A People’s History of Sports in the United States: 250 Years of Politics, Protest, People, and Play

　　A People's History of Sports in the United States-the culmination of Dave Zirin's pathbreaking writing on sports and politics-unabashedly stands with the tradition of radical athletes, sports-writers, and fans. In this "thought-provoking, contrarian take on American sport" (Booklist), Zirin offers a riotously entertaining chronicle of larger-than-life sporting characters and dramatic contests, sketching an alternative history of the United States as seen through the games its people played-games that Zirin argues are a reflection of the political conflicts that shape American society.

　　Replete with surprises for even seasoned sports fans, A People's History of Sports in the United States "rescues scores of real sporting heroes from the 'vast realm of the forgotten'" (The Guardian). Anyone interested in history will be amazed by the connection Zirin draws between politics and pop flies. As Jim Bouton says of the book, "Put this first in the line of sports books on your shelf. It will help make sense of all the others."