Plot Summary

Among the Thugs

Bill Buford
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Among the Thugs

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1990

Book Brief

Bill Buford

Among the Thugs

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1990
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

England • 1980s

Publication Year

1990

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Among the Thugs by Bill Buford, the author explores the dynamics of mob behavior at UK sporting events, particularly focusing on the violence and social unrest associated with football. Through eight years of interviews and firsthand experiences from 1982 to 1990, Buford delves into the economic frustrations and community functions that drive often violent young, working-class men to engage in riots and hooliganism. Sensitive topics include violent imagery and racial hatred.

Gritty

Unnerving

Dark

Suspenseful

Informative

Reviews & Readership

4.3

10,455 ratings

80%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Among the Thugs by Bill Buford has garnered mixed reviews. Praised for its immersive journalism and vivid portrayal of football hooliganism, Buford's narrative is both gripping and unsettling. Critics, however, highlight its graphic violence and sometimes voyeuristic approach. Overall, the book is lauded for its raw honesty but criticized for lacking deeper social analysis.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Among the Thugs?

Fans of gritty, immersive journalism who enjoyed Hunter S. Thompson’s Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs or George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London will be drawn to Bill Buford’s Among the Thugs for its raw and vivid exploration of British football hooliganism.

4.3

10,455 ratings

80%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

England • 1980s

Publication Year

1990

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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