Best Football
In this powerful book, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow passionately shares glimpses of his journey staying grounded in the face of disappointment, criticism, and intense media scrutiny. Following an exceptional college football career with the Florida Gators and a promising playoff run with the Denver Broncos, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets. Through a dynamic lens of story and insight, Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow tells what he’s learned during the highs and the lows of his journey in the NFL. In this book, Tim comes alongside his reader and says, ‘I’ve been there too,’ and proceeds to show us how God is faithful even when our entire lives feel shaken to the core.” —Mark Batterson, pastor and New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker. “Tim is a remarkable example of one who combines strength and boldness with kindness and compassion, and I’m always encouraged to hear of how he is using his tremendous platform to share the love and truth of our Lord with those who need it most.” —Ravi Zacharias, author and president of RZIM. I love Tim, and by the end of this book, you will too!” —Judah Smith, lead pastor of the City Church and New York Times bestselling author of Jesus Is _______. “Tim Tebow Has A New Book Out And It Is A Must-Read.” — The Daily Caller “It was like having an encouraging chat with a dear friend—I finished feeling so hopeful!” — First for Women Magazine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I was fortunate to be selected to be part of the launch team for Shaken by Tim Tebow in exchange for my honest review. I am sure you have heard of Tebowing and seen photos of the ‘John 3;16’ written in eye black in the NCAA National Championship game in January 2009 to draw attention to this verse of scripture. This is not a biography but does contain biographical glimpses from his young life so far and his perspective or the rest of the story behind these experiences. If you are a Tim Tebow fan from his college days at Florida or one of his professional teams you will want to read this book. Highlights and quotes: “If we can understand everything about the God we serve, what kind of god would that be?”. “There will always be people in your life who will underestimate your potential, say that you'll never reach your dream or make that goal, or try to hold you back in some way.”. “It might surprise you to know that some of the deepest wounds I've experienced have come from fellow Christians.”. “Don't get sidetracked by those who don't believe in you or by those who don't understand what it is you are doing. Whenever you dare to do something different, critics of some sort are bound to show up.”. The title of the book is taken from this scripture verse, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8. If you have followed his career you know he has had many opportunities to be shaken."
"This short book starts off with inspirational stories related to the author's football career. For example, Tim describes many other "team" outings, such as trips to prison death-row, to hospital beds of sick children, and other Christian outreach events. In his bedroom, the boy had a large number of memorabilia with Tim's "signature" on each one. Before the meeting, Tim had not particularly wanted to make the visit--he did it in spite of his feelings: “Spending time with this precious boy and his parents changed my perspective. About 4 pages from the end of this book, in a section called “The Difference One Choice Can Make,” read the story about what happened with the young lady and her baby. I think this one quote nicely sums up this book: “Society doesn't get to define what's important in my life. Although I may not get a pat on the back or an attaboy from others, I'd rather have my heavenly father be proud of me.”. Advance review copy courtesy of Blogging for Books."
"A public person is sometimes hesitant to share even more to the public, but this book shows that Tim is a person just like you and me. Tim shows us how to accept God's vision through his own acceptance, the people that are placed in your path, choices that you aren't allowed to make and how we respond to all of these situations and continue the journey. I encourage parents, young people, even grandparents to read this book and watch you being stirred to more for your life journey."
Now, in Football’s Greatest: Revised and Updated , an all-new team of experts comes together to debate everything that makes football, football – whether it’s the best players, the best on the defensive line, the cheerleaders, or the stadiums, our team of experts have ranked them. We’ve also added two new categories to the rankings: “Rivalries” and “Most Entertaining Players,” that makes Football’s Greatest: Revised and Updated an essential addition to any football fan’s library. Sports Illustrated, the most respected voice in sports journalism, is a multimedia sports brand that takes the consumer into the heart and soul of sports.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Christmas gift for a football fanatic - he loves it."
"A big book with interesting facts on footballs greatest players."
"My 9 year old son can't put this down!"
"The picture of Dick Butkus near the front of the book screams to be framed and put in a man cave. My boys (old men now) read the articles and the stories inspired fun filled arguments."
"This is a great coffee table book and perfect for conversation starters for those socially awkward visits. One, minor thing, and this is being picky, I don’t like how the words “REVISED AND UPDATED” are printed in bold and emphasized in red on the front cover."
Whether it was in Pop Warner football, where his Redwood City, California, team won a national championship; in high school where he went from a 4'10", 95-pound freshman running back to quarterback for an undefeated Woodside High team; or college, where he rewrote records at Kent State as a dual-threat quarterback, Edelman far exceeded everyone's expectations. Relentless is the story of Edelman's rise, and the continuing dominance of the Patriot dynasty, filled with memories of growing up with a father who was as demanding as any NFL coach, his near-constant fight to keep his intensity and competitiveness in check in high school and college, and his celebrated nine seasons with the Patriots. Finally, he reveals the story behind "the catch" and life on the inside of a team for the ages. He is currently cohost of CSN New England's Boston Sports Tonight and the award-winning football show Quick Slants and appears frequently on Boston's WEEI, NBC's Pro Football Talk Live , the NFL Network, and the Dan Patrick Show .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I loved this book. It was very intense, filled with ups and downs, and many other things."
"Throughout the book there are small excerpts written by others regarding Julian Edelman that I found interesting as well."
