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A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron
Rodale
June 2012
On Sale: June 5, 2012
256 pages
ISBN: 1609611233
EAN: 9781609611231
Kindle: B0081L599W
Hardcover / e-Book
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Non-Fiction Sports
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.
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