Woff's timely book (think Sydney, 2000) is unusual in that it describes the ancient Greek Olympics day by day over a period of five days, comparing the ancient and modern games as it goes along. Did you know, for instance, that ancient Olympians had personal trainers? Additional chapters discuss a variety of related topics, such as the origin of the games, women in proceedings, and the beginning of the modern Olympics. The text brings to life the sights and sounds of the spectacle, Woff provides the sort of juicy information that students will find invaluable for research. Illustrations, including photographs of Greek art and statuary, are plentiful. Beautiful images of athletes from terra-cotta amphoras give a particularly effective and lively sense of the gritty heroism of the participants. The thoughtful, coherent design allows ready access to some very interesting facts. Tim Arnold