"There’s no other way to start this review of multiple-Super-Bowl-Champion-New England Patriot-Julian Edelman… except at unrelenting… take no prisoner… accept no excuses… hold on to my coattails… and dedicate yourself to greatness… or get the holy hell out of my way… and you may as well get off my team… if you don’t like it… WAAARRRPPPP-SPEEEEED! A potential reader… would have to be blind… to not grasp immediately… that no matter how “under-sized” Julian was growing up… his backbone… and heart… were bigger than ten goliaths added together. As Edelman said to his Patriot teammates at halftime of Super Bowl L1… when New England was losing 21-3… regarding how the second half was going to transpire… “IT’S GONNA BE A HELLUVA STORY, BOYS!”…. And so is… this entire book *RELENTLESS*… and what a perfect title."
"Edelman shares his upbringing, his fears, and his failures."
"A truly inspiring read, as many of life’s lessons are revealed in Julian’s intense and relentlessly positive personality."
"Believe in yourself and follow your heart are great gifts that Julian recognized at an early age."
"Patriots Edelman Fan-received book as a gift."
Best Football
Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football itself into a game in which the quarterback must be protected at any cost. In his sketch of the gridiron arms race, first came the modern, meticulously choreographed passing offense, then the ferocious defensive pass rusher whose bone-crunching quarterback sacks demolished the best-laid passing game, and finally the rise of the left tackle—the offensive lineman tasked with protecting the quarterback from the pass rusher—whose presence is felt only through the game-deciding absence of said sacks. An intermittently homeless Memphis ghetto kid taken in by a rich white family and a Christian high school, Oher's preternatural size and agility soon has every college coach in the country courting him obsequiously. However, while most reviewers are positive, something holds them back.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This was a pretty good book for someone who hates football."
"Love the book, you don't necessarily have to like football to like the book."
"What a great book. Michael Lewis not only knows how to put together a captivating story, he does so with subtle wit and plenty of insight. For a casual movie fan, the film is enough, but if you like both the movie and football I cannot recommend this book enough."
"If you're a fan of high school, college, or NFL football, this book is a great read. Or if you just want to read a book that will make you laugh, challenge you, and sometimes make you questions of the motives of the protagonists, this book is a great read."
"Very good book."
Best Football Biographies
In Above the Line , he offers readers his unparalleled insights into leadership, team building, and the keys to empowering people to achieve things they might never have thought possible. Urban Meyer is the head football coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Inspirational look at leadership."
"Great Read from Coach Urban Meyer!"
"I got this book over a year ago and my son really enjoyed it."
"Leadership, coaching and the ability to learn from someone who wants to put the team as a unit."
"Excellent book."
"Football and leadership its a very good read."
Best Soccer Biographies
Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football itself into a game in which the quarterback must be protected at any cost. As in Moneyball (**** July/Aug 2003), which chronicled the strategies behind the Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, Berkeley-based author Michael Lewis takes a personal look at a complicated game in his newest nonfiction extravaganza.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This was a pretty good book for someone who hates football."
"Love the book, you don't necessarily have to like football to like the book."
"What a great book. Michael Lewis not only knows how to put together a captivating story, he does so with subtle wit and plenty of insight. For a casual movie fan, the film is enough, but if you like both the movie and football I cannot recommend this book enough."
"If you're a fan of high school, college, or NFL football, this book is a great read. Or if you just want to read a book that will make you laugh, challenge you, and sometimes make you questions of the motives of the protagonists, this book is a great read."
"Very good book."
Best Softball
A smart, credible, and accomplished voice from an athlete who is strong and feminine, fiercely competitive, and fashionably cool, Jennie is someone young women will listen to and take to heart. Killion has covered the major national and international sports issues of the past two decades, including the rise of Olympic softball.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Listening to her speak, watching how she interacts with kids, passion for her sport, reasons for her decisions in life all make me proud that my daughter's idol is Jennie."
"Great book for young girls who love softball."
"My daughter really enjoyed the book."
"My daughter loves this book, glad I bought it for her."
"My daughter was going through a rough time and This book is so relatable that it pulled her back up and made her want to fight harder."
"Great inspirational book aimed at young ladies in middle and high school."
"Encouragement is exactly what this book offers and that's really good because it gives us the young people a self drive,esteem a and an inspiration ,someone to look up to and I really thank Jennie finch personally wherever she is and I gave this rating because I was really inspired and I appreciated it a lot and I will continue reading her insp."
"Daughter loves this book."
Best Basketball
Fore more than two decades, legendary trainer Tim Grover has taken the greats—Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and dozens more—and made them greater. Direct, blunt, and brutally honest, Grover breaks down what it takes to be unstoppable: you keep going when everyone else is giving up, you thrive under pressure, you never let your emotions make you weak. This book is the blueprint for discovering what you are capable of achieving, getting results you never imagined, reaching the highest level of success--and then going even higher." "Tim Grover’s insight into leadership and excellence has taken the greats to the top, and his book will do the same for you. "In all the years that I coached, inspired and trained world class athletes there was no better resource to collaborate with than Tim Grover." No one knows more than Tim Grover about competitive intensity, killer instinct and crushing the other guy. "A must-read... Grover calls upon his decades of experience working with the world's most eliteathletes to dissect what it takes not just to succeed, but to be the absolutebest."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Some weak scrubs who took the time out of their day to write a poor review on Amazon OR a highly successful trainer who has been the go-to guy for some of the top basketball legends who ever played?" I've always known that there are just a lot of weak people out there that can't keep up or perform at top levels. This book is for the people who can (or at least have the desire and are working on being able to) perform at top levels."
