During my 12 hours in New Brunswick Saturday, I spent the weary hours on the train passing through bog and mill town reading Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life by Alex Bellos. I put off buying this book due to the amateur cover illustration which I am sorry to say I did not realize was the original sketch for what has become the most recognizable sports shirt in the world, the golden yellow with green trim of Brazil.    The author has helped set up a blog on soccer in Brazil which I hope will be the godsend I need to explain the incredible complexity of that country's league and cup structures.   Fox Sports World Canada may attract more of my time now.

I am lucky in life having a friend I have not spent enough time with for over a decade who grew up in Brazil and who infected me with the beautiful artful game through playing soccer with him in and after university. The book captures that love of play that is at the heart of the Brazilian approach to the game. It is both a history and social analysis of the game which provides insight into why and how Brazil plays the game differently from other nations.

A good read which is about as fine a thing as I can say about a book.