Schott's Sporting, Gaming, and Idling Miscellany

Schott's Miscellanies

by Ben Schott

From the author of the international bestsellers Schott's Original Miscellany and Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany comes the third and most playful installment in the a miscellanist's wisdom from the worlds of sports, games, and idling.

What other sporting book will explain the rules of elephant polo; the perils of the Cresta Run; the link between crosswords and the devil; the story behind the Nike "swoosh"; or why surfing is the "Sport of Kings" (in Hawaii)? Which other volume will list the seven deadly sins of golf; the secrets of Houdini's Code; or the myriad personalities of the Pac-Man ghosts? Where else will you stumble across an account of Evel Kneival's broken bones, a detailing of Mike Tyson's tattoos, the nicknames for classic poker-hands, or every sporting ailment from jogger's nipple to housemaid's knee?

You don't have to be a sports fanatic to enjoy this irresistible volume of factual odds and ends. Schott's Sporting, Gaming, and Idling Miscellany scores big with its fascinating hodge-podge of sports- and activity-related trivia.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Sports, Trivia, Humor

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2004

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

there are not enough of these types of books in existence to satisfy my thirst for the useless crap that they contain...

Bring them on..

[Nicholas Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schott again produces an eclectic wonder of facts and points of interest that won't disappoint. Every couple of pages there is someone I know who I think "oh, they'd like this one". Great stuff!

[Guy · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Idling"... yes, that's what reading this book felt like. Kind of interesting, kind of pointless. There were plenty of interesting tidbits, but each time I put it down I felt as if I would have spent my time better eating real food. But, as the saying goes, de gustibus non est disputandum and for those who like this sort of thing, it seems like a good compendium.

[Tara Fleming]

I have just started this book and I love it!!

[Breck · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite of Schott's three (so far) Miscellanea, but still worth a read. Favorite entry: "Rules for Elephant Polo".

[Noora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tähän pätee samat sanat kuin Listojen kirjaankin, hauska lueskelukirja josta oppii paljon hyödyllistä ja hyödytöntäkin tietoa.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Über-fun book of sports, gaming, and lounging trivia and minutia. Highly recommended for people who like oddities and facts.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perpetually interesting book. Great for picking up again and again.

[Karschtl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfektes Klobuch. Einige Einträge habe ich aber auch ausgelassen.