Steve Almond is a writer, a thinker and a self-professed curmudgeon, and he's spent much of his professional life trying to cut through bullshit. From his upbringing by parents who partook in the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam movements, to a journalistic and fiction-writing career, to his recent book exploring the conflicted plight of the NFL fan, Steve has a history of brilliant gallows humor and avoiding easy answers.

 

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Steve Almond's football TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JdM4UNI3jY

Steve's book "Against Football": (www.amazon.com/Against-Football-Fans-Reluctant-Manifesto/dp/1612194915)

Steve's podcast: Dear Sugar Radio (http://www.wbur.org/series/dear-sugar)

The short story collection that changed his career: "The Voice Of America" by Rick DeMarinis (www.amazon.com/Voice-America-Stories-Rick-Demarinis/dp/0060974877)

Steve's short story collection that Chris mentions: "My Life In Heavy Metal" (www.amazon.com/Life-Heavy-Metal-Steve-Almond/dp/0802140130)

Chris's football novel that Steve mentions: "Slotback Rhapsody" (www.amazon.com/Slotback-Rhapsody-Novel-Christopher-Harris/dp/1466485566)

Steve's nonfiction book about music fandom: "Rock And Roll Will Save Your Life" (www.amazon.com/Rock-Roll-Will-Save-Your-ebook/dp/B0036S4E4Q)

"Our Band Could Be Your Life" by Michael Azerrad (www.amazon.com/Our-Band-Could-Your-Life/dp/0316787531)

"So You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star" by Jacob Slichter (www.amazon.com/Wanna-Rock-Roll-Star-Machine-Gunned/dp/0767914716)