"It’s a rare treat to learn from the man who helped Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade amongst many others achieve that next gear."
"I like Tim's direct no punches pulled philosophy and approach to improvement."
"I’m a physician who takes care of the sickest patients in ICU’s and found so many similarities to the mentality mentioned in this book and what it takes to succeed in highly competitive medical training programs."
"the best I ever read beside the bible."
"Rick Nesbitt. Author of Earthly Kings: Temporal Treasures."
"This is a really interesting book with solid advice."
"This is such a great book for anyone who is a real go-getter!!"
Best Baseball
The New York Times Bestseller With inside access and reporting, Sports Illustrated senior baseball writer and FOX Sports analyst Tom Verducci reveals how Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon built, led, and inspired the Chicago Cubs team that broke the longest championship drought in sports, chronicling their epic journey to become World Series champions. Tom Verducci, twice named National Sportswriter of the Year and co-writer of The Yankee Years with Joe Torre, will have full access to team president Theo Epstein, manager Joe Maddon, and the players to tell the story of the Cubs' transformation from perennial underachievers to the best team in baseball. Those dual qualities make him the perfect guy to not only capture the experience of what the Cubs at long last achieved, but to explain the thinking and planning that led to last Fall's crescendo of emotions.” —Bob Costas. "Verducci, a longtime baseball writer for Sports Illustrated, is perhaps the perfect scribe to tell this definitive tale, a generational talent who can talk numbers and remain awed at the game’s beauties. “In Mr. Verducci’s entertaining book, he notes that the ‘construction of a championship team is granular’ and the ‘final picture is a Seurat painting’ with ‘many tiny dots of color’ and ‘millions of reasons and thousands of cascading events.’ He’s right: The artistic brush containing the power of positivity helped make the Chicago Cubs winners once more.” — The Washington Times.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But it is a beautiful story about good people, and for any baseball fan, a well-written dive into the best baseball story of the last century."
"While Tom Verducci’s The Cubs Way reads more like an eventual 108 year victory lap for long suffering Chicago Cubs fans, I think baseball fans in general can take a lot from the story of the 2016 Chicago Cubs."
"All in all this book will answer your Cubs questions and you have to admire this team even if your team is in the Natonal League Central...this is baseball...Theo Epstein has got to be one of the more interesting Baseball Executives ever as he's hall of fame bound already...he broke not 1 but 2 curses which amazes me...when he took over the Cubs i knew they'd improve but i didn't think they'd win a world series in only his 5th season at the helm...so impressive stuff and i'm not a Cubs fan per se but i like what they did with the team."
"The natural flow of the season, the various characters and the quest for a championship, coupled with a look at the vast remake that Theo Epstein and Tom Ricketts undertook make this a highly memorable baseball book. Added to this is Joe Maddon, the whiz on the bench who takes a team of young talent and some veterans to a place that many Cubs fans have dreamed of for over a century -. a championship."
"Congratulations to Mr. Verducci for this truly outstanding insight, into baseball in general... and, of course, the Chicago Cubs’ once-in-a-lifetime rise to the top after a century of ineptness and sorrow for their fervent and loyal fans."
Best Golf
A timeless classic with nearly one million copies in print, Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons outlines the building blocks of winning golf from one of the all-time masters of the sport—fully illustrated with drawings and diagrams to improve your game instantly. Jim Fogerty Professional, Sunset Country Club, St. Louis Most articles on golf deal only in theory, but Ben is to be congratulated on probably the most practical series on golf instruction ever written.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Wish I read this 20 years ago when I first started playing the game."
"There were notes in the margins of the library copy (an ignorant thing to do to a book not belonging to you) so I got him a brand new edition so that he may make his own notes."
"He has tuned every aspect of the golf swing and has shared his learning with the reader."
"Excellent book on fundamentals of finding the ever allusive perfect golf swing (a new project for 2016)."
"It shows the basic swing thoughts of one of the greatest player in all time."
"Anyone dedicated to becoming a better golfer should read this book and review it often."
"I had the pleasure of watching Ben Hogan practice at Lost Tree Country Cllub in North Palm Beach, Florida for 48 minutes in 1969....."
"I told him, and I truly believe, that if he reads this book before he starts playing he will be miles ahead of the average beginner."
Best Rodeos
BONUS : The book includes also a section with all the images duplicate in a smaller version to allow you to test the colors and techniques before proceeding to work on the larger images.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is just as lovely and has an added advantage of having the designs in the standard size as well as a smaller 5 x 7 inches as well. The artist has included a nice level of detail without over-drawing the design and taking away coloring choices from the colorist. Not a problem – I am now using a piece of chipboard under my work to keep ink from leaking through to ruin the design below."
"This Coloring book exceeds my expectations 100% so many beautiful pages."
"This was just as advertised."
"Nice variety of pictures - satisfied with quality."
"a gift for a special girl."
"got it for a gift and she has already colored most pages."
