The main focus of the book (about two/thirds of it) in the events leading up to the actual Olympic Games in Germany, especially the boycott movements in the US and UK and how the people in the Olympic Movement reacted to this challenge and in the end defeating them.
In regard to the athletes the focus is on a few athletes from the UK and US (including Jesse Owens of course) and some anti-Nazi German ones though it would have been nice to get the perspective from other countries (how did for example the athletes from fascist Italy view the events in Berlin?) and from the other German athletes as well.
The author also brings up and disproves a few myths about the Games, for example the claim that Hitler snubbed Jesse Owens.
Even when the actual Games are covered the events outside the stadiums are given a lot of attention, such as the various large parties thrown in Berlin.

The People’s Olympic Games (Olimpiada Popular) in Barcelona and the Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen are given a interesting chapter each, personally I’d like to have seen more coverage of both events but as the title says the book is focusing on the Games in Berlin.

The author is a former journalist and that shows in a positive way in the writing as it is easy to get caught up in the events being portrayed instead of the sometimes rather dry reading in other books going into such detail.
On the downside we have the fact that the author makes his personal feelings about certain individuals (Avery Brundage, head of the American Olympic Committee) shine through in the book, something that should be included only in the introduction of the book, if at all.
He also repeatedly points out that the Nazi regime was guilty of mistreating its citizens; we all know that, no need to mention that repeatedly in the book.

On the whole I think it is a good book for anyone interested in the Berlin Games, especially for those interested in the events leading up to the games.

(Reviewed by Marcus Wendel)
Thanks to the author for the review copy.