Fans: How Watching Sports Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Understanding

by Larry Olmsted

The New York Times bestselling author of Real Food / Fake Food delivers a highly entertaining game changer that uses cutting-edge research to show us why being a sports fan is good for us.    

There are thousands of books about sports. This book is about sports fans. Citing fascinating new studies on sports fandom, Larry Olmsted makes the case that the more you identify with a sports team, the better your social, psychological, and physical health is; the more meaningful your relationships are; and the more connected and happier you are. Fans maintain better cognitive processing as their gray matter ages; they have better language skills; and college students who follow sports have higher GPAs, better graduation rates, and higher incomes after graduating. And there’s more: On a societal level, sports help us heal after tragedies like 9/11 and the Las Vegas mass shooting, providing community and hope when we need it most. Even now, the greatly altered games during the COVID-19 pandemic provide socially distanced joy. Illustrated with lively drawings throughout, Fans is the perfect gift for anyone who loves sports or anyone who loves someone who loves sports.  

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Sociology, Audiobook, Psychology

320 pages, Hardcover

Published March 2, 2021

Reviews

[Bill Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great book, probably could have been an article. Strange structure where he described himself making the book’s arguments to a friend while skiing. The evidence and points he made were good though

[Perry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was skeptical about this book's premise - that being a sports fan is good for a person's health - going in, and wholly unconvinced by its arguments. I've seen sports fandom warp reality and be generally not helpful. If sports are the new church, I'll politely say "no thank you."

[Elizabeth Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great. There were a couple points where I was like… ok dude calm down (especially since the framing device is like let me explain why sports are good to this WOMAN) but for the most part this was a really informative and moving collection of anecdotes and evidence for why participation in sports fandom is good for your life, and I have to say I agree!

[Jeremy Anderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Being a fan seems more than anything else to be a matter of managing responses to things one can’t control. Sports fans are inclined to respond to reminders of mortality with optimism, and to remember victories much more clearly than defeats. There are surely worse ways to live.”

Few books have been as unexpectedly fun for me as Larry Olmsted’s bingeable new book, Fans. The premise caught my attention right away, and it was the heartfelt combination of psychological research and powerful conversations that kept my attention.

Interestingly, Olmsted himself is not much of a sports fan, but he’s enamored with the idea of fandom—that unceasing devotion to a team which inspires the roller coaster of unmatched feelings of elation and despair.

I was actually hesitant to buy into Olmsted’s claims, but you can’t really argue with facts. Being a fan forges and fosters true community, offers normalcy in the face of chaos and tragedy, creates all-important foundational rituals, encourages physical activity, enhances cross-generational relationships and long-distance friendships, and offers a healing balm to hurting communities. Olmsted movingly covers the return of baseball after 9/11, the Astros’ championship after Hurricane Harvey, the Saints’ championship after Hurricane Katrina, the Golden Knights’ success after the Las Vegas shooting in 2017.

There is a multi-layered dark side to fandom too, which Olmsted addresses: is there any moral downside to being a sports fan? The NFL, in particular, went through some controversy with concussions a few years back (which has, remarkably, been greatly improved by helmet technology) and ongoing sexual and domestic assault problems. How is a fan to weigh those things against the benefits?

Most of all, Fans gave me the freedom to lean into my sports fandom. As Olmsted notes early on, fans are generally given short shrift. In pop culture, they’re always portrayed as bumbling bros and intellectually shallow. Anyone with any semblance of sophistication or intelligence couldn’t possibly be a die-hard, jersey-wearing fan. That just ain’t reality though.

As much as they pain me, I love my Minnesota Vikings. Though kids inevitably take time away from watching hours of games on Sundays, I eagerly follow their every move and can’t help but love the fantasy season (for baseball too). If you’re a sports fan, this is a must read. If you’re skeptical about sports in general, Fans may help you better understand folks like us.

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would’ve been a great article.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not particularly well-written (the book as conversation with friend just wasn’t for me), I did find some of the research to be fascinating. Being a fan of a team is similar to belonging to a religious group, the author posits, and he also explains the mental and physical health benefits of being a fan. I liked that he addressed the dark underbelly of sports (what do we do when a member of “our team” is caught committing a violent or reckless act) and how fantasy sports has reduced the hatred of rival teams that was sometimes extreme. A light read for team sports fans (he doesn’t really address individual sports like golf, tennis, etc.).

[gianina · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Fans” makes some interesting points and tells some good stories but Olmsted’s argument for sports fandom is far from airtight. It often strayed into the topic of the impact of sports on people and society rather than the impact of sports fandom per se. It’s also written in a weird structure, via narration of a conversation he had with a friend about the book he was writing - unnecessarily meta.

