"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play…it is war minus the shooting."
The complete book of the Olympics (2012 Edition),
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David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky, London, Aurum Press, 2012. ISBN 978 1 84513 695 6
For anyone who is interested in the Olympics, this is a “must have” book. At 1334 pages it re-defines the concept of comprehensive. The main author, David Wallechinsky, is the authority on the Olympics so the reader could not be in better hands.
The essence of the book is an event by event, Olympics by Olympics, report, giving the result (top 6 or top 8) in each event with time or distance and a narrative account of what happened. The reports are often supported by contemporary photos.
There are sections of statistics and medal tables. Articles on issues such as corruption and politics in and the Olympics add a different dimension. I found the section on discontinued sports particularly interesting.
An indispensable reference book but at the same time a book to dip into and enjoy. I am delighted to have a copy.