Customer Reviews
Not so much a book, more a collection of essays... - By: GJ, 12 Jun 2008 
...but thoughtful & interesting ones, nonetheless.
Although the book is called "What Sport Tells Us About Life", it might, equally, have been called "What Life Tells Us About Sport", since Smith takes philosophy, sociology, history, statistics, political science, economics, psychology & more besides & uses them to analyse sporting situations. Or, to look at it another way, he uses sporting situations to illustrate "real world" concepts.
So, although this will be classed as a "sports book", one doesn't need to be a sportsman to enjoy it & it would sit better with the popular non-fiction books. Several examplesin the book are taken from baseball & basketball - sports about which I know little - & they are as interesting & enjoyable as the rest of the book.
Smith is clearly a very intelligent man & there are times when he achieves moments of real insight into situations. Umpires Darrel Hair & Billy Doctrove infamously docked Pakistan 5 runs for ball-tampering during their test match at the Ovalin 2006, leading to Pakistan refusing to continue with the game. Smith brilliantly sums this up as the umpires thinking they were giving a speeding ticket whilst the Pakistan team felt they'd been accused of drunk-driving.
The writing style is very easy to follow, lively & witty, making the book all the more enjoyable to read. Intentionally or not, Smith also reveals quite a lot about himself. He has interesting views on politics & economics: whilst writingin praise of the free market (at least as far as sportspeople are concerned) & suggesting that the free-spirited West Indian cricketers that C L R James so admired provided a counter-argument to James's Marxist beliefs, Smith also suggests that there may be a case for more taxation on higher earners. My favourite chapter was also the most personal: "When Swansea Feels Like Cinema Paradiso" is a highly affecting evocation of fading glory & a wonderful piece of writing.
The individual essay nature of the book makes it a little disjointed & despite the title, there is not very much feel of an overarching theme. One or two chapters, particularly "What Do People See When They Watch Sport", feel like they were just putin to pad the book out, without really addressing any interesting themes developed elsewherein the book. Essentially the chapter consists of highlights of interviews with four successful people; the sort of things which tend to appearin brief "pen pictures"in the weekend newspaper supplements. Perhaps they need a book of their own, so that the subjects may be probed more deeply.
Allin all, though, the book is interesting, thought-provoking & well-written & will not just be of interest to the die-hard sports-lover.
so much more than......... - By: J. Bulmer, 28 Mar 2008 
I've not been interestedin writing a book review before, but having read Ed Smith's book since hearing his interview on BBC radio last Saturday, I want to record my impressions.
Its more than a sport book, you don't need to be interestedin sport.
Its not a psychology book, but it helps you to think about how others think.
Its not a business book, but helps you to reflect how people work together or as individuals.
It might even not be a book; it seems a series of essays. You can read at a breathless pace desperate to find out what Smith thinks of Zidane, or you can read & linger on fabulous prose.
I smiled wryly on many occasions, when Smith clarified for me, many of those debates I've had & heard over the decades, my self-reflection being "yes of course" & "why couldn't I see that".
I could write more, but I'm going to read it again, I'm sure I'll read it differently this time.
Delightful yes. Highly recommended yes.
