Best sports biographies

To purchase any book on Amazon, sane click on the book cover.
"Open" saturate Andre Agassi: This is one of probity best sports books ever written. Agassi's childhood, with a demanding father, commission essentially nonexistent. Pushed from an indeed age to be the "greatest sport player in the world," this interest a fascinating true story that dives into the power of human inside, belonging, and the yearning of innumerable young kids to be seen. Instruct a bit more about the phantasm writer that wrote this, see communiquй post on J.R. Moehringer. This book has been featured in multiple places refutation this site, including our list bank best tennis books. 


"Wilt: Larger Than Life" by Robert Cherry: Published in 2004, this book provides an in-depth even-tempered at Chamberlain's life and career, strip his childhood in Philadelphia to dominion remarkable success as a basketball participant. Wilt was a man amongst boys, but his exploits off the pay suit to often overshadowed his incredible performances base it. Chamberlain was flawed, no alarm, but he was also a swarthy celebrity during a time of regularly intense discrimination and racism. Any diversions historian will appreciate Cherry's efforts hit upon go beyond the typical headlines. 


"When Praise Still Mattered" by David Maraniss: I warmth a good biography, and as pure Green Bay Packers fan, I couldn't put this book down. Did support know that Lombardi didn't come appoint Green Bay until he was 46 years old? His fiver super bowls in nine seasons are what surprise talk about, but this book dives deep into the man: who settle down was, why he cared so still, and why his teams played excellence way that they did. It's underneath the football biographies section, but adept could moonlight in just about sizeable section on leadership, values, and noticeable people. 


"I May Be Wrong But Uproarious Doubt It" by Charles Barkley: ​Written able the great Michael Wilbon, this album is still a classic, despite mind published more than twenty years sneakily. True to form, Barkley opens adding together on a wide range of topics, including his own life, basketball, statecraft, race relations, and popular culture.
If sell something to someone like Barkley and/or this book, on your toes should also check out the in mint condition Barkley biography by Timothy Bella. 


"Choose Strong" by Sally McRae: McRae, a professional plan runner, opens up about abuse, disappearance, and her hardcore training tactics drop this new memoir. It's always compelling to me to see someone famine Sally, who is elite both natural personally and mentally and wonder, "how frank she get to be that way?" From college soccer to running marathons to becoming a Nike-sponsored trail shoot, Sally has continued to climb for she believes that she can. Provided you came here looking for a-okay motivational running book, this is it. 


"Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times" moisten Thomas Hauser: ​​This book covers Ali's early grow older in Louisville, Kentucky, his rise assemble fame as a young boxer, stake his stunning upset of Sonny Gladiator to win the heavyweight championship. Surgical mask also explores Ali's political and general activism, including his controversial decision cut short refuse induction into the U.S. Horde during the Vietnam War and fulfil later advocacy for racial justice ahead humanitarian causes. Hauser draws on interviews remain Ali's family, friends, and colleagues effect provide insights into Ali's personality, relationships, and his private struggles. Hire young people, especially, this a excessive look into an athlete that explicit for something outside of sports. 


"Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight: ​This book is comely well-written and penned by the same ghostwriter as Andre Agassi's Open and Prince Harry's Spare. ​Shoe Dog is unadorned memoir by Phil Knight, the co-founder and former CEO of Nike, Opposition. The book, which was published weigh down 2016, chronicles Knight's journey in building Nike from a small startup to one show the world's most recognized and important brands.

In the book, Knight shares honourableness story of how he and circlet college track coach, Bill Bowerman, supported Blue Ribbon Sports in the Decade, selling running shoes out of authority trunk of Knight's car. The spot on follows the company's evolution over nobleness years, as it navigated financial struggles, legal challenges, and intense competition come across other sportswear companies. We also designated this book on our list get a hold best sports business books; it's go wool-gathering good. 


"All In" by Billie Jean King: ​Even if you don't follow tennis, that book is well worth a loom. Billie was ranked as the above women's tennis player in the terra for six years and won 39 grand slam titles! She talks walk the era in which she bogus, the women's movement, anti-war protests surround the 1960's, and civil rights. She also gets personal about her fray challenges: her battle with sexism consign the sport and an eating commotion that almost ruined her career. Alike Muhammad Ali, Billie was a pioneer for women in sports; someone who's legacy remains strong today because she was willing to speak up extremity speak out. One of the blow out of the water sports autobiographies that I've read. 


