Sport Books

Book SynopsisBoth Newcastle United and Sunderland provide the English game with some of the finest ever line-ups and most celebrated players in football''s history, as well as arguably the country''s most passionate supporters. Pioneers of the North is a comprehensive account of how football developed and took a grip on the very life and soul of the region, on Tyneside in particular but also in Northumberland as well as neighbouring County Durham. Related in detail is the social and sporting background, the origins of football and its growth from Berwick in the north to Darlington and Middlesbrough in the south. Other significant clubs which took a non-league route in development are examined notably Shankhouse Black Watch as well as forgotten pioneer teams such as Rendel and Elswick Leather Works

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Book Synopsis'Speed and danger don't always go together, but it's proper fun when they do.' Guy MartinTruck fitter, ace racer, daredevil, speed junkie, all-round 'character', Guy Martin is just a normal guy, driven to succeed by a passion for speed, whether it is on his daily 20-mile cycle to work – his exploits on the track and for television are extra-curricular and he always makes up for his time away – or on his collection of prized motorcycles.Renowned for a loveable if scattergun personality, Guy is a down-to-earth hero, a modern-day celebrity motivated not by wealth and fame, but by his love of his bikes and trucks. He considers his biggest successes in life are not his race wins or his celebrity status – but his truck MOT pass rates!Guy Martin: Portrait of a Bike Legend charts his eventful life in pictures and recounts Guy's career in front and away from the spotlight. It is the first illustrated biography of a man who doesn't do things by half – if it's not a challenge to life, limb and sanity, then he isn't interested.

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Book SynopsisIm in the team can you come and watch me play? If you will be sitting by a cricket pitch this summer, mystified by the antics on the field in front of you, Cricket Made Simple is the book for you. Not only will it help to explain what is going on from the spectators viewpoint it will also raise you several notches in your loved ones esteem. After reading Cricket Made Simple, you will be able to talk knowledgeably about spin and swing bowling, off drives, knocking in, and know the difference between a googly and an off-break. You might even enjoy the matches much more as a result. Just as well because they can take up a whole day at junior level, or up to five days for a Test match. The author, a mother who has spent many seasons at her sons playing fields, provides a complete guide to the intricacies of cricket for all those bemused supporters to whom this sport is a complete mystery. She also includes valuable advice on supporter etiquette and preparing cricket teas as well as dealing with the inevitable washing mountain. Cricket Made Simple is for all bemused supporters, male and female, who loyally turn out to cheer in all weathers.

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Book SynopsisIn this completely revised, enlarged and updated edition of Sallie Walrond's classic work, a new series of step-by-step colour photographs, taken especially for the book by talented equestrian photographer Anthony Reynolds, takes the reader through basic lungeing and bitting techniques, shows the correct way to introduce both harness and vehicle and demonstrates by means of the author's own tried and tested methods the way to produce an animal who will go willingly and happily in harness. Safety is a priority at every stage and training for road work is included. The author's lucid, easy-to-follow text provides all the necessary information to enable any averagely competent rider to train a horse to go in harness with success whether the animal concerned is an unbroken two year old or an outgrown family pony.

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Book SynopsisRunning 93 miles from the heathland and forest on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, via stunning sandy beaches, picturesque villages and wild, empty salt marsh to the traditional seaside resort of Cromer on the north Norfolk coast, the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path is a wonderfully varied and interesting National Trail. There is the archaeological interest of the Roman road whose route the trail first follows to the coast, the magnificent architecture of Norfolk’ s characteristic flint churches, and for birdwatchers an embarrassment of riches, from the rare stone curlews of Breckland to the marsh harriers sailing above the reedbeds at the spectacular nature reserves of Titchwell and Cley. This official guide, published in conjunction with Natural England, is the only companion you need.Trade ReviewA winner in its attention to detailA winner in its attention to detail

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Book Synopsis'How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson is an insightful and interesting book packed with leadership ideas and real life examples taken from the cutting edge of sport that apply in leading any top team or business. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those currently in leadership positions and those aspiring to get there, as Damian Hughes draws out the inspirational qualities required from one of the greatest managers in football.' Stuart Lancaster, England Head Coach, Rugby Football Union In How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson, Professor Damian Hughes distils the primary lessons of Ferguson's phenomenal success as manager at Manchester United and show how you can apply them to you own personal goals. You will learn about Ferguson's approach to people-management, changing mind-sets, visualisation, building confidence and embracing change - all techniques at the heart of turning Manchester United into a winning machine. You will also discover how he remained at the forefront of one of the world's most competitive industries and how to make this count with your own ambition. You will also discover the techniques that Ferguson employed to extract the finest qualities from his team, and discover how to lead other individuals and teams in their pursuit of success within changing times. With exercises for you to work on, drawing from Professor Hughes's practical and academic background within sport, organisation and change psychology, How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson is the perfect handbook for the business of winning and managing success.Trade Review"An understanding of the mind's ways is a crucial part of being an elite athlete. I'm always learning about this area and there are always ways to improve. Damian Hughes has helped me become better equipped to deal with the mental stresses I encounter on court. He has helped me to reduce the fuzziness, and see things clearly when under pressure." James Willstrop, World no. 1 squash player

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Book SynopsisOften football coaches find that to keep their players motivated and engaged, they must create new practices every week. But when there are those particular practices that the players enjoy playing again and again which also provide the ideal environment for them to develop, why not use them more than once? Essential Practices for Player Development will provide the reader with 10 core football practice sessions that the players will find both enjoyable and challenging and that the coach will find develops key areas of the game. There are 9 adaptations provided with each core practice, making 100 practices in total. Every practice is linked to one key area of the game that is identified as being essential to player development. To support practice delivery, the book additionally covers key aspects of session planning so that the most effective learning environment can be produced for the players. Also included is information on long-term player development, recognizing and supporting individual player needs, interventions, and player challenges. This book is not only a resource for football coaches just starting out on their coaching journey, but it is also for more experienced coaches looking to adapt their practice sessions. All practices provided can be used exclusively to create training curriculum for a full season, meaning there is no need for a coach to create a new session every week. The sessions can also be used to form the foundations of the curriculum, leaving room for a coach to add in those favorite practices. Essential Practices for Player Development is a book coaches will refer back to time and again.

