“Writing about sports, David Shields, implies, is a supplementary exercise. That's because writing is a poor substitute for doing-'the athletic aesthetic is always to assert that the ecstasies experienced by the body are beyond the reach of words,' Shields writes in the prologue to Body Politic-and because sports stories not only recount events but also participate in a process of mythmaking. While a newspaper's front section describes events that the reader usually has not witnessed (a fire downtown, a war overseas), the sports page recapitulates and elaborates on the previous night's game for someone who, as often as not, actually saw it. So what does the sports story add? Shields attempts to answer that question by critiquing sports-narrative forms, always remaining attentive to the edifices-of race, religion, nationality-they sustain. He elucidates superbly the paradox of sports coverage: although feats of the body seem to defy language, sports is nonetheless 'imprisoned by its prevailing rhetoric.' The ambition in these piercing essays is to discern the reality behind the rhetoric.” -- Daniel G. Habib, Sports Illustrated
“I loved this book. Shields is a wonder. Without ever losing the fan's infectious enthusiasm for games, he finds—in American sports—sex, race, geopolitics, and wisdom” -- Robert Lipsyte
“Body Politic is an extremely intelligent book. David Shields is our most interesting and necessary writer about sports.” -- David Guterson, author of Snow Falling on Cedars
“David Shields is a rare writer. In Body Politic, he brings together more stimulating ideas about sport and contemporary society than you'll find anywhere else” -- Rick Telander, author of Heaven Is a Playground
“David Shields offers us unique insights into the games we play, and how they fit into the warp and woof of American life. Body Politic is a great read, reflecting both the author's enthusiasm for sports and his disdain for the hype.” -- Kevin Baker, author of Dreamland
“Shields has carved out a singular place for himself as the poet of sports writing.” -- Regina Hackett, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“One of the very best books ever written about being American.” -- Fred Moody, author of Seattle and the Demons of Ambition: A Love Story
“Body Politic is a thoughtful look at sports in contemporary America.” -- Bill Reynolds, Providence Journal
“Shields does more than simply record wins and losses; he takes a serious look at how Americans views sports. [He writes] stylish prose.” --Publishers Weekly
“Perhaps the most intriguing chapter in the book dissects sports cinema, arguing that the universal theme of sports movies is Christian rebirth; even the most sophisticated film buffs will find nuances they overlooked in their viewing. If Shields has an agenda, he disguises it well; like the best teachers, he creates a sense of shared exploration with his readers. Highly recommended for sports fans looking for more than the daily box scores or the latest saccharine as-told-to sports biography.” -- Wes Lubowsky, Booklist
“A thinking person's collection of sports essays... pensive and shrewd... Shields [is] always stimulating.” --Kirkus Reviews
“…fascinating ruminations about success and failure, about America's racial divide, about family relationships, about so much else… He hooked me from the first page and never let go.” -- Steve Weinberg, Seattle Times
““In this remarkable book, Shields,…weaves personal anecdotes with examinations of individuals and trends in sports, particularly in regard to race, mass media, politics and history. To Shields, the narrative and drama of the playing fields and courts are as essential as anything from academia or the literary realm.” -- James K. Yu, Portland Oregonian
“Shields understands the tangled mess that is race relations in our big-time sports enterprises.” -- John Hoberman, Austin American-Statesman
“Like Charles Barkley, Shields is outspoken, controversial, and never dull.” -- Minneapolis Star Tribune
“An entertaining and edifying read.” -- Sam McManis, Tacoma News Tribune
“Shields uses his intellect to elevate mere games to case studies of the human condition. Body Politic looks at our national obsession with a critical eye too often missing in sporting periodicals.” -- Abilene (TX) Reporter-News
“…the essays in this book are all driven by the curiosity of their author, David Shields, and by his ability to build large and enlightening conclusions from thoughtful (if sometimes risky) observations…he writes like a man who is convinced that he has discovered an inexhaustible subject…He is especially intriguing when he explores those circumstances where the worst thing an athlete can do is think. Unlike a lot of writers who have tried too hard to draw life conclusions from the games they watch, Shields suggests connections and then steps away to see if they'll stand…” -- Only a Game, NPR
“…his writing is loose, informative, and smooth.” -- Library Journal