Sport: A Very Short Introduction

Sport is big business; international in nature and the focus of much media and cultural attention. In this Very Short Introduction, Mike Cronin charts the history of sport, from its traditional origins in folk football and cock fighting to its position as a global phenomenon today. Looking at a variety of sports from team games such as rugby, cricket, and football to games for individuals such as golf, tennis, and skiing, he considers how these first emerged and captivated the interest of ordinary people, and how sport has been transformed within our daily lives.

Exploring the relationship between sport and class, gender, commerce, identity, and ethics, Cronin considers some of the central issues in sport today, including the high pay of professional footballers and the glamour of women in sports, as well as fair play standards. Charting sport through the ages and around the world, this is a short guide to the history, development, and place of sport in contemporary global society.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Mike Cronin has worked for Boston College since 2005, and he is the Academic Director of BC in Ireland. Professor Cronin is one of the world's leading scholars on the history of sport and the context within which sport functions in the twenty-first century. Prior to working for Boston College, Professor Cronin spent eight years working with the world governing body of soccer, FIFA, in delivering their International Masters course. He has also worked closely with a number of sports organizations. He has written extensively on various aspects of sport history, and has been the recipient of both the UK's Lord Abedare prize and the US NASSH prize for sports history book of the year. He appears regularly on television and radio in Ireland and across the world, discussing sport and its relevance to society.