The Olympics have captivated people for almost a century. The event demonstrates human athleticism and international camaraderie. Every four years, people worldwide gather to see astonishing achievements, celebrate human triumphs, and hear the stories of hardworking athletes.

The Olympics is not all about record-breaking. Political issues, disputes, and moral dilemmas also plague this worldwide event. To help you understand it, we included five must-read books that discuss its pros and cons. These novels will show you the great and troubling aspects of the games.

Whether you are a sports lover or just a reader, these thought-provoking books can help you comprehend the Olympics beyond the rewards and hype.  

The Games by David Goldblatt

The book chronicles the full Olympic narrative from the first Olympic contests in 1896 to the present. David Goldblatt considers more than just the athletic successes people recall, such as Jesse Owens' victories and Usain Bolt's record-breaking sprints. He also looks at the political and social aspects of the Games.

He looks at how foreign conflicts have affected the Olympics, how women's participation has changed over time, how the Paralympics have grown, and how people's views on race and ethnicity have changed. This book tells in great detail how the Olympics show bigger changes and problems in society. 

The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb

The book follows the race to break the four-minute mile, an achievement formerly believed impossible. After the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, three runners - Roger Bannister, John Landy, and Wes Santee - were resolved to meet this challenge. Neal Bascomb discusses their pasts, contrasting Bannister's idealistic amateurism, Landy's rigorous preparation, and Santee's innate quickness.

The book takes place in several countries and shows a time when this quest was the talk of the world, more important than major world events. Bascomb paints a vivid picture of the players' sacrifices and the sports spirit of the time through this gripping story. 

The Amateurs by David Halberstam

Focusing on the 1984 Princeton single sculls trials, David Halberstam writes on the passionate world of amateur rowing. Halberstam goes deep into the rowers' lives, who strive for greatness without financial gain because they want to be the best and most famous. The book discusses the mental and physical hurdles these athletes face, what drives them, and what they have to give up.

Halberstam tells vivid stories and analyzes them carefully to show how hard people have to work and how resilient they have to be in amateur sports. This is an interesting look at the human spirit and the chase for athletic excellence. 

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The Sports Gene by David Epstein

The book examines the complicated relationship between genes and training relative to sports success. David Epstein investigates whether the success of great athletes like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps is due to genetics or rigorous training programs. Speaking with scientists and Olympic athletes with unique genetic traits, Epstein explores the nature vs. nurture debate.

He disputes the 10,000-hour guideline and claims that athletic performance is much influenced by genetics. This book offers a provocative analysis of what distinguishes a great player. It combines interesting sports stories with scientific facts. 

Circus Maximus by Andrew Zimbalist

The book examines how the World Cup and the Olympics affect the economy. Zimbalist challenges the idea that hosting an event will bring huge economic benefits to the city and instead discusses how these events often cause financial and social problems.

He uses examples of places like London and Barcelona to put current hosts like Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro in their proper context. The new version discusses recent scandals, like the FIFA scandal and Boston's bid to host the 2024 Olympics. Zimbalist critically examines the real prices of these mega-events and urges readers to see past the hype to the harsh economic facts. 

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