The author journeys around the world to discover why basketball has become a global phenomenon, and learns that basketball has the power to define an individual, a culture, and even a country

Fall : founding myths, conflicting cultures (Almonte, Ontario : duck on a rock -- Lithuania : Forest brothers in short pants -- Poland : the sultans of Zloty -- Switzerland : please do not air your dirty laundry -- Celebration, Florida : communities of three -- Italy : strength vs. virtue -- Sarajevo Airport : prisoners of war -- Bosnia : the woman who sells men) -- Winter : the American game and her far-flung offspring (Peoria, Illinois : crossover dreamers -- Eastern Kansas : driving Mister John -- El Paso : the bear in winter -- Whiteriver, Arizona : shoots from the sky -- Boone, North Carolinia : Mayberry friends -- Ireland : to build a gym -- Israel : the long arm of the law of return

The Philippines : madness and mimicry -- China : Qiao Dan, celestial citizen) -- Spring : the game within (Philadelphia : Quaker meeting house -- Brazil : women of the laughing blood -- Des Moines : unguarded moments -- Japan : a journey of a thousand miles, begun with a single shot -- Bhutan : gross national hoopiness) -- Summer : fast break to the future (Washington, D.C. : going to the next level -- France : the "I Love This Game" theory of conflict prevention -- Angola : Lasme's plane will be arriving shortly -- Kansas City : to rest, rather than to mischief -- Princeton, New Jersey : through the back door)