Best Sports Books

This award-winning football classic captures the highs and lows of being a true football fan. Brimming with honesty and wit, it perfectly showcases what it means to be a fan and what it means to be a man. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the power of sports in shaping our lives.

This classic sports journalism book captures the behind-the-scenes antics of a 60-man football team in close quarters. The author recounts his experiences training with the Detroit Lions and taking snaps behind center, offering insight into the pressures and rites of rookies in the sport. With wit and humor, this book is considered one of the funniest and most insightful ever written about football. Featuring a never-before-seen foreword and content from the Plimpton Archives, it's a must-read for any football enthusiast.

Discover how Billy Beane, the general manager of a struggling Major League Baseball team, defied traditional scouting methods and built a winning team on a tight budget by relying on carefully interpreted statistical data. Michael Lewis's Moneyball is a thrilling insider account of the 2002 season in which Beane acquired prospects that were overlooked by other teams and transformed castoff veterans into top performers. Along the way, we meet fascinating characters such as an overweight college catcher who Beane takes in the first round, a sidearm pitcher plucked from the White Sox triple-A club, and Scott Hatteberg - a catcher rebuilt as a first baseman. With highly accessible explanations of baseball stats and a roadmap of Beane's economic approach, Moneyball is a must-read for business people and sports fans alike.

This classic book shook up the sports world when it was first published in 1970. With a new prologue by the author, it remains an important social document and beloved by fans. Though once considered a traitor and "social leper," Bouton's book is still being read today, even by those who don't typically follow baseball.

Follow the winningest high-school football team in Texas history, the Permian Panthers of Odessa, and witness how their single-minded devotion to the sport shapes the community and inspires teenagers who wear the Panthers' uniform. H. G. Bissinger shows with frankness and compassion how every Friday night from September to December, this small, divided, and economically fragile town becomes a place where dreams can come true. Discover how football unites, divides, and inspires a community in this timeless account, now with an updated afterword assessing the state of football today.

Get ready to experience the heart and soul of hockey with this reflective and thought-provoking book. Written by former Montreal Canadiens goalie and Toronto Maple Leafs President, Ken Dryden, and recognized as one of the Top 10 Sports Books of All Time by "Sports Illustrated", "The Game" is a must-read for all hockey fans. With vivid portraits of hockey legends like Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, and coach Scotty Bowman, Dryden captures the essence of the sport and what it means to its fans. This commemorative edition also features black and white photographs from the Hockey Hall of Fame as well as a new chapter from the author. Don't miss out on this timeless classic!

Travel back in time to the 1930s and 1940s with this captivating book about young men who play baseball, and the legendary team that broke the color barrier with Jackie Robinson. Written by a sportswriter who grew up near Ebbets Field, this book covers the lives of the players after their glory days were over. Full of heart and humor, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in America, fathers and sons, prejudice and courage, and the triumphs and disasters of life.

This book covers the professional basketball industry from players to coaches, road trips, and behind-the-scenes action. Written by best-selling author David Halberstam, it offers a unique and informative perspective on the sport. Discover the fascinating world of basketball in a way you've never seen it before.

This inspiring true story follows a young man named Michael Oher, born into poverty and addiction, who is taken in by a wealthy family and introduced to football and education. As he finds a new sense of self-worth, he becomes a crucial player in the evolution of professional football, using his size and agility to defend the quarterback's blind side. Watch as love and determination transform Michael's life in remarkable ways.

A candid and engrossing memoir, "Open" tells the remarkable story of a man who was groomed to be a tennis champion from birth. Despite achieving fame, wealth, and eight grand slam titles, Andre Agassi struggled to find fulfillment in the sport he came to resent. Through his highs and lows, Agassi reveals his early success, marriage to Brooke Shields, interest in philanthropy, and uncomfortable relationship with fame. This book goes far beyond a professional tennis memoir and offers readers a glimpse into the life of a man who overcame great challenges to find true happiness.