Description

Book Synopsis

''Top Bins! A personal best, a lap record and a hole in one for when rain has stopped play.'' ALAN DAVIES
''The trivia book of the season . . . magnificent.'' SPECTATOR

Did you know that Henry VIII owned the first pair of football boots? Or that David Attenborough is responsible for yellow tennis balls?

Everything to Play For is the curious story of us and sport. It''s about our mind-blowingly determined attempts to be the fastest, the strongest, the most skilful. In this endlessly entertaining tale of play and belonging, astonishing violence and jaw-dropping cheating, we learn what led ancient Egyptian athletes to have their spleens removed and discover why Michael Palin was disqualified from a conker tournament. Crossing millennia, continents and cultures, Harkin and Ptaszynski the brainy researchers for BBC''s QI and co-hosts of No Such Thing As A Fish show us sport as we've never seen it before.

**<

Everything to Play For

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    A Hardback by James Harkin

    £13.49

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    RRP £14.99 – you save £1.50 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 25 Aug 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Faber & Faber
      Published 12 October 2023
      ISBN-13 9780571372539
      978-0571372539
      ISBN-10 0571372538
      Also in:
      Hobbies, Games & Quizzes Trivia and quiz questions Humour Toys, Puzzles & Games

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      ''Top Bins! A personal best, a lap record and a hole in one for when rain has stopped play.'' ALAN DAVIES
      ''The trivia book of the season . . . magnificent.'' SPECTATOR

      Did you know that Henry VIII owned the first pair of football boots? Or that David Attenborough is responsible for yellow tennis balls?

      Everything to Play For is the curious story of us and sport. It''s about our mind-blowingly determined attempts to be the fastest, the strongest, the most skilful. In this endlessly entertaining tale of play and belonging, astonishing violence and jaw-dropping cheating, we learn what led ancient Egyptian athletes to have their spleens removed and discover why Michael Palin was disqualified from a conker tournament. Crossing millennia, continents and cultures, Harkin and Ptaszynski the brainy researchers for BBC''s QI and co-hosts of No Such Thing As A Fish show us sport as we've never seen it before.

      **<

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