[Mike Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories and other peoples' ideas on fans, but that is about it. Clearly written by a journalist, not a nonfiction author or scholar. Nothing really wrong with it, but very superficial.

[Angelena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting information in this book, but the structure kind of ruined it for me. It's basically set up as a conversation the author had with a female colleague on a ski trip. It came off as condescending and "mansplaining," which I found irritating as a female sports fan.

[Jennifer Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read if you: Want an entertaining look at the ways being a sports fan enhances lives.

Librarians/booksellers: Purchase for your general sports section, epecially if you are in a large market for team sports.

Many thanks to Algonquin Books and Edelweiss for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Budd Margolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compared to most of what society has to offer today, following a sports team, or several, is a healthier activity. The author provides 4 films that make fans look evil or bad but there are also several that show the positives such as Field of Dreams?

Fans perform better. They are more active and have a higher cognitive ability which is easy to understand. If you follow a team then you are applying g a great deal of thought into strategy, personnel evaluation, statistics and many other permutations.

Study after study, across the world, and the impact of the Make A Wish foundation provides the benefits. And sports teams have been known to rise up to support their communities in troubling times.

And when cities have faced disasters and tough times such as the Vegas concert mass shooting, a brand new franchise NHL team could make it to the finals and rally citizens behind sport. From Mandela, Robinson, Ali, Jabbar and the Pope, sports can make social and civil rights change for the better.

I am disappointed, a fan of all Cleveland sports teams win or lose, that the legend of Cleveland sports teams and fans were not mentioned nor the name change to Guardians for the MLB club. In 1947, only a few months after Jackie Robinson's major league debut, Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck signed Larry Doby, who became the first Black player in the American League.

Cleveland also hired Frank Robinson to manage the Indians in 1975, the first African American to manage a major league team.

The book misses some vital elements of sports and fans in Europe, Eastern Europe racism and other, many other issues. But, the book does draw some good points although this conversation during a ski holiday did seem a bit amateurish. Did the author really need to have that conversation to draw interested readers along? I found it quickly annoying.,

But still a good read and useful book.

[Dave Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a hold of an Advance Review Copy of this one from a local indie bookstore (Inkwood Books in Haddonfield, NJ), which is a treat in and of itself. As someone who likes and follows sports but doesn't have an athletic background or rooting interests that have been passed down over the generations, sports fandom has always been an object of curiosity for me, particularly because my own favorite teams have shifted over the years due to geography, marriage, personal whims, etc. The overall frame of the story - the author barraging a personal friend who's indifferent to sports and sports fandom with studies and findings during a day on the ski slopes - seems like a bit of a stretch, as worthy and interesting as the info he shares might be. My other quibbles are with things that might have been fixed pre-publication (this was in an ARC after all): Cal Ripken's name being spelled wrong, weird repetition of attributions and accomplishments, etc. The section on sports and attitudes toward race and civil rights were very compelling (there can never be enough praise for Jackie Robinson and Bill Russell, among other pioneers), and because the book is so recently authored, the reflections on the absence of sports during the pandemic are fresh and relevant. Recommended for sports die-hards and skeptics alike, as well as for in-between, hard-to-pin-down weirdos like me.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good summarizes a lot of ideas I had about being a sports fan and it’s positive benefits on our lives.
The main idea is that sports gives you a sense of belonging that we lack in other areas of our society nowadays since we really are still tribal creatures. Sports creates tribes in a way that we can feel a part of locally and even nationally. The author tells how it affects our cognition and brain because of the critical thinking involved in watching the game. There is info on superstitions where fans feel like they can affect outcomes by their actions whether it is eating a certain food or wearing a certain jersey. What was also interesting is that sports provides live entertainment nationally or locally that you can’t find in other TV programming nowadays that is so disjointed and found on demand to watch at any time. Sports is unscripted so that is what makes it the ultimate form of entertainment. These facts and many more were shared in this book so I don’t see why you wouldn’t pick up a copy for yourself and for every sports fan in your life to remind them how being a fan does indeed make you happier and healthier and less lonely !

[Sergio Portesan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olmsted provides a Socratic explanation of the importance and value of sports across a multitude of domains, anchoring his explanations in a conversation with a friend on a ski trip who questioned the significance of sports.

The book is easy and enjoyable to read, with short chapters that explore a variety of realms to varying degrees. The analysis is pretty simple overall, and is mostly anecdotal (although well-researched). I didn’t feel he did full justice to sex or LGBTQ in sports, with overly-simplified explanations that glossed over more challenging realities. The chapters on race, South Africa, and Las Vegas were particularly compelling even if they did paint in broad strokes. Interesting facts from a variety of studies are peppered throughout.

