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Mercy College Professor of English David Kilpatrick has published a new book titled, “95 Theses on the Reformation of Football: Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Glocal Football Governance.” Kilpatrick’s inspiration for the book is Martin Luther’s “Ninety-five Theses,” a list of propositions for an academic disputation written in 1517. Like Luther, Kilpatrick’s book consists of 95 theses meant to encourage debate of issues and questions. His theses, though, relate to the issues and concepts seen surrounding the global game of football – more familiarly known as soccer in the United States – including corruption, community and human rights.

The book’s timely publication on October 31 marked two weeks before the start of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, reformation day and the 505th anniversary of Luther’s writing. Kilpatrick was appropriately in Greece when the book was launched, at the Areopagus where infamous reformer Socrates was tried. During the week of its release, the book hit number one on Amazon's philosophy/criticism chart.

While having breakfast one morning this past June, a flash image of what the book would look like popped into Kilpatrick’s head. The format is distinct from books that readers may be used to reading. “It’s a medieval script, imposing on the page,” described Kilpatrick. Each page consists of one thesis statement or question, printed in large-size font. The style places readers in the time of Luther as they consume the text.

“It’s an invitation to debate, rather than full essays on those topics. It’s more a matter of positions,” explained Kilpatrick. “The book also mimics a soccer game – a soccer game lasts 90 minutes, with time for injuries, so often it’s 95 minutes.”

Introducing these types of theses for debate or discussion, especially around the topics of sports and corruption, is something that Kilpatrick makes a point of doing in his classrooms at Mercy. “I think it’s really important to ask questions for which there’s no clear right or wrong answer, to cultivate critical thinking,” said Kilpatrick.

Kilpatrick has been at Mercy since 1998 and, in addition to teaching several courses, became the program director for the sport management program at the College a few years ago. He defines a lot of his work and teachings as interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary, in that he teaches across subject areas. Among his many honorary and leadership positions in the greater sports community include club historian for the New York Cosmos, a team in the North American Soccer League.

“This text brings together so many transdisciplinary, core issues that I’ve been teaching and exploring in the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Business. I know that if I was anywhere other than Mercy College, I wouldn’t have had such freedom to take on this project,” said Kilpatrick. “At Mercy, I’ve always been encouraged to follow my bliss when it comes to intellectual endeavors.”

Kilpatrick recently performed all 95 theses from his book for an audience in New York City and was interviewed by the Paris Institution for Critical Thinking on his book and the World Cup. To listen to the interview, please click .