"I hate sport. I've always hated it. I don't just mean one or two types of sport; I don't get any of them". If sport is the new religion, Andy Miller is an atheist. He is proud to say he was the last one to be picked for the school football team. The beautiful game, the roar of the crowd, winning, losing and even taking part - all these mean nothing to him. Well, almost nothing. He loves crazy golf. In this book Andy Miller sets out to discover what it is about sport that sends the British barmy. From the Open to the Boat Race, from football in the Nationwide to tennis at Wimbledon, from the World Wrestling Federation to Steve Redgrave's homecoming parade, he turns a quizzical eye on the participants, the spectators and the sponsors to try to understand our greatest national obsession. And to experience what others feel so passionately, Andy pursues his own dream of crazy-golf glory. It takes him from the windswept Skegness seafront to the giant adventure golf courses of Myrtle Beach, USA, and to the European Championships in Latvia, where he is the sole member of a struggling British team. "Tilting at Windmills" is the hilarious yet slightly unsettling story of the passions that are unleashed when a sports atheist tries to stop worrying and love sport - and almost succeeds.
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Amazon Review
Tilting at Windmills is the comic odyssey of a meek geek who tries to become one with the sporting life. Journalist Andy Miller is a lifelong sport-phobic who finds himself in a Britain obsessed with the stuff--from the school playing field to the various "hallowed turfs", the seemingly pointless doings have everyone around him mesmerised--and Miller decides to find out why.
A stuttering but almost successful attempt to become a QPR fan, gives way to bold stabs at embracing the totems of British sport--The Open, The Boat Race, Wimbledon--with Miller bent on breaking the "code" that allows others to find passion, drama and fun, where he finds only bad catering, yobs and stupefying boredom.
The investigation is punctuated by the ongoing story of his own endeavours in top-flight international sporting competition, as Miller finds himself drawn to the painted windmills and baffling geometry of crazy golf, pursuing his new passion around the seaside towns of Britain and onwards to European Championships, in Latvia (where he is billed by no less an organ than the Baltic Times as "the Eddie the Eagle of miniature golf").
Miller is the witty, acutely self-conscious traveller at the heart of his own story, but nevertheless pursues serious lines of enquiry into the self-deception and surrender to tribalism that characterise the sports fan, and what underpins his own long-standing resistance to "joining in". No major revelations here, but this is a light, entertaining read that could have even the most unsporty types thinking about grabbing a putter. --Alex Hankin
Review
"A heck of a lot of fun ... made me laugh out loud ... Miller may be "anti-skilled" at sport but he sure can write." -- Andrew Martin, Sunday Express
"Brilliantly funny. Not to be missed" -- Sportspages
"It's a hilarious premise, superbly executed by an accomplished comic writer." -- Matt Seaton, Esquire
"One of the signature pieces of modern sports writing, shot through with an eye for comic detail worthy of the young Evelyn Waugh" -- Michael Bracewell, the Observer
"The bravest man in Britain" -- Martha Kearney, Woman's Hour, Radio 4
"Brilliantly funny. Not to be missed" -- Sportspages
"It's a hilarious premise, superbly executed by an accomplished comic writer." -- Matt Seaton, Esquire
"One of the signature pieces of modern sports writing, shot through with an eye for comic detail worthy of the young Evelyn Waugh" -- Michael Bracewell, the Observer
"The bravest man in Britain" -- Martha Kearney, Woman's Hour, Radio 4
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Andy Miller's book is very funny but it's also suprisingly thoughtful - he appears to change his mind about sport as the book progresses, which is a lot more honest than many writers. His account of his sporting year manages to take in games teachers, QPR, the Boat Race, Jimmy Tarbuck (very funny this bit - Louis Theroux-ish), and an awful lot of crazy golf. And the chapter at the minigolf finals in Latvia is unbelievable!
It's gripping AND humourous AND smart.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A great read, extremely funny, and the perfect antidote to World Cup fever. Great for those who aren't into sport but sports lovers will also enjoy this book and find it thought-provoking. In fact, I'd recommend it to everyone!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I was always last to be picked in games too, so this book made me laugh a lot. It was really good to read about horrible sport from the point of view of someone who can't stand it - especially a man (though God knows what other men will make of it!) Plus I couldn't believe that crazy golf could be so thrilling - sad but true. Really though, read this book if you want to know what it's like not to fit in in a ball-shaped world. Funny and clever.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Well, tries hard at least.
Mr. Miller shares a lot in common with Dave Gorman - his novel is based on a totally ridiculous premise that just begs you to follow. Andy Miller has always been rubbish at sport. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2004 by Kid Ad
5.0 out of 5 stars
Show me the putter
This is a brilliant, funny book dealing with Andy Miller's struggle to overcome a lack of ability, and also to understand why sport can be addictive. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2003 by G. Hill
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not what you might think
As one who last enjoyed a competitive activity when it involved running in a straight line balancing an egg on a spoon, I could certainly empathise with the author's past as a... Read more
Published on 13 July 2002 by "jemwatson"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Humiliation with humour
I found this a hugely funny book - it took me back to my days at school and subsequently failure at sports in my mature years. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2002
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