Fascinating history of Spain's most famous clubs

What did you like most about Fear and Loathing in La Liga?

Not just for soccer fans.Well read and detailed account not just of the two clubs but of the recent social history of Spain told in terms of sport. Highly recommended for anyone interested in soccer and Spain in general.

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wonderous re-telling of football's biggest rivalry

incredibly detailed and intensely facinating tour of the two biggest titans in world football. stunning

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Excellent

A well researched, well read and engaging book. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in Spanish football. If you think you know about these two clubs think again. I did.

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Interesting content; infuriating narration

I love the Football Weekly podcast, on which Sid Lowe frequently features to talk about Spanish football. Like many others, I follow the Premier League and have a vague awareness of what goes on in Spanish football through the Champions League, but no in-depth knowledge and don't follow it week-to-week.

I found the content of the book really interesting - the historical politics behind the scenes in Madrid and Barcelona, the Galacticos, Barcelona's revitalisation in the last few years. But... something I hadn't noticed about Sid Lowe when he speaks on podcasts is his inability to pronounce "th". It may not seem like much, but every time he says 1993 as "nineteen-ninety-free", Bethlehem as "Beff-lee-hem", and so on, it jars. The book would certainly lose something if someone else was narrating this book: clearly the guy knows Spanish football inside-out, and slipping back and forth between Spanish and English phrases when describing quotes etc is seamless, but this really did drive me mad by the end.

That said, for any football fan familiar with the English game and wanting to become a bit more knowledgable about the big two in Spain, I would still recommend this as well worth listening to.

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More than a club? More than a book about football

This is one of the best football books I've read. I've learned more about the culture and history of Spain from reading this than I have from reading history books about the country. Brilliant. I was engaged from start to finish

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Far from a Lowe, Sid is super!

I thought I knew the Barca Madrid rivalry quite well already but this book takes it to another level. A lot of myths crushed. Great portrayals of Kubala and Di Stefano too! Sid's narration brings the story to life also. A must listen!

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Brilliant. Really balanced and interesting

Really recommend it! I didn't know a lot about the history of the El Classico, just the modern rivalry. This book informed what the precise wisdom is, but then the reality. Like Barca have not also grown Ballon d'ore winner's. And real were not always the big money spenders

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Dial Up Sid Lowe

Always one of the most insightful of sports journalists when he appears on Guardian Football Weekly, this book is a delight, especially in audio form. An interesting blend of football and history, it does not offer a comprehensive story of either but will leave the reader/listener with an incredible insight into how the two intertwine.

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Fear and Loathing in La Liga

If you could sum up Fear and Loathing in La Liga in three words, what would they be?

Comprehensive, interesting

What does Sid Lowe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He emphasizes on certain points that may be missing in the book. The fact it is narrated by the author comes across in the way he narrates the book

Any additional comments?

I haven't read the book yet, but since I signed up to audible and had the credits to purchase it I decided to do so. This book is a very interesting, comprehensive history of Real Madrid Vs Barcelona, covering their rivalry and also the history of each club, how they reacted to and dealt with the Spanish Civil War and other off-pitch issues, as well as the common flashpoints on the pitch, like Di Stefano's transfer, Mourinho, Figo and so on.I strongly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in either of these clubs or football generally.

Sid Lowe is a good writer in his various columns on Spanish football, and here he narrates his own book. This helps the audiobook emphasize key points - it feels like the audiobook is better because the author is narrating, rather than a narrator reading someone elses work.

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Not only La Liga fans, for any football fans.

Absolutely loved it, shame it finished so quickly. Fantastic research, writing and narration. The beginning and present of an epic rivalry.

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