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A Load of Old Balls
- The QI History of Sport
- Narrated by: Anna Ptaszynski, James Harkin
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
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A Load of Old Balls
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Summary
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR: THE QI BOOK OF SPORTS
A Load of Old Balls 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.
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?
What listeners say about A Load of Old Balls
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S. Gallagher
- 15-03-24
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 11-04-24
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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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 17-10-23
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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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- John Tillyard
- 29-04-24
Sports
The extra bit at the end was pretty cool. Could do with the music though. Sports history is fun.
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- Donald
- 26-03-24
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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- Caroline Berridge
- 07-04-24
Quite interesting and so much more
As per usual Anna and James (I'm on a first name basis because I listen to the No Such Thing as a Fish podcast) are quite interesting, funny, thought provoking and charming.
I loved listening to the audio book while getting on with all my boring housework. It made the time fly by while I gain historical and multicultural perspectives.
I bought two hardback copies as Christmas presents for my brothers in law and they both loved it too.
It's a very good present for anyone with even a mild interest in sport or like myself a love of QI (on BBC iplayer) and Club Fish.
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