All in all, an easy and light read that met the mood of traveling to Oakland for the last A’s home game. It didn’t provide many meaningful takeaways that will stick with me, but did provide some feel good explanations of the power of sport.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a lifelong fan of several sports and grew up, much like the author, being taken to games by my parents who aren't really that into sports on their own. I am primed to accept the idea that sports fandom is a good thing, so I probably didn't read the book with a critical eye, but I don't know why anyone who hates sports would read a book about being a sports fan anyway. I appreciate the point that being a sports fan might help foster resilience and focusing on the positive, two things I don't come by naturally. I'm thankful for sports and what they mean to my family and me and can't complain about even anecdotal "evidence" showing benefit from that.

My main criticism is that the entire book being presented as a drawn out conversation with Dr. Kristie was a bit strange.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version and it was read well. Maybe 4 1/2 stars instead of 4.

Detailed discussion of what it means to be a fan the the positive things it does for you. Social (easy to make friends), mental (hope and acceptance, in game analysis), and physical (encourages you to participate.)

There are also negative things that might happen, such as an unhealthy and intense dislike for the opposition. On the plus side, it creates a social environment that promotes healthy discussion and relating shared experiences.

I'm glad I listed to it. Perhaps a little long for my liking, but still well done.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was entertaining overall but I was somewhat disappointed with it. The odd format, with the author defending his thesis to a ski friend, did not work for me. I do think the author showed some balance by mentioning some of the darker sides of fandom, but one he missed IMO is the toxic competitiveness displayed by many parents in youth sports. On a positive note, the author does hit the mark with his description of how college and pro sports fans put aside their differences when they don the home team jersey. The chapter on fan rituals was hysterical and very relatable. Overall I would recommend it to others as a "to read" but not a "must own".

[Marc Brueggemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite read of the year so far. Larry Olmsted discusses the psychology of sports and sports fans. From how sports unites and heals communities and nations to how fantasy sports helps friends keep in touch. Sports can give huge psychological benefits as well as physical benefits as well. Sports can also motivate one to exercise or participate in the sport they are watching, ex. rowing and curling as an example. Sports and politics also have a huge role, as sports can bring change in society as well. Please check this book out, and enjoy any sport you watch as well as enjoy the discussions of sports with your fellow fans as well as your family.

[Eric Dansart · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reminder of what more sports can be than just the action on the playing surface and how we learn to love something more than ourselves.

Feel like most people who are already sports fans have had conversations amongst themselves about every topic in this book.

I do think the book loses some steam in the second half and gets a tad repetitive. I also think the author likes to paint sports as a fix-all to every ailment. While that can be true, I do think some the negative aspects are painted over. And this coming from a huge sports fan.

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every sports fan who has a doubting friend should read this and then have their friend read this. Written from the perspective of the author attempting to convince his friend, while skiing, of the value of sports fandom. The psychological aspects of fandom and the positive effects were very well presented and interesting, especially when focused on the effects of fandom in South Africa, China and the Middle East. Definitely worth the time.

[Paul Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

You're either wired to be a sports fan or not. I am very wired for such so this book is like giving candy to a kid... pretty easy win. The question is not why one becomes a fan but the benefits of being one - identify, resilience, tolerance... Easily provable premise that I'd have preferred to experience as an article on The Athletic rather than a book.

[Ben Sicnolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised this doesn't have better reviews. It's a look at how being a sports fan makes people happier and healthier and combines anecdotal stories, as well as scientific studies.

A few chapters didn't feel relevant to me, but overall, I thought this book was great and definitely agree that being sports fans makes us better people.

Go Flyers.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-proclaimed Socratic, this book offers interviews and information in dialogue format relating to fans of all sports and how they are better persons overall because of their relationship with the game. While not surprising, the insight offered is relevant to me, so I enjoyed this easy read.

[Tiffany Faw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting and a fast read. I highly doubt a non sports fan would read this and be convinced of what the author claims, but you never know. I think the overall point that author was trying to make was pretty correct and there are statistics to back up his theories.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great look at a wide range of positive impacts that sports fandom has on individuals and communities. Interesting and well-researched.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Latricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a really interesting look at fandom. I've always been facinated by both psych and sociology. While this work isn't academic, I felt the same interest in how our minds and society works when reading this as I did in my long ago college classes.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - makes some good points but really just a summary of a lot of articles, nothing ground breaking. I probably rated it higher at a 3 over a 2 because I am a sports fan though so I guess he was onto something..

[Jim Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stars if you’re already a team sports fan - some pretty interesting and some lighthearted observations. One star if you’re not - why bother. Four for me - Go Browns!!

[Jason Gewirtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview of the benefits of being a fan.

[Robert Natale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating topic. Could have been a great magazine piece. Very much overdone as a book.