Sport in America: From Wicked Amusement to National Obsession (book)

An excellent supplemental text for sport history classes This book brings to one volume 19 essays representing some of the best sport history research in the field today. Sport in America helps fill the gaps in American sport history literature and provides a balanced perspective by presenting a variety of methodological approaches to historical research. This affordable reader is primarily designed to supplement these widely used sport history texts: Benjamin Rader, American Sports: From the Age of Folk Games to the Age of Spectators Betty Spears and Richard A. Swanson, History of Sport and Physical Activity in the United States William J. Baker, Sports in the Western World Elliott J. Gorn and Warren Goldstein, A Brief History of American Sports Written by distinguished scholars, these high-quality essays focus on the changes and patterns of American sport during five distinct eras over the past 400 years. Readers will find topics such as the relationship between urbanization and sport; the role of women in sport; the influence of ethnic and racial groups in sport; the role of consumer culture in sport; and the interdependence among sport, physical education, and other health professions. Students and scholars will appreciate the variety of perspectives and the opportunity to explore the diversity of America's sporting past. AUDIENCE Supplemental text for sport history classes and reference for scholars in sport history CONTENTS Part I. The Pattern of Sport in Early America Introduction Puritans at Play?: Accusations and Replies, Allen Guttmann Gender and Sporting Practice in Early America, 1750-1810, Nancy L. Struna Suggested Readings Part II. Health, Exercise, and Sport in a Rapidly Changing Society, 1820-1870 Introduction Gouge and Bite, Pull Hair and Scratch: The Social Significance of Fighting in the Southern Backcountry, Elliott J. Gorn Sport and Popular Pastimes: Shadow of the Slavequarter, David K. Wiggins Embodied Selves: The Rise and Development of Concern for Physical Education, Active Games, and Recreation for American Women, 1776-1865, Roberta J. Park The First Modern Sport in America: Harness Racing in New York City, 1825-1870, Melvin L. Adelman Suggested Readings Part III. Sport in the Era of Industrialization and Reform, 1870-1915 Introduction The Country of the Young: The Meaning of Baseball in Early American Culture, Ronald Story Adopted by All the Leading Clubs: Sport