We all miss how sports used to be, but what better way to rekindle that nostalgia than by reading one of the best sports books ever? Sports books are no different from other great books in their ability to transport readers to new worlds. Explore the lives of your favorite athletes, coaches, and legends in-depth with the help of a playbook, memoir, or classic sports biography. Another fantastic approach to viewing your favorite game from a fresh perspective is to read a sports novel, particularly if the author is a sports enthusiast.
Best Sports Books 2023
People can learn more about their favorite sports, athletes, and teams by reading sports books. They can provide readers with inspiration, motivation, and entertainment while also assisting them in developing a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world of sports.
One of the most significant advantages of reading sports books is the knowledge they can impart. Whether you are an avid sports fan or are just starting out, reading books about the sport can help you understand the rules, strategies, and history of the game. This knowledge can help you enjoy the game more and become a more informed fan.
Sports books can also serve as a source of motivation and inspiration. Many books tell the stories of athletes who have overcome adversity, overcome obstacles, and accomplished great things. These stories can motivate readers to work harder in their own lives, whether in sports or otherwise.
Furthermore, sports books can be a great way to escape the stresses of everyday life and immerse yourself in the excitement and drama of the sporting world. They can provide entertainment as well as a way to unwind after a long day.
To get the most out of sports books, look for ones that are well-written, informative, and entertaining. Look for books by well-known authors and subject matter experts, and read reviews from other readers to get a sense of the book’s quality and appeal. You can improve your understanding of sports and gain inspiration and motivation to pursue your own athletic goals by selecting the best sports books.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
For the first time ever, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight tells the inner story of the company’s beginnings as an adventurous start-up and how it developed into one of the most recognizable, game-changing, and successful brands in the world in an open and compelling biography.
Young, aimless, and straight out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and started a firm with the straightforward goal of importing high-quality, inexpensive running shoes from Japan. In the first year, 1963, selling the shoes out of the trunk of his Plymouth Valiant, Knight made $8,000 in revenue. Nike now has annual sales of almost $30 billion. Knight’s Nike is the gold standard in this startup era, and its swoosh is more than just a logo. It is one of the few icons that is universally recognized as a sign of greatness and grace.
Yet Knight—the person responsible for the swoosh—has always remained an enigma. He finally reveals his story in this memoir, which is unexpected, humble, uncensored, humorous, and masterfully written. It all starts with a well-known crossroads circumstance. After grappling with life’s Big Questions while traveling through Asia, Europe, and Africa at the age of 24, Knight determines that the unusual road is the only one for him. Instead of working for a large organization, he will start something entirely new, exciting, and unique.
Knight describes the numerous terrible dangers, shattering losses, fierce rivals, innumerable naysayers, unfriendly bankers, and thrilling victories and tight escapes he experienced along the road. Above all, he remembers the early friendships that were the inspiration for Nike, particularly those he shared with his former track coach Bill Bowerman and his initial staff, a motley crew of misfits and geniuses who evolved into a gang of swoosh-obsessed brothers.
The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant
With its release in 2018, the book by renowned all-star player Kobe Bryant has become a classic. The basketball player continues by outlining his position within the team, how he personally plays the game with a strong mindset, and what he refers to as “the Mamba Mentality,” which he sees as his secret to success. With this book, which serves as a how-to manual for young athletes all around the world to play in his way, Bryant, a teacher, mentor, and fan favorite, has given the world a gift.
Bryant has some advice for young people or anyone looking to break into the game because he is one of the most productive and innovative players. A fantastic book for basketball fans and aspirants.
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
The expedition of the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico’s Copper Canyon by Christopher McDougall is the ultimate adventure story. If you’re an obsessive runner, you certainly have enough of running memoirs and guidance books. As McDougall set out to figure out why his foot was aching, he learned a totally novel—at least to him—method of running from the Tarahumaras. What is their secret? They can run for hundreds of miles without stopping, following deer and Olympic marathon runners with equal delight. Why have we all been running in the wrong direction all along?
All of these issues are covered in McDougall’s book, which also attempts to address his own original query as to why he has spent his entire life being instructed in the wrong methods. Take up this book if you want to learn a new method to run and discover a little-known history.
I Came as a Shadow by John Thompson
The long-awaited autobiography of Georgetown University’s illustrious coach, whose life both on and off the court brings America’s unresolved racial justice battle into stark focus.
I Came as a Shadow is unquestionably not just a basketball book, just as John Thompson was never just a basketball coach.
