{"title":"James Harkin","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Harkin\u003c\/strong\u003e delights readers with a unique blend of humour and curious trivia, often presented through entertaining and unexpected facts that challenge conventional knowledge. His works captivate those who enjoy witty, sharp insights paired with a playful twist on everyday subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFans of sports and general knowledge alike will find his books an amusing exploration of oddities and surprises, delivered with a lighthearted tone that both informs and entertains. His writing is perfect for anyone looking to be both amused and enlightened.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-load-of-old-balls-by-james-harkin-9780571372546","title":"A Load of Old Balls","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSHORTLISTED FOR THE CHARLES TYRWHITT SPORTS BOOK AWARDS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Top Bins! A personal best, a lap record and a hole in one for when rain has stopped play.' ALAN DAVIES\u003cbr\u003e\n'The trivia book of the season . . . magnificent.' \u003ci\u003eSPECTATOR\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDid you know that Henry VIII owned the first pair of football boots? Or that David Attenborough is responsible for yellow tennis balls?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Load of Old Balls\u003c\/i\u003e is the curious story of us and sport. It's about our mind-blowingly determined attempts to be the fastest, the strongest, the most skilful. In this endlessly entertaining tale of play and belonging, astonishing violence and jaw-dropping cheating, we learn what led ancient Egyptian athletes to have their spleens removed and discover why Michael Palin was disqualified from a conker tournament. Crossing millennia, continents and cultures, Harkin and Ptaszynski—the brainy researchers for BBC's \u003ci\u003eQI\u003c\/i\u003e and co-hosts of \u003ci\u003eNo Such Thing As A Fish\u003c\/i\u003e—show us sport as we've never seen it before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished in hardback as \u003ci\u003eEverything to Play For\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor more from the team behind QI's hit TV show, check out the QI FACTS series of books, @qikipedia, their weekly podcast at nosuchthingasafish.com or visit qi.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46834243043564,"sku":"9780571372546","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/11401573482391.jpg?v=1758502434"},{"product_id":"1342-qi-facts-to-leave-you-flabbergasted-by-john-lloyd-9780571332465","title":"1,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted","description":"The sock-blasting, jaw-dropping, side-swiping phenomenon that is QI serves up a sparkling new selection of 1,342 facts that will leave you flabbergasted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e1,342 QI Facts\u003c\/i\u003e coincides with more good news from QI, as Sandi Toksvig takes over the duties as presenter on the double-BAFTA nominated TV show, and the QI Elves' podcast \u003ci\u003eNo Such Thing As A Fish\u003c\/i\u003e wins its second Chortle award.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first pencils were used to draw on sheep.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore people work for Walmart than live in Slovenia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe beaded lacewing stuns its prey by farting on it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe allies considered dropping glue to stick Nazi troops to the ground.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only life on Earth for a billion years was a thick layer of slime. Scientists call it  the boring billion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn the anniversary of landing, the Mars Curiosity rover hummed 'Happy Birthday' to itself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Flabbergasted' was first recorded in a 1772 list of new words alongside 'bored'.","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47334962856172,"sku":"9780571332465","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/11000763482391.jpg?v=1772052464"},{"product_id":"qi-the-third-book-of-general-ignorance-by-andrew-hunter-murray-9780571308989","title":"QI: The Third Book of General Ignorance","description":"The Third Book of General Ignorance gathers together 180 questions, both new and previously featured on the QI's popular 'General Ignorance' round.For the past decade, the QI team have been patiently correcting the myths, misunderstandings and misplaced certainties that go to make up 'general knowledge'. The first Book of General Ignorance, published in 2006, became an instant international bestseller and has been translated into 29 languages. The Second Book of General Ignorance in 2010 set the record straight on hundreds more areas of everyday wrongness. Now, the QI team returns to complete the trilogy. The Third Book of General ignorance gathers together 180 more questions to which the answers all seem perfectly obvious. Some have appeared in the BBC TV programme's 'General Ignorance' round, but many appear here for the first time. What they prove, beyond all reasonable doubt, is that none of us know anything at all. The largest pyramid isn't in EgyptThe Nile isn't the world's longest riverThe Himalayas aren't the longest mountain range'Jingle Bells' wasn't written for ChristmasWhalebone isn't made of whale boneMost deserts aren't made from sandThe ozone layer isn't made of ozoneCowboys didn't wear StetsonsAll snakes are venomousNot all fish live in water","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47334968623340,"sku":"9780571308989","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/be5affea73646261a47220b6b1f9a296.jpg?v=1772060406"},{"product_id":"qi-the-third-book-of-general-ignorance-by-john-lloyd-9780571309016","title":"QI: The Third Book of General Ignorance","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eQI: The Third Book of General Ignorance\u003c\/em\u003e gathers together 180 questions, both new and previously featured on the BBC TV programme's popular 'General Ignorance' round, and shows why, when it comes to general knowledge, none of us knows anything at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWho invented the sandwich? What was the best thing before sliced bread? Who first ate frogs' legs? Which cat never changes its spots? What did Lady Godiva do? What can you legally do if you come across a Welshman in Chester after sunset?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47597548470508,"sku":"9780571309016","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/93f7d06e5fa94725ac3b18cbba987985.jpg?v=1778038215"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/james-harkin.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}