John Fox, anthropologist and author of The Ball, recently gave an @Google talk. Google posted the speech in its entirety to YouTube as part of its Authors@Google series.

The Ball explores the history and cultures around sports and balls. Here’s a snippet from the book’s description:

“Anthropologist John Fox sets off on a worldwide adventure to the farthest reaches of the globe and the deepest recesses of our ancient past to answer a question inspired by his sports-loving son:

“‘Why do we play ball?’

“From Mexican jungles to the small-town gridirons of Ohio, from medieval villages and royal courts to modern soccer pitches and baseball parks, The Ball explores the little-known origins of our favorite sports across the centuries, and traces how a simple invention like the ball has come to stake an unrivaled claim on our passions, our money, and our lives. Equal parts history and travelogue, The Ball removes us from the scandals and commercialism of today’s sports world to uncover the true reasons we play ball, helping us reclaim our universal connection to the games we love.”

Other recent talks in the series include: Nate Silver, Adam Roberts, Joel Stein, and Magnus Nilsson.