Richard Osman’s other books: quizzes and gifts

Publication details and retailer links

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The World Cup of Everything

Published by Hodder & Stoughton, The World Cup of Everything turns everyday favourites into knockout contests. Crisps, biscuits, chocolate, sitcoms and songs become things to choose between, champion and argue about. It is a humour-and-trivia book rather than a novel, with the fun coming from comparing preferences. Hachette lists the first hardback on 5 October 2017 and the paperback on 15 November 2018. The paperback ISBN is 9781473667273; the hardback is 9781473667266.

Who would enjoy the World Cup book?

Our gift pick is the person who always has a firm opinion about the best biscuit, the ideal crisp or the sitcom everyone should watch. The book gives a family gathering or a group of friends a ready-made topic of conversation. Nobody needs to remember the previous chapter or solve a murder to join in. If your recipient likes Osman’s conversational humour but rarely reads fiction, this is a useful alternative to giving them a late instalment of a mystery series they have never started.

Richard Osman’s House of Games

Richard Osman and Alan Connor are credited together on the publisher’s record for Richard Osman’s House of Games. Penguin lists the ebook, published by BBC Digital, on 17 October 2019 and the BBC Books paperback on 8 October 2020. The paperback ISBN is 9781785944635. The book draws on the BBC Two quiz’s familiar rounds, including Answer Smash, and its publisher description promises more than fifty new and exclusive games. It is a collection of things to play, not a biography of the presenter or a companion novel. The 2019 BBC Books hardback was published on 17 October 2019, ISBN 9781785944628, with the subtitle “101 new & classic games from the hit BBC series”.

Choosing the right quiz-book edition

This joint-author book suits viewers who enjoy the programme’s mix of wordplay, general knowledge and unexpected connections. It is also a good option for someone who likes a pub quiz and would enjoy trying a different style of round at home. Check the title and author credit when buying: the book covered here is the Richard Osman and Alan Connor collaboration. Other House of Games titles exist, including a newer Quiz Book credited to Alan Connor; a similar programme name does not make them the same edition.

A different way into Osman’s work

These books can be enjoyed without knowing Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim or Ron, and without following Steve and Amy Wheeler. If you are choosing for a reader who wants a story, the first novel of either series is a better starting point. If you are choosing for somebody who likes to involve the whole room, a quiz or playful debate book may fit better. A small note explaining why you chose it can be more helpful than assuming every Osman reader enjoys exactly the same kind of entertainment.

Pair a book with an evening

For a simple gift, wrap the quiz book with a promise of a relaxed games evening, or give The World Cup of Everything to someone who enjoys hosting friends. These are our editorial suggestions, not promises of official event packages or included accessories. The gift guide compares novels, reading sets and audio for different kinds of recipients. Osman’s biography connects the writing with his broadcasting career, while the television guide explains the House of Games handover to Michael Sheen in October 2026.

Sources

• Hachette: World Cup paperback
• Hachette: first hardback
• Penguin: House of Games paperback
• Penguin: House of Games ebook
• Foyles: House of Games 2019 hardback