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Sports in America from Colonial Times to the Twenty-First Century

by Steven A. Riess
3 vols. Sharpe Reference: M.E. Sharpe. 2011. 1224p. ed. by Steven A. Riess. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780765617064. $349. Online: Sharpe Online Reference REF
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OrangeReviewStarRiess (history, Northeastern Illinois Univ.; Sport in Industrial America, 1850–1920) and other scholarly contributors open this set with seven essays covering sports in the United States in various eras, starting with Colonial pastimes and ending with the 1970s to today. The alphabetically arranged main entries, which list further-reading suggestions, include biographies and discuss business, social, legal, and political issues surrounding various sports and recreational activities. Readers will learn in the entry "Althea Gibson," for example, that the athlete was the first African American to play in international tennis competitions; from 1956 to 1958, she dominated women's tennis. "Croquet" explains that in 1890, the sport was banned in Boston owing to its association with gambling and drinking. Access is enhanced by a topic finder, and the extensive back matter includes a chronology; a list of institutions, organizations, and governing bodies; and a lengthy bibliography and index. Murry R. Nelson's two-volume Encyclopedia of Sports in America: A History from Foot Races to Extreme Sports (Greenwood, 2008) has a slightly different focus—the role of sports in history and how sports have been affected by historical events. BOTTOM LINE This readable set offers a comprehensive history of its topic, featuring factual information, analysis, and interpretation. It is highly recommended for reference collections serving sports enthusiasts and those interested in recreation and American history.—Patrick Owens, Central Washington Univ. Lib., Ellensburg
Gr 9 Up—Riess's comprehensive set focuses on the evolution and development of American sports and recreation and analyzes how sports have both influenced and been influenced by American society. Volume 1 opens with seven lengthy essays that discuss the role of sports and recreation from the colonial era to the present. They are followed by more than 350 alphabetically arranged, one- to eight-page entries that include biographies of noteworthy athletes, coaches and leaders, and histories of individual sports, recreational activities, and teams and franchises. Other entries cover the business of sports; events and competitions; leagues and conferences; sports media; social and ethnic groups; legal, social, and political issues regarding sports; and venues and facilities. Entries, which are all followed by further-reading suggestions and cross-references, provide enough detail to give readers a good overview of topics, and they analyze each topic's sports and social significance. Unfortunately, the occasional black-and-white photos and illustrations, with captions that repeat material found in the text, add little. Volume 3 includes a detailed chronology, a list of sports organizations, and an extensive index. This outstanding reference meets its stated objective of combining readable and accessible information about sports with a broader perspective that gives readers an understanding of how such activities have been an integral part of American culture, making it a wise selection.—Mary Mueller, formerly at Rolla Junior High School, MO
Reviewed by Mary Mueller , Dec 01, 2011
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