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  • Published: 20 August 2018
  • ISBN: 9780143793519
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $22.99
Categories:

A Thoroughly Unhelpful History of Australian Sport




Can you not like sport and be Australian?

When it comes to sport, Australians are mad. Completely, irrationally insane. It’s the closest thing we have to a culture. From Don Bradman’s singular focus to Steven Bradbury’s heroic not falling over, sport has shaped our sense of self.

But how did we get here? Part history, part social commentary and a lot of nonsense, Titus O’Reily, Australia’s least insightful sports writer, explains.

Covering Australian Rules, League, Union, soccer, cricket, the Olympics and much more, Titus tackles the big topics, like:

· How not to cheat the salary cap
· The importance of kicking people in the shins
· The many shortcomings of the English

Titus takes you through the characters, the pub meetings, the endless acronyms, the corruption and the alarming number of footballers caught urinating in public.

Sport is important – gloriously stupid, but important. To understand Australia you must understand its sporting history. With this guide you sort of, kind of, will.

  • Published: 20 August 2018
  • ISBN: 9780143793519
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $22.99
Categories:

About the author

Titus O'Reily

Titus O’Reily is a writer, presenter, performer and broadcaster known for capturing the trials and tribulations of being an obsessive sports fan. His commentary and sporting round-ups have attracted over 300k followers on social media.

As well as his own national comedy tours, O’Reily appears on The Front Bar, The Project and is a regular on ABC Radio and NOVA FM. He is in demand as a guest speaker at high-profile events like the AFL Grand Final.

Titus has written four books: A Thoroughly Unhelpful History of Australian Sport (2017), A Sporting Chance (2018), Please Gamble Irresponsibly (2019) and Cheat: The Not-So-subtle Art of Conning Your Way to Sporting Glory (2020).

His unique take on sport has been hailed by some of the most respected figures in sport as 'awful', 'childish' and 'barely comprehensible'. Others say 'hilarious'.

Also by Titus O'Reily

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The origins of Australian Rules

Titus O’Reily shares the story of the first code of laws for Australian Rules Football.

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Sports talk

Titus O’Reily on the best strategy for navigating conversations about sport.

Video
Titus O'Reily on A Thoroughly Unhelpful History Of Australian Sport

Sport is important – gloriously stupid, but important. To understand Australia you must understand its sporting history. With this guide you sort of, kind of, will.

Video
A Thoroughly Unhelpful History Of Australian Sport by Titus O'Reily

When it comes to sport, Australians are mad. Completely, irrationally insane. It’s the closest thing we have to a culture. From Don Bradman’s singular focus to Steven Bradbury’s heroic not falling over, sport has shaped our sense of self. But how did we get here? Part history, part social commentary and a lot of nonsense, Titus O’Reily, Australia’s least insightful sports writer, explains.