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The Wizard of College Baseball: How Ron Fraser Elevated Miami and an Entire Sport to National Prominence
by David BrauerNo one changed the landscape of college baseball like Ron Fraser. The sport enjoyed little national interest until Fraser arrived at the University of Miami in 1963 and built his program into an entertainment empire and a national champion. Nationally televised college baseball games on ESPN can be traced back to Fraser&’s lobbying work in the network&’s early days. His efforts resulted in coverage growth and paved the way to making the College World Series one of ESPN&’s marquee events. He created zany, one‑of‑a‑kind promotions, such as an open-heart surgery for one &“lucky&” fan (redeemable in a five‑year window) and the first mascot devoted to a college baseball team (the Miami Maniac). Aimed at gaining attention for his program and putting fans in the seats, his innovations achieved desired results on both fronts. Miami Hurricanes baseball became widely popular as the sport&’s main draw in South Florida long before Major League Baseball expanded to the market full time. Fraser&’s biggest impact was on the field. Before the Miami Hurricanes football program became a household name, he put the school&’s athletics program on the map by winning its first national championship. Fraser inherited a floundering baseball program that had no equipment or following and could pay him only as a part-time employee; he built that program into a perennial national power that made regular appearances at the College World Series. Along the way, he developed countless players into All‑Americans, MLB Draft picks, and eventual Major Leaguers. While some coaches have matched his wins and championships, none compare to his trailblazing and impact on an entire sport. David Brauer traces the roots of modern-day college baseball&’s success to Fraser&’s work at Miami. The Wizard of College Baseball is an inspirational and entertaining reflection on how one man forever changed college baseball—accelerating the sport&’s growth and setting a new standard for modern college baseball well ahead of his time.
The Wizard of Foz: Dick Fosbury's One-Man High-Jump Revolution
by Bob Welch Dick Fosbury Ashton EatonIn 1968, a US Olympic men’s track and field team—America’s best ever—stirred the world in unprecedented ways, among them the victory stand black rights protest by Tommy Smith and John Carlos at the Games in Mexico City. But in competition, no single athlete captured the ’60s more perfectly than Dick Fosbury, a failed Oregon prep high jumper who—in the wake of his little brother being killed by a drunk driver while the two were riding bikes and the subsequent divorce of his parents—invented a high jump style as a high school sophomore that ultimately won him an Olympic gold medal and revolutionized the event. No jumpers today use any other style than his. The Wizard of Foz is a story of innovation and imagination that blossoms 7,350 feet up in the High Sierra, where boulders and 100-foot trees festoon the interior of the Olympic Trials track. It is a story of loss, survival, and triumph, entwined in a person—Fosbury—and a time—the ’60s—clearly made for each other. And it is a story of a young man who refused to listen to those who laughed at him, those who doubted him, and those who tried to make him into someone he wasn’t.“My experience working with Skyhorse is always a positive collaboration. The editors are first-rate professionals, and my books receive top-shelf treatment. I truly appreciate our working relationship and hope it continues for years to come.” –David Fischer, author
The Wizard of Odds: How Jack Molinas Almost Destroyed the Game of Basketball
by Charley RosenRosen brings us for the first time the full life story of Jack Molinas, one of the greatest basketball players of his era, a man whose gambling addiction and hubris caused his ultimate demise. Drawing on numerous, previously unavailable first-person accounts, including Jack Molinas's own journal and trial transcripts, Rosen presents the true saga of a man who perhaps better than anyone around him understood the weaknesses of the system in which he lived--so much so that he convinced himself that he could manipulate that system to his advantage with total impunity, in a life's journey that took him from NBA play to the Mafia and the pornographic film industry, and to an ultimate tragic destiny.
