Best history book I ever read: How Soccer Explains the World

Franklin Foer's "unlikely theory of globalization" doesn't explain everything (like how to achieve world  peace), but I give him an A for effort.

  NOTE: This review was updated February 2017, 

as I realized this is STILL my favorite history 

(and soccer) book. I hope you check it out at 

a library or bookstore near you! 

I recalled much of it while enjoying the Women's World Cup, and like to think reading it helped to widen my world view. I think anyone who follows MLS here in the states - even peripherally - would appreciate this 2004 release, reissued in paperback in 2010.

Foer offers an interesting perspective on modern world history, using the beautiful game as his lens.

The author, editor-at-large for The New Republic,

"...takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shining a spotlight on the clash of civilizations, the international economy, and just about everything else." 

(I don't use back cover blurbs unless they're accurate. This one is.)

Foer knows and loves the game but doesn't let that get in the way of the story, which he wrote like a reporter, through interviews with thugs and stars and elected officials and wives and friends of thugs and stars and elected officials, an enviable amount of globe-trotting and other good old-fashioned research techniques.

The writing is smart and accessible (a delightful combination) and as timely today as when it was published, seven whole years ago. Foer also has a much better vocabulary than I do, which I always appreciate. I had to pull out my dictionary a few times (how often do you use the words inveigh, obeisance, or pogrom?) and found he wasn't just using a quarter word when a nickel word would do.

In short, I wish Foer had written my history textbooks; I think I'd have learned more. I highly recommend How Soccer Explains the World for those who have ever read anything else about futbol, as well as for anyone who appreciates fresh insight on global relationships and the world of sports.

As for Mr. Foer, I'm pretty sure he's hoping Barca has a shot at the next World Cup, and in the meantime, I hope he's working on another book. He's pretty good at his game.

Summer Reading & Activities for Kids

If your kids love history, science, and hands-on projects related to either (or both) hightail it to the HANDS-ON BOOKS blog for a slew of great recommendations from three award-winning authors.

If your kids' (or your) craftiness is a little less lesson-oriented, consider an origami book for rainy-day activities.

And even if your kids (or you) are neither crafty nor especially interested in art, I challenge you not to like The Art Fraud Detective by Anna Nilsen. A magnifying glass is attached to the beautiful book, which starts off as something like a Cyberchase episode, with a comic-book style two-page panel featuring a panicky call from the nightwatchman at the museum of art. Forgeries have been found in place of the museum's priceless paintings! It's up to readers (recommended for ages 7-10) to spot the differences and figure out which gang is responsible for which forgeries. Both of my kids and I have thoroughly enjoyed this gorgeous book - which is still in surprisingly good condition.

Because of its engaging quality, portability, and durability (the original magnifying glass is still attached to ours!) it's an excellent book to pack in the car and definitely worth the space even if you're packing for a plane trip.

Happy reading, all summer long!



discuss ----> do your kids like books that include activities? do you?

Reading Levels - Lexiles better than Grade Levels?

OK, in concept, the Lexile Framework for Reading sounds great. But in practice, it's ain't great yet. Why? Because only about 16 states are using it. If you're in one of those 16 states, lucky you. Maybe you understand what BR means and those letters lead you to books that are just right for your little readers.

I'm not so lucky. Fortunately, I just found Scholastic's Teacher Book Wizard page, which is better than a translation of the Lexile scale; it's an online tool that can quickly help you find books your child is likely to like, or challenge him, or both.

In case the link above isn't "live," here's the full url:
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewCustomSearchForm.do?RowsPerPageOptions=10&RowsPerPageOptions=50

If you've got kids, I bet you'll find it useful. Keep 'em reading!

PS: Thanks to Susanna Leonard Hill, award-winning author of Not Yet, Rose and several other children's books, for mentioning the confusion surrounding the Lexile Framework.

Summer Reading Recommendations for Kids

Every teacher tells you to keep the kids reading during the summer; every library has a program devoted to summer reading; you know it's important. But how?

How do you find the time, keep it fun, make it a habit, and challenge your children's reading skills? Please chime in with your suggestions and ideas!

Perhaps even more important: what hasn't worked for you? (That way we'll all know what not to do!)

To get things started, I'll throw my thoughts into the ring... such as they are:
  - Car time is reading time, or at least some car time. On trips of an hour or more, our rule is at least 30 minutes of reading/drawing for every 30 minutes of screen time.
  - Sadly, we don't make time to visit the library every week in the summer. But when we go, we stay ... we read in the comfy chairs, play with the puppets, and really enjoy the time there.
  - Reading logs don't work for us (me) either. I've got enough paperwork, thanks. In the summer I like to try some different titles, especially with a "cool" theme. (Try The Snowman for beginning readers.)

What has worked (or not) for you and your kids? Please share. When you're done with that book, of course. 

I Beat the Odds (review)

Welcome guest blogger Sandi Latimer!  Sandi reviews Micheal Oher's recently released I beat the Odds, the story behind the story The Blind Side.

I became acquainted with Michael Oher when I watched the movie The Blind Side, adapted from a book of the same name. I know that under these circumstances, there is usually more to the story than what I see on the big screen. 