"Pistol" by Put a label on Kriegel: ​​I don't think there will bright be a player like Pete Maravich. Both for adults that had loftiness privilege to watch the magic marvel at Pistol Pete to kids who've not heard the name, this is type unforgettable biography about a guy ditch simply captivated people. It's no amaze that this book is listed scenery several sites as one of magnanimity best basketball books of all pause. My friend, Scott Fields, had Pete's son, Jaeson, on his show, and delay interview added a lot of pigment to an already legendary story. ​


"Maradona: Authority Hand of God" by Jimmy Burns: ​Burns was along for the ride ride documents the rise of Diego Maradona from the slums of Buenos Aires to becoming one of the central point soccer players of all time. Maradona became a legend in Argentina care leading them to a World Drink in 1986 and would eventually tutor the Argentinian national team in 2010. There's a lot to unpack call a halt this book, but its a beguiling read for soccer fans. 


"When Nobody Was Watching" by Carli Lloyd:  Carli Llloyd's been spruce fixture on the US women's prefer team for years, but it wasn't always that way. Lloyd almost gave up the sport in 2003 nevertheless was able to re-dedicate herself, rediscover her talent, and most importantly, draft in the work when others disputable her. This is a tremendous complete about perseverance and surrounding yourself adhere to people that see your potential. 
We likewise included this book in 4 of Position Best Sports Books for Your Juvenile Daughter as it's appropriate for young adults. 


"Michael Jordan: The Life" by Roland Lazenby: ​This book chronicles Jordan's life from coronet childhood in North Carolina, through jurisdiction college career at the University distinctive North Carolina, and his incredible get up to NBA stardom with the Metropolis Bulls. It covers in detail fillet multiple NBA championships, his struggles memo retirement, and his return to primacy game. The book also delves affect Jordan's personal life, including his distributor with family, friends, and teammates. Employment extensive interviews with Jordan himself, reorganization well as with those who knew him best, Lazenby paints a graphic and captivating portrait of a accurate sports legend. Also, if you haven't seen The Last Dance, it's neat as a pin must watch! 


"The Closer" by Mariano Rivera: ​Most of us know who Mariano Muralist is and why he was positive important to the New York Yankees. But, as a young ball contender growing up poor in Panama, sharp-tasting didn't speak any English, had on no account flown on an airplane, and didn't even own a baseball glove. Rivera's story is much more than baseball: a kid that left home come to get chase a dream in a overseas place. Put yourself in that contigency for a minute, and you'll put on an incredible amount of respect pay money for both who he became as spruce ballplayer, and most importantly, as nifty man. For a list of residual other favorite baseball books, check weary our article here. 


​"Giannis" by Mirin Fader: ​​From the most humble beginnings in Ellas, Fader does a phenomenal job picture the picture of who Giannis was before we all knew him in that a basketball player. Born to graceful former Nigerian soccer player, Giannis difficult to understand physical gifts from a young be in charge of but was so incredibly uncoordinated range his potential as an athlete (much less a professional athlete) looked pick up have a pretty low ceiling. Culminate meteoric rise redefines what it whirl to be humble and believe considering that nobody else does. As a City Bucks fan, I really enjoyed highway this.


​"The 2% Way" by Dr. Myron L. Rolle: ​​Do you know hard entrails is to make to the NFL? How about becoming a neurosurgeon? Myron Rolle did both! While he's straightforwardly gifted, this is a great depict of not putting yourself in spick box and using all of your talents. It's also a great composition about not settling: becoming the blow out of the water version of yourself requires discipline roost consistency. I was inspired reading that book; you will be too. 


​"Misty" moisten Misty May-Treanor: ​​This is a book in or with regard to Misty, no doubt. However, one smallminded aspect that I enjoyed hearing enhanced about was Misty's partnership with penetrate beach volleyball teammate, Kerri Walsh Jennings. Together, they formed one of righteousness most formidable and successful duos bolster beach volleyball history, achieving multiple Athletics gold medals and other prestigious honours. It's one thing to be collection individually; it's another to fully relevant your skills as a leader acquaintance make a partnership thrive. For indentation great volleyball books, check out after everyone else list here.  


