Book Reviews
Pioneer study of Scottish surfing – a modern classic
In Surfing and Modernity in the North of Scotland (Cambridge Scholars Publishing), Matthew McDowell discusses the existence and evolution of surfing in the north of Scotland. But this is also a history of the region itself, examining the possibilities and limits of surfing, sport, and other activities. In her review, sociology professor and surf scholar Kristin Lawler notes that the author is not himself a surfer and thus will not let us know how it feels to surf a reef break like Thurso, but his classic community study in sociology fills a massive gap in the surf literature concerning Scotland.
News
Call for Papers | 5th World Association for Sport Management (WASM) Conference 2026 | Cape Town, South Africa, March 3–6, 2026. Call ends May...
The World Association for Sport Management (WASM) is pleased to announce its fifth conference to be co-hosted by the North-West University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, at the Newlands Cricket Ground from 3 to 6 March 2026. The theme of the WASM 2026 conference is “Global Visions, Local Actions: Innovation and Sustainability in Sport Management.” The conference theme resonates with current industry trends that shape the practices and perspectives of sport management professionals and academics alike.
That Was The Week That Was, May 12–18, 2025
idrottsforum.org’s weekly newsletter gives you the past week’s on-site activities in your mailbox every Monday morning, in the form of a letter with a link to a web page presentation of new publications. Click below to access that page, which also offers you a chance to subscribe to the Monday morning mail in case you’re not already a subscriber. And do friends and colleagues a great favor by telling them about this invaluable and totally free service.
Public defence of doctoral thesis | A Multiverse of Talent – Contemporary Understandings of Talent in Swedish and German Elite Youth Football | Leah...
What is the meaning of talent? What do ancient people and the bible have to do with how we think about talent in the 21st century? And what happens when we deep-dive into the meanings and constructions of how talent is understood today? Does it mean anything at all? In her dissertation, Leah Monsees critically examines the contemporary constructions of talent in sports. Drawing from qualitative research of talent representations in German and Swedish contexts, Monsees explores talent understandings from a variety of angles.
