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Everything to Play For cover art

Everything to Play For

By: James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski
Narrated by: Anna Ptaszynski, James Harkin
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Summary

Hop, skip and jump into this wonderfully curious grand tour of the world of sports, brought to you by QI Elves James Harkin and Anna Ptaszynski.

From sport's weirdest rules to its most unlikely heroes, via comically large cricket bats, pole-vaulting priests, creative football chants and exploding billiard balls, each chapter of Everything to Play For is brimming with surprising facts and intriguing stories.

Even if you've never asked yourself what David Attenborough has to do with yellow tennis balls, why Victorian doctors feared the outbreak of 'bicycle face' or what led ancient Egyptian athletes to have their spleens removed, this book will give you the astonishing answers - and plenty more besides.

©2023 James Harkin (P)2023 Faber & Faber

Critic reviews

'Top Bins! A personal best, a lap record and a hole in one for when rain has stopped play.' ALAN DAVIES

What listeners say about Everything to Play For

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quite interesting

even for non sports fans thos is a quite interesting collection of sporting facts by two of the elves behind QI.

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Another funny book of randomness

Once again the guys behind QI come up with a funny and informative book of things you didn’t know you wanted to know!!

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Great listen

Was never really too bothered by sports or sport related stories but after completing this book I will view sport in a completely new light. Thanks to QI for that opportunity. Loved it!

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Quite interesting! ;)

Overall I have loved this book so far (I’m about 3/4 of the way through). James and Anna’s voices are deeply calming and easy to listen to! The facts are clearly well researched and neither too broad nor too pointed which, in my eyes, makes it quite interesting. I’m not really a big sports fan but I have found myself thoroughly enjoying learning about it.

My only criticism is that it is very much “global north” focused with only a handful of exceptions. That said! I am only 3/4 of the way through and the ending might surprise me still.

Would still highly recommend to everyone!

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1 person found this helpful