As a result of my uncontrollable need to do everything Ira Glass tells me, I have started reading Among The Thugs by Bill Buford. So far, Ira Glass has not disappointed me.
Among The Thugs is a look into the world of soccer hooligans. Bill Buford is an American journalist who stumbles into this culture of riots, rebellion, and rabble-rousing of certain types of British football (soccer for you Americans) fans. I am blown away by the writing style of this book. Not only does it possess great storytelling qualities in every crazy soccer match he reports on, it also delivers this very compelling argument for humanities need for violence. It is in these moments that his writing is at its strongest. Because of this, anyone would enjoy this book. You really don't need a background knowledge of soccer (or sports in general) to appreciate this message.
The timing of this book is key. This book was released shortly after some of the most tragic incidents in sporting history, all of which involved soccer fans. The most notorious of these incidents was The FA Cup Semifinals between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The match was held in Hillsborough stadium in England, and within six minutes the matched was brought to a halt. As the dust settled on this day, there would be 96 people left dead. I recently watched a game held in Hillsborough Studium where Chelsea fans began singing to the Liverpools fans, "You're murders, you're murders" during a moment of silence held for the 96 people who had died in 1989, which goes to show that nothing has really changed when it comes to soccer fan behavior since the release of this book.
Ultimately, Bill Buford is making an argument for how crowd violence so easily escalates, and he pin points moments that trigger changes in crowd behavior. In one case, he shares his experience in Italy watching a World Cup match between England and the Netherlands. Prior to the match, there is a huge buzz about the city because everyone can sense that something is going to happen. Both teams are notorious for having extremist fans. The author had been informed that there would be a march to the stadium at 6:00 p.m., so he decides to join in on the march. I love the way he describes the events that unfold in this chapter. When the city bells ring to signify that it is 6:00, everyone looks around waiting to see who will initiate the action. Listen to how Bill Buford describes this, "And then somebody - someone I didn't recognize and who didn't seem to be know by the others - stepped out into the main street. He stepped out conspicuously, in a manner that said: the march will now commence." He goes on to explain that all it takes is one person to be brave enough to commit and others will shortly follow. This reminded me of dances we would have back when I was in junior high school. Everyone was gathered on the sides of the dance floor, waiting for someone with enough courage to walk out with a member of the opposite sex and start dancing. Once that occurred, it seemed to give everyone permission to let their guard down and have some fun. This is an innocent example, but it illustrates the point. We behave differently when a crowd permits us to do so.
The style of this book reenforces the message very well. The book, at times, can be very crude and in your face. The author uses this to show how he gets caught up in the emotion of the moments. He becomes overcome by the crowd and it gives him the freedom to be vulgar and profane. He balances this tone out with many specific examples. This blend of logic helps to establish his credibility, and the fact that he was in attendance of most of these events solidifies his ethos. The intensity of the moments make this book a quick read. Even though I have never been in a sporting situation like the ones described in the book, the writer makes it very relatable to all types of readers. I hope you give this book a chance; I think you will appreciate what it has to say.
I give this book 4 1/2 out of 5 self--inflicted punches to the face.
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