Best Soccer
Soccer iQ is the first book for soccer PLAYERS! Standing on two decades of collegiate coaching experience, Blank has catalogued soccer's most common mistakes and provides simple, connect-the-dots solutions to help players solve their soccer problems. Soccer iQ is soccer's first text book for players; an almanac of smarter soccer decisions intended to flatten out the learning curve. It'll solve a lot of your soccer problems." Dan Blank has been coaching college soccer for over twenty years and served most recently as associate head coach at the University of Georgia.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It has some good points for those coaching older kids, but if you are looking for a book to help coach younger kids, this is not it, as it does not focus on technical training."
"Very good book and delivered on time."
"Book provided a lot of new insight for my Granddaughter."
"Worth it, the things are obvious after you read them."
"Good read that my son can enjoy."
"Very impressed with the wisdom in this book."
"I gave my second son this as a give, but this is a little hard for him to understand."
Best Hockey
While playing the talented villain in the NHL, Avery broke far away from his on-ice character in the off-season, and Ice Capades takes the reader inside the other unexpected and unprecedented roles that Avery inhabited— Vogue intern, fashion model, advertising executive, restauranteur, gay rights advocate, and many more. Praise for Ice Capades : "The one-of-a-kind left winger gives an unparalleled inside look at the NHL lifestyle... whether you cheered or jeered him on the ice, any hockey fan will be interested in the stories he has to tell."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The pages drag with numerous mentions of how great a hockey player Avery believes he is and how adored he was."
"As a hockey fan I enjoyed this book."
"I grew up a Rangers fan and though there were many whom I liked Sean Avery was was always the one we were happy to watch at the games we went to."
"Sean Avery was a moonshot rocket playing for the NY Rangers."
"Fabulous inside look into a hockey player's life."
"Ok book."
"This book was a fairly interesting read about an NHL hockey player that is not the norm."
"Whether you’re interested in hockey, fashion, big city living, or just old-fashioned fun, this book will absolutely entertain you."
Best Mountaineering
A CLASSIC FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE SUMMER Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. Dave Barry...[Readers] may find themselves turning the pages with increasing amusement and anticipation as they discover that they're in the hands of a satirist of the first rank who writes (and walks) with Chaucerian brio.” —The New York Times Book Review.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm a sexagenarian who, on a recent vacation, happened to walk out and back on the first three miles or so of the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (Springer Mtn, GA) and, in a fit of exhilaration, decided then and there that I would, by golly, hike the AT before I died. As I was joyfully entertained by his incisive sense of humor, I was simultaneously and seriously learning history, biology, geology (and several other -ologies) as well as being discomfitted by Bryson's documentation of our culture's dismissive practices regarding ecology."
"Read one and except for a few events, you've pretty much read them all and almost any extended backpacking trip involves the same rigors, risks, weather and that mixture of misery and exhilaration."
"One of the funniest books you will every read."
"Bill's storytelling captured me immediately...I was taking every step he took, I enjoyed every vista he looked out on, I was eavesdropping on his conversations with his fellow hikers and feeling the spectrum of emotions held for his friend and hiking companion."
"An adventure that walks you experientially and historically through the nation's longest series of trails from Georgia to Maine while feeling every fear from blisters, hunger, thirst, wildlife, climate changes, man's limitations and nature's nuances, all the while trekking with a forty pound pack on your back, and any one of these could do you in, well it's a wonder why the wild is so compelling."
"With the film in theaters, I decided to pick it up and give it a go. I loved this book, and place it among Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild," Cheryl Strayed's "Wild," and Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Last American Man" in terms of well-written essays that explore our yearning to return to a simpler, untethered way of life."
"Unfortunately some of his stories about what happened to people along the trail, made me not that interested in walking any trail."
"I think Bill Bryson is an incredibly good writer whose humor extends to poking as much fun at himself as he does at others."
Best Sports Coaching
Like having an X-ray for each exercise, the anatomical depictions show both superficial and deep layers and detail how various setup positions affect muscle recruitment and emphasize underlying structures. Delavier lives in Paris, France.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Strength Training Anatomy, 3rd Edition, is a reference book--it's got really cool drawings with tips for common techniques at the gym. Delavier and Gundill have lots of drawings, pre-planned routines including those to supplement other sports, and succinct advice to get the most out of every technique. Delavier and Gundill translate their extensive anatomy and weight-lifting knowledge into language anyone can understand and information is succinct so reading's a pleasure."
"I owned the first edition of Strength Training Anatomy (blue cover) for nearly 15 years and I've been recommending this book to my clients for that long as well. A page is devoted to each exercise, and a small amount of text accompanies each illustration, explaining proper form and giving additional tips or precautions. For beginners, this could be a training instruction "bible" for learning how to do the exercises properly and understanding exactly what muscles are working. Studying the drawings and looking at the muscles engaged, the direction of the fibers and where they insert and attach could be a great tool to help with these mental skills. That doesn't detract from the value in my opinion, it actually helps keeps this volume concise and focused on one thing: strength training exercises and anatomy. On that note, again, this is not a text-heavy book and while you do get an explanation and illustration of each exercise, you don't get. in-depth written details on biomechanics and muscle actions."
"This book is beautifully illustrated, very detailed and comprehensive."
"Great color pictures that depict muscle groups highlighted according to the exercise you are doing."
"This book is awesome!!"
"I have several workout books by others including Mike Matthews and Dan John."
Best Water Sports
For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"I enjoyed reading the book, although inn places it seemed a little long, or to put it another way; more information than we needed."