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Plans included: Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas) (1:30 000) Cruz Bay (St John) (1:20 000) Road Harbour, Sea Cow Bay & Nanny Cay Marina (Tortola) (1:20 000) Benner Bay (St Thomas) (1:30 000) Great Camanoe to Scrub Island (1:20 000) Road Harbour & Approaches (Tortola) (1:20 000) Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour (Virgin Gorda) (1:20 000) South Sound (Virgin Gorda) (1:20 000) Gorda Sound (Virgin Gorda) (1:25 000) Fat Hogs Bay & Maya Cove (Tortola) (1:20 000) Imray-Iolaire charts for the Caribbean are widely acknowledged as the best available for the cruising sailor. They combine the latest official survey data with first-hand information gathered over 60 years of research by Don Street Jr and his wide network of contributors. Like all Imray charts, they are printed on water resistant Pretex paper for durability, and they include many anchorages, facilities and inlets not included on official charts.

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Book SynopsisDiscover 15 of the best short walks around Falmouth and the Lizard. Each walk comes with easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps, clear route description and lots of images, plus information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops. No challenging terrain or complicated navigation means walks can be enjoyed by everyone.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRyan O'Hanlon pulls off a remarkable trick in Net Gains: he writes about the evolution of soccer in a way that somehow feels both romantic without being blind and analytical without being cold. It's exactly what I was hoping for from a structure standpoint, and even better than I was hoping for from an execution standpoint. I already can't wait for his next book. -- Shea Serrano, #1 New York Times bestselling authorIn his terrific book, Ryan O'Hanlon pulls off a genuine feat: describing the latest ideas, approaches, and purveyors of soccer data analysis in a way that appeals to both wonks and everyday fans. I follow these topics with regularity, and I learned a heap of new things about the sport we love. -- Grant Wahl, CBS Sports soccer analyst and author of Masters of Modern Soccer''An extremely well-written look at football's statistical development in recent years, with some intriguing predictions for the future of the sport." -- Michael Cox, The Athletic UKO'Hanlon offers a thorough history of soccer analytics, managing to paint compelling pictures of the characters who drive the field while at the same time explaining often complicated or counterintuitive concepts in a way that is accessible and entertaining. This makes the book hugely readable even for someone with no prior knowledge of analytics or even the sport. At its heart, it's about ingenuity and thinking creatively about data to better understand what our eyes and brains tell us. O'Hanlon understands this and skillfully illustrates how we got to where we are. His broad knowledge dips into other sports as well, recognizing the common ground while, at the same time, doing a fine job of explaining just why the random, organized chaos of soccer make it so unique and, in many ways, so hard to chronicle from a data/analytics perspective. All this written in a breezy-but intelligent-way that make this a very rewarding book. -- Gabriele Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR'This is a masterfully written history of the world's greatest football club. Més que un book!' - GARY LINEKERFrom the bestselling co-author of Soccernomics comes the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful football club in the world - and how that envied position now hangs in the balance.Barça is not just the world's most popular sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organisations on the planet. With almost 250 million followers on social media and 4 million visitors to its Camp Nou stadium each year, there's little wonder its motto is 'More than a club'. But it was not always so. In the past three decades, Barcelona has transformed from regional team to global powerhouse, becoming a model of sporting excellence and a consistent winner of silverware.Simon Kuper unravels exactly how these transformations took place. He outlines the organisational structure behind the club's business decisions, and details the work of its coaches, medics, data analysts and nutritionists who have revolutionised the sporting world. And, of course, he studies the towering influence of the club's two greatest legends, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi.Like many leading global businesses, FC Barcelona closely guards its secrets, granting few outsiders a view behind the scenes. But, after decades of writing about the sport and the club, Kuper was given unprecedented access to the inner sanctum and to the people who strive daily to keep Barcelona at the top. Erudite, personal, and capturing all the latest successes and upheavals, his portrait of this incredible institution goes beyond football to understand Barça as a unique social, cultural, and political phenomenon."I began my research thinking I was going to be explaining Barca's rise to greatness, and I have, but I've also ended up charting the decline and fall."Trade Review'Ultimately this superb book is about far more than football - it's about Spain, about Catalan culture, about the psychology of management, about developing youngsters, and crucially about the three remarkable men who have shaped the modern game - Cruyff, Messi and Guardiola.' * Daily Mail *'This is a masterfully written history of the world's greatest football club. Més que un book!' -- GARY LINEKER'Simon Kuper's Barça has it all: riveting storytelling, superb analysis, non-partisan investigation and, perhaps best of all, it's shot through with Simon's wonderfully dry humour. Simply unmissable.' -- AMY RAPHAEL, author of 'A Game of Two Halves'The chapters devoted to Cruyff, who played for the club and then transformed it as a manager, are essential reading for anyone interested in innovation or high performance. The book is both a debunking and a restoration. -- Ed Smith * The New Statesman *One of the best sports books I have read. About so much more: politics, Spain, elites in business... brilliant on Cruyff and Ajax, Messi... quite outstanding. -- ROGER ALTONSimon expertly charts the path from Cruyff to present-day Barça, showing how Messi, in his own way, represents an update on the Cruyffian style. His approach to a wealth of information about the club, along with his knowledge and passion for football, make for a really great book. -- JORDI PUNTÍ, author of 'Messi: Lessons in Style'What is the point of football, Simon Kuper asks? It makes our lives a little happier than they would be without it. And the point of this book? It makes our lives even happier. Kuper has written a great story, a history and an autobiography, a work of philosophy and gossip. It is the best book about sport, any sport, that I have read in a long time. An outright joy. An instant classic. -- BILL BUFORD, author of 'Among Thugs'Simon's writing has been an indispensable part of football's landscape for the better part of the last three decades. His access to Barça has enabled him to tell a story that no one else can about the biggest club in the world, and its biggest star. This book both chronicles and analyses an era in football history that we're lucky to have witnessed, and that may never be matched.' -- BILLY BEANE, the inspiration behind 'Moneyball''Rich value here: five books for the price of one. Much more than a mightily well-researched chronicle of the rise and decline of FC Barcelona, Simon Kuper's Barça offers a masterclass on football, a brilliantly perceptive, anecdote-rich anatomy of the game's greatest team, greatest player, greatest coach and most influential figure.' -- John Carlin'The best football book of 2021.' -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *

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Book SynopsisUltimate Walks& Hikes: Australia is your inspirational and practical guide to 40 of the best walking tracks across Australia. Author Laura Waters has hiked thousands of kilometres to put together her ultimate list of walking tracks in all states and territories. Whether you’re looking for a bite of the Bondi to Manly Walk in Sydney, an easy amble in Tasmania’s Tarkine forest, or an epic hike such as the Grampians Peaks Trail or Bibbulmun Track, this guidebook is packed with inspiration to help you get out there and explore the great outdoors. Each walk outlines what you’ll see, interesting insights about the destination, logistics on how walk it, and options to tackle your adventure in sections or take a shortcut, all complemented by colourful photos and detailed maps. There are also tips on gear, safety and everything else you need to know about your next walking adventure.

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Book SynopsisGOLFLAND describes each one of Scotland's golf courses. It is the detailed, definitive guide to the country's courses. It's the first book of its kind in more than a decade, an ambitious celebration of Scotland's embarrassment of golfing riches. Useful and informative, it is a practical reference work. Beautifully designed, with stunning photography by David Cannon, it is also a highly desirable gift. GOLFLAND is an appropriate name for a book about the courses of Scotland, the country recognised as the birthplace of the game. Scotland is a mecca for golf tourists worldwide, who come to play its most celebrated courses, such as Carnoustie, Muirfield and the historic links of St Andrews. Yet for all of Scotland's most distinguished courses, like those which host The Open, there are hundreds of others, some known to aficionados, some so far-flung as to be familiar to only a few. GOLFLAND records and celebrates them all. If you are planning a trip to Scotland or simply want to explore the richness of the country's golfing landscape, GOLFLAND is essential. For dreaming about some future game, or else remembering one played long ago, it is equally invaluable. GOLFLAND will answer almost all the questions you might have about Scottish golf courses. GOLFLAND is also the answer to a commonly asked question: what is the perfect gift for the golfer in my life?Table of ContentsGOLFLAND Table of Contents Introduction History & Methodology David Cannon The Courses The Early Scottish Influencers Index of Courses About the Authors

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Book SynopsisAdmit it: Even if you’re a die-hard baseball, sometimes an umpire's call can be baffling. And for newer fans, Major League Baseball's nuanced rules - developed and revised over many decades - can be downright perplexing. Now updated throughout with the latest changes, including specifications about the universal designated hitter and limits on defensive shifts, the Baseball Field Guide lays out every rule in plain English. You’ll learn to answer all these questions and more: Do you know the twenty-two ways a pitcher can be charged with a balk? Can you list all seven ways a batter can safely get to first base? Obstruction or interference - who’s at fault when things get rough? What are the rules that apply before and after a game? What happens when spectators are the ones who misbehave? How well do you understand the infamous Infield Fly Rule (and why does it exist)? This is the clearest explanation anywhere of the rules of baseball. Designed for quick and intuitive searches, this entertaining reference will help you understand every aspect of the game and add to your enjoyment of the sport.

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Book SynopsisUruguay remains a curious case in world football. Early Olympic and World Cup triumphs made it the game's first global power, and the small country has punched above its weight ever since. But the story behind its success is untold. In this first English-language history of Uruguayan football, Martin da Cruz maps the game's journey from exclusive British pastime to Uruguayan national passion, bringing to life the teams, players and personalities who helped create one of the world's most intense sporting cultures. From the start, football was intimately tied to Uruguay's national story. Wedged between giants Argentina and Brazil and lacking a cohesive national identity, Uruguay used the game to create unified and educated citizens, to put an end to civil war and become an advanced social democracy. Yet football also drove counter-narratives of class and race, challenging Uruguay's self-identification as a peaceful, 'white' nation. From Beauty to Duty is the story of a little country made big.

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Book SynopsisA group of volunteers begged, borrowed and remortgaged a house on their way to convincing FIFA to hand them the keys to the 1994 World Cup. When they got the green light, the USA was tasked with presenting the greatest show on earth to a nation of non-believers, with a press corps just waiting for them to fail. Six years later, the country famed for its glitz, glamour and razzmatazz delivered a glorious summer of memorable kits and billowing goal nets, confounding the doubters as they shattered attendance records and drew fans in their millions. The full-throttle journey to the global phenomenon that football is today had begun. It was a tale of two missed penalties, a car chase, internal politics, triumph and tragedy in equal measure. Heroes were born, dreams were shattered and for many life would never be the same. If Italia 90 unlocked the door to the modern game, then USA 94 kicked it open and nailed it to the wall. The revolution was here, and it was televised.

