Games People Played is, surprisingly, the first global history of sport. Wray Vamplew shows how sport has been practised, experienced and made meaningful by players and fans, and assesses how sports have developed and diffused across the globe. He examines not only how sport is sociable and health-giving, but how economics has turned sport into a huge consumer industry.

Sport’s dark side – its environmental impact, the use of performance-enhancing drugs, discrimination and match fixing – is explored in detail. Covering everything from curling to baseball, boxing to motor racing, this book, now in paperback, will appeal to anyone who plays, watches or enjoys sport.