Best Miscellaneous
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"But I had never read this book because I didn't think I would be interested in an athletic story, especially one about rowing (a sport I never follow)."
"Every college student should read this and stop complaining, this guy worked very hard to obtain his education, something that most young people take for granted these days."
"Even knowing the outcome did not diminish the excitement of the quest, and weaving the story of Hitler's rise to power during the 1936 Olympics captured the irony of his policies."
"The men in my life had been trying for years to get me to read this book."
"Boys racing boats?"
Best Racket Sports
Agassi writes candidly about his early success and his uncomfortable relationship with fame, his marriage to Brooke Shields, his growing interest in philanthropy, and—described in haunting, point-by-point detail—the highs and lows of his celebrated career. An unvarnished, at times inspiring story [told] in an arresting, muscular style. Agassi’s memoir is just as entrancing as his tennis game.”. — Time “Fascinating. Open describes Agassi’s personal odyssey with brio and unvarnished candor. Countless athletes start charitable foundations, but frequently the organizations are just tax shelters or PR stunts. Open is a superb memoir, but it hardly closes the books on an extraordinary life.”. — The Wall Street Journal. Bracingly devoid of triumphalist homily, Agassi’s is one of the most passionately anti-sports books ever written by a superstar athlete.”. — The New York Times “Not your typical jock-autobio fare. This literate and absorbing book is, as the title baldly states, Agassi’s confessional, a wrenching chronicle of his lifelong search for identity and serenity, on and off the court.”. — Los Angeles Times. It is can’t-put-down good.”. — Sports Illustrated “An honest, substantive, insightful autobiography. The bulk of this extraordinary book vividly recounts a lost childhood, a Dickensian adolescence, and a chaotic struggle in adulthood to establish an identity. 1 is less uplifting than his sheer survival, his emotional resilience, and his good humor in the face of the luckless cards he was often dealt.”. — The Washington Post “The most revealing, literate, and toes-stompingly honest sports autobiography in history”. —Rick Reilly, ESPN. “Much more than a drug confession—Agassi weaves a fascinating tale of professional tennis and personal adversity. His tale shows that success is measured both on and off the court.”. — New York Post “Not only has Agassi bared his soul like few professional athletes ever have, he’s done it with a flair and force that most professional writers can’t even pull off.”. — Entertainment Weekly “[A] heartfelt memoir . Not just a first-rate sports memoir but a genuine bildungsroman, darkly funny yet also anguished and soulful. was not clamoring for attention but rather conducting a struggle to wrest some semblance of selfhood from the sport that threatened to devour him.”. — The New York Times Book Review “A riveting and reflective memoir by a man who rose to the top of his sport—despite hating it.”. — San Francisco Chronicle “Celebrity tell-alls have rarely been this honest and this interesting.”. — Baltimore Sun “A vivid portrait of the internal battle faced in some measure by every athlete.”. —Bloomberg News. “Articulate. Expertly rendered.”. — The Morning News (Boston). “Refreshingly candid. This lively, revealing, and entertaining book is certain to roil the tennis world and make a big splash beyond.”. — Publishers Weekly.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Because of this, I was told that this was an amazing book, which sometimes causes the book to be pretty average. If you enjoy Tennis, you will love this book, but even if you dislike tennis, you will probably enjoy the book still."
"I have been a tennis fan for over 17 years, born and raised in Forest Hills New York which used to be the seat of the U.S. Open championships."
"I have gained tremendous respect for Andre Agassi as person after reading this book."
"I don't want to give the book away, but give it a read if you are a tennis fan or Andre fan."
"The tennis court can be a lonely place and the book shows a look inside to what it takes to compete at this level. After reading this it make me appreciate the new breed of tennis players such as Nadal and Federer and the skill and stamina that they bring to the game."
"What an excellent way to start the book "The End"."
"We all are faced with similar challenges in our lives and aspire to be successful, and when we succumb to the challenges or fall short of our expectations of success we lose all hope."
Best Outdoor Survival Skills
Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with advice on making the most of your time outdoors. With Canterbury's guidance, you'll not only prepare yourself for any climate and situation, you'll also learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature in ways you've never imagined. "Canterbury covers everything: building out your kit, manufacturing tools and supplies, food collection, cooking and protection from the elements. Dave gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with easy-to-digest advice and practices on how to build the most critical survival skills. Penned by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival aims to make sure you know your craft.... Even if you're not escaping the apocalypse, but instead heading out into the backcountry to escape modern life for a few days, this is an indispensable guide for your outdoor travels." "With Canterbury's guidance, you'll prepare yourself for any climate and situation and you'll learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature." Written by famous outdoorsman Dave Canterbury, the volume covers everything from the proper knots to know to scavenging edible food in the wilderness. "Get ready for whatever nature could throw your way with this guide on bushcraft, the art of surviving in the woods with as little modern gear as possible.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In fact, in my library, this book has earned a spot right up next to my SAS Survival Handbook, while this book tends to focus much more on a "communing with the world" mindset, rather than an "overcome and conquer" mentality of the SAS. It's a book that I've read but find myself referring back to remember a certain point or process."
"If you have been camping more that twice you may find this just refresher reading or helpful for future outings."
"I find this book fun and easy to read while it gives good information that prepares you for bushcraft activities. It is a really good book and is full of good information."
"Great book."
"I got this for my husband for Christmas, and he loves it."
"The info is good, but I would like more visual examples as a novice."
"This was a Christmas gift for my grandsons, and they love it!"
"This publisher (Adams Media) let Dave Canterbury down, and Dave admits that in his review of his own book."
Best Winter Sports
Their survival, and the survival of the men they left behind, depended on their small lifeboat successfully finding the island of South Georgia-a tiny dot of land in a vast and hostile ocean. 'A superb account of the greatest survival story of our time' - Chris Bonington The story of Ernest Shackleton's epic journey to cross the Antarctic overland has now been turned into four hours of gripping television with Kenneth Branagh playing Shackleton. Shackleton's mission failed, but the resulting adventure became one of the most celebrated accounts of man's survival against unbelievable odds.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Other must-reads in the genre are The Long Walk (though that turns out to be most likely fiction so I no longer recommend it), Into the Wild, and Arctic Adventure: My Life in the Frozen North. At the time of launching, Shakleton's expedition was history's most extensively planned exploratory trip to Antarctic, complete with a photographer, scientists, carpenters and engineers (a crew of 27 in total). The crew salvaged what it could and was forced to make do with dwindling supplies and provisions, eventually eating some of their beloved dogs. I won't dampen your reading pleasure by giving away too much of the unfolding events, but through a combination of amazing resourcefulness, outstanding leadership, and ultimately incredible luck on the part of Shakleton, the whole crew survived without a single life lost."
"You will not find a boring page in this book, and if you need an idea for a gift , this would suit any curious person ( even a wimpy female like me)."
"Absolutely fascinating journey and the author did an awesome job with his research."
"Although I know every sequence and outcome, I don't tire of this epic narrative, and the final chapter never fails to make me tear up."
"A great read for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, fest adventures, and especially the cold."
"Led by Ernest Shackleton, the purpose of the expedition was to cross the Antarctic continent on land, from one end to the other, across the South Pole. In October, when it became clear that the Endurance was going to be crushed by the pack ice, Shackleton ordered his crew to abandon ship. From there, Shackleton and a crew of five journeyed through the roughest seas on the planet back to South Georgia Island, about 800 miles away. Shacklteon then returned by ship to Elephant Island to rescue his crew, arriving on August 30, 2016, two years after they had left England."
Best Outdoor Recreation
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"But I had never read this book because I didn't think I would be interested in an athletic story, especially one about rowing (a sport I never follow)."
"Every college student should read this and stop complaining, this guy worked very hard to obtain his education, something that most young people take for granted these days."
"Even knowing the outcome did not diminish the excitement of the quest, and weaving the story of Hitler's rise to power during the 1936 Olympics captured the irony of his policies."
"The men in my life had been trying for years to get me to read this book."
"Boys racing boats?"
Best Extreme Sports
McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run. Christopher McDougall is the author of Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen and Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Learning about the Tarahumara, how they run and what they eat was really interesting."
"Do not know about non-runners, but walkers and runners will enjoy this well written book."
"I don't run but a friend recommended this book and it was unexpectedly awesome."
"Great Book."
"If you’ve ever laced up with a purpose and felt good after you’d run it, this book should be your next read."
"If you are a runner or thinking of taking up running, this is a must read!"
"This book changed my relationship with running and strengthened my resolve to overcome my physical barriers to running (all the typical problems as described in the book: plantar fasciitis, tight achilles, ankle pain)."
"And with his story of the ancient Tarahumara tribe in Mexico, a people who grow up running as a way of life, he is able to display running at its core, a god given gift to us, meant to be enjoyed, not dreaded or avoided as most Americans would see it. A great story and a great read that not only informs you of a lot of science and history of running but becomes a page turner as you are dying to see how the big race between the Tarahumara’s best and the elite American runners turns out."
Best Individual Sports
In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands. Above all, he recalls the foundational relationships that formed the heart and soul of Nike, with his former track coach, the irascible and charismatic Bill Bowerman, and with his first employees, a ragtag group of misfits and savants who quickly became a band of swoosh-crazed brothers. “ Shoe Dog is a great American story about luck, grit, know-how, and the magic alchemy of a handful of eccentric characters who came together to build Nike. That it happened at all is a miracle, because as I learned from this book, though we are a nation that extols free enterprise, we also excel at thwarting it. I’ve worn the gear, with pride, but I didn’t realize the remarkable saga of innovation and survival and triumph that stood behind every swoosh. " Shoe Dog is an extraordinary hero's journey, an epic tale of faith, unparalleled determination, excellence, failure, triumph, hard-earned wisdom, and love. Phil Knight takes us back to the Big Bang of the swoosh, recalls how he first begged and borrowed from reluctant banks, how he assembled a crew of eccentric but brilliant misfits, how they all worked together to build something unique and paradigm-changing. "A fresh historical prospective on one of the most profiled companies in the world...[ Shoe Dog ] builds characters of the people behind the brand, many of whom we've never heard of." As Knight collects the misfits and oddballs who become the core of his growing company, Shoe Dog is more like The Lord of the Rings than a typical mogul memoir."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"To put it bluntly, they are “crap between covers.” There are very few business memoirs that are even good, since most of them make the person writing the memoir seem like a business savant who always knew the right answers and knew things would come out right. Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog: A Memoir by The Creator of Nike is a great business memoir. This will be a great read for anybody, but if you’re thinking about starting a business, especially a business that you expect to grow, this book belongs on your must-read list. If you start a business and that business starts to grow, you are funding the process out ahead of your cash flow. But if you’re in business, and especially if you’re starting a business and wanting to make it grow, this book should be on your must-read list. If you want some seasoned advice to help you run and grow your company, or if you just want to read a great business memoir, pick up a copy of Shoe Dog: A Memoir by The Creator of Nike."
