Curling Rocks!: Chronicles of the Roaring Game

The sport of curling continues to expand its global reach, attracting new players and fans far beyond traditional strongholds. Yet, even in Canada--a country with a long curling history and fifteen hundred clubs of its own--the game is often dismissed as an eccentric pastime.

According to author John Cullen, this is because curling is both inherently funny and chronically underestimated as a battle of skill and strategy. And Cullen is perfectly qualified to make this double-edged claim: not only is he a stand-up comic with many years of experience, but he's had years on the ice as an elite curler.

Because most books on curling have been either how-to guides or standard biographies of prominent players, there has long been space for a listener-friendly overview of the roaring game. Curling Rocks! sets out to fill this gap with a lighthearted, expertly detailed account of the sport, ranging from the absurd to the sublime. Cullen offers insights on everything from the greatest matches ever played to the peculiar heartbreak that comes with losing.

In these inviting, irreverent, and often deeply personal essays, Cullen finally gives the perplexing, beloved game its due.