I took this out from my library on a lark after hearing it mentioned on The Bugle (http://thebuglepodcast.com/). With a generous dollop of British deadpan, HTWTO provided a nice couple of hours glimpse into the sports of the Summer Olympics, the history and a dabble beneath the surface of rules and strategy. ( )

This is a really interesting book and the perfect introduction to all the olympic sports. As a non-sporty bookworm with no interest or knowledge of sport, this was surprisingly readable and full of clear explainations and facinating facts.

The book explains the basic rules of each sport, the history, the years it has been included, scandals, odd moments, and the careers of a few of the major stars. It also outlines the history and content of the opening and closing ceremonies and the sports which are no longer part of the games.

I guess sports fanatics will probably know all this stuff already, but it was great for a beginner. Having read this I can now participate in conversations about the London 2012 Games in the pub as if I know what I'm talking about.

It is a massive shame that the book doesn't include anything about the paralympics and this is why I only gave it 4 stars. ( )