autobiography books 2021 sports

The best sports books and autobiographies

From gritty sports autobiographies by olympic athletes and a multiple ballon d’or winner to explorations of marathon running and the cultural impact of football, here is a trophy cabinet of some of the best sports books jostling for position on the shelves..

Determined, competitive and possessing an impressive capacity for mental endurance – the characteristics that make great athletes often lead them to live extraordinary lives. Sports autobiographies offer us the opportunity to get the full story behind the goals, records and medals, as well as help us understand the wider impact of the athletic world off the field.

Whether your favourite sport requires a ball, an engine or even a hoof, here is a compilation of the best sports books and autobiographies out there.

• Running & athletics
• Other sports

The best football books

By chris kamara.

One of the most well-known faces of the beautiful game, Chris ‘Kammy’ Kamara is a national treasure. Now, he’s sharing the story of his incredible life