There are a lot of poorly written English-language books on bullfighting. With the sole exception of Alison Kennedy's "On Bullfighting", the other books out there are written by guys who are already pre-sold on the glamor of the matador life and write with the mawkish enthusiasm of a teenaged fan, so much so that you can't really understand what is going on, they're just gushing. This is the first book I've come across that truly tries to explain the rules, the industry, the historical trappings, what a torero is supposed to be as perceived by his community - very educational, and with minimal hype and minimal gushing. Although his viewpoint is as an anthropologist/sociologist, this book isn't as dry as other academic treatises on the subject. Suitable for the lay reader or the tourist. Read this first, before you read everything else (read this before Hemingway!) if you want to really understand the details and find out what it's all about.