mag. barnes & noble's distributors carries it, so it's possible to get it into your local - though it won't likely be already. that said, even if they bring it in, we've had a blip or two where we've gone months without receiving any, so it's not 100% reliable.

    ... unlike a subscription. you can get an international subscription, which is far cheaper (assuming you don't have a B&N employee discount, that is) and delivery is much more timely. getting it off the news stand (at B&N, anyway) usually runs almost an issue behind.
     
  7. Stuart95

    Stuart95 Member+

    Mar 11, 2012
    NoVA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They carry WSC at my local B&N, although it is about a month behind as pookspur mentioned. For some reason, I find the magazine far superior to the website.
     
  8. Jamooky

    Jamooky Member+

    Mar 24, 2006
    Cleveland, OH USA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was kicking around the idea of getting a subscription - but $90 a year is too rich for my blood. :eek:
     
  9. Oveki8

    Oveki8 Member+

    May 4, 2012
    Club:
    DC United
    Reading:
    [​IMG]
    Not a bad book, entertaining.
     
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  10. Dr. Wankler

    Dr. Wankler Member+

    May 2, 2001
    The Electric City
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I have a birthday coming up. i just added this to the list of books I want which I give to my wife so she can then distribute it to my brothers. Thanks for bringing this up: I didn't know Kuper had a new one out.
     
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  11. pookspur

    pookspur Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 3, 2001
    Indiana
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    i'm 100% with ya, there. that's not a knock against the website, by the way ... it's just that i love going down to my local with a new copy of WSC. it goes very well with guinness.
     
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  12. Oveki8

    Oveki8 Member+

    May 4, 2012
    Club:
    DC United
    I enjoyed Soccer Men and it got me curious about Soccernomics. So I started reading:

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Dward1

    Dward1 Member

    May 29, 2013
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ball is Round is almost required reading I feel like, it's become a textbook of sorts for soccer lovers.

    I see magazine talk (Howler, When Saturday Comes) and wanted to know how the Blizzard stacks up to those two. I've loved the Blizzard, got all the issues and usually there is one or two great articles and at least a couple more interesting ones in each issue. really good stuff in my mind
     
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  14. Felixx219

    Felixx219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 8, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Anyone remember Soccer Digest? Im not sure if it is still in publication or not but I found a box where I save a ton of them. They are from like 92 to 94 and even have the one with Brazil winning the WC. Might be worth some money some day.
     
  15. Rojoco

    Rojoco New Member

    Jun 29, 2013
    Switzerland
    Club:
    Rangers
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Foul! Jennnings
     
  16. worms

    worms Red Card

    Mar 28, 2013
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Can anybody recommend a good Cruyff biography in English seeing as he doesn't have his own autobiography?
     
  17. Stuart95

    Stuart95 Member+

    Mar 11, 2012
    NoVA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  18. Stuart95

    Stuart95 Member+

    Mar 11, 2012
    NoVA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So they started carrying Howler at my local Barnes and Nobles, so I picked up Issue 3. Can't say enough good stuff about this magazine ... great graphics but even better writing. Easily rivals the best soccer books I've read and better than any other soccer publication. Only WSC comes close. Highly recommended!
     
  19. Kevin Alexander

    May 27, 2004
    America's Dairyland
    I'm still really enjoying it as well. FWIW, Howler also sends out a weekly email now as well...
     
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  20. Stuart95

    Stuart95 Member+

    Mar 11, 2012
    NoVA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks Kevin, you mentioned XI Quarterly earlier as well. Where do you find it?
     
  21. Kevin Alexander

    May 27, 2004
    America's Dairyland
    I lucked into XI via their Kickstarter campaign, and wound up on their email list from that. If you're asking what stores might carry it, I honestly have no idea; the only store with a decent selection where I live is Barnes & Noble, and AFAIK mine hasn't ever had it?

    XI haven't sent a "Good Soccer Reads" blast out since 8/16, but I'm hoping they pick it back up; I really enjoy it (same with Howler's for that matter).

    Not sure if you need/want these, but thought it might be helpful:

    Website: XIQuarterly.com
    Twitter: @XIQuarterly

    Website: Howlermagazine.com
    Twitter: @whatahowler
     
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  22. TightAngelicWingback

    Sep 16, 2013
    Astride a hawk contorting, and its wings too..
    Club:
    Beitar Jerusalem FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Samoa
    LMAORMC Laughing my ass...rubbing my cock..

    When I glanced at this thread's title I thought it read: "Existential" Soccer Books..

    To Pass The Ball Or To Bite It: The seminal account of existentialist tendencies in the Bundesliga.

    I'll Bite Your Face, Kunt: I. Levtov reminisces on his days as a professional footballer in Israel's top flight; outlines his battles with niggly defenders, existential depression and PCP addiction.

    Own-Goal: A medley of managers and pundits including Mancini's former assistant, Juan Lopez, dialogue about the futility of it all.
     
  23. Kevin Alexander

    May 27, 2004
    America's Dairyland
    I received this email today... Not awesome. :(

    Dear XI Reader,

    As you may have noticed, XI Quarterly has been eerily quiet of late. The publication, three issues into its run, has been facing major issues in recent months that we, XI’s editorial team, have been unable to resolve. Due to a major cashflow crisis, the production of issue four was halted as we searched for a resolution and asked whether it is realistic to continue XI as a print quarterly.

    The publication’s crisis ultimately comes down to both cash and the time of its small volunteer staff to work on the publication and generate revenue. Income has been short of anticipated amounts, even though we have spent thousands of collective man hours on all the administrative and editorial elements needed to create the publication. The cash that has come in has been spent carefully - XI hasn’t splurged on glossy paper or marketing campaigns, while its entire staff has been unpaid. However, print expenses - in part due to a major printing error with issue two - have come in unexpectedly high, and income lower than expected (modest as projections were).

    As editors, creating the publication to the standard expected of it has been an enormously time consuming job, but one we are proud of with the quality produced in each issue. Yet this has left too little time for both promotion and attracting investment or sponsorship dollars that could have secured the publication’s future. This is a failure by us that causes us extreme dismay, as so many - from writers to copy editors to readers - have contributed to create what we do believe is an excellent publication.

    We have in recent months spent considerable time debating the future of XI, in some ways perhaps reluctantly delaying facing the unpleasant situation XI is in and for our slowness in communicating with readers the issues behind the scenes, we do apologize. Quite frankly, the volume and the severity of the issues have overwhelmed us.

    Currently, we do not have a positive solution to the situation and we have no choice but to plan to close down XI in the near future. As we face this, we invite you to share any thoughts by emailing hello@xiquarterly.com.

    We thank you for your support of XI and your patience, and apologize again for how long it has taken to communicate these issues to you.

    - XI Editors, David & Tom
     
  24. Excape Goat

    Excape Goat Member+

    Mar 18, 1999
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    [​IMG]

    I was never into Ibrahimovic. I just did not think much of him. In the book, he sounded cocky, but honest about his opinion(which i found interesting).
     
  25. Dr. Wankler

    Dr. Wankler Member+

    May 2, 2001
    The Electric City
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I wonder if Zlatan's read it.
     

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