Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron Book PDF, ePub eBook

Join our eBook service for unlimited books & audiobooks. Get a free 7 day subscription! ↓↓↓↓↓


Book Descriptions:

A lively, literary exploration of one of the West's most iconic cultural figures―the athlete

Why is the athlete so important to us? Few public figures can dominate the public imagination with such power and authority. Even in our cynical times, when celebrities can be debunked at the speed of light, many still look to athletes as models for our moral and emotional lives. An aging fastballer goes for a few last wins in his final season, and he becomes an exemplar for our daily struggles against time.

A top golfer cheats on his wife, and his behavior sparks a symposium on marital fidelity more wideranging than if the lapse had come from a politician or religious leader.

Drawing from art, literature, politics, and history, Something Like the Gods explores the powerful grip the athlete has always held on the Western imagination. Amidon examines the archetype of the competitor as it evolved from antiquity to the present day, from athlete-warriors such as Achilles and Ulysses to global media icons like Ali, Jordan, and Tiger Woods.

Above all, Something Like the Gods is a lyrical study that will appeal to anyone who has ever imagined themselves in the spikes, boots, or sneakers of our greatest athletes―or wondered why people do.

Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron by Stephen Amidon

From reader reviews:

Valerie Hemming:

The book Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron can give more knowledge and also the precise product information about everything you want. Exactly why must we leave the great thing like a book Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron? Some of you have a different opinion about guide. But one aim that book can give many info for us. It is absolutely appropriate. Right now, try to closer along with your book. Knowledge or details that you take for that, you are able to give for each other; you can share all of these. Book Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron has simple shape however, you know: it has great and massive function for you. You can look the enormous world by open up and read a guide. So it is very wonderful.

Linda Enders:

Do you have something that that suits you such as book? The book lovers usually prefer to decide on book like comic, small story and the biggest one is novel. Now, why not trying Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron that give your pleasure preference will be satisfied by reading this book. Reading addiction all over the world can be said as the method for people to know world better then how they react to the world. It can't be mentioned constantly that reading routine only for the geeky person but for all of you who wants to always be success person. So , for all of you who want to start reading through as your good habit, you are able to pick Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron become your starter.

David Hester:

Your reading sixth sense will not betray you, why because this Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron book written by well-known writer who knows well how to make book that may be understand by anyone who all read the book. Written throughout good manner for you, leaking every ideas and creating skill only for eliminate your current hunger then you still uncertainty Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron as good book but not only by the cover but also with the content. This is one guide that can break don't determine book by its deal with, so do you still needing yet another sixth sense to pick this particular!? Oh come on your looking at sixth sense already said so why you have to listening to an additional sixth sense.

John Rivera:

What is your hobby? Have you heard which question when you got pupils? We believe that that question was given by teacher for their students. Many kinds of hobby, Everyone has different hobby. So you know that little person such as reading or as looking at become their hobby. You should know that reading is very important and book as to be the thing. Book is important thing to add you knowledge, except your teacher or lecturer. You find good news or update about something by book. Different categories of books that can you choose to use be your object. One of them is actually Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron.