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Best Golf Biographies

The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever
Lowery claims that two of his employees, amateur golfers Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi, cannot be beaten in a best-ball match, and challenges Coleman to bring any two golfers of his choice to the course at 10 a.m. the next day to settle the issue. "The untold story of golf's greatest money match, featuring Hogan and Nelson at Cypress Point, come to life in Mark Frost's gripping new book, The Match . "It's difficult to beat a good golf book, be it a good yarn or a picture book . " The Match was a dream I never thought would come true. If I hadn't been there I wouldn't believe it myself, and if you know anything about sports or the game of golf, once you pick up this book you won't put it down.
Reviews
"I was surprised to find that it was a wonderful read that gave me real insight to the people who played the game for all the right reasons."
"Was introduced to Mark Frost through his fantastic book, The Greatest Game Ever Played (the movie does not do it justice) and bought this to replace my copy I had bought a few years ago, lent out and have yet to have returned."
"I really enjoyed this in-depth story of some of America's greatest amateur and professional golfers!"
"and tries to play golf three times a week , the 2 ball team event has always seemed the most enjoyable golf."
"The biographies that fill the spaces between the updates on the match are adequate and mildly interesting."
"I have met Byron and you would never guess that he would be involved in this match, of course he was many decades younger at the time of the battle."
"This is an excellent story of four of the greats of golf, and the marvelous "casual" match they played one day at Cypress Point, one of the sport's iconic courses."
"You have the stories of two pros (Hogan and Nelson) who were so instrumental in the transition of professional golf from secondary entertainment status to recognition as one of the major sports we now know."
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The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever
Lowery claims that two of his employees, amateur golfers Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi, cannot be beaten in a best-ball match, and challenges Coleman to bring any two golfers of his choice to the course at 10 a.m. the next day to settle the issue. It's a gripping tale--as good as James Patterson, John Grisham, or any other contemporary novelist could create. "Frost masterfully puts the reader not just on the scene, but in the time, too, with terrific storytelling. "Frost captures an elusive magic in this improbable matchup and what it meant for those who played and witnessed it. If I hadn't been there I wouldn't believe it myself, and if you know anything about sports or the game of golf, once you pick up this book you won't put it down.
Reviews
"I was surprised to find that it was a wonderful read that gave me real insight to the people who played the game for all the right reasons."
"Was introduced to Mark Frost through his fantastic book, The Greatest Game Ever Played (the movie does not do it justice) and bought this to replace my copy I had bought a few years ago, lent out and have yet to have returned."
"I really enjoyed this in-depth story of some of America's greatest amateur and professional golfers!"
"and tries to play golf three times a week , the 2 ball team event has always seemed the most enjoyable golf."
"The biographies that fill the spaces between the updates on the match are adequate and mildly interesting."
"I have met Byron and you would never guess that he would be involved in this match, of course he was many decades younger at the time of the battle."
"This is an excellent story of four of the greats of golf, and the marvelous "casual" match they played one day at Cypress Point, one of the sport's iconic courses."
"You have the stories of two pros (Hogan and Nelson) who were so instrumental in the transition of professional golf from secondary entertainment status to recognition as one of the major sports we now know."
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A Life Well Played: My Stories (Commemorative Edition)
This book is for Arnie's Army and all golf fans but it is more than just a golf book; Palmer had tremendous success off the course as well and is most notable for his exemplary sportsmanship and business success, while always giving back to the fans who made it all possible. Perfect for men and women of all ages, his final book offers advice and guidance, sharing personal stories of his career on the course, success in business, and the great relationships that gave meaning to his life.
Reviews
"I bought this book for my husband."
"The book is not only a great recap of his life, but Arnie shares many great golfing tips to be a better golfer."
"Loved reading this book."
"Golf is a game that transcends all generations and the only sport where an amateur and a professional can accomplish the same thing on any given day."
"This a great read for those who enjoy golf."
"Arnie was and is one of my most heroes!"
"Great insightful book about the King of golf."
"I had the pleasure of being the starter on a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course in Breckenridge Co. in 2006 where Arnold played."
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Best Sports Biographies

