The joy of sports: End zones, bases, baskets, balls, and the consecration of the American spirit

by Michael Novak

...an exhilarating exercise full of uncanny insights... --Publishers Weekly

Genres: Sports

Hardcover

First published May 1, 1976

About the author

Michael Novak is an American Catholic philosopher, journalist, novelist, and diplomat. He is George Frederick Jewett Scholar in Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute

Novak served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1981 and 1982 and led the U.S. delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1986.

In 1993 Novak was honored with an honorary doctorate degree at Universidad Francisco Marroquín] due to his commitment to the idea of liberty. In 1994 he was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.

Reviews

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novak evaluates sports from every possible vantage points.
The chapter entitled "The Metaphysics of Sports" is the best I have read on the topic.
Novak sees clearly how sports define the American psyche.

[wabbash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the original version (not revised), which ends before the LA'84 Olympics, must say that even though it sounds a bit outdated it keeps addressing timeless aspects of sports which can be applied to yesterday, today and tomorrow, even in Europe, where I am from. Can't wait to get a cheap copy of the "revised" edition.

Caveat: the book focuses on the football, baseball and basketball Holy Trinity of American sports. That said, it is mainly concentrated on baseball and football, not basketball. Don't be surprised if Kareem-Abdul Jabaar or Wilt Chamberlain appear as mere names, not main characters.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

More difficult to read than most sports books, but Michael Novak looks at sports from angles that I had never looked at before. A very interesting book.