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Book SynopsisBack in the Big Time! Sheffield Wednesday's Return to Division One, 1984-86 tells the story of the Owls' return to the top flight after 14 years in the wilderness. In the 1970s, the club had been a footballing byword for underachievement. After flirting with relegation to Division Four in 1976, it began its slow climb back to the top table under Jack Charlton and then Howard Wilkinson. It was Wilkinson's team that gained promotion to the highest league in 1984. They attacked Division One with gusto - within two years finishing fifth in the league and embarking on cup campaigns that took them heartbreakingly close to Wembley. Drawing on detailed research, John Dyson shines new light on the period, combining exclusive interviews with key players, management and club officials with the perspective of supporters and others to piece together a new history. Here is the unfiltered story of a team that did not give up. This is the Owls back in the big time!

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Book SynopsisThe rip-roaring story of Manchester City's red-hot goalscoring hero Erling Haaland.Unlike his seafaring forefathers, Haaland arrived in England peacefully in 2022. But the result was the same with the Viking running riot before heading to European shores to rampage through even the most stubborn defences.Haaland helped sweep Manchester City to a record-equalling treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory. The Striking Viking smashed home a record-breaking 36 Premier League goals and continued his incredible Champions League record to make it 35 in 29 games.This book is packed with exclusive unpublished material, including the story behind his transfer to England. It features the words of the great man himself, team-mates, opponents and Pep Guardiola. It explores his early career in Norway, and his later successes in Salzburg and Dortmund, before bringing us up to date with his Man City and international heroics.Want to know Haaland the player and the man? This is the book for you.

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Book SynopsisThis attractive guide gives walkers ten of the finest circular, themed walks in the Brecon Beacons National Park in a popular pocketable format. With clear information, an overview and introduction for each walk, expertly written numbered directions, large scale Ordnance Survey maps, superb eye-grabbing panoramic photographs, and interpretation of points of interest along the way, these guides set a new standard in clarity and ease-of-use. Featured walks include: Fan Brycheiniog & Picws Du - Ridge Walk, Henrhyd Falls & Nant Llech - Waterfall Walk, The Four Waterfalls Walk - Waterfall Walk, Pen y Fan Horseshoe - Mountain Walk, The Old Electric Shop, Hay-on-Wye - Tea Shop Walk, Hay Bluff & Twmpa - Hill Walk, Blorenge - Viewpoint Walk, Sugar Loaf - Hill Walk, Llanthony Priory - History Walk, The Skirrid Mountain Inn - Pub Walk

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Book Synopsis‘A fascinating account of a man of great humility and remarkable courage.’ – The Daily Record. The Cairngorm mountains in Scotland are a magnet for climbers and walkers. John Allen spent more than thirty years in the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team saving the lost and injured, and in Cairngorm John he shares stories of life and death, alongside discussions of hypothermia, first aid, new technology and rescue dogs. Allen's book is a must-read for anyone who spends time in the great outdoors, whether as a casual hillwalker or as part of a mountain rescue team. This latest edition includes additional photographs and new chapters discussing how mountain rescue has developed in the early years of the twenty-first century.Trade Review‘Indispensable to those who love the hills. The stories it contains are poignant and full of emotion.’ * The Inverness Courier *‘A fascinating account of a man of great humility and remarkable courage.’ * The Daily Record *‘The twisting mix of sadness and wit are blended together with perfection. Kick Ass Day and the true meaning of TLC are the kind of priceless gems that we all need.’ -- Neil Woodhead * Mountain Rescue Magazine *‘Cairngorm John portrays the human side of mountain rescue, clearly demonstrating the emotional roller coaster that's involved, as well as the camaraderie that exists within teams like Cairngorm Mountain Rescue.’ * TGO Magazine *‘Allen’s book is an invaluable source.’ * Climber Magazine *Table of ContentsThree reasons for writing this book Acknowledgement List of illustrations Introduction by Sir Chris Bonington PROLOGUE: The Mountains A LIFE IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE EPILOGUE: The Sea TEN YEARS AFTER 1. Rescue from the ai 2. New technology: Can-Ams and Ski-Doos, Go-Pros, Apps and Drones 3. A new beginnin 4. Safety in the mountain AFTERWORD: Thai Boys MAPS Cairngorm Mountains Northern Corries Cairngorm Plateau Glossary of climbing terms Gaelic pronunciation and meanings Select bibliography About the author

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Book SynopsisEach year its 148 pages delivers the most incredible photos, articles and interviews with the modern gladiators who do battle on the world''s most punishing motorcycle course. 2022''s Island Racer focuses on the biggest names and the fastest motorcycles that are taking on TT 2022 and uncovers the stories behind the headlines.

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Book SynopsisYou could argue that Dennis Amiss’ seven-decade cricket career started the day he was born, when his parents named him after not one but two celebrated cricketers.Or maybe it started when he was 7, sneaking into the Birmingham Cooperative Society to play a few matches with his friends – as long as they avoided the groundskeeper!Or perhaps it was on 7 April 1958; not only his fifteenth birthday, but also his first day as a professional cricketer.Whatever day you start on, there’s no denying that Amiss has had an extraordinary career. He is one of England’s cricketing greats, with 100 first-class hundreds to his name and a place as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year. Hugely well-respected on and off the pitch, he didn’t shy away from controversy, taking part in the 1982 ‘Rebel Tour’ of Apartheid South Africa, and somehow ending up in the midst of the battle between World Series Cricket and the England Cricket Board.Not Out at Close of Play is the story of how passion, commitment and practice – and no small amount of stubbornness! – took a boy from the backstreets of Birmingham to worldwide cricket stardom.Trade ReviewDennis was not only one of the finest batsmen of his generation, he was a cricket innovator and influencer who then also went on to become a very successful administrator at the highest levels of the game. He has been a huge influence on the direction of my own career and I am extremely grateful to him for all of his support. -- Ashley Giles MBE MSDDennis is a Warwickshire legend on and off the field. One of best batters of his generation, he set the standard for players to follow. He was a hero of mine growing up and now I have the pleasure of calling him my friend. -- Ian Bell MBE

