Among the Thugs
by Bill Buford
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in September, 2007
recommended to Anders by:
jason consrecommends it for: Jacob, to whom I have already lent it
A stunning work of non-fiction, Among the Thugs chronicles Buford's attempts to understand the English phenomenon of soccer hooliganism by immersing himself into its characters, events, and lifestyles. He starts as an outsider, an American living in London for many years without ever attending a soccer game. Intrigued by the stories of violence and lawlessness the games ignite in the supporters of the teams, he sets out to understand how and...more
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Read in June, 2007
As a closet English football - soccer in the USA - fan (and no, I don't believe MLS is as good as European football even with the addition of David Beckham) and with an interest in male development & gender role issues, I was intrigued by the recommondation from a friend to read this book. If I had grown up in England, I think it could have been very probable to find me every saturday at some football stadium drunk on lagers and chanting away for the team of my choice. I settle for Philadelp...more
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recommends it for:
you.
i wrote a review of this book for the lit mag Lonely Seagull. it went something like...
"Among the Thugs is the true story of an American journalist, Buford, who slowly makes his way into the surprisingly organized world of football hooligans in order to find out why English football supporters, Manchester United fans in particular, are among the most violent sports fans in the world. His question is simple: what makes these men and boys act the way they do? Buford makes the assumption, ...more
"Among the Thugs is the true story of an American journalist, Buford, who slowly makes his way into the surprisingly organized world of football hooligans in order to find out why English football supporters, Manchester United fans in particular, are among the most violent sports fans in the world. His question is simple: what makes these men and boys act the way they do? Buford makes the assumption, ...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who thinks Europe is perfect
The English disease in all its gory. This book does a wonderful job of reporting and commenting on the horror of soccer crowds. For me, this comes after a six month fascination with soccer violence. There is very little to explain why hooligans do what they do, but what interests me is that this is a problem that seems to effect most western "civilized" nations except the good old U. S. of A. In discussing this issue with a friend, we both expressed surprise. Surprise not in the p...more
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Ideal White
I can barely look, but it's so clear. Why do they smile then? Why do they grin? There is no festive occassion here. They own no welcoming love in their hearts. They are nothing but gossip and deceit. You must be identical to them and do as you are warned to make the peace and score. Keep the black man off the property, they whisper but yell. There's nothing special about their values baby. Why do they believe they are so saved and moral? Who are they? I've never known t...more
I can barely look, but it's so clear. Why do they smile then? Why do they grin? There is no festive occassion here. They own no welcoming love in their hearts. They are nothing but gossip and deceit. You must be identical to them and do as you are warned to make the peace and score. Keep the black man off the property, they whisper but yell. There's nothing special about their values baby. Why do they believe they are so saved and moral? Who are they? I've never known t...more
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Read in January, 2006
Buford's account of his immersion into the world of football fans is self absorbed but very entertaining. He often belittles the lads who befriend him but his excitement when facing down opposing club fans or the encroaching police is the allure of this book. He wants to get violent - the mob mentality sweeps you up and absorbs your frustrations which then explode. This happens all over the world but why it's excessive in the UK is a good question.
Ultimate fighting, fight clubs, hockey game...more
Ultimate fighting, fight clubs, hockey game...more
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Read in February, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
anybody who liked <i>Green Street Hooligans</i>
I enjoyed this book, but I don't quite feel it lived up to my expectations. I'd read excerpts of this book through other sources, most recently The New Kings of Nonfiction, and enjoyed those; I've also read and enjoyed other things Buford has written. As a whole, I felt the book trailed off towards the end.
