Reference books are, by nature, arid reads. Occasionally one comes along and breaks the mould. The Complete Book of The Olympic Games by David Wallechinsky may look a formidable tome in that it contains the top eight finishers in every summer Olympic event since 1896. But the anecdotes which lace the book in tandem with remarkable research and information make it one of the most fascinating books to find its way into the shops.

Black and white pictures litter the early days with historic shots explained in generous detail. The black power salute in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico which resulted in two black American athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith being sent home, are dealt with in excellent detail, as is the well documented tale of Irish swimmer Michelle Smith de Bruin's three gold medals.

Updated and republished every four years by Arum Press and costing £14.99, the book is available from August 18th.