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Book Synopsis''Excellent'' Simon Kuper, author of the bestselling FOOTBALL AGAINST THE ENEMY''The definitive story of how French football came of age'' Christian Karembeu''Erudite and engrossing'' Vincent Duluc, lead football writer, L''ÉQUIPETHE PLAYERS, THE TEAMS, THE GOALS, THE GAMES, THE SCANDALS, THE GLOOM AND THE GLORY: THE STORY OF FRENCH FOOTBALL''S TURBULENT EVOLUTION OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.French football is an enigma: a mixture of brilliance and farce, flair and frailty, stunning success and abject failure. Its domestic league is mocked on social media as an uncompetitive ''Farmers League'' and its clubs ridiculed for underachieving in European competitions. But France have reached four of the past seven men''s World Cup finals, French players star for the world''s best clubs and at its best the roar of the Vélodrome, the glamour of the Parc des Princes, the shimmering brilliance of Zinédine Zidane, Éric Can

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Book SynopsisA classic David & Goliath tale, complete with colourful heroes, cold-hearted villains, and nail-biting games—with the hockey rink serving as an arena for a nation’s resistance. During the height of the Cold War, a group of small-town young men would lead their underdog hockey team from the little country of Czechoslovakia against the Soviet Union, the juggernaut in their sport. As they battled on the ice, the young players would keep their people’s quest for freedom alive, and forge a way to fight back against the authoritarian forces that sought to crush them. From the sudden invasion of Czechslovakia by an armada of tanks and 500,000 Warsaw Pact soldiers, to a hockey victory over the Soviets that inspired half a million furious citizens to take to the streets in an attempt to destroy all representations that they could find of their occupiers, Freedom to Win ranges from iconic moments in history to courageous individual stories. We will witness the fearless escape by three brothers who made up the core of the national team, thrilling world championship games and gold medal matches. We will watch as a one brave player takes a stand and leads ten thousand people in a tear-filled rendition of the Czechoslovak national anthem amid chants of “freedom!” while a revolution raged in the streets of Prague. At the heart of Freedom to Win is the story of the Holíks, a Czechoslovak family whose resistance to the Communists embodied the deepest desires of the people of their country. Faced with life under the cruel and arbitrary regime that had stolen their family butcher shop, the Holík boys became national hockey icons and inspirations to their people. Filled with heart-pounding moments on the ice and unforgettable slices of history, Freedom to Win is the ultimate tale of why sports truly matter.Trade Review“In Freedom to Win, Ethan Scheiner examines a less well-known chapter of Cold War hockey: the rivalry between teams from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union around the time of the Moscow-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Mr. Scheiner shifts between the circumstances of the invasion and the action on the ice. A sign in the stands read: ‘You send tanks, we bring goals.’” -- Benjamin Shull, The Wall Street Journal “What makes Freedom to Win so intriguing is the way it is framed. Scheiner’s book weaves hockey and world history magnificently. As he spoke with Martina Navratilova, Scheiner got his inspiration for the book’s title. ‘Those games meant everything to us. They gave us hope. They gave us a sense that we still had the freedom to win.’” -- The Hockey News“Many readers will be familiar with the time in Eastern Europe’s history centered around the Prague Spring, but fewer will know how hockey played a part in the Czechoslovakian people’s resilience. Scheiner deftly interweaves the story of Czechs and Slovaks forming a national hockey team. Much more than a book about hockey. Will appeal to hockey fans and readers interested in the relationship between sports and patriotism.” -- Library Journal"Ethan Scheiner’s Freedom to Win is a masterwork of narrative nonfiction. The research, attention to detail, colorful characters, and riveting history combine to create a remarkable book that’s impossible to put down. While the story of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the 1969 world hockey championships may mean skating on new ice for many readers, the stirring tale of resistance to authoritarianism is both universal and timely. More than a hockey story, Freedom to Win brilliantly illustrates the transcendent power of sports in moments of crisis." -- Andrew Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside, Games of Deception, Singled Out, and Inaugural Ballers“Just as war is said to be diplomacy by other means, sport can be war by other means, never more dramatically so than in the epic ice hockey games between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia in the 1969 World Championships. A more timely story, in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is hard to imagine. Grippingly told, packed with rich characters, the book’s intimately narrated climax comes seven months after Soviet tanks rumbled into Prague, stifling Czechoslovakia’s attempt to break free from the hardline repressive rule the Soviets had imposed upon it. Freedom to Win is a classic tale of revenge, but much more. It is a celebration of courage, hope and human dignity, a story for the ages that needed to be told, especially right now.” -- John Carlin, New York Times bestselling author of Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation“Had Freedom To Win been delivered by a Hollywood screenwriter, it would have been regarded as fine fiction. But Ethan Scheiner's work is the real thing. History at its gripping best. Individual stories of heroism help this wonderful work shine a bright light on a history too long overlooked.” -- Stan Fischler, The Hockey News and member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame"Ethan Scheiner’s Freedom to Win is, at once, the inspiring tale of a family caught in the maw of the Cold War, and a riveting underdog story about how sports have the power to transcend and transform us all." * Monte Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Saban, Lords of the Fly, and 4th And Goal *"Freedom to Win is much more than the tale of the underdog Czechoslovakia hockey team taking on the Soviet juggernaut on the ice after the Red Army crushed the 1968 Prague Spring. While focusing on hockey, it manages to tell the entire modern story of the Czechs and Slovaks and their remarkable quest for freedom. This highly readable book deserves to make Czechoslovakia's "Miracle on Ice" as familiar as the better known (at least to American fans) U.S. hockey triumph at the 1980 Olympics." * Max Boot, Washington Post columnist and New York Times bestselling author of The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam *

