No-no-no-no-no . . . Yesvember

[Sweder]

I've committed a great sin against my own sense of perspective and social correctness - I've gone and mentioned the C word and we're barely into November.

No doubt my twisted soul will burn for all eternity, yet I'm about to do so again in the name of a cause greater than my own. For there is a solution, dear reader, for those amongst us with relatives or friends for whom the buying of Christmas presents is one of life's horrors. The snotty Nephew, the grumbly Uncle, the sports nut next door.

"Best of British" is a celebration of the nation's greatest 100 sporting heroes, from Henry VIII to Red Rum, Roy of the Rovers to Torvill and Dean. Jon Henderson has combed through the annals of our glorious and not so glorious past to bring us the geniuses and the eccentrics, the national treasures and the villains who together have shaped our present. Trueman and W. G., Best and Edwards, racing drivers, jockeys, rowers - just what does it take to make a sporting superhero? Hendo's 100 reveals all. Opinionated and provocative, his witty character studies - accompanied by stylish illustrations - capture the essence of his subjects' greatness, re-evaluating the famous and rescuing the forgotten. But when there's a cast of thousands to choose from, and hundreds of years of history to explore, who will make the cut for the most heroic of the heroic? Find out, in "Best of British".

Hendo is a mate of mine and a stalwart of JDRF UK for many years. He's a top bloke - he's handing over his winnings from this tome to the charity - and I would lov it - really LOV it - if you would all go out and buy a copy for someone you love - or even can't stand - this Christmas. There; I've said it again. Aaaaaargh!

Best of British: Hendo's Sporting Heroes by Jonathan Henderson.
[SIZE="1"]Available from Waterstones of via Amazon.com, GBP 9.99.[/SIZE]