This book involves the constructs of sport, nationalism, globalization, and national identity. The book begins with a summary of sport and nationality. With such topics as politics, unionism, and change, the author seems to explore every aspect of sport, nationalism, globalization, and national identity. The author acknowledges that sport, nationalism, and nationality are all bonded together. Former British Prime Minister, John Major, had claimed that cricket was an English sport. However, Bairner raises the issue of whether or not people who play cricket are therefore supporters of England. The book then begins a recollection of his childhood. Also in the introduction, the author discusses his experiences with national identity and sport. He discusses how important soccer was to his realization of the importance nationalism, national identity, and sport are to the world. He speaks of how soccer unified some parts of Scotland, while splitting others. Chapter one gives an overall description of national identity, globalization, and sport, while chapters two through seven discuss the issues by various regions of the world.

In Chapter 1, the author provides examples of some of the symbols of civic pride. Bairner discusses how emblems and colors can cause pride and, in some instances, violence. He also analyzes how sport may be used to globalize the world, and speaks of how politicians and everyday citizens alike choose sport as a means of relating to each other and conducting business.

Bairner also notes that, at times, nationalism inadvertently resists globalization because people of a nation have too much pride to support other nations. Chapter two begins the breakdown of nations by using England and Scotland as examples. The remaining chapters follow suit by using England, Ireland, Sweden, the United States and Canada.

Chapter 2 provides a glimpse into Ireland and how sport affects basically every aspect of the country. In politics, the author gives an account of how politics have changed since the 1960s and how sport has improved relations there. He also discusses how sport can be used to globalize nations such as Great Britain and Ireland.

Chapter 3 gives as idea of how Scotland uses sport to unify their nation although it tends to work against the globalization aspect of sport. Also, according to Bairner, Scotland gave the world the gift of golf and made rugby as popular as it is today.

Chapters 4 and 5 go on to discuss Ireland and the United States. The chapters give a history of the nations and how sport affects nationality. In the nation of Ireland, the author believes that there is no problem in actually stating that nationalism and nationality actually exists. In the United States, sport plays a major role in the economy, business, and every other aspect of life in the nation.

Chapter 5 also provides a glimpse of the influence that Native Americans had on sport. Some of the mascots from professional teams still reflects their influence: the Cleveland Indians, the Washington Redskins, and the Atlanta Braves.

In Chapter 6, Bairner discloses thoughts about hockey, lacrosse and football. The author also conveys the Americanization of football in Canada. The author discusses the fact that football and ice hockey are the only two sports that have remained Canadian.

The author also discusses how important ice hockey is to Canada as a nation. Chapter 7 provides a good discussion on sport in Sweden. Skiing is the sport that is showcased in this chapter. The Swedish have a long history of skiing prominence. In Chapter 8, Bairner uses a more analytical or theoretical approach to summarize what has been discussed throughout previous chapters of the book. He also provides a rather sketchy analysis of national identity, nationalism and globalization.

While this book held the reader's attention for short periods of time, it provided several lulls. It can serve as a good reference for those who wish to understand the way in which nationalism, national identity, globalization, and sport are intertwined. The book, while thorough and useful in examples of various nations to substantiate the author's point, requires substantial concentration on the part of the reader. Anyone who wishes to get an understanding of how sport can be utilized to unify a nation, and, unfortunately, divide a nation, will find this text of interest.