The Meaning of Cricket

“A beautifully written meditation on the joys of summer”

Tom Holland, Evening Standard, Book of the Year

“Hotten is not just good, he is one of the best... He has the eye for a beautifully judged phrase”

Richard Whitehead, Cricketer

“Hotten has emerged as a worthy addition to the lineage of writers who adhere to C L R James’s aphorism: “What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?”… This will be a worthy addition to any cricketing bookshelf”

Tim Wigmore, New Statesman

“For those dreaming of summer, The Meaning of Cricket is accessible, fun and elegantly written.”

Hilary Mantel, New Statesman, Book of the Year

“Simultaneously playful and packed with insight … All cricketing life is here... Hotten’s writing is accessible and often moving”

Ben East, Observer

“Memory and meditation twirled into a lovesong: Jon Hotten hits it out of the park”

William Fiennes

“A collection of Jon Hotten's writing that is lively with insight and anecdote, and informed by the persona of the knowledgeable and fascinated practitioner… On amateur cricket Jon is alternately hilarious and poignant, but it's when he's in his almost-a-pro-yet-somehow-not-quite vein that he truly breaks out. He considers cricket's capacity for revealing us to ourselves.”

Gideon Haigh, Cric Info

“An eccentric mix of anecdote, personal memoir, historical observation, technical analysis and psychological insight.”

Matthew Syed, The Times

“Hotten is among the best in the business, as this vivid love letter to the sport proves.”

Sport

“Engrossing book… Hotten explores what it is about cricket that so takes hold of the imagination… Reveal[s] the funny, moving and transformative impact the game can have on life.”

Bookseller

“[Hotten’s] witty commentary on the great names, absurdities and realities of cricket will give heart to its many mad devotees.”

Saga

“A little gem.”

David Owen, Inside the Games

“A thoughtful paean…to a beautiful game.”

Claire Allfree, Metro, Book of the Year