The olympics a history of the modern games book

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EMBED for wordpress. Want more? Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! Includes bibliographical references p. Using as a backdrop the athletic events that draw television audiences in the billions, Allen Guttmann has written an interpretive social history of the games. What did the founders of the Olympic Games intend them to mean? And what have they, in the course of a century of tumultuous change, become? Guttmann probes the political, economic, social, and even religious significance of the games, presenting the most complete and readable account to date.

In the broadest sense, Guttmann argues, politics has always been a part of the Olympics, not an occasional intruder whose presence may take the form of a boycott, protest, or act of terrorism. The book includes lively accounts of individual competitions. An early marathon through the streets of Paris, for example, brought complaints from the U.

Guttmann also provides insight into the behind-the-scenes maneuvering involved in site selection, as well as little-known facts about the general history of the games and about longtime IOC leader Avery Brundage.

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Dec 01, Paul rated it liked it Shelves: reviewed , sports-theory. Although well known as a sports theoretician, Allen Guttmann approaches the history of the Olympics from a less academic vantage point in The Olympics.

His stated intent is to write a history of the Games that is jargon-free, yet takes a rigorous, rather than journalistic, tone. There is an Although well known as a sports theoretician, Allen Guttmann approaches the history of the Olympics from a less academic vantage point in The Olympics. There is an overarching theme, however, which is that, despite the denials of government officials and International Olympic Committee IOC members alike, politics have been intertwined intimately with the Olympic movement since its inception.

Beginning with the influences and machinations of Pierre de Coubertin, the author tracks the trajectory of the Olympic movement with a level of detail that is neither too superficial nor too overwhelming and does an excellent job of concisely reviewing all the salient developments.

To summarize the work in depth or examine the evidence Guttmann uses to support his main argument would be tantamount to rewriting the book itself, as the narrative flows from detail to detail in an attempt to outline the development of the movement. In general, however, each chapter takes a look at one or more editions of the Games, describes the political context in which they were held, with specific attention paid to any controversies, and then reviews the highlights the key athletic performances that defined them.

Each of these is sandwiched in-between a rigorous examination of the evolving dynamic within the IOC, underling political manoeuvers and the influence of IOC members. The impact of the presidents on the direction and tone of the movement is a key theme in these sections, and the author believes that it is the individual in this position that has the most tangible impact on the Games.

The only possible exception to this might be his clear opinions on the efficacy of the various IOC presidents and the relatively elite lens through which the Games and their influencing factors are viewed. It accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do in the preface and introduction, nothing more and nothing less. Aug 28, Quynh rated it it was ok.

I don't know if its because I had to read this book for a class and I don't like force reading, but this book was terrible. So boring!!!!! For my class I had to "read" this book in order to write essay assignments, so I began the semester diligently keeping up with the reading and working on my outline of the book. But it got to the point where I found myself dreading reading this so much bc it's so dryly written that I just abandoned the book and did the essays with other primary so I don't know if its because I had to read this book for a class and I don't like force reading, but this book was terrible.

But it got to the point where I found myself dreading reading this so much bc it's so dryly written that I just abandoned the book and did the essays with other primary sources. The book is completely unengaging with dully written, if any, sport anecdotes.

So for a book that fails in the engaging department, you'd think it would succeed in thoroughly retelling the whole Olympics history, but no! Most of the events only have one or two paragraphs dedicated to them, and the events are simply stated, without going in depth with interesting recollections or anything.

My mind just associates this book with dryness, and I am happy to not have to pick it up again! Nov 15, Joseph Stieb rated it it was ok. Read this for a course on the history of the modern Olympics, but I was fairly disappointed and frustrated by this book.

Oddly enough there are too many descriptions of sporting events just thrown in to balance out history based mainly in the plans and controversies of the IOC. The book largely leaves out more substantive thematic issues at the Games, including gender, race, drugs, and nationalism. The one thing is does do a good job of is explain how the IOC chose certain sites for the Olympics Read this for a course on the history of the modern Olympics, but I was fairly disappointed and frustrated by this book.

The one thing is does do a good job of is explain how the IOC chose certain sites for the Olympics and how it dealt with political controversies involving boycotts and multiple countries claiming to represent one nation East v West Germany, for instance.

Overall the book is a little too short and dry, really more of a history of the IOC. Feb 15, Dan added it. A nice indulgence in my passion for Olympic history. Sep 27, Angela rated it it was amazing. I like this book it tells a lot about the Olympics and about the AAU which I am a competitor of, so it is cool to read about it. Aaron Jacobs rated it really liked it May 10, Anna rated it really liked it May 31, Kara Greene rated it did not like it Mar 06, John rated it really liked it Feb 01, Mike Varuolo rated it liked it Oct 05, Holly rated it it was ok Sep 05, Barbara Pires rated it liked it Apr 13, John rated it it was amazing Jul 08, Sasha Ree rated it really liked it Jan 01, Jerrika Morrell rated it it was amazing Apr 16, Caden Hartsburg rated it it was amazing Mar 13, Kelby Anthony rated it it was amazing Oct 25, Steffen Aabel rated it really liked it Dec 25, Sean Davenport rated it liked it Jul 18, Maudie rated it liked it Jul 27,