"The author also demonstrates the importance of creative individuals to a organization, perseverance of management, and the importance of having a passionate knowledge of the product as well as market contacts with which to ensure growth."
"The last chapter sums everything together and is beautifully descriptive as it bridges and incorporates the old and new, the people who made the biggest impact to NIKE and what they are doing now.."
"Phil Knight tells his story and the story of Nike’s rise – from his earliest travels to Japan, to the company’s first stirrings in 1972 to its IPO in 1980."
"Phil Knight is an amazing CEO and he shares his many challenges and credits his crew for his many successes."
"This is a must read for any aspiring entrepreneur, not because of any technical content, but because Knight's outlook on life and business is so refreshing."
Best Outdoors & Nature Travel
Talk about a bucket list: here are natural wonders—the dazzling glowworm caves in New Zealand, or a baobob tree in South Africa that's so large it has a pub inside where 15 people can drink comfortably. Not to mention the Great Stalacpipe Organ in Virginia, Turkmenistan's 40-year hole of fire called the Gates of Hell, a graveyard for decommissioned ships on the coast of Bangladesh, eccentric bone museums in Italy, or a weather-forecasting invention that was powered by leeches, still on display in Devon, England. “Fair warning: It's addictive.” — NPR, “Cosmos & Culture” “In this gorgeous collection, the celebrated Atlas Obscura website is condensed into 480 pages of awe-inspiring destinations. “Odds are you won’t get past three pages without being amazed at something truly strange that you didn’t know existed.” — San Francisco Chronicle. “Richly illustrated, delightfully strange, this compendium of off-beat destinations should spark many adventures, both terrestrial and imaginary.” — Boston Globe. “Whether describing a Canadian museum that showcases world history through shoes, a pet-casket company that will also sell you a unit for your severed limb, a Greek snake festival, or a place in the Canary Islands where inhabitants communicate through whistling, the authors have compiled an enthralling range of oddities. Featuring full-color illustrations, this hefty and gorgeously produced tome will be eagerly pored over by readers of many ages and fans of the original website.”— Booklist (Starred Review). a wonderful browse [for] armchair travelers who enjoyed Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York and Frank Warren’s PostSecret .” — Library Journal. It's the kind of book that makes you want to pack in your workaday life and head out to places you'd never have dreamed of going, to see things you could not even have imagined. “ Atlas Obscura is a joyful antidote to the creeping suspicion that travel these days is little more than a homogenized corporate shopping opportunity. Here are hundreds of surprising, perplexing, mind-blowing, inspiring reasons to travel a day longer and farther off the path. Never start a trip without knowing where a haunted hotel or a mouth of hell is!”. —GUILLERMO DEL TORO, filmmaker, Pan’s Labyrinth “ What a strange and wonderful book! Each page reveals some hidden realm—a realm that is frightening, or funny, or magical, or simply mad, but that always leaves the reader in wonder.”. —DAVID GRANN, author of The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon. Be grateful when visiting the Karni Mata Rat Temple if one of the 20,000 venerated rodents runs across your bare foot—it is considered good luck.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Revel in the places that you've seen!"
"I read a short description of the book in the travel section of the SF Chronicle a few weeks ago, and made the purchase based on that. That said, there are items about things I have no interest in seeing, e.g., “Lake Monsters of the USA,” but there don’t seem to be many of that sort of thing included. As with "Lake Monsters," even if you (or a recipient) aren't likely to visit many of the places described, I think for many curious people this would make for an interesting read even without the travel element. It's not a perfect book, and I don't think any one book can be perfect for all readers, but I do think it's very good and I can easily recommend it for anyone who might be potentially interested."
"This book exceeded my already higher-than-average expectations."
"We purchased it for our 19 year old grandson."
"Such a fascinating book!"
"Super fun and entertaini g read if the off beat and curious is your thing."
"Purchased as a gift and spent much of one night pouring through it before giving it away."
"This book is great to have around to pick up while you're waiting for your son to put his socks on, when your eyes need a screen break, during a boring conference call, when you just want to escape your little world for a few minutes."
Best Other Team Sports
McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run. Christopher McDougall is the author of Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen and Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Learning about the Tarahumara, how they run and what they eat was really interesting."
"It is a true gem for anyone who puts one foot in front of the other at a rate faster than a walk."
"Do not know about non-runners, but walkers and runners will enjoy this well written book."
"I don't run but a friend recommended this book and it was unexpectedly awesome."
"If you’ve ever laced up with a purpose and felt good after you’d run it, this book should be your next read."
"If you are a runner or thinking of taking up running, this is a must read!"
"This book changed my relationship with running and strengthened my resolve to overcome my physical barriers to running (all the typical problems as described in the book: plantar fasciitis, tight achilles, ankle pain)."