The Wizard: The Life of Stanley Matthews
by Jon Henderson‘Stanley Matthews taught us the way football should be played’ Pelé'I couldn't believe he was just a man. He was the best player in the world' Bobby Charlton'He told me that he used to play for just twenty pounds a week. Today he would be worth all the money in the Bank of England' Gianfranco ZolaStanley Matthews is one of the most famous footballers ever to play the beautiful game. Nicknamed ‘The Wizard of Dribble’ for his deadly skills, he made fools of defenders around the world. He played 84 matches for England in a career that spanned an extraordinary 33 years and such was his popularity that attendance for his club teams, Stoke City and Blackpool, more than doubled when he played. He was a global superstar decades before Beckham, Ronaldo or Messi, yet what do we really know about this legendary man?This first full and objective biography looks beyond the public face of the ‘first gentleman of soccer’ to explore a life not without controversy. This was a player who clashed with his managers, who felt undervalued in the age of the maximum wage – leading to a charge of blackmarketeering – and who was criticised for his showmanship and perceived lack of team spirit. There were private dramas too – an unhappy first marriage that produced two beloved children, and a second, to the love of his life, a Czech with a dark secret even Matthews never knew and which acclaimed biographer Jon Henderson reveals for the first time.Recreating the magic on the pitch and analyzing the key moments that made Matthews great, this is a meticulously researched story of a national hero and a fascinating insight into English football in the 20th century.
The Wizenard Series, Season One (The Wizenard)
by Wesley King Kobe BryantReggie has never felt destined for greatness. He dreams about basketball brilliance all day and night, but the hard truth is that he's a benchwarmer for the West Bottom Badgers, the worst team in the league. Even their mysterious new coach, Rolabi Wizenard, can't seem to help them end their losing streak. Reggie is willing to train tirelessly to improve his game, but the gym itself seems to be working against him in magical ways. Before Reggie can become the player he dreams of being, he must survive the extraordinary trials of practice. Basketball legend Kobe Bryant presents this illuminating follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller The Wizenard Series: Training Camp--a story of strain and sacrifice, supernatural breakthroughs, and supreme dedication to the game.
The Wolfpack Way
by Abby WambachHowl loud and proud with the Wolfpack and U.S. Soccer Olympic Gold Medalist, FIFA World Cup champion, and #1 New York Times-bestselling author Abby Wambach in this inspiring and uplifting picture book perfect for gift giving all year round.It’s a great big world out there, full of amazing people and adventures. It may be scary at times – and confusing, too – but you will find your way. Because you are a Wolf and you’ve got your Wolfpack!Wolves make their own path, they love what they love, and they can be whatever they imagine. They believe in each other and in themselves. Because that’s the Wolfpack Way!With these sparks of inspiration and many more, bestselling author, two-time US Soccer Olympic gold medalist, and FIFA World Cup champion Abby Wambach shares a joyful read-aloud – based on her #1 New York Times bestseller Wolfpack – that will encourage kids to be their true selves, dream big, and work together as a Pack to change the world.
The Woman Sent to Tame Him (Mills & Boon Largeprint Romance Ser.)
by Victoria ParkerA fast-living race car driver gets into the ultimate contest of wills with his boss’s beautiful daughter in this high-octane romance!Serena Scott knows that Finn St. George is trouble with a capital T. Gorgeous? Yes. World-class racing driver? Yes. Shameless lothario bent on self-destruction? Definitely! But Finn has finally caused one scandal too many. And as his boss’s daughter, Serena is charged with getting him back on track!Finn loves his playboy lifestyle—especially since beautiful women are the ideal distraction from his painful past. Serena’s resistance to his charms only makes her an even more irresistible challenge. Can she tame this bad boy, or will Serena become entangled in the sensual power of his hedonistic temptation?
The Woman in Black
by Jenna RyanTHE MAN WAS HARD TO RESIST...Aidan Brodie's sensual stare could seduce a woman almost against her will. Samantha Giancarlo found herself to be no exception. Her reporter's instincts screamed at her to stay far away. But fate-in the form of a woman in black-had united them for a reason....An explosive interview with the stranger thrust Sam into the thick of a murder investigation. And when her search revealed truths that struck too close to home, she was forced to heed other, more womanly instincts.... She had no choice but to accept the safety of Aidan's strong embrace-and the protection he was only too eager to provide.
The Wonder Boy: Luka Doncic and the Curse of Greatness
by Tim MacMahonESPN&’s Tim MacMahon goes behind the scenes of Luka Dončić&’s years with the Dallas Mavericks—before his trade to the Lakers stunned the basketball world—telling the story of a franchise&’s quest to build a championship team around a prodigy. In 2018, the Dallas Mavericks landed the most hyped prospect in basketball history—teenaged Luka Doncic. With The Wonder Boy, MacMahon takes us beyond the highlights to the madness that ensues as the Mavericks try to avoid blowing their golden opportunity. From the internal power struggles in owner Mark Cuban&’s front office during the early years of Doncic&’s career, to the new regime&’s effort to earn Doncic&’s loyalty and put the ruthless competitor in position to win, readers will learn never-before-reported details about the saga&’s biggest moments, including: ·The blockbuster deal for Kristaps Porzingis that blew up in the Mavs&’ faces ·The divorces with coach Rick Carlisle and GM Donnie Nelson ·Jalen Brunson&’s exit after a run to the Western Conference finals ·The new pairing with the mercurial Kyrie Irving ·The improbable journey to the 2024 Finals As the clock ticks on the Mavs&’ quest to win it all with their irreplaceable young star, The Wonder Boy pulls back the curtain on a dilemma every NBA team would love to have.
The Wonder Crew: The Untold Story of a Coach, Navy Rowing, and Olympic Immortality
by Susan Saint SingThe Wonder Crew presents the fascinating story of how the salty coach of the Annapolis crew team, Coach Richard Glendon, seized the sport of rowing first from the Ivy League schools and then the imposing British with a new style both uniquely American and very much his own. Glendon took a group of young midshipmen with humble origins and dominated a sport once the domain of the privileged. After stunning the Ivy Leagues in race after race, the US Naval Academy team won a shot at the Olympics. Their task was nearly impossible: for hundreds of years, the British Navy ruled the world and their supremacy of the seas naturally made them dominant in the sport of rowing. With the hopes of a nation, Navy went into the heart of Europe and in thrilling fashion defeated the heavily favored Brits to win the gold medal in 1920. With Glendon's new American style, the US won Gold for forty straight years, the longest winning streak in any single sport in Olympic history.Rich in history, with brave characters, American ingenuity, and dramatic training and competition, Susan Saint Sing's The Wonder Crew is the first comprehensive account of the 1920 Olympic Navy crew team and their inspirational coach who forged the dramatic story of their quest for Olympic gold.
The Wood Fire Handbook: The complete guide to a perfect fire
by Vincent Thurkettle'Sound, well-seasoned advice [on] how to bring wood fires into our lives.' - BBC CountryfileThe Wood Fire Handbook shows you that the soothing effect of dancing flames and glowing embers is a simple pleasure to have in our lives. Understanding everything that underpins the perfect wood fire makes it even more enjoyable. Vincent Thurkettle's handbook is the essential companion and manual.The expert insight and knowledge in this book allow everyone to rediscover the skills of previous generations and savour the delight of a perfect wood fire in all its incarnations.Contents include...Understand which trees make the best firewoodLearn how to split, season, and store woodLay the perfect fireMake an ingenious campfireChoose wood for its scent...and much more!This revised edition features updated information on wood-burning stoves, 'clean' wood and other environmental considerations.
The Wood Fire Handbook: The complete guide to a perfect fire
by Vincent Thurkettle'Sound, well-seasoned advice [on] how to bring wood fires into our lives.' - BBC CountryfileThe Wood Fire Handbook shows you that the soothing effect of dancing flames and glowing embers is a simple pleasure to have in our lives. Understanding everything that underpins the perfect wood fire makes it even more enjoyable. Vincent Thurkettle's handbook is the essential companion and manual.The expert insight and knowledge in this book allow everyone to rediscover the skills of previous generations and savour the delight of a perfect wood fire in all its incarnations.Contents include...Understand which trees make the best firewoodLearn how to split, season, and store woodLay the perfect fireMake an ingenious campfireChoose wood for its scent...and much more!This revised edition features updated information on wood-burning stoves, 'clean' wood and other environmental considerations.
