{"product_id":"how-to-watch-soccer-like-a-genius-nick-greene-9781419777172","title":"How to Watch Soccer Like a Genius: What Architects, Stuntwomen, Paleoanthropologists, and Computer Scientists Reveal about the World's Game","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA brilliant and entertaining deconstruction of the most popular sport in the world, just in time for the 2026 World Cup in North America, from the bestselling author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow to Watch Basketball Like a Genius\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter reading this fun book, you'll never look at soccer the same way again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eHow to Watch Soccer Like a Genius, \u003c\/i\u003e Nick Greene calls on a turf manager, an expert on color theory, and a landscape historian to understand the field itself, a paleoanthropologist to talk kicking, and an Anglican priest to explain schisms--how American football, soccer, and rugby could all develop from the field games of rowdy 19th-century British schoolboys.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGreene delves deep into what defines the game, how it developed, and what happens during a match's 90 minutes (and then some). His expert commentators include a domino toppler, a developmental neuroscientist, an art historian, a civil engineer, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlong the way, Greene reveals how understanding the hidden logic of the game--from the science of a perfect kick to the design of the pitch--can transform the way you watch, making every pass, play, and decision more meaningful. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the sport, this is a book that deepens your appreciation of what's happening on the field and why it matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the surface, soccer seems like the simplest of games: one ball, two teams, two goals, and (preferably) some grass. There's a reason it's the first team sport little kids learn to play. But the closer you look, the more you dig into the game's history, the more infinitely complex and complex the picture becomes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harry N. Abrams","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50058450337985,"sku":"9781419777172","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9781419777172.jpg?v=1773692011","url":"https:\/\/www.porchlightbooks.com\/products\/how-to-watch-soccer-like-a-genius-nick-greene-9781419777172","provider":"Porchlight Book Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}