A Load of Old Balls Audiobook By James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski cover art

A Load of Old Balls

The QI History of Sport

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A Load of Old Balls

By: James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski
Narrated by: Anna Ptaszynski, James Harkin
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Previously published as EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR: THE QI BOOK OF SPORTS

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CHARLES TYRWHITT SPORTS BOOK AWARDS

'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

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 A Load of Old Balls 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.

**

For more from the team behind QI's hit TV show, check out the QI FACTS series of books, @qikipedia, their weekly podcast at nosuchthingasafish.com or visit qi.com

©2023 James Harkin (P)2023 Faber & Faber Sports

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I’m not a Sports fan but am a huge QI / Fish fan so bought it for that . A really good listen

A great listen but why was the title changed ?

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Read by the authors with lots of fun and interesting facts. There is a bonus chapter in the audiobook not published in the paper copies.

Fun to listen to

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The authors bring really interesting stories, I love hearing them read it out. The bonus chapter for audio only was fun!

I hate sport, but I loved this book!

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They said you don’t have to enjoy sport to enjoy this book, and they’re entirely right. It’s full of the quite interesting facts and stories that are QI’s strength. Admittedly, coming fro No Such Thing As a Fish, it’s a bit strange at first hearing them read a book rather than have a conversation, so you may have to imagine moss saving the day or a Yeti competing in the Olympics on your own.

You can trust the QI elves.

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