The Wood Life: A Not so Helpful How-To Guide on Surviving Cricket, Life and Everything in Between
by Mark WoodFrom one-of-a-kind England cricketer Mark Wood comes a one-of-a-kind self-help book. The kind no one knew they needed, until now.Need to know how to propel a cricket ball at unimaginable speeds? How to give the perfect speech at a wedding? What to feed an imaginary horse? The best way to celebrate an Ashes win? The worst way to watch a World Cup final chase? Planning the perfect date? What to do when you come across a dead body in the middle of Ashington? Answers to all these vital questions are here, and more. Full of laugh-out-loud anecdotes, The Wood Life is a hilarious guide to life by one of English cricket's most beloved characters.
The Work of Professional Football: A Labour of Love?
by Martin RoderickA long-term study providing rare insights into the precarious career and ordinary working culture of professional footballers. Away from the celebrity-obsessed media gaze, the work of a professional footballer is rarely glamorous and for most players a career in football is insecure and short-lived. A former professional, Martin Roderick’s familiarity with the world of football is the foundation for this privileged research into a world that is typically closed to the public gaze and ignored by media reportage and academic research which prefers to focus on a small, unrepresentative group of elite players. Key themes explored within the text include: the culture of work in professional football the changing identity, orientation and expectations of players during their careers the fragile and uncertain nature of professional sport careers the performance and dramatic aspects of a career under public scrutiny the role of relationships with managers, owners, support staff and partners players' responses to the insecurities inherent in professional football such as injury, ageing, performance and transfer. The text deals with a wide range of issues of interest to sports students and academics, particularly those with a focus on the sociology of sport but also including sport development, sport management and coaching studies. The text will also be of interest to researchers in the fields of careers, industrial relations and the sociology of work.
The World According to Foggy
by Carl FogartyPublished to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Superbike World Championship, The World According to Foggy will delight the legions of motor sport fans in the UK and beyond, and will be lapped by those who have enjoyed books by Valentino Rossi, Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson and Freddie Spencer.This is a full-throttle, rip-roaring, white-knuckle pillion ride with motorcycle racing icon Carl Fogarty, a man the nation took to their hearts as 'King of the Jungle' in the 2014 series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!The World According to Foggy is packed with hilarious tales from inside and outside the sport. Racers past and present, including Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez, Steve Hislop and Guy Martin, all come under Foggy scrutiny.He dips into the memory banks to relive those special moments of his career in World Superbikes and at his 'spiritual home', the Isle of Man TT, and talks candidly for the first time about his venture into team ownership, as well as his inner demons.Carl lifts the lid on his madcap mates and their daft antics and shares his quirky wisdom on topics as diverse as cricket, hikers, News at Ten, fainting goats, traffic lights and the full English breakfast on trains.Ultimately, The World According to Foggy reveals the real man behind the visor: cheeky, witty, down-to-earth ... and every-so-slightly bonkers.
The World According to Foggy
by Carl FogartyPublished to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Superbike World Championship, The World According to Foggy will delight the legions of motor sport fans in the UK and beyond, and will be lapped by those who have enjoyed books by Valentino Rossi, Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson and Freddie Spencer.This is a full-throttle, rip-roaring, white-knuckle pillion ride with motorcycle racing icon Carl Fogarty, a man the nation took to their hearts as 'King of the Jungle' in the 2014 series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!The World According to Foggy is packed with hilarious tales from inside and outside the sport. Racers past and present, including Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez, Steve Hislop and Guy Martin, all come under Foggy scrutiny.He dips into the memory banks to relive those special moments of his career in World Superbikes and at his 'spiritual home', the Isle of Man TT, and talks candidly for the first time about his venture into team ownership, as well as his inner demons.Carl lifts the lid on his madcap mates and their daft antics and shares his quirky wisdom on topics as diverse as cricket, hikers, News at Ten, fainting goats, traffic lights and the full English breakfast on trains.Ultimately, The World According to Foggy reveals the real man behind the visor: cheeky, witty, down-to-earth ... and every-so-slightly bonkers.
