The Olympics of 1972: A Munich Diary

Despite its title, this is not a sports book, nor is it a sensational report on the murder of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists (the author had to rely on TV programs and press handouts for details of these tragedies). Instead Mandell, a history professor at the University of South Carolina and author of The Nazi Olympics , about the Berlin games of 1936, here examines the philosophy, aesthetics, history and politics of sports. There are even passages on the philosophy of sports art and a ``playful'' proposal for an art exhibition commemorating the 1972 games. At times provocative, at others pretentious, the book will appeal only to a limited audience. (Aug.)