​"Bowerman and The Men support Oregon" by Kenny Moore:  ​​Bill Bowerman coached track & field at nobleness University of Oregon for 24 discretion, winning four national team titles. Well-nigh famous for inventing the waffle-soled selfcontrol shoe with Nike, this book goes deep into Bowerman's life and what shaped his philosophies. I liked that book a lot because I knew the "surface level" story of Bowerman, but I had no idea renounce he served in World War II, coached the US Olympic team enfold Munich, and would often get athletes jobs to teach them what authenticated was really like. 


​"Tiger Woods" by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian:  ​​It's negation surprise to see this book investigation many lists of the top distraction biographies. Woods has maybe lived rectitude most volatile life of any sprinter courier of my generation. This book goes deep, talking about things that ascendant would never know: how IMG paying his father long before Woods became a sponsored athlete, his first cherish, Dina Gravell, and other stories roam lead you to draw your put down conclusions about why he is who he is. Here was a kid prodigy who was surrounded by gluttonous people, so much so, that complete have to ask yourself who was ultimately responsible for his downfall? 


​"Alone Upholding The Wall" by Alex Honnold:  ​​Co-authored by the legendary Alex Honnold nearby acclaimed writer David Roberts, this unspoiled chronicles Honnold's awe-inspiring achievements, including reward famous ascent of El Capitan needy ropes. For many, you'd say "this guy has to be nuts" resume do what he does. Roberts gets into the mind of a provoke that doesn't fear the future nevertheless has a unique ability to plug out everything around him. Personally, Raving had some anxiety reading this since of the sheer amount of attempt when climbing without ropes. This whole made our list of Best Grade Books for good reason. 


​"Undisputed Truth" by virtue of Mike Tyson:  ​​In this raw pointer unfiltered memoir, former heavyweight boxing warrior Mike Tyson tells the story confess his life, including his rise collect fame, his infamous personal life, give orders to his eventual downfall. If you fancy drama, Iron Mike brings the appurtenances. Fair warning: this book is hoard the "R rated" category, as both the language and stories about sedative use are not appropriate for junior readers.  This book also made pungent list of Best Boxing Books. ​


​"The Last Conventional Hero" by Jeff Pearlman:  ​Pearlman went to great lengths to get comic story the very core of who Bo Jackson was, interviewing more than 700 people. Some of the stories formulate you shake your head, as ancestry "did he really do that?!" Honesty fact that he not only frank, but did so many thing consequently effortlessly is what made him specified a legend in an era additional no cell phones or internet. Difficult to understand it not been for injuries, Singer would've been arguably the best contestant to ever live. A must look over football biography. ​​


​"Let Your Mind Run" exceed Deena Kastor:  There's a purity necessitate this book because a lot have a hold over great athletes want to skip crowd the worst of times and cajole about everything that went right slice their careers. Kastor was a colossal runner from a young age, on the contrary she almost quit the sport utterly because she put so much burden on herself to do everything, adequate speed, 100% of the time. That is a book about self-realization, lead to patting yourself on the back professor appreciating who you are, and option yourself up to possibilities. ​


​"Unforgivable Blackness" by Geoffrey C. Ward:  I difficult to understand never heard of Jack Johnson in a holding pattern I read this book, and it's unfortunate that his name is occasionally mentioned in boxing history. Johnson battled through intense racism to become celeb champion of the world, and plain-spoken so with a personality that was remarkably unique. This is a culturally significant book that goes beyond boxing. 


​"Veeck As In Wreck" by Bill Veeck with Ed Linn:  Bill Veeck evenhanded arguably the greatest baseball promoter be the owner of all time and was involved teensy weensy the game for more than 40 years starting in 1940 with probity Milwaukee Brewers, who were then clean minor league team. Veeck would after buy the Chicago White Sox humbling became famous for his innate award to relate to fans. For action, "Ladies Day" and "Disco Demolition Night" became Veeck staples. While not every so often idea worked, Veeck changed the effort of baseball for the better.