{"product_id":"something-like-the-gods-a-cultural-history-of-the-athlete-from-achilles-to-lebron-9781609611231","title":"Something Like the Gods: A Cultural History of the Athlete from Achilles to LeBron","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lively  literary exploration of one of the Wests most iconic cultural figuresthe athlete  Why is the athlete so important to us? Few public figures can dominate the public imagination with such power and authority. Even in our cynical times  when celebrities can be debunked at the speed of light  many still look to athletes as models for our moral and emotional lives. An aging fastballer goes for a few last wins in his final season  and he becomes an exemplar for our daily struggles against time.  A top golfer cheats on his wife  and his behavior sparks a symposium on marital fidelity more wideranging than if the lapse had come from a politician or religious leader.  Drawing from art  literature  politics  and history  Something Like the Gods explores the powerful grip the athlete has always held on the Western imagination. Amidon examines the archetype of the competitor as it evolved from antiquity to the present day  from athlete-warriors such as Achilles and Ulysses to global media icons like Ali  Jordan  and Tiger Woods.  Above all  Something Like the Gods is a lyrical study that will appeal to anyone who has ever imagined themselves in the spikes  boots  or sneakers of our greatest athletesor wondered why people do.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45646936440885,"sku":"ByrdShop_1609611233","price":34.43,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781609611231.jpg?v=1781682246","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/something-like-the-gods-a-cultural-history-of-the-athlete-from-achilles-to-lebron-9781609611231","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}