About the book

In Body Politic, David Shields looks at contemporary America and its mythology through the lens of professional and college sports. The result is an unusually insightful and provocative book about an empire in denial. Shields relentlessly examines the way we tell our sports stories (both fictional and nonfictional), considers the kinds of athletes we choose as heroes, and delineates the lessons and values we glean from sports. He explores the intricate and telling relationships between players and coaches, black and white players, immigrant and native players, male and female players, players and broadcasters, players and fans, and players and advertisers. In the process, he shows us the stories we Americans tell ourselves about the kind of people we believe ourselves to be.

Praise

“[Shields is] one of the most necessary, if discomfiting, commentators on American sports today. . . . he patiently lays out the various elements of athletic myth that come wrapped seamlessly around other signature American obsessions.” —Chris Lehman, Washington Post

“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. Grade: A.” —James K. Yu, Portland Oregonian