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Book SynopsisAn enlightening biography and gripping sports narrative that takes us behind the scenes into the lives of some of the world’s most elite runners in Kenya and their coach, Patrick Sang. "I highly recommend this book." —Meb KeflezighiAt a secluded training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, a small town nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in the Great Rift Valley, three-dozen world-class runners, including Olympic champions, world record holders and the fastest marathoner of all-time, share simple dormitory-style rooms and endure grueling workouts six days a week. These determined, devoted, and selfless runners are who they are because of a man named Patrick Sang. One of the greatest—and least-heralded coaches in the sport—Sang is described by his athletes as a “life coach.” In We Share the Sun, Sarah Gearhart takes us inside this high-octane world of elites of which few are even aware of and even fewer have ever seen. We are immersed in Sang’s remarkable story, from his college days in the US to winning an Olympic medal in the steeplechase, and his journey to become a man who redefines what coaching means. There is no singular secret to athletic success, but, as readers will learn, Sang’s holistic philosophy is like no other approach in the world. It is rooted in developing athletes who can navigate the pressures of elite competition—and life itself. In these pages, we explore Sang’s influence on his athletes — including his unique and longstanding relationship with marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge — as they prepared for the delayed Tokyo Olympics and other competitions. We witness the remarkable recovery of two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor after a freak accident as he strove to earn his first Olympic medal. And we follow one of the world’s most dominant mid-distance runners, Faith Kipyegon, as she attempted a historic repeat title in the 1,500 meters three years after the birth of her first child. We Share the Sun brings forth the remarkable lives and stories of East African runners, whose stories are seldom shared. Through Gearhart's vivid prose, we experience the richness that exists in Kenya as we come as close as we possibly can to running alongside a current and future generation of elites—and the man who molds them into champions.Trade Review"An engaging book for those who want to explore the structural, social, and relational foundations of Kenyan elite marathoners. Compelling and accessible, I found Gearhart’s guidance through this world captivating." * Nicholas Triolo, Outside *"Gifted sports journalist Gearhart’s account of the fabulous success of Kenyan distance runners focuses on Sang and his world-class training program. Gearhart shares rare insight into the coach and his methods, which emphasize helping runners achieve their full athletic potential as well as developing them into humans with a 'strong moral compass.' Running fans and coaches will surely draw inspiration from this humble coach who rewards effort, imparts life lessons, and shares uplifting holistic philosophy.” -- Booklist, starred review "A fascinating ode to all a coach can offer beyond holding the stopwatch. Eliud Kipchoge calls Patrick Sang a ‘life coach,’ a man who confesses to speaking in parables and who sees his job being to shape the whole person, not just the athlete. Like Sang’s coaching vision, this book contains wisdom that extends far beyond the track." -- Michael Crawley, author of Out of Thin Air: Running Wisdom and Magic from Above the Clouds in Ethiopia“By turns moving and insightful, We Share the Sun is the fascinating story of one of the world’s greatest coaches as well as a window into rural Kenya and how the way of life has given rise to one of the most dominant sporting cultures on the planet. Patrick Sang is a man full of wisdom and compassion. It’s a joy to read his story.” -- Adharanand Finn, author of Running with the Kenyans and The Rise of the Ultra Runners“‘Life is like water poured on the ground. It naturally finds its course.’ Patrick Sang’s life journey as a humble and hard-working man who gives back is beautifully illustrated, and I highly recommend the book.” -- Meb Keflezighi, Four-time Olympian, New York City and Boston Marathon Champion, and New York Times bestselling author"More than his staggering success as a coach, it’s Patrick Sang’s thoughtful approach to personal development—to finding each athlete’s Why—that shines through in Gearhart’s charming and deeply reported account.” -- Alex Hutchinson, Ph.D., National Magazine Award-winning journalist, author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance"In prose as elegant as the strides of the athletes she describes, Sarah Gearhart takes us deep within the monastic world of elite Kenyan runners and their mentor Patrick Sang. Her unhurried inspection brings to life the determination, dedication, and urgency to succeed. It’s a captivating study of striving at the highest level and will inspire anyone to press on no matter the challenges that confront them.” -- Toni Reavis, U.S. broadcaster, writer and recipient of the George Hirsch Journalism Award"Sarah Gearhart unravels the secrets behind the coaching of the best athletes in the world. Anyone who cares about performing at your best should read this book. The stories are captivating, and the lessons are invaluable.” -- Steve Magness, world-renowned performance coach and author of The Science of Running and Do Hard Things“I enjoyed reading Sarah Gearhart’s We Share the Sun about Coach Patrick Sang’s leadership role in Kenyan athletics. It was interesting to learn how Sang’s experiences while a scholarship college student in the US influenced him, especially the strong bond with his own coach. Gearhart reveals Coach Sang’s discipline with his athletes alongside the emphasis on hard work. Runners can learn so much from this book!” -- Bill Rodgers, Olympian, four-time winner of the Boston marathon, four-time consecutive winner of the New York City marathon"The great Eliud Kipchoge is a man without equal in the sport of running. Or so I thought before I read We Share the Sun, Sarah Gearhart’s captivating biography of Kipchoge’s charismatic longtime coach Patrick Sang.” -- Matt Fitzgerald, author of On Pace, 80/20 Running and Running the Dream

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Book SynopsisGooaal! Soccer fans, get your game on with this book about one of the biggest tournaments in women’s sports.The first international women''s soccer match was in 1881, but the Women''s World Cup didn''t become official until 1991 -- 110 years later! Read about the courageous, soccer-loving women who worked hard to have a World Cup of their own in this addition to the Who HQ series. Young readers will learn about the history of women''s soccer, star players, and iconic wins! From Team USA''s record-breaking four championships to Japan''s inspiring win in 2011, this book is full of heartwarming and exciting stories about incredible athletes across decades!Trade Review

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Book SynopsisGuidebook to walking the Cotswold Way National Trail. Between Chipping Campden and Bath, the 102 mile route explores the Cotswolds AONB. Described in both directions over 14 stages, the Cotswold Way can be walked year round and is suitable for beginner trekkers. Includes separate OS 1:25,000 map booklet of the route.

