Sports & Recreation

This handy trivia book is packed with everything you need to know about running, including potted history, quirky facts, sayings and hints about the planet's most popular exercise form.

It includes running philosophy and advice on how to get more out of your daily run. From science to humour, tips to tales, it runs the reader through everything they need to know about pounding the pavement.

This pocket-sized guide to running is the perfect gift for runners of all ages and experience levels.

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." Oprah Winfrey, talk-show host, actress and producer, as seen on Huffington Post.

In 2011, Belgian runner Stefaan Engels set the record for the most consecutive marathons run - 365. He was 49 years of age.

There are few football clubs in the world that attract as much interest in the modern game as Chelsea. Whether it is the latest observations from former coach Maurizio Sarri, his successor Frank Lampard, big-money transfer targets, the style of play or results in Europe, everybody thinks they know what's happening – or at least has an opinion on it.

The arrival in 2003 of Russian billionaire tycoon Roman Abramovich as owner turned a glamorous club with a long history of under-achievement, into an international powerhouse. After one championship in 99 years, the Blues have, in a dozen years, won five Premier League titles, plus the UEFA Champions League, two UEFA Europa League titles, five FA Cups and three Football League Cups. The club always was a magnet for well-known names – vaudeville legend George Robey played for the Pensioners in the club's earliest days – and, in the modern era, Stamford Bridge has become home to a dazzling array of world stars. From Ron 'Chopper' Harris and Ken Bates through Ruud Gullit, Roberto Di Matteo and Glenn Hoddle to Jose Mourinho, John Terry, Zola, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, there is no lack of characters to draw on for quotes.

Whether you enjoy the quiet of a stream, a roaring river or the horizons of the ocean to enjoy recreational fishing, the ultimate prize is probably not just catching fish – most people fish to escape the demands of life, soak in the sights and sounds of nature and spend time with friends and family.

There's little that can beat the perfect simplicity of a bike ride.

There are many reasons why cycling has such enduring appeal. For some, it is the relaxation and freedom that biking offers - what could be better than pedalling away and leaving our troubles behind? For others, cycling is the perfect means of building strength and fitness. Indeed, it can be one of the most challenging sports on the planet - from amateurs testing themselves to the limit to professionals competing in some of the toughest races in the world.

Packed full of wise, witty and inspirational quotes, The Little Book of Cycling is the perfect gift for cyclists of all levels. From the simple exhilaration of freewheeling downhill to the arduous challenges faced by the endurance cyclist, this is the ultimate ode to the love of two wheels.

"Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring" Desmond Tutu

"I don't ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days." Unknown

Cricket is blessed with quality prose and gifted writing.

The nobles and gentlemen who brought the game of cricket from England's villages to the pavilion at Lord's were often as equally blessed with the gift of wit and banter as they were with leather and willow. Their turns of phrase, intellectual insights and outlandish observations were as likely to knock you for six as to leave you stumped.

The Little Book of Cricket encapsulates their often hilarious, sometimes sombre and occasionally downright bizarre quotes as the greats of the game, from Don Bradman to Steve Waugh and Ian Botham to Freddie Flintoff, all describe their beloved sport in their own words.

"He's got it, England have won the World Cup by the barest of margins... Absolute ecstasy for England, agony, agony for New Zealand"

Ian Smith, New Zealand commentor, calling that crucial final ball of the super over

"He lifted the game from a state of conventional excitement to one of unbelievable suspense and drama and finally into the realm of romantic fiction."

Henry Blofeld, on a then 18-year-old Ian Botham, 1974

The story of the world's most formidable rugby team

The record of the All Blacks in world rugby is unmatched. From the famous pre-match challenge of the haka to the scintillating brand of rugby they play, the team draws thousands around the world to stadiums and TVs to watch them play. Over the years, some of the greatest players to ever pick up a rugby ball have worn the iconic black jersey - names like Lomu, Meads, Carter and Barrett. From the first ever tours to the modern World Cups, the All Blacks embody a legacy of excellence that strikes fear into the heart of their opponents.

"Son, you've got to be prepared to piss blood to wear this jersey." - All Black flanker Mark Shaw to debutant Mike Brewer, 1986.

The 1924/5 All Black side won an astonishing 31 games in a row on their tour to the United Kingdom, France and North America. When they arrived back in New Zealand they were dubbed 'The Invincibles'

Words of advice from lifetimes spent on the fairways of the world – you might even improve your game.

Whether you're a weekend warrior zig-zagging your way across the course or Jack Nicklaus leading the gallery down the 18th fairway at Augusta, golf is a game of wit and wisdom as much as wedges and woods.

From the game's earliest beginnings at St Andrew's in the 15th century to the modern masters of The Masters to the page, the screen and even the White House, golf has been a source of inspiration, motivation, life lessons and laughter for people of all ages.

'It's a marriage. If I had to choose between my wife and my putter... well, I'd miss her.' Gary Player.

'I can tell right away if a guy is a winner or a loser just by the way he conducts himself on the course.' Donald Trump.

A huge number of people ski, and this fun little book looks at all aspects of what makes it so appealing. For some, it's a serene communication with nature as they glide down a gentle slope in silence, for others it's a 100-miles-an-hour descent down an almost vertical piste with an evening of beer, cheese and singing as a follow-up.

The Little Book of Skiing delves into this fascinating sport, starting with the history and encompassing pretty much everything that draws us to beautiful white slopes across the world. So whether you're a once-a-year wobble-down-a-nursery-slope type or a skiing superstar in lycra, this book will inform, amaze and amuse, and hopefully make your next epic power day that little bit better.

SAMPLE QUOTE:
""There are really only three things to learn in skiing: how to put on your skis, how to slide downhill, and how to walk along the hospital corridor.""
- From A Chinaman in My Bath and other pieces by Lord Mancroft, 1974

SAMPLE FACT:
The word 'ski' comes from the ancient Norse word 'skio', which means a split piece of wood.

Packed with camping fundamentals, such as tips on essential kit, how to start a fire, what to look for in a good site and a few challenges you may encounter, this little book also includes quotes that celebrate the great outdoors. Whether your preference is a caravan, a treehouse, a yurt or a simple pegged tent under the stars, it’s the best way to get exercise and enjoy nature.

More than just a book on survival, this book embraces the wonder and magic of the great outdoors, with great quotes, facts and written words that help explore and understand some of the world's most beautiful natural places.