How Soccer Explains The World

With the 2006 World Cup just around the corner, I've been re-reading Franklin Foer's excellent book. I rate it among the best travel books I have read, period. Each chapter takes you through a country's soccer scene, and through Foer's insightful writing, you learn a lot about the country itself. I enjoyed each chapter, but a few especially standout: Italy, Brazil, Serbia, Iran, and England.

Foer fills each chapter with interesting and funny observations. You will learn a lot about how each country works and the writing will engage you, regardless of whether you know soccer or not. Even if you are not a travel book reader, I still recommend you read it. It is that good!