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Appearing in paperback for the first time—with twenty arresting new photos and an extensive Q&A with the author— Unbroken is an unforgettable testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit, brought vividly to life by Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand. Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award “Extraordinarily moving . Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.” — People “A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life.” —The Washington Post “Ambitious and powerful . a startling narrative and an inspirational book.” —The New York Times Book Review “Magnificent . [Hillenbrand] has crafted another masterful blend of sports, history and overcoming terrific odds; this is biography taken to the nth degree, a chronicle of a remarkable life lived through extraordinary times.” —The Dallas Morning News “An astonishing testament to the superhuman power of tenacity.” — Entertainment Weekly “A tale of triumph and redemption . nothing less than a marvel.” — Washingtonian “[Hillenbrand tells this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.” —Time “Hillenbrand [is] one of our best writers of narrative history. Amazon Best Books of the Month, November 2010 : From Laura Hillenbrand, the bestselling author of Seabiscuit , comes Unbroken , the inspiring true story of a man who lived through a series of catastrophes almost too incredible to be believed. Growing up in California in the 1920s, Louie was a hellraiser, stealing everything edible that he could carry, staging elaborate pranks, getting in fistfights, and bedeviling the local police. But as a teenager, he emerged as one of the greatest runners America had ever seen, competing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he put on a sensational performance, crossed paths with Hitler, and stole a German flag right off the Reich Chancellery. Stationed on Oahu, he survived harrowing combat, including an epic air battle that ended when his plane crash-landed, some six hundred holes in its fuselage and half the crew seriously wounded. Drifting for weeks and thousands of miles, they endured starvation and desperate thirst, sharks that leapt aboard the raft, trying to drag them off, a machine-gun attack from a Japanese bomber, and a typhoon with waves some forty feet high. I found it in diaries, letters and unpublished memoirs; in the memories of his family and friends, fellow Olympians, former American airmen and Japanese veterans; in forgotten papers in archives as far-flung as Oslo and Canberra.
Reviews
"I read it about 5 years ago, before the current movie was started & before Louis Zampirini died."
"I read this book over the course of a week and found it immensely pleasurable to read."
"I love Torrance and there is an interesting story about a letter being sent all around the world before it actually gets to Torrance from Japan. The book leaves littlle out when following Louis Zamperini as he grows up, goes to the Olympics then is in the military in WWII."
"I do not care for historical non-fiction books but Laura Hillenbrand brought this book into the most realistic and factual story about an American hero in WWII in the Pacific who's plane gets shot down, survives in a raft for 47 days in shark-infested waters, and captured by the brutal Japanese. I am so happy that they have made a movie and I only hope that it will truly reflect what the author was trying to convey in her story of Louie."
"Edward Herrmann's masterful narration of 'Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption' takes you through the lifelong journey of Louie Zamperini from a troubled youth, Olympic competitor, prisoner of war, and prisoner of his own mind. The best line to describe this story without spoiling the plot is to use a couple of lines from the book itself, "The paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent upon those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer [...] Louie had chained himself, once again, to his tyrant.""
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Best Golf

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of 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
"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."
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Best Hockey Biographies

99: Stories of the Game
Weaving together lives and moments from an extraordinary career, he reflects on the players who inflamed his imagination when he was a kid, the way he himself figured in the dreams of so many who came after; takes us onto the ice and into the dressing rooms to meet the friends who stood by him and the rivals who spurred him to greater heights; shows us some of the famous moments in hockey history through the eyes of someone who regularly made that history. Wayne Gretzky , nicknamed “The Great One,” is considered by many to be the greatest hockey player ever. He is the leading scorer in NHL history, and is the only NHL player to total more than two hundred points in one season—a feat he accomplished four times.
Reviews
"This is the book on how he saw the game and he did a great job on it."
"Perhaps due to being part of the 50's/60's generation I found the first half of the book more interesting than the later."
"The stories of the players that made hockey such a wonderful sport through the early years are interspersed with Gretzky's stories of how those players impacted his development as a person and as a player."
"As a hockey neophyte I enjoyed this."
"It's always interesting to read Gretzky's first hand observations about many of the most significant events in hockey history."
"Great book, with fun insights into the history of the WHA and NHL merger."
"Just buy it and read it."
"Ordered as a gift, they loved it."
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Best Soccer Biographies