While looking for the book The Blind Side, I came across another book, written by Michael Oher himself. I figured that would give me a lot more information.  What the movie didn't depict and often times can't depict was how did this child feel? Michael was one of about a dozen children of a woman on drugs. What do children do when their mother is using drugs and they have no place to sleep, no food in the house? What attitudes do they develop? Who is their role model? In I Beat the Odds, Oher describes how he hung out with friends at meal times or late in the day so the family would ask him to stay for a meal or spend the night. At school, his attendance and his grades suffered. When Children's Services became involved and whisked the children off to different homes, he also moved from school to school.  

In fact, he was in so many schools that he had a difficult time finding his records when he applied to Briarcrest School, the private school the Tuohy children attended. At Briacrest, Oher met the family that eventually adopted him. The movie depicts quite a bit about the emotional and legal process the Touohy family went through to make Oher a part of their family. I Beat the Odds tells the story from Micheal's point of view.

In his book, Oher writes that as early as seven years of age, he knew he wanted to be a professional athlete and began a study of the sports. He thought he would go into basketball; instead, he became an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens football team. 

But it wasn't until Oher and writer Don Yaeger were doing research for I Beat the Odds when Michael met with a woman from Children's Services and began to understand that what she had done a decade earlier was in the child's best interest, even though it required separating him from his mother and siblings. 

Oher encourages children in the situation he was in to steer away from the bad elements and set goals. Not only does he speak directly to children in the later chapters about how to live their lives, Oher also lists several places where adults can start to give assistance to these less fortunate children and help them have a better life.  

Oher is fortunate to have two families who share their love, only in different ways. He says he honors his mother and will always love her, but never did and never will condone her lifestyle.
- -
I Beat the Odds was published in 2011 by Gotham Books, a part of Penguin Group. DonYaeger is a former associate editor for Sports Illustrated and the author of 13 books.


Guest blogger Sandi Latimer is a long-time reader and journalist. She is a staff writer for a weekly newspaper in Columbus, Ohio, and volunteer coordinator at Green Lawn Park, Ohio's second-largest cemetery. She has been a member of Ohio Professional Writers (OPW) for more than 30 years and now serves as president of the organization. She recently published her first book, Poodle Mistress. 

A Dozen Books for Dad

My dad likes to read, and I love to discover books he might enjoy. But,  I have rotten luck. For my dad's birthday, I bought a copy of Laura Hillenbrand's latest, Unbroken. The good news: he loved it. The bad news: he'd just finished it. Well, at least I was on the right track. Even though the story wasn't exactly a "happy' one, he recommended it to some friends. 

So, I include it here as one of a dozen (or so) book recommendations for dads who might enjoy reading...

...a different perspective on WWII
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

...about the making of a family and a pro-athlete
The Blind Side --even better than the movie!-- or the newer, first-person account, I Beat the Odds, by Michael Oher and Don Yaeger.

...about modern history, from a unique perspective
How Soccer Explains the World by Franklin Foer

...or Hungarian history
The Book of Fathers will keep him flipping through 475 pages and 300 years of it.

...of the joy (and insanity) of parenting girls
What I Would Tell Her, a collection of 28 essays by fathers to and about their daughters. It's touching. Include a pack of tissues with this one.

...when he's not watching Comedy Central
Jon Stewart's Daily Show schtick is neatly packaged in two books - so far. Earth (2010) is the latest. What, dad already has it? Check the list of books/authors that have been featured on the hilarious show.

...to get ahead in their jobs
Leadership Energy by David Cottrell is one of the more, well, energized work-related books I've read. And at just over 100 pages, it can be toted along on a business trip without adding a lot of baggage.

...about things they'd do if only they didn't have jobs
The true account of three extremely rich (but otherwise normal...?) guys who climbed the world's seven tallest mountains, Seven Summits is an interesting story that's well told, largely because the rich climbers were smart enough to invite Rick Ridgeway along, a journalist who "got it right" according to the principles of the story, Frank Wells and Dick Bass.

...what Bill Cosby has to say about a dad's predicament
The inimitable Comedian's book Fatherhood ((c) 1987) is old but remains completely accurate. (Moms can read it too - I loved it!)

...and/or listening toNPR's unique storytellers
Try NPR's Sound Reporting or a similar audio version especially tuned to appeal to a father's ears, Driveway Moments for Dads

...the stereotypical dad-read-aloud-to-son book
If I Built a Car. Trust me, if dad ever played with Hot Wheels, he'll like this.

To all the dads out there: THANKS. And keep reading. (You're setting a great example.)

Walk this way, Dad (Save 25% for Father's Day!)

Does your dad like to hike? Should he (ahem) walk a little more often? The new edition of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland will show him where to go, tell him how to get there, and what to expect on the trail.

Now, just in time for Father's Day, use the promotional code - HIKECLEVELAND -  to save 25% off the book from Menasha Ridge Press.

Most of the hikes in the book average about three miles in length, and almost all of the descriptions include a turn-around point so you can create a shorter loop. Once he starts rolling, of course, Dad might enjoy the longer options.

All of the recommended treks are within Northeast Ohio...like the title says, all within a short driving distance of wherever you are in greater Cleveland.


If dad likes to hike outside of Cleveland, check out the 60 hikes series guidebooks available for 29 different metro areas. Check 'em all out here: http://www.menasharidge.com/pages.php?pageid=6)