"And with his story of the ancient Tarahumara tribe in Mexico, a people who grow up running as a way of life, he is able to display running at its core, a god given gift to us, meant to be enjoyed, not dreaded or avoided as most Americans would see it. A great story and a great read that not only informs you of a lot of science and history of running but becomes a page turner as you are dying to see how the big race between the Tarahumara’s best and the elite American runners turns out."
Best Hiking & Camping
Revised to reflect the latest in survival knowledge and technology, and covering new topics such as urban survival and terrorism, the multimillion-copy worldwide bestseller SAS Survival Handbook by John "Lofty" Wiseman is the definitive resource for all campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. Being prepared: Understanding basic survival skills, like reading the weather, and preparation essentials, such as a pocket survival kit. “This step-by-step survival bible has... prepared [me] for anything.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The full-size SA Survival Handbook is incredible, but it is a large book and pretty heavy for a day hike pack."
"This book is very comprehensive and I recomened this book for everyone it is handy to keep in the house and defently a book to read here and there and it's something to practice because learning even the basic survival skills is a important skill in life."
"").For example, as someone who needs practice making fire, I thought that there should have been more information on fire making; however, there is plenty of information of types of fire (windshields, making fires in the snow, etc)."
"This little book is filled for useful information on what to eat, not to eat, what insects or animals are poison or not, and many other useful bits of information."
"But as is, it covers too many topics, from how to deal with computer viruses (keep your software updated, use an anti-virus program) to warnings about scurvy ('always aim for a balanced diet'). There are pure factual errors (people cannot survive 12 days without water, even in cool temperatures) and frequent mixing of good and poor advice (crossing a river in a group one behind the other is terrible, exposing each to the full force of the water, while crossing in a line facing downstream, with arms interwoven, is universally recommended). For rope, climbing, and mountaineering skills, Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, 8th Edition. If you just want information on snow caves (another better alternative to an igloo), Ernest Wilkinson's slim book is out-of-print but easy to find: Snow Caves for Fun and Survival. For glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and high-angle rescue in general, Andy Selter's book is remarkably efficient. A few pages go a long way on each topic: Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue: Reading Glaciers, Team Travel, Crevasse Rescue Techniques, Routefinding, Expedition Skills 2nd Edition. For emergency wilderness medicine, Eric Weiss' books are the most popular, and they're fine."
Best Hunting & Fishing
This invaluable book includes. • recommendations on what equipment you will need—and what you can do without—from clothing to cutlery to camping gear to weapons. • basic and advanced hunting strategies, including spot-and-stalk hunting, ambush hunting, still hunting, drive hunting, and backpack hunting. • how to effectively use decoys and calling for big game. • how to find hunting locations, on both public and private land, and how to locate areas that other hunters aren’t using. • how and when to scout hunting locations for maximum effectiveness. • basic information on procuring hunting tags, including limited-entry “draw” tags. • a species-by-species description of fourteen big-game animals, from their mating rituals and preferred habitats to the best hunting techniques—both firearm and archery—for each species. • how to plan and pack for backcountry hunts. • instructions on how to break down any big-game animal and transport it from your hunting site. • how to butcher your own big-game animals and select the proper cuts for sausages, roasts, and steaks, and how to utilize underappreciated cuts such as ribs and shanks. • cooking techniques and recipes, for both outdoor and indoor preparation of wild game. Steven Rinella is the author of Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter, American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon, and The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I was blown away with the detailed, even scientific approach to hunting big game animals."
"Unparalleled intro to Big Game hunting, especially those looking to get into US Western pursuits or looking for a refresher/new perspective."
"As a noob and looking to get my feet wet in hunting this book is very informational yet well organized so it's not overwhelming."
"This is a huge book of knowledge!"
"I recommend this book to anyone interested in hunting."
"As a hunter (and MeatEater fan) I was already familiar with some of the hunting concepts and the guest authors in the book and this helped to further that knowledge."
"This book breaks down hunting into three parts - gear, the hunt and cooking."
"Lots of general info but covers a lot of material including recipes and I like cooking more than gutting wild game."
Best Children's & Youth Sports
A celebration, a catalog of spirit in words and smiles, an affirmation of the fact that it’s what’s inside you that counts, Strong Is the New Pretty conveys a powerful message for every girl, for every mother and father of a girl, for every coach and mentor and teacher, for everyone in the village that it takes to raise a strong and self-confident person. “A lovely exploration filled with exquisite images of girls and quotes about what makes them strong, beautiful, and confident … stunning.” — School Library Journal. “This is an amazing celebration of the strength, confidence, and energy of girls and young women who are just beginning to understand their power in the world. Imagine how much more we can all accomplish when girls honor what their bodies can do and focus on their dreams rather than fixate on what they look like and obsess about their shape.” —Ann Shoket, former editor in chief of Seventeen magazine and author of The Big Life. They are inspiring, wise, and grounded in the certainty that they will take the world by storm.” —Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabes and the Owning Up curriculum.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After getting the book today, both my young daughters kept begging me to read additional pages and both separately asked if they could be the ones to keep it in their room to read before falling asleep."
"It's very light on content (one or two quotes per page) but it's written and designed well and the photos are great."
"girls LOVE this book and refer to the images and quotes they see all the time."
"A little more diversity in terms of race/ethnicity and body type would be good but the author does her best with the content she includes."
"My nieces thought this was the coolest thing ever."
"I bought this inspirational book for my 10 yr old niece."
"This book is awesome!"
"My 6 year old daughter is not impressed."