Among the Thugs
Bill Buford is best known these days for his bestseller Heat : An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany (a book I plan to read soon), but I first became acquainted with his writing earlier this year with his firsthand account of English soccer hooligans, Among the Thugs.
In the book, Buford descends into the hooligans' culture, attending games and even becoming accepted into their groups. The book not only covers his own experiences, but he also delves into the history of British football violence. The writing is sharp, and Buford puts himself into many awkward (and personally dangerous) situations. Less about soccer and more about the mob mentality, The book is fascinating.
