The Olympic Factbook
A Spectator's Guide
to the Summer Games
By U.S. Olympic Committee
Visible Ink, $17.95
ISBN 0787606200
Review by Shelton Clark
Of course, many sports fans prefer their sports information in the form of statistics and trivia. For those, The Olympic Factbook: A Spectator's Guide to the Summer Games is, well, more than 800 pages of facts, trivia, minutiae, and helpful explanations of the lesser-known sports. But far from a dry statistical tome, The Olympic Factbook is peppered with individual profiles, highlighted quotes, and statistical factoids throughout. The writing, which sometimes borders the cute, nonetheless keeps the reader paying attention. For example: "When dropped from 100 feet, [a tennis ball] should bounce 55 feet. By comparison, a watermelon dropped by David Letterman from 100 feet will only bounce some five feet." Surprising.
Shelton Clark was beaten by Uta Pippig in 1993 New York marathon. He is a freelance writer in Nashville.
©1996, ProMotion, inc.
www@bookpage.com
Support your local independent bookseller