|
The Olympics: A HISTORY OF THE MODERN GAMES (2D ED.) (Illinois History of Sports) | 
 enlarge | Author: Allen Guttmann
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Category: Book
List Price: $40.00
Buy New: $39.96
You Save: $0.04
New (12) Used (5) from $34.60
Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 1455490
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 2 Sub
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 248
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0252027256
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.48
EAN: 9780252027253
ASIN: 0252027256
Publication Date: January 30, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Book Description
Politics has always been an integral part of the Olympics--not an occasional intruder in the form of a boycott, protest, or act of terrorism. In this probing social history, distinguished by a lively mix of journalism and scholarship, Allen Guttmann discusses the intended and actual meaning of the modern Olympic Games, from 1896 to 2000. Recounting the memorable and significant athletic events of the Olympics in terms of their social and political impact, Guttmann demonstrates that the modern games were revived to propagate a political message and continue to serve political purposes. This second edition of Guttmann's critically acclaimed history includes coverage of the controversial tenure of Juan Antonio Samaranch as president of the International Olympic Committee, a period tainted by rising drug use among athletes and scandals accompanying the awarding of sites and marked by the debut of openly professional athletes and the significantly increased role of female athletes.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Skims the surface November 30, 2006
This is a frustrating book. On one hand, there is a lot of good detail and information on the inception and growth of the modern Olympic games. On the other, just when you think Guttmann is going to delve deeper into a topic he simply skips right on by and gives a quick recap of the medal winners in a given year. He barely even mentions the travesty of 1972 in Munich, and makes only passing mentions of some of the iconic moments of the last 50 years. Instead, he seems much more concerned with the behind the scenes wrangling amongst the various members of the IOC. Indeed, the subtitle of the book should be "A history of the IOC leadership."
Thus, a definitive history of the Olympic games remains to be written. Although the blurbs on the back claim this is a landmark in social and political history, it is anything but. Babe Didrickson, Billy Mills, etc are mentioned, but that's about it. Even his discussion of South Africa and the associated boycotts related to Apartheid are fractured and incomplete.
It's worth a read...but I wish I had visited the library for this one rather than spent my money on it. I recommend you do the same.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