The World According to Foggy
by Carl FogartyPublished to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Superbike World Championship, The World According to Foggy will delight the legions of motor sport fans in the UK and beyond, and will be lapped by those who have enjoyed books by Valentino Rossi, Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson and Freddie Spencer.Foggy's scintillating new book takes his fans into the memory banks of this most charismatic and straight-talking of sporting icons, transporting them into the weird and wonderful world of this endearingly quirky hero of the track. The World According to Foggy contains lashings of adrenaline-fuelled bikes and electrifying bike racing, thrills and spills galore, but it will also reveal the man behind the helmet, his passions and frustrations, what makes him still leap out of bed in the morning and seize the day - ultimately, what makes this great man tick and explains his enduring popularity.(P)2018 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
The World According to Harry
by Harry RedknappTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'The beautiful game has taught me a lot, but I’ve had quite a life outside of football too. This book is full of my best stories – kickabouts with jumpers for goalposts with Bobby Moore, mine and Sandra’s disastrous honeymoon to Torquay in a dodgy car and my funniest ‘Mr Pastry’ moments – as well as my thoughts on the important things in life. I’m finally sharing what I’ve learned on and off the pitch: from growing up poor in Poplar to the heights of the Premiership and even lying in a coffin with a load of rats on national television. It’s everything I know about true team spirit, hard work, tough times, why family are so important and why everyone deserves respect no matter whether they’re royal or sleeping rough – and, of course, the real joy of a jam roly-poly.'
The World According to Razor: My Closest Shaves
by Neil 'Razor' Ruddock'If you were expecting to read Razor's views on politics then you're going to be disappointed. Anybody who wants to read that needs help! This is yours truly talking about some of the experiences that have helped to create the absolute legend that is moi. Some of the tales involve a bit of mischief and most involve a drink or two. Most importantly, though, they're all a bit of a laugh so I'd settle down and have yourself a nice little read'The two things Razor Ruddock can't resist in life are a pint and a dare. That and seventeen years as a professional footballer under his belt means he's got a story or two to tell. Chickening out of a fight with Eric Cantona, robbing Alan Shearer's minibar, cinema trips with Gazza, becoming mates with Ian Wright - Razor has seen and done it all.Packed full of hilarious anecdotes, Razor gives us his take on the beautiful game, sharing his tactics (good banter is a defender's duty), red mist (and red cards) on the pitch, run-ins with the FA and his theory as to why Ingerland never do as well as we'd like, as well as his best ever goal and the greatest night of his sporting life.Razor also lifts the lid on his bad reputation and reveals his regrets, his heroes, his greatest fears (notably upsetting the missus) and what it takes to make Britain's hardest footballer cry. Poignantly, he shares his views on the importance of family and his concerns over footballers' mental health. And the biggest surprise of all: that he was a shy and retiring young lad (and that his love of swearing comes from his mum).Cameo appearances include: Bobby Robson, Diego Maradona, Eric Cantona, Dennis Bergkamp, Harry Redknapp, David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Gazza, Jimmy Case, Phil 'The Power' Taylor, Robbie Williams and Nelson Mandela ('Nelse').With his trademark sense of humour and foot-in-mouth disease, The World According to Razor is like having a pint down the pub with Razor himself.
The World According to Razor: My Closest Shaves
by Neil 'Razor' Ruddock'If you were expecting to read Razor's views on politics then you're going to be disappointed. Anybody who wants to read that needs help! This is yours truly talking about some of the experiences that have helped to create the absolute legend that is moi. Some of the tales involve a bit of mischief and most involve a drink or two. Most importantly, though, they're all a bit of a laugh so I'd settle down and have yourself a nice little read'The two things Razor Ruddock can't resist in life are a pint and a dare. That and seventeen years as a professional footballer under his belt means he's got a story or two to tell. Chickening out of a fight with Eric Cantona, robbing Alan Shearer's minibar, cinema trips with Gazza, becoming mates with Ian Wright - Razor has seen and done it all.Packed full of hilarious anecdotes, Razor gives us his take on the beautiful game, sharing his tactics (good banter is a defender's duty), red mist (and red cards) on the pitch, run-ins with the FA and his theory as to why Ingerland never do as well as we'd like, as well as his best ever goal and the greatest night of his sporting life.Razor also lifts the lid on his bad reputation and reveals his regrets, his heroes, his greatest fears (notably upsetting the missus) and what it takes to make Britain's hardest footballer cry. Poignantly, he shares his views on the importance of family and his concerns over footballers' mental health. And the biggest surprise of all: that he was a shy and retiring young lad (and that his love of swearing comes from his mum).Cameo appearances include: Bobby Robson, Diego Maradona, Eric Cantona, Dennis Bergkamp, Harry Redknapp, David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Gazza, Jimmy Case, Phil 'The Power' Taylor, Robbie Williams and Nelson Mandela ('Nelse').With his trademark sense of humour and foot-in-mouth disease, The World According to Razor is like having a pint down the pub with Razor himself.
