Product Description

What other sporting book will explain: the rules of elephant polo; the perils of the Cresta Run; the intricacies of the Palio; the breathtaking antics of Kabaddi; or why surfing is the 'Sport of Kings' (in Hawaii). Which other volume will inform you of the importance of snooker to nuns; the correct temperature of a 'hot bath'; the words of the Haka (and Swing Low Sweet Chariot); the myriad participants of the 'Wacky Races'; or what W. G. Grace considered cheating. Where else will you stumble across: famous sleepers; tips for solving cryptic crosswords; pub games and parlour games; or every sporting ailment from joggers' nipple to housemaid's knee.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17440 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
'Schott's Original Miscellany stands out for its essential comic absurdity should appeal to the Stephen Fry in all of us' Financial Times 'One of the hits of the season - and with good reason - is Schott's Original Miscellany, conceived, written and designed by the admirable Ben Schott' Daily Mail 'Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany is already firmly ensconced in the bestseller lists When you read about the Scoville Scale, which charts the comparative heat of different chillis, you will wonder how you lived without it all this time' Finanical Times

About the Author
Ben Schott is the author of Schott's Original Miscellany and Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany. A photographer, designer and miscellanist he lives in London, and divides his time between Highgate and the British Library.

Customer Reviews

Weirdly addictive
Sport lends itself to collections of trivia, so I'm surprised Ben Schott didn't publish this collection earlier. The good news is that it's up to the same standard as his previous books with lots of nuggets of information you didn't know you didn't know but which are strangely fascinating.

I love the mix of modern up-to-date information (such as details of David Beckham's tattoo collection) with the Victorian-style presentation and quaint illustrations. There is so much possible material on sports facts that hopefully there may even be a second edition.

The best of Schott's book so far
Ignore all the cheap imitations there is only one master of Miscellany - Schott.

Having dipped in and out of this book for the past week I now feel that I am armed with enough knowledge to take part in a question of sport, be an official spokesperson for the pooh sticks society and generally be the bore of the party who knows more about sports, games and being idle than anyone else. The must have book this winter.

bundle of fun
I was initially a bit worried that this book would be too heavy on the sport, but actually so many of the items raised a smile! There is plenty to interest everyone from the best racing line for your pooh stick, to a record of Rocky's fights.
I loved the other two miscellanies and this lived up to expectations and even exceeded them in places.
Great fun!