Daniel DuBois opens his first solo monograph with an acknowledgment that his work was “born on the lectern and designed with students and teachers in mind” (3). That approach results in a compelling—if limited—assessment of American sporting heritage on the international stage. DuBois accepts that his work is not groundbreaking in itself but rather offers a condensed, rich tapestry drawn from the pioneering work of formative scholars in sport history, kinesiology, and sport journalism. His acknowledgments section paints a poignant picture of his intended audience when he thanks, by name, thirty-seven undergraduate students whose course feedback and participation shaped the construction of the work.
Each of his five body chapters—organized chronologically—closes with a brief case study of a singular athlete who embodied the changes and values described in the preceding chapter. The selected cases are undoubtedly the highlight of the work. The diversity highlighted through DuBois's choices clearly reflects the...