The World According to Razor: My Closest Shaves
by Neil 'Razor' Ruddock'If you were expecting to read Razor's views on politics then you're going to be disappointed. Anybody who wants to read that needs help! This is yours truly talking about some of the experiences that have helped to create the absolute legend that is moi. Some of the tales involve a bit of mischief and most involve a drink or two. Most importantly, though, they're all a bit of a laugh so I'd settle down and have yourself a nice little read'The two things Razor Ruddock can't resist in life are a pint and a dare. That and seventeen years as a professional footballer under his belt means he's got a story or two to tell. Chickening out of a fight with Eric Cantona, robbing Alan Shearer's minibar, cinema trips with Gazza, becoming mates with Ian Wright - Razor has seen and done it all.Packed full of hilarious anecdotes, Razor gives us his take on the beautiful game, sharing his tactics (good banter is a defender's duty), red mist (and red cards) on the pitch, run-ins with the FA and his theory as to why Ingerland never do as well as we'd like, as well as his best ever goal and the greatest night of his sporting life.Razor also lifts the lid on his bad reputation and reveals his regrets, his heroes, his greatest fears (notably upsetting the missus) and what it takes to make Britain's hardest footballer cry. Poignantly, he shares his views on the importance of family and his concerns over footballers' mental health. And the biggest surprise of all: that he was a shy and retiring young lad (and that his love of swearing comes from his mum).Cameo appearances include: Bobby Robson, Diego Maradona, Eric Cantona, Dennis Bergkamp, Harry Redknapp, David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Gazza, Jimmy Case, Phil 'The Power' Taylor, Robbie Williams and Nelson Mandela ('Nelse').With his trademark sense of humour and foot-in-mouth disease, The World According to Razor is like having a pint down the pub with Razor himself.
The World Anti-Doping Code: Fit for Purpose? (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society)
by Lovely DasguptaFollowing the recent doping scandals that have brought the highest echelons of international sport into disrepute, this book examines the elitism at the core of the World Anti-Doping Agency and considers how the current World Anti-Doping Code might be restructured. Analyzing the correlation between the commodification of sports and doping, and the role WADA plays in this context, it takes into consideration the perspectives of non-elite athletes as well as athletes from developing countries which have previously been excluded from the anti-doping discourse. It offers recommendations for improving the coordination and implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code and argues for the creation of a more inclusive anti-doping regime. This is an important resource for students of sports law, sports management and sports ethics, as well as vital reading for sports administrators, sports sociologists, sports policy makers, sports lawyers and arbitrators, as well as athletes themselves.
The World Beneath Their Feet: Mountaineering, Madness, and the Deadly Race to Summit the Himalayas
by Scott EllsworthA saga of survival, technological innovation, and breathtaking human physical achievement -- all set against the backdrop of a world headed toward war -- that became one of the most compelling international dramas of the 20th century.While tension steadily rose between European powers in the 1930s, a different kind of battle was raging across the Himalayas. Contingents from Great Britain, Nazi Germany, and the United States had set up rival camps at the base of the mountains, all hoping to become recognized as the fastest, strongest, and bravest climbers in the world.Carried on across nearly the entire sweep of the Himalayas, this contest involved not only the greatest mountain climbers of the era, but statesmen and millionaires, world-class athletes and bona fide eccentrics, scientists and generals, obscure villagers and national heroes. Centered in the 1930s, with one brief, shining postwar coda, the contest was a struggle between hidebound traditionalists and unknown innovators, one that featured new techniques and equipment, unbelievable courage and physical achievement, and unparalleled valor. And death. One Himalayan peak alone, Nanga Parbat in Kashmir, claimed twenty-five lives in less than three years.Climbing the Himalayas was the Greatest Generation's moonshot -- one shrouded in the onset of war, interrupted by it, and then fully accomplished. A gritty, fascinating history sure to enrapture fans of Hampton Sides, Jon Krakauer, and Laura Hillenbrand, The World Beneath Their Feet brings this forgotten story back to life.