The book may also have suffered a little bit over time. Published in the early 1990s about Buford's experiences with foo...more
The book may also have suffered a little bit over time. Published in the early 1990s about Buford's experiences with foo...more
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Read in October, 2003
Required reading for my "Sports and Society" class. Despite it being required, it was really very interesting, and something I would recommend for the non-academic who has a morbid curiosity about the violence of sports and a really strong stomach. This book chronicles a reporter's time with the football (soccer) thugs of Manchester United. If you think post sporting event riots in this country are out of hand, be thankful you don't live in Europe, where these guys (some of which aren'...more
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Read in February, 2007
Bill Buford depicts the inner workings of Hooliganism in "Among the Thugs" in such an intriguing way. Hanging about long enough to get involved with a bunch of Hooligans was impressive in itself, but the story more so as he gains enough trust to at least scrape the outer edge of what these people represent. From the outside looking in, you see thugs, drunks, and a group that's gone too far in their love of Man U. From the inside looking out, most of these young men have been ostraci...more
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Read in May, 2007
I really enjoyed this book but I'm not sure why. It depicts the "football" hooligans of England and attempts to explain their violent behaviour. In a Hunter Thompson style, Buford embeds himself within the firms, or gangs, of the soccer hooligans and what he finds is both fascinating and repulsive: many of the fans are working class but many are successful businessmen simply looking for an emotional release. His search ends with the realization that the hooligans lust for the anonym...more
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recommends it for:
sports fans, Bill Buford fans
Only Bill Buford could take subject matter so disturbing and write about it in a way that is both sensitive and compelling. Considering I have virtually no knowledge or interest in sports in general and football (soccer) in particular and am generally squeamish about violence, the fact I found this book such a great read is impressive. Buford offers up several theories for why these "hooligans" who are by and large normal law abiding citizens by day commit unspeakable acts of violence ...more
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Read in January, 2008
Fantastic read for those with an interest in the ugly side of the beautiful game. This is as much a study of crowd behavior and mob mentality as it is tales of hooliganism. Focusing on the author's travels with supporters of Man U., West Ham, and England's national side in the late 80's and WC '90, Buford focuses on the psyche of young (and older) British supporters and their attraction to mayhem, and how he himself comes to understand the allure on a base level. Some passages were actually diff...more
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Read in December, 2007
This book, inspiration for the awesome movie Green Street Hooligans, wowwed me. I had seen the movie multiple times, and while I knew the book was going to be different, I wasn't prepared for just HOW different. While the book, like the movie, showcases English football hooliganism, the book goes to great lengths to try and understand "mob mentality" even beyond sports. In fact, the book spends a lot of time describing national identity, explaining human behavior, and moving beyond ...more
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engrossing material, but disjointed and poorly written. also repugnant - not only b/c the soccer lads themselves are digusting, but also b/c buford clearly become complicit in their violence, racism, and sexism w/o ever coming clean about it. he finally becomes disgusted w/ it all after EIGHT year and then, in a panic, writes this book to give himself some kind of purpose in having partaken in that for EIGHT years. hence, the disjointed, pseudo-academic result which whould have been better as ...more
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Read in January, 2006
A friend of mine said, " Hey! You look like the cover, so maybe you should read this." What a great B-day present for me! I'm a fan of soccer or football(whatever you want to call it) and I poured through this. Being somewhat of a sideline hooligan myself, I can relate to the love of your team and joy of winning. Not so much the destruction of property which would classify me to the sidelines...
Anyhow, I enjoyed reading this non-fiction story. I would say anyone who like Soccer, ...more
Anyhow, I enjoyed reading this non-fiction story. I would say anyone who like Soccer, ...more
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Uhhh, WOW! This book is really just too cool. This book is for everyone who really wanted to like Green Street Hooligans but just found the entire idea of Frodo being a tough guy utterly laughable.
The author went along with football supporters to some big matches and infiltrated the hooligan crews of England and documented some truly incredible things. This is one of those books that once you read it, you know it is the authoritative text on the matter. That is, no one has ever or will e...more
The author went along with football supporters to some big matches and infiltrated the hooligan crews of England and documented some truly incredible things. This is one of those books that once you read it, you know it is the authoritative text on the matter. That is, no one has ever or will e...more
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Read in August, 2006
recommends it for:
football fans
Great book, Bill Buford delves into the lifestyle of a football hooligan by joining the ranks of the Manchester United Supporters Club. He travels the world and witnesses horrific violence and abuse along the way. Football Hooliganism has been pretty tame for probably around 10 years, and as this book is a bit older, it really describes the setting at the heart of the "movement." Very much worth your time if you care. "Lots of people think football is about life or death.....i...more
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Read in January, 2008
you should read this book if you want to read disgusting accounts of the very worst type of nationalism mixed up with sports and booze. or definitely read it if you want to hear about dispicable behaviour by british drunks in foreign lands.
there are good parts about the mentality of crowds and the way in which random crowd violence can occur but if you're not willing to wade through large amounts of the above mentioned crap they're not worth it... but if you are then it's not too bad.
there are good parts about the mentality of crowds and the way in which random crowd violence can occur but if you're not willing to wade through large amounts of the above mentioned crap they're not worth it... but if you are then it's not too bad.
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Read in January, 2005
You ever see the news when all of the sudden you see a story about viloent incidents at internatial soccer matches?
This American reporter, a non soccer fan, spent time in England getting to know first hadn what it feels like to be "Among the Thugs"
It was an entertaining read for those that have little knowledge of soccer's underculture. Also sheds light on the mentality of some soccer warriors.
A good book for when you are on a plane or have a long commute.
This American reporter, a non soccer fan, spent time in England getting to know first hadn what it feels like to be "Among the Thugs"
It was an entertaining read for those that have little knowledge of soccer's underculture. Also sheds light on the mentality of some soccer warriors.
A good book for when you are on a plane or have a long commute.
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