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
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
"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."
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Best Football Biographies

Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program
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
"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."
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Best Baseball Biographies

Teammate: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER USA TODAY BESTSELLER Packed with "compelling inside stories" ( Chicago Tribune ), Teammate is the inspiring memoir from "Grandpa Rossy," the veteran catcher who became the heart and soul of the 2016 Chicago Cubs championship team. "After sitting and having lunch with Rossy for over an hour at the ESPN studios in fall 2014, I knew he was exactly what the Cubs needed to help bring a championship to Chicago. "Ross ... has plenty of terrific stories to tell from a long career in the big leagues.... Ross shares his perspective on what it takes to be a good teammate and how that role accounted for both his longevity in the sport and his impact on the Cubs in 2016. Fascinating inside stories about the 2016 Cubs, told from the perspective of someone who was right in the middle of them... A good read and worth your time.
Reviews
"At the highest levels of competition in professional sports, you might think that inspirational lists on a whiteboard, schmaltzy and even chichéd, would never be used by men who are paid millions to play a child's game. Cub fans will rejoice in the description of how the 2016 season unfolded, and the descriptions of game 7 of the World Series play-by-play, out-by-out, eventually leading to the end of the 108 year drought for Chicago and their first World Championship of the modern era."
"Being a long time Cub fan (3rd generation) the winning of the World Series after 108 years was magical."
"Book is as awesome and very informative."
"What a story!"
"This is a man who played for the love of the game and particularly his Cubs teammates loved him."
"Thank you David for giving us a glimpse into your life."
"( after Anthony Rizzo) He makes you love him even more by how he includes real life and feelings all in one book."
"Good book if you are a Cubs fan."
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Best Basketball Biographies

Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explores his 50-year friendship with Coach John Wooden, one of the most enduring and meaningful relationships in sports history. He is also one of a handful of influential and respected black men in America who has a national platform as a regular contributing columnist for the Washington Post and TIME , where he shares his thoughts on some of the most socially relevant and politically controversial topics facing our nation today. Currently he serves as the chairman of his Skyhook Foundation whose mission is to "Give Kids a Shot That Can't be Blocked" by bringing educational opportunities to under-served communities through innovative outdoor environmental learning.
Reviews
"Hearing all the personal stories that Kareem shared with the greatest coach in sports history was such an enjoyable read."
"this is a gift for my dad."
"I love reading about Kareem and Wooden's friendship."
"Great story of a friendship over a long career."
"A touching look at the special relationship Kareem had with his "surrogate father,' John Wooden."
"I purchased this book for my husband and he is totally enjoying the read."
"Birthday gift, guaranteed 5 stars from my husband."
"Great story of Kareem's life with Coach Wooden."
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Best Boxing, Wrestling & MMA Biographies

