A review by secretbookcase
Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports by Edward Brooke-Hitching

dark funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

A fascinating collection about sports that have been practiced by humans across the ages. Some of it is funny, some of it is gruesome, and others yet just leave you scratching your head. This is definitely not for those who are faint at heart or do not want to read about animal cruelty, as unfortunately many sports used to involve the maltreatment of animals. It is interesting to read about all these sporting activities, and see how they emerged from training for combat, the channelling of human’s innate aggression or the search for entertainment and dare-devilry. But the book could have benefited from the author drawing out some general observations and connections about all the sports mentioned, or at the least it could have been thematically organised. 
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