Football and Philosophy

July 1, 2008
Vince Lombardiwho relished his undergraduate studies in philosophywould have loved this book. Where else can a reader find Lombardis own winning-is-everything approach to the gridiron assessed against the doctrines of Nietzsche and Marx? Where else will a defensive end blindsiding a quarterback prompt Kantian reflections on ethics? And where else does Augustines vision of rightly ordered love inform a critique of the civil religion practiced in American football stadiums? The19 contributors to this engaging volume bring strong academic credentials to their diverse analyses. But it is their intense love of the sport that will attract most readers. Typical football fans may pause before taking Epictetus or Aristotle as a guide to their favorite game. However, the insights here developed on the justice of a playoff system for college football, on the problems created by instant replay, and on the right criteria for selecting an MVP will make this a valuable book for anyone who engages in arguments about sports with a Lombardi-like desire to win.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)