Ali: A Life
Jonathan Eig, hailed by Ken Burns as one of America’s master storytellers, radically reshapes our understanding of the complicated man who was Ali. Jonathan Eig’s Ali reveals Ali in the complexity he deserves, shedding important new light on his politics, religion, personal life, and neurological condition. Ali is a story about America, about race, about a brutal sport, and about a courageous man who shook up the world. "Finally Muhammad Ali has a biography as big, complex, and memorable as the man himself—or as close as any book can come. Eig in a knockout.” —Jane Leavy, author of Sandy Koufax and The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America’s Childhood “ Ali is a marvelous biography - deeply reported, illuminating, dripping with detail chapter after chapter—in every way worthy of one of the great figures of 20th century America.” —. David Maraniss, author of When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi "Finally, after so many works focusing on this fight or that, the whole man, the whole life, is presented here. Eig's richly impressive roster of interviews informs an authoritatively critical biography that is both punchy and sure-footed." It is an independent, insightful and masterful assessment of ‘The Greatest!’ Eig’s biography puts flesh and bone on Ali’s fuller humanity. An utterly absorbing and richly detailed account of the most charismatic and controversial athlete of the 20th century.” —Mike Silver, author of The Arc of Boxing. The author of acclaimed books on Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson, Eig weaves together Ali’s athletic feats, cultural significance and personal journey. Fortified by hundreds of revealing interviews, 'Ali' vigorously narrates the story of the man who transformed the landscape of race and sports . 'Ali' stirs together the sweet and the spicy, the gifts and the failings, the charm and the rage, the grace and the greed, the pride and the ego. "Eig's revelatory bio traces the late boxer's path from pariah to national treasure." “Drawing on interviews with Muhammad Ali’s friends, family, and colleagues—as well as recently discovered recordings from the 1960s and extensive FBI files—Eig tells the life story of the legendary boxer, political radical, and hero in all its complexity.” — Entertainment Weekly , Fall's 20 Must-Read Books. “Jonathan Eig’s masterful new biography of the champ is both captivating and highly relevant to the current discussions on race in America . Muhammad Ali was one of the most compelling figures in the 20th century, and Eig does ample justice to capturing his extraordinary and enduring legacy.” — Seattle Times. What makes Eig's book stand out is its broad scope, its detailed reportage and its lively, cinematic writing." "Eig’s book is a fine read on the great boxer’s life, taking him on as he was and always seeking the truth that hits closest to bone. It covers the tumultuous middle, and then the oddly sanitized and bland second half of the American Century, an era in which Muhammad Ali was among the biggest and brightest players on the stage — living a life that, far from signifying nothing, will in its outrageous grandeur and stunning humanity, stand the test of time." Locked on that purpose, Eig delivers a biography that reflects his subject well—complex but straightforward, human but legendary.” — Chapter 16 “An appropriately outsized—and first-rate—biography . "Eig skillfully utilizes resources unavailable to previous authors, allowing him to present other aspects of Ali . VERDICT: A must-read for Ali fans, followers of the sweet science in general, and those curious about the maelstrom of events that shaped a generation."
Reviews
"It is too bad that Ali didn't meet Ali earlier in his life when he needed someone to take care of his finances and also to take take if him. But Ali held to his beliefs even until the end when Being a Muslim was not appropriate."
"This book did an incredible job of weaving the most public persona of Muhammad Ali with intimate and personal stories that ushered us behind the scenes."
"fun book."
"The best non-fiction book I've read since Seabiscuit."
"Cassius Clay was an 8-1 underdog in his first fight with Sonny Liston in Miami in 1964; did Eig manage to beat the odds with his ALI: A Life?"
"As Eig so excellently lays out for us, Muhammad Ali’s best fibers offered us a magnificent wealth of substance to replicate and bind to our own psyches. Nevertheless, you’ll be drawn to Ali’s boundless bravery and kindness, reminded of the extreme excellence he displayed in the squared ring, and regaled with stories of his impish ways. Eig’s goal was not to humiliate, but rather to humanize and get it all out on the table, sort it, and reveal the incredibly positive net effect of a sometimes enigmatic Muhammad Ali. The author surely succeeds, as his work is meticulous (while not tedious to follow), presented in a relaxing (though not drawn-out) unfolding of events, smartly crafted (yet not pedantic), and heartfelt (but not sentimentally burdened). Eig fills in virtually all of the blanks, revealing a naked Ali…with some ugly scars, but a wondrous sparkle in his eye, and a warm heart and hand freely extended (sincerely, lovingly, often under the radar) to enrich the lives of so many individuals of all colors, and to meaningfully inspire and uplift a good chunk of a generation in need."
"One of the best biographies I’ve ever read. Ali Had so many things going on his life."
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