The first Black head coach to win an NCAA championship is prepared to make the private public after spending three decades at the forefront of race and athletics in America. Thompson’s book, which is rife with anecdotes and goes beyond the stats (and what stats they are: three Final Fours, four national coach of the year awards, seven Big East titles, and a 97 percent graduation rate), takes us from his early years of Jim Crow segregation to the current racial reckoning.
We have had the privilege of teaching NBA Hall of Famers like Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson and riding shotgun with legendary Celtic Red Auerbach. How did he become the source of the term “Hoya Paranoia”? We’ll see. In addition to melting his typically icy gaze, Thompson takes viewers behind the scenes at the Nike board today as well as into his 1980s negotiations with a DC drug lord who was in his players’ sphere.
Because she was Black, Thompson’s mother was a teacher who was unable to work. Because his father was illiterate, the only way he could distinguish between the various cements at the factory where he worked was by tasting them. Their boy grew up to be a man and now stands as a life-sized statue in a building bearing their family name on a campus that was previously funded by the sale of 272 slaves. John Thompson’s experience sheds light on many of the problems dividing our country in this wonderful American tale. He establishes himself as the wise old man that college basketball and the nation need to hear from on these pages.
One Line Drive by Daniel Ponce De Leon and Tom Zenner
Daniel Ponce De Leon was chosen four times by the MLB before being hit by a powerful line drive to the head that put him in the ICU. His story is both a horrifying one of injury and an unbelievable one of recovery. De Leon’s experience, as told with the aid of author Tom Zenner, demonstrates how faith can carry us wherever we wish to go.
The book continues De Leon’s incredible comeback 14 months later and documents one of the greatest baseball pitching debuts in history. An excellent read for anyone looking for confirmation that their dreams will never be realized.
The Bona Fide Legend of Cool Papa Bell by Lonnie Wheeler
Cool Papa Bell is a historical legend. Baseball player Cool Papa Bell is a man of many legends and tales. Baseball spared him from a life of working in the slaughterhouses after he was born to sharecroppers in the South. Speedy player Bell’s life, is chronicled by baseball historian and writer Lonnie Wheeler, who details his ups and downs in the US during racial inequality as well as Bell’s flight to Mexico and the Dominican Republic to avoid the MLB color line. For all baseball enthusiasts, this is a fascinating narrative with myths and legends you won’t want to miss.
Finding Ultra by Rich Roll
Rich Roll had a terrifying preview of his future the night before he turned 40. He could see where his current sedentary life was headed him—nearly fifty pounds overweight and unable to climb the stairs without stopping—and he woke up.
Rich turned from an unfit middle-aged couch potato to an endurance machine in a couple of months by committing to a new regimen that valued a plant-based diet and daily exercise. Rich’s incredible trek to the starting line of the prestigious Ultraman race, in which the world’s physically fittest people compete in a 320-mile swim, bike, and run agony, is chronicled in Discovering Ultra. After that challenge, Rich overcame an even bigger one: the EPIC5, which consisted of five triathlons of the Ironman course that were accomplished in less than a week, each on a different Hawaiian island.
Rich, one of the “25 Fittest Men in the World,” according to Men’s Fitness Magazine, has emerged as one of the most well-known proponents of a plant-based diet. He discusses the approaches, methods, and tools he employs for optimum health, longevity, and wellness in this freshly revised and updated edition, including dietary and nutritional recommendations. Rich discusses how he changed his perspective and used vast reserves of untapped potential to create success far beyond his wildest expectations. He encourages everyone of us to begin out on our own journeys of self-discovery.
Final Words
In conclusion, reading sports books can be a fun and educational way to expand your knowledge and appreciation of the world of sports. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just getting started, a well-written sports book can provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. You can ensure a high-quality and engaging read by selecting the best sports books and reading reviews from other readers. So, why not pick up a sports book today and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of sports? Based on the reviews on this blog, we highly recommend starting with the suggested books. Good luck with your reading!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are sports books?
Sports books are books that cover topics related to sports, including the history of sports, biographies of athletes, training and coaching techniques, and more.
Why should I read sports books?
Reading sports books can provide insight and knowledge about a particular sport or athlete, inspire and motivate readers to achieve their own athletic goals, and offer a way to unwind and escape from daily stressors.
What types of sports books are available?
Sports books come in a wide range of genres and styles, including biographies, histories, instructional books, memoirs, and more. There are books on all types of sports, from football and basketball to soccer and tennis.
Who are some popular sports book authors?
Some popular sports book authors include John Wooden, Michael Jordan, Bill Simmons, Phil Jackson, and Andre Agassi.
Where can I find sports books to read?
Sports books can be found at most bookstores, online retailers like Amazon, and even at your local library. Many sports organizations and teams also publish books about their sport or history.