The World Beneath Their Feet: The British, the Americans, the Nazis and the Mountaineering Race to Summit the Himalayas
by Scott EllsworthLonglisted for the 2020 William Hill Sports Book of the Year'A gripping history' THE ECONOMIST 'The World Beneath Their Feet contains plenty of rollicking stories' THE TIMES'Gripping' THE SUNDAY TIMES'So far as adventure stories go, this book is tops.' Winston Groom, author of Forrest Gump'[Ellsworth] recasts the era as a great Himalayan race...[and] it works brilliantly...his account of the 1953 ascent of Everest...feels unusually fresh' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'Like if Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air met Lauren Hillenbrand's Unbroken ... an inviting and engrossing read' SPORTS ILLUSTRATEDOne of the most compelling international dramas of the 20th century and an unforgettable saga of survival, technological innovation, and breathtaking human physical achievement-all set against the backdrop of a world headed toward war.While tension steadily rose between European powers in the 1930s, a different kind of battle was raging across the Himalayas. Contingents from Great Britain, Nazi Germany, and the United States had set up rival camps at the base of the mountains, all hoping to become recognized as the fastest, strongest, and bravest climbers in the world.Carried on across nearly the entire sweep of the Himalayas, this contest involved not only the greatest mountain climbers of the era, but statesmen and millionaires, world-class athletes and bona fide eccentrics, scientists and generals, obscure villagers and national heroes. Centered in the 1930s, with one brief, shining postwar coda, the contest was a struggle between hidebound traditionalists and unknown innovators, one that featured new techniques and equipment, unbelievable courage and physical achievement, and unparalleled valor. And death. One Himalayan peak alone, Nanga Parbat in Kashmir, claimed twenty-five lives in less than three years.Climbing the Himalayas was the Greatest Generation's moonshot--one shrouded in the onset of war, interrupted by it, and then fully accomplished. A gritty, fascinating history that promises to enrapture fans of Hampton Side, Jon Krakauer, and Laura Hillenbrand, The World Beneath Their Feet brings this forgotten story back to life.
The World Beneath Their Feet: The British, the Americans, the Nazis and the Mountaineering Race to Summit the Himalayas
by Scott EllsworthThe stories of the extraordinary men and women - the athletes, aristocrats, opportunists and oddballs - who launched the race to the roof of the world.From 1931 to 1953, there was a race like no other. It was a race to the top of the world-a race primarily between Great Britain, Nazi Germany, and the United States.Carried on across nearly the entire sweep of the Himalayas, it involved not only the greatest mountain climbers of the era, but statesmen and millionaires, world-class athletes and bona fide eccentrics, scientists and generals, obscure villagers and national heroes. Centred in the 1930s, with one brief, shining postwar coda, the contest was a struggle between hidebound traditionalists and unknown innovators, one that featured new techniques and equipment, unbelievable courage and physical achievement, and unparalleled derring-do. And death. One Himalayan peak alone, Nanga Parbat in Kashmir, claimed twenty-five lives in less than three years. Fuelled by deep national needs, the great Himalayan race captured the attention of the world. British superiority, German innovation, American determination and the wonder of Sherpas dominated the newsreels, radio broadcasts, books and magazines of the age. The World Beneath Their Feet will bring this forgotten story back to life. It will resurrect what was, in fact, one of the most compelling international dramas of the 1930s, a saga of survival, technology, and some of the most breathtaking human physical achievements, and athletes, ever known, all set against the backdrop of a world headed toward war.(P) 2019 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd