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."

Fuel up like 2017 New York City Marathon Champion Shalane Flanagan. Run Fast Eat Slow contains sound advice and delicious and nutritious recipes―finally a true runner's kitchen companion.” ― Joan Benoit Samuelson, first-ever women’s Olympic marathon champion.

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. Book Description Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong. Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder. With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. Way before we were scratching pictures on caves or beating rhythms on hollow trees, we were perfecting the art of combining our breath and mind and muscles into fluid self-propulsion over wild terrain. That’s the most important thing I picked up from my time in the Copper Canyons, the understanding that running can be fast and fun and spontaneous, and when it is, you feel like you can go forever. Instead of hammering down on my heels, the way I’d been taught all my life, I learned to run lightly and gently on the balls of my feet. Q: You trained for your first ultramarathon—a race organized by the mysterious gringo expat Caballo Blanco between the Tarahumara and some of America’s top ultrarunners—while researching and writing this book. He studies rock climbing to find shoulder techniques for kayakers, and applies Nordic skiing’s smooth propulsion to mountain biking. What he’s looking for are basic engineering principles, because he’s convinced that the next big leap forward in fitness won’t come from strength or technology, but plain, simple durability. His starting point was uncertainty; he assumed that the Tarahumara step into the unknown every time they leave their caves, because they never know how fast they’ll have to sprint after a rabbit or how tricky the climbing will be if they’re caught in a storm. It’s really awful that so many doctors are reinforcing this learned helplessness, this idea that you have to be some kind of elite being to handle such a basic, universal movement. I couldn’t figure out why, until one runner explained that throughout history, the four basic ingredients for optimal health have been clean air, good food, fresh water and low stress. They’re out in the woods for hours at a time, breathing pine-scented breezes, eating small bursts of digestible food, downing water by the gallons, and feeling their stress melt away with the miles. Ann Trason and Krissy Moehl often beat every man in the field in some ultraraces, while Emily Baer recently finished in the Top 10 at the Hardrock 100 while stopping to breastfeed her baby at the water stations. We may not be fast, but we’re born with such remarkable natural endurance that humans are fully capable of outrunning horses, cheetahs and antelopes. I thought I’d have to go on some kind of prison-camp diet to get ready for an ultra, but the best advice I got came from coach Eric, who told me to just worry about the running and the eating would take care of itself. I instinctively began eating smaller, more digestible meals as my miles increased, but then I went behind his back and consulted with the great Dr. Ruth Heidrich, an Ironman triathlete who lives on a vegan diet. The first boom came during the Great Depression; the next was in the ‘70s, when we were struggling to recover from a recession, race riots, assassinations, a criminal President and an awful war.

The Traditional Bowyer's Bible series includes three essential volumes filled with history, humor, and practical advice. Released in 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively, this trio provides a remarkably in-depth analysis of the bow from its construction to its correct use.

A transformative journey of physical and ancestral healing from a renowned herbalist, natural health expert, and dedicated healer of women’s bodies and women’s souls. “Just when I thought I was all alone, I found myself walking with a group of conscious women who were taking sacred steps and speaking sacred words. Through Sacred Woman , she has given us the sacred tools we need to live our lives in this new century.” —Hazelle Goodman, actress “ Sacred Woman offers profound wisdom to all who seek healing and transformation. Priestess of Neb-Het, an ancient Afrakan order, and a holistic healer, Queen Afua here guides women to spiritual and physical health.

With almost three decades of experience that includes multiple PWBA titles and collegiate championships, former Team USA Coach, Michelle Mullen shares the secrets that have made her one of the world's most highly sought-after instructors for bowlers of all ages and skill levels. Mullen has competed and won championships at every level, including high school and collegiate bowling and Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) regional and national bowling. She has been published in Bowler’s Journal, Bowling Magazine, Bowling This Month, Asian Bowling Digest , and various other publications.

Be sure to check out IRON AMBITION: My Life with Cus D’Amato by Mike Tyson “Raw, powerful and disturbing—a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life.”— Wall Street Journal Philosopher, Broadway headliner, fighter, felon—Mike Tyson has defied stereotypes, expectations, and a lot of conventional wisdom during his three decades in the public eye. “ Undisputed Truth is raw, powerful and disturbing—a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life…Unlike other sports memoirists, he doesn't pull punches, offering up slashing comments on people who were once close to him. “A hefty autobiography that might be the most soul baring book of its genre ever written … a fascinating look into a life that up until now had already been well chronicled … It’s raw and profane … but it is also quite funny.”— Associated Press “ Undisputed Truth , which is, without a doubt, one of the grittiest and most harrowing memoirs I’ve ever read.” –Flavorwire. “Tyson was ever practised at delivering the early killer blow; and so it is with this gripping and indecently enthralling autobiography….Tyson always had a way with words – although much of the credit for this book must go to his ghostwriter Larry “Ratso” Sloman, who not only makes Tyson’s life read like an Elmore Leonard thriller, but gifts him with considerable self-awareness and a memorably pithy turn of phrase….recounted in gripping, punch-by-punch detail in prose pungent with the reek of blood, sweat and petroleum jelly.” –Mick Brown, The Telegraph (UK).

Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is the world's best-selling guide to bicycle repair and maintenance. New chapter on electronic shifting covers maintenance, service, repair, and troubleshooting of all Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo electronic shifting groups. New troubleshooting charts New master guide to press-fit bottom brackets Also covered in the 5th edition: All derailleur shifting systems (5-speed through 11-speed); all bottom bracket systems (cone-and-cup through press-fit); all brake systems (including caliper, V-brake, cantilever, and disc); all headset, stem, handlebar and fork systems; wheelbuilding for all bikes including cyclocross and disc-brake wheels; special sections on cyclocross throughout including troubleshooting, maintenance, service, repair, and equipment selection; updated and expanded torque tables; complete illustration index and complete subject index. “Longtime VeloNews technical writer Lennard Zinn’s maintenance books are bibles for both pro and amateur wrenches. Zinn has written this book to help both the leisure bike rider and expert mechanic handle almost any problem associated with road bikes.” ― Library Journal. “Lennard Zinn is a veritable cycling Einstein and, as a naturally gifted teacher, he has the unique ability to explain even the most difficult mechanical task. So unless you currently ride on a high-profile pro team with your own mechanic (and maybe even then), Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is an absolute ‘must-have’ book.” ― Davis Phinney, Olympic medalist, national champion, and Tour de France stage winner. But on those days when your race steed needs some serious maintenance, or even just when you’re proactively researching for a little more knowledge if the worst should strike you on the road far from home – you will be glad you have Zinn in your library.” ― AeroGeeks. “ Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is simple, easy to follow and the illustrations are magnificent…If you are looking for a bicycle repair manual, get this book.” ― Cycloculture. Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is very up to date, very clear―thanks to the profuse illustrations―and accurate and comprehensive…And it’s all in a very enjoyable format intended to be encouraging and confidence-building."

Using clear and concise explanations and highly detailed illustrations, this book takes you step by step through the body mechanics of the sword, from foundations to essential elements. The Practice Module provides advice on choosing training equipment as well as a comprehensive array of drills and exercises designed to put everything you learned in the previous module into practice. Finally, the Calibration module gives you all of the information you need to put your skills to the test by cutting targets with a sharp sword, from advice on choosing a sword to how to purchase, prepare and set up tatami and other targets. - Keith Farrell , author of Scottish Broadsword and British Singlestick and the award-winning AHA German Longsword Study Guide. "Edelson's book is singular in its attempts to inform and guide the practitioner through a synthesis of centuries-old knowledge and modern science, to foster realistic sword training, in a clear methodical manner. I'm hard pressed to find a comparable martial arts manual that scans so easily and instructs so clearly. "This book lays out complicated principles and complex body mechanics in a simple, easy to understand way; this is a skill that indicates true knowledge in the subject material." This book is a valuable resource for the historical martial arts community and to anyone wanting to understand in clear terms the proper ways in which to use medieval swords."

Commonly referred to by readers as an "exercise Bible," Overcoming Gravity is a comprehensive guide that provides a gold mine of information for gymnastics and bodyweight strength training within its nearly 600 pages. If you prefer your health and fitness books to include scientific data, comprehensive sample programming, and effective recommendations, Overcoming Gravity is the ideal choice for your library. This Second Edition has been revised, expanded, and re-organized to read easier, provide more content, and offer easily accessible next-steps for beginner, intermediate, and advanced populations. Extensive information on body part splits and population modifications, allowing one to construct a routine that fits their lifestyle and skill level.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. A writer is always on the lookout for a good story, but the first time I saw a striking old photograph, I didn’t realize that I had stumbled across a tale so extraordinary that it had the power to change lives. The first time we spoke, Harry told me a story that gave me butterflies in my stomach and made my palms sweat--that’s how badly I wanted to write about what he’d said to me and share it with the world. That moment, when the pair of them stood under the spotlights of Madison Square Garden and listened to the thunder of the crowd, was simply unforgettable--the kind of triumph that ripples forward through time.

Learn exactly how working professionals eat fire in this tell-all book, written in an easy-to-follow "how-to" format. 172 pages - 208 illustrations - 24 effects - 8 spin flourishes - PLUS sections on material safety, torch construction, health risks, tips for the working professional, the history of fire eating, and more! See page 101. What can you do to save your life in the event of a fire eating mishap? The Professional's Guide to Fire Eating gets you detailed facts you need to know about fire eating, including one section NEVER BEFORE included in ANY fire eating manual to date. Johnson, Magician and Hypnotist. "This is The Bible of fire eating books."

In Jiu-Jitsu University , Ribeiro shares with the public for the first time his revolutionary system of grappling, mapping out more than 200 techniques that carry you from white to black belt. Ribeiro, along with his jiu-jitsu achievements, is a lawyer and judge and now head instructor at the world-famous University of Jiu-Jitsu based in San Diego, CA.

In Jiu-Jitsu University , Ribeiro shares with the public for the first time his revolutionary system of grappling, mapping out more than 200 techniques that carry you from white to black belt. Ribeiro, along with his jiu-jitsu achievements, is a lawyer and judge and now head instructor at the world-famous University of Jiu-Jitsu based in San Diego, CA.

Laura Stamm's Power Skating presents the skating system used by thousands of the sport's top players and teams to move with maximum efficiency on the ice. From starts and stops to turns and transitions, Laura Stamm's Power Skating covers all of the critical components of explosive skating. Internationally renowned power skating coach Laura Stamm has been coaching hockey players for more than 38 years. The first woman ever to coach a major league professional hockey player, Stamm showed the hockey world how important skating technique is to a hockey player’s success. In addition to authoring three books and numerous articles on hockey skating, Stamm has been a frequent speaker at coaches’ symposiums, camps, and conventions around the world. Her enormous success with him led to coaching assignments with other teams in the NHL and WHA (World Hockey Association), thus beginning her long career in hockey.

With the release of Disposable - A History of Skateboard Art in 2004, author Sean Cliver made a brilliant attempt at artfully cataloging every important skateboard deck ever released. I didn't take much notice at the time, but when Sean Cliver wrote Disposable: A History of Skateboard Art in 2005, it brought a lot of my memories back, not just from the perfect storm that was Big Brother, but of those years at the Turf all those memories that each wheel, board graphic or piece of torn griptape held.

Open: An Autobiography.

The most expansive, all-encompassing chronicle unleashed on the WWE Universe, this New York Times bestseller includes over 400 full-color pages and over 1,200 Superstar and event profiles. Plus, the future of WWE collides with the past, as Finn Bálor and the exciting stars of NXT stake their claim alongside the legends of WWE's past and present.