Head in the Game: Sociocultural Analyses of Brain Trauma in Sport

Description: Head in the game brings together international scholars from multiple humanities, social science, and scientific disciplines to critically examine one of the most vexing issues in global sport: concussion. It argues that science and medicine alone cannot solve the concussion crisis: sociocultural factors must also be considered. This edited collection draws attention to the ways that social, cultural, historical, political, literary, philosophical, and legal factors have shaped the concussion crisis in sport. Head in the game is essential reading for those who want to understand how the concussion crisis came to be, and provides guidance for developing ethical and evidence-based solutions in the future.

Review Quotes:

'Head in the game provides illuminating insights that could come only from a diverse group of experts. Each chapter offers a nuanced analysis of oft-overlooked dimensions of sports concussion. Timely and important, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the cultural and social dynamics contributing to a health issue that is increasingly framed as a crisis in sport.'
Kathryn Henne, The Australian National University

'This essential collection harnesses expert insights to tackle one of sport's most pressing challenges. Each chapter reveals far-reaching impacts of concussion, extending beyond sport itself, emphasising the need for collaborative engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration among stakeholders. The editors have delivered a compelling collection that advances our understanding of this critical issue.'
Annette Greenhow, Faculty of Law, Bond University

'Head in the game' is a must for anyone truly invested in the bigger picture of brain injuries in sport. Sports concussion is more than just a medical concern, but rather a concern that is of an interdisciplinary nature involving social, historical, and cultural aspects across all sports at all levels. This book demonstrates the need for professionals across medical, humanities and social sciences to work together on solving the current "concussion crisis".'
Alan Pearce, Swinburne University of Technology

'Townsend et al. do a good job in the introduction of positioning the issue [of brain trauma] as a 'public concern'... This framing encourages readers to exercise a sociological imagination, showing that this issue is not a benign personal trouble of sport but impacts significant numbers of the public. The study of sport has long been marginalised in social science as non-serious business. Yet, sport is a hugely popular cultural practice, and the fact that many of the world's most popular sports entail brain trauma by the very rules of play, and people, particularly children, continue to be encouraged into participating in such sports is very serious business indeed.'
Sociology of Health and Illness