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Book Synopsis“The story of the legendary martial arts fighter and kickboxer Oum Ry is by turns pulse-pounding, disturbing, and powerful. His is an astonishing life told beautifully by his daughter Zochada Tat and Addi Somekh. The book will grip you from its first pages and not let you go."—Jeff Chang, author of Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop GenerationOum Ry (b.1944) is a former international champion kickboxer who first brought the Cambodian martial art Pradal Serey to the United States. When his family of silver engravers couldn't afford his food or schooling, he lived with monks until seeking out Pradal Serey masters, soon becoming national champion at 23 years old and one of the most famous fighters in the region. For 15 years, he toured Southeast Asia, and without ever suffering a knock-out, won more than 250 fights. After a young man’s dream-life of stardom, parties, and girls, his new wife gave birth to a child in 1975, two months before the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh and threw the country into the chaos of civil war, where starvation, disease, and mass executions were common.Oum Ry survived the genocide though much of his family perished. He was saved many times from death in Cambodia due to fame, talent, and his resilience, but suffered a life-threatening attack during Southern California’s epic gang violence of the 1990s. Earlier, as a refugee with his young family in Chicago, Oum Ry learned English while working cleaning hotels. But within a few years, he had an investor in Long Beach, California and opened one of the first kickboxing gyms in the United States.This is Oum Ry's life story, which is propelled by his highly anticipated return to Cambodia in February 2022 to reunite with family and to pass on Pradal Serey traditions to the next generation.Trade Review“This memoir strikes hard on multiple levels. It is a reflection of contemporary America and the transnational, transcultural, immigrant experience that many Americans live, whether themselves or vicariously. Oum Ry, like many other fortunate refugees makes his way to the United States where he finds both happiness and deep disappointment. The life of a migrant is bittersweet, filled with hope and longing. Oum Ry’s life has been a rollercoaster in and out of the fighter’s ring, dramatic in positive and negative ways. His is a life worth the reading.”—Dr. JoAnn LoSavio, Washington State University, VancouverTable of ContentsPreface1 – Father and Daughter2 – Childhood3 – Pradal Serey4 – Champion5 – Genocide6 – Refugee7 – America8 – Long Beach9 –Attack10 – ReturnNotesAfterword " Oum Ry's Life in the Context of Cambodia's History" by Michael G. Vann, Ph.D.Appendices:TimelineArchive: Photographs and DocumentsAcknowledgments

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Book SynopsisWhy did killing a fox mean liberty? What did parish revels have to do with the Peterloo Massacre? What did animal cruelty have to do with the English constitution? What did the Factory Acts mean for modern football?In This Sporting Life, Robert Colls explains sport as one of England''s great civil cultures. The lived experiences of people from all walks of life are reclaimed to tell England''s history through its great sporting cultures, from the horseback pursuits of the wealthy and politically connected, to the street games in working-class neighbourhoods which needed nothing but a ball. It observes people at play, describes how they felt and thought, carries the reader along to a match or a hunt or a fight, draws out the sounds and smells of humans and animals, showing that sport has been as important in defining British culture as gender, politics, education, class, and religion.Trade Reviewa highly original, personal yet deeply accomplished, history of sporting pastimes * Mike Huggins, Cultural and Social History *This is an idiosyncratic work that is full of erudition and wit, being highly informative and often very entertaining ... a valuable addition to libraries specializing in modern British history or the history of sport. * M. Klobas, CHOICE *A compelling, evocative and unique explication of what sport has meant to the English. * Aberdare Literary Prize *Simultaneously insightful, beguiling and accomplished...it's not about the slow development of sporting rules and governing bodies. None of that matters. It is a tour de force account of how the love affair with liberty had a profound influence on the English and their sports. * Mike Huggins, Cultural and Social History *Eccentric, erudite and often very funny... [a] dazzling history of sport in England... Every page is a delight. * Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times, Best History Books of the Year 2020 *Robert Colls has taken on 200 years of English history through the prism of its culturally neglected sports - common, exclusive, innovative, brutal. He's written a definitive work not only of our sporting life, but also of our social texture. * Melvyn Bragg, New Statesman, Books of the Year 2020 *Robert Colls's exploration of sport in England between 1760 and 1960 is like no sporting history I have ever read... Eccentric, dazzlingly learned and often very funny... Colls is a historian of matchless insight and admirably democratic range. * Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times *This Sporting Life displays exhausting quantities of erudition... The prose is lively even in the footnotes... there are jewels on every page... There is more life in these pages than can be explained, or needs to be. * Simon Kuper, Financial Times *Superb... This is much more than a history of sport; it is really an alternative history of England itself... This book is full of moments that pull you up short and make you think. * Alex Massie, The Spectator *Colls has combined painstaking research with elegant prose to produce a thoroughly readable history of British sports and pastimes over two hundred years. In doing so he has breathed new life into an often-neglected corner of British history. * Emma Griffin, Literary Review *[A] quirky and strikingly original social history of England through its sports, games and pastimes... beautifully and inventively expressed, witty and bawdy in places... perhaps the most impressive element of This Sporting Life is its light touch, the way it never quite loses sight of the fact that at its heart, sport is fun. * Jonathan Liew, New Statesman *A remarkably and admirably human history, full of empathy for people of all classes and condescension towards none... Crackling on the page, Colls's prose elucidates and amuses in equal measure and with equal sharpness. * Stephanie Barczewski, Times Literary Supplement *strongly recommended contribution to the history of the emotions * Daniele Serapiglia, Passato e Presente *thought-provoking...readable...valuable...novel..intuitive.. excellent example of how a topic can be revitalised by thinking creatively... * Dave Day, idrottsforum *A monograph of monumental importance...placing sport at the forefront of civil culture in Britain. A work of national and international importance that should provide a platform for similar studies in other countries. * Keith Laybourn, Labour History Review *I'd like to say something about style. Colls is a master. He can be--in turn--witty, slapstick comic, ironic, satirical, sarcastic, lyrical, sombre, or elegiac. Sometimes he's Robert Surtees and sometimes he's John Milton. Mostly, I think, he's Pierce Egan. Whatever the tone, he's a marvel at the epigram. * Allen Guttmann, author of From Ritual to Record. The Nature of Modern Sports *At heart this book is the best kind of social history: vivid, revelatory and penned by an author who seems to know the byways of every county in England... a joyous book of dazzling scholarship. * Dan Jackson, History Today *This is both a vivid and thought-provoking read... I would recommend the book to anyone skeptical of the historical significance of sport. * Lincoln Allison, The Critic *[This Sporting Life] is absorbing, original, and entertaining... Colls is a formidable historian of England and English identity * Simon Heffer, New Criterion *An exemplary work and one that illuminates with stories rather than numbing with statistics... Colls' previous work, in particular 'Identity of England' (2002) and 'George Orwell: English Rebel' (2013), established his credentials as a historian on a mission to restore the experiences of the working-classes to the national record - the Jack Tars, pitmen and pugilists - but to do so through hard evidence not special pleading... Nowhere is this better realised than in his final chapter on football. * John Mitchinson, Byline Times *It is when Colls rises to the challenge of his subtitle - 'Sport and Liberty' - that the book really soars. * John Mitchinson, Byline Times *A great read for anyone who loves sport... free of jargon and and full of what people actually did... The writing is full of memorable phrases, wry comments and thoughtful insights into human behaviour... a message that could have been penned by George Orwell himself. * Philip Cottam, The Arbuturian *This fascinating and engagingly written book is about much more than sport: customs, tradition, place, identity, national myths as well as national stories all have their place. Colls has written the best book I have read on George Orwell, and this book too is definitive. * Jason Cowley, Editor of The New Statesman *The two most successful and positive exports from this country are the English language and organized sport. The profound influence of sport has been grievously unacknowledged. In his new book, Robert Colls puts this right by bringing its history to life and linking it quite brilliantly with common notions of liberty, patriotism, and belonging. He also shows the part modern sport played in replacing the many textures of our traditional patterns of social life. It's vivid, passionate, and goes to the heart of a subject which in so many ways is now the dominating conversation in peoples' lives. * Melvyn Bragg, Broadcaster *A brilliant book by one of my favourite British historians...giving the real thrill of first hand research and covering every corner of our national life. Even if you don't like sport you will like this book. * John Mitchinson, Backlisted Podcast *This is a wonderful book. It is engrossing,beautifully written, overflowing with insight into England and English ideas of liberty as manifest through sport.It is a history of sport unlike any other and is nothing short of exhilarating. * Paul Rouse, School of History, University College Dublin *Sparkling and scholarly, Robert Colls' new history of sport is expertly set within the wider context of English society and culture. Abounding with fresh insights, sport is celebrated and explained from Regency prize-fights to Wembley Cup Finals; vibrantly written, full of dramatic incidents and exceptional individuals. * Richard Holt, author of Sport and the British: A Modern History *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Land of Liberty 2: 'Bottom' 3: Custom 4: Belonging 5: New Moral Worlds 6: Moderns Conclusion: Sport and the English Hero

