I just finished this one: It's actually a pretty good (or at least fast) read. Currently reading this one: It's early, but so far, so good...
I've got Gullhanger as well but have only made it about halfway through (it was free for Nooks at one point). It is interesting ... midlife crisis meets Fever Pitch.
Read....'Lamar Hunt...a Life in Sports' by Michael McCambridge for the real story of the early years of the NASL and the Dallas Tornado.
Howler is really good, as is XI quarterly. Both do well to fill a niche in soccer writing that until now I think has been lacking. JMHO...
Great book ... I read it awhile back. What I liked was how he'd wander the parking lots seeing what the fans saw
Historical revisionist what-if fiction, but a good read nonetheless. http://www.amazon.com/The-Ten-Shirt-United-National/dp/0578020343
Got the book "Bob Lenarduzzi, A Canadian Soccer Story" for Christmas and just finished. I'm not Canadian nor a Whitecaps fan but really liked the book. His story covers NASL, Canadian National Team and MLS. He has a great insights into all and some very funny bits in there about the Cosmos, Pele and Chinaglia. Worth reading.
Get Soccer Power by Beckenbauer on amazon pretty cheap. It is out of date soccer wise to some. But it is an interesting book none the less.
Just finished "This Love is not for Cowards" by Robert Andrew Powell. It is about Indios of Ciudad Juarez, the year they fought relagation from the Primera and the murder rate in the city skyrocketed due to drug violence. Powell moved to Juarez, follows players, coaches, rabid fans and normal citizens. It reminded me a bit of Joe McGinniss' "Miracle of Castel di Sangro" but Powell is able to keep his distance from the drama while McGinnis made himself annoyingly central to it. I'd caution that while a soccer book, it is really more about Juarez. However, it is a great book and I'd recommend it.
i've been through this thread, but not for a long time, so i'm not 100% certain this hasn't been mentioned, but ... i pulled this off the shelf the other night when i had a few minutes to kill, and i'd completely forgotten how wonderful it is. engineering archie by simon inglis it's basicly a look at legendary british football grounds/stands architect, archibald leitch, and (of course) his body of work. great photos, enlightening text ... you'll learn more about footy architecture (and about the countless clubs for which he worked) than you ever thought you wanted to know. you won't sit in fulham's stevenage road stand ... or ibrox's south stand ... or goodison's bullens road stand ... or etc., etc., again without seeing a whole lot more than you bargained for when you shelled out for the rediculously overpriced ticket. it actually brings an entirely new facet/perspective to attending a footy match. it helps if you're a geek, of course. highly recommended.
Just finished Gwendolyn Oxenham's "Finding the Game." This is the companion book to the movie "Pelada" which is a documentary that follows two ex-college soccer players (Oxenham and her boyfriend) as they travel the world playing pickup soccer games. It sounds silly but both the book and movie are fascinating. They play in amazing places, with gauchos in Argentina, under the eyes of the religous police in Iran, and even in a jail in Bolivia. If you're looking for a "soccer is the global game" book, there in none better than this. Highly recommended.
At the risk of becoming a parrot, I'd second this post as well. It's a great read. Haven't seen the movie, though...
About 2/3 of the way through this one and I love it. Great book. Satisfied with the amount of focus put on soccer because Powell gets involved in the lives of the players as well as the supporters. Easily a top 5 sports book for me.
howlermagazine.com New subscriber to XI Quarterly and I also bought issue 2 of the Howler and I was very impressed.