Futebol is sub-titled "The Brazilian Way of Life", and if any sport can truly be deemed to be such a thing for any country on the planet, then surely the sport must be football, and the country Brazil. Alex Bellos's study of football in Brazil, its history, its players, supporters and legends, works from the standpoint that Brazilian football is one the modern wonders of the world, "the beautiful game" being an art form in itself and a universally recognised trademark and brand. From such a view, he is able to entertain the reader not only with stories about great players and matches well known by the followers of world football, but also about the unique position of the game in the world's fifth largest country. Thus featured here are not only tales of Garrincha, Socrates and Ronaldo, of Flamengo and Fluminense, but also of football amongst the Indians of the Amazon, Brazilian footballers in the Faroe Islands and the story of the design (and designer) of the famous golden yellow Brazilian shirt, perhaps the most instantly recognisable icon in football anywhere. Where other books investigating the footballing culture of one country might have a more straightforward story to tell, Bellos uses this more eclectic approach. While the subjects of his observations are linked by the common threads of football and Brazil, he still captures magnificently the beauty, passion and the occasional absurdity of the world game in the world's number one footballing nation. --Trevor Crowe

"As beguiling, as surprising and as many-faceted as Brazillian football itself'

"The Brazilian's team sparkle may have been tarnished, but 'Futebol - The Brazilain way of life' is as beguiling as a garrincha dribble."

'Affectionate and shrewd ... full of intriguing sidelights on Brazilian popular culture; its hedonism, piety and wondrous absurdity'

'Magnificent ... Bellos has managed to perfectly capture the chaos and corruption and the romance and obsession'

'Hugely enjoyable account of a nation obsessed ... riveting stories behind the great players such as Pele, Garrincha and Ronaldo'

This is a fascinating story of a nation's love affair with football with a new introduction by Socrates and a new afterword by the author, illustrated with luscious colour photographs.

Alex Bellos is the correspondent for the Guardian and the Observer in Rio de Janeiro where he has lived and worked for four years. This is his first book.

2007-03-24 A gem of a book

This is quite simply one of the best football books you'll ever read.

Rather than a dry history of the game in Brazil, Bellos has attempted (and very much succeeded) to put across exactly why the country and its population is so obsessed with the beautiful game. If you're looking for Charles Miller and the growth of football in the country then look elsewhere. If you want an interesting and highly entertaining look at how football impacts every part of Brazilian life and culture then this is it.

You will find this hard to put down and out of the vast numbers of football books I've read this is up there with the very best. It's a gem.