Encyclopedia of Sports in America: A History from Foot Races to Extreme Sports [2 Volumes]

Marc Notes:
v. 1. Colonial years to 1939 -- v. 2. 1940 to present.;Bibl. ref. & index.

Biographical Note:

Murry R. Nelson is Professor of Education and American Studies at Penn State University. He is the author of Bill Russell: A Biography (2005) and Shaquille O'Neal: A Biography (2006).

Volume One, Colonial Years to 1940

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Timeline

Chapter 1. American Sports, 1607-1860

Chapter 2. American Sports, 1861-1889

Chapter 3. American Sports, 1890-1899

Chapter 4. American Sports, 1900-1909

Chapter 5. American Sports, 1910-1919

Chapter 6. American Sports, 1920-1929

Chapter 7. American Sports, 1930-1939

Volume Two, 1940 to the Present

Chapter 8. American Sports, 1940-1949

Chapter 9. American Sports, 1950-1959

Chapter 10. American Sports, 1960-1969

Chapter 11. American Sports, 1970-1979

Chapter 12. American Sports 1980-1989

Chapter 13. American Sports, 1990 to the Present

Resource Guide

About the Contributors

"This set provides an excellent overview of sports, with the major focus on the last century. . . . The text does a fine job of giving attention to each sport equal to the attention that sport received during a particular era. The book does a superb job on the role that sports play in American culture, and on the connection between sport and societal topics, e.g., ethnicity, race, media, law, politics, and scandals. . . . This encyclopedia is an exceptional resource for public and academic libraries."

Choice

"Bottom Line: Written for general readers, this set could easily fill a niche in middle school and high school libraries, as well as public libraries, particularly where research on sports history is a popular topic. Nelson's work does not replace general sports encyclopedias, but it makes a nice complement to sports information collections. Recommended for middle school, high school, and public libraries; these libraries might also want a copy for their circulating collections.' "

Library Journal

"Nelson (emeritus, education and American studies, Pennsylvania State U.) and 19 contributors offer a variety of insights and perspectives on the function of sports in American history and how historical events affected sports. The two-volume reference begins with the America's colonial years and continues to the present, from horse racing to stock car racing

and snowboarding. While the book contains a substantial amount of data, it is typically set in context of the society and culture of the period. For that reason, it also reflects the characteristics and nature of American society and its admirable and less than admirable traits. The book has a scholarly style, but is intended for the general reader."

Reference & Research Book News

"The editor and contributors offer a clear and useful overview of sports in American culture, aimed at general readers and students from high school through the lower-level undergraduate level. Recommended for public and school libraries."

Booklist

Sports and leisure activities serve as a mirror, allowing us to examine the attitudes and values of everyday people. This new reference explores the development and influence of sports in American culture, as well as how sports icons, commercial enterprises, organizations, sporting events, and even fan culture have changed from decade to decade and from era to era, from the foot races of colonial times to the extreme sports of today.

Each chapter focuses on key aspects of sports in American culture, including such topics as ethnicity, gender, and economics. Enhanced with numerous sidebars on the movers and shakers, key sporting trends, as well as the controversies that threatened to tear the sports world apart, this insightful reference is ideal for high school and college students who are interested in tracing the evolution of sports and American culture throughout the nation's history. Features include a timeline of important events, numerous photographs, and a bibliography of print and electronic sources for further

Review Citations:

• Library Journal 03/15/2009 pg. 128 (EAN 9780313347900, Hardcover)
• Choice 07/01/2009 (EAN 9780313347900, Hardcover)
• Booklist 09/01/2009 pg. 132 (EAN 9780313347900, Hardcover)
• Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2009 pg. 80 (EAN 9780313347900, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Nelson, Murry R

Murry R. Nelson is Professor of Education and American Studies at Penn State University. He is the author of Bill Russell: A Biography (2005) and Shaquille O'Neal: A Biography (2006).