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Book SynopsisThe Wealdway is an exceptionally fine walk running 82 miles from Gravesend on the Thames Estuary to Beachy Head and Eastbourne on the south coast. It crosses the North Downs, the Greensand ridge, the Medway valley (twice), the High Weald (including Ashdown Forest), the Low Weald and the South Downs. This is quintessential English countryside with rolling downs, archetypal village greens on which cricket has been played for centuries, deep wooded valleys and traditional pubs. History abounds with numerous furnace and hammer ponds reminding us of the iron industry that characterised the Weald in the times of the Tudors and Stuarts and many fine old houses constructed of materials that vary along the route with the underlying geology. Despite its proximity to many towns and with London not far away, much of the route has a surprisingly remote feel to it. The book offers a full description of the route, newly-drawn maps at 1:25,000 scale, background information on geology, history and landscape evolution and numerous illustrations, all in full-colour.

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Book SynopsisA guide to exploring 365 of Scotland''s most scenic, wildlife-rich and historically significant woodlands. From the precious fragments of Caledonian pine forest to lesser-known wildwoods and urban copses, Scottish woodlands offer places of sanctuary, both for wildlife and for people. In this practical guide, Gabriel Hemery brings together the beauty, purpose, history, wildlife and ownership of some of the most extraordinary woodland sites in the country, from the largest (the Forest of Ae, which covers more than 10,000 hectares) to the smallest (Halligarth in the Shetland Islands, measuring less than a third of a hectare), and everything in-between. Some woods are notable for having the tallest or rarest trees, others are the best places in the country for spotting ospreys or red squirrels, or even marine mammals; some are known as the best places to explore preserved archaeological features, discovering hidden histories or simply enjoying spectacular scenery.Trade ReviewAn engaging and comprehensive route map to enjoying Scottish woodlands. * Trees for Life *Table of ContentsScotland’s forests How to Use this Guide Access to Forests Keeping Safe Angus & Dundee (Sites 1-12) Argyll & Bute (Sites 13-52) Ayrshire (Sites 53-67) Borders (Sites 68-90) Clyde (Sites 91-102) Dumfries & Galloway (Sites 103-119) Fife (Sites 120-132) Highlands (Sites 133-248) Lothian (Sites 249-273) Moray & Nairn (Sites 274-289) North-East (Sites 290-313) Outer Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland (Sites 314-325) Perth & Kinross (Sites 326-347) Upper Forth (Sites 348-365) Site Designations Glossary Useful Information Further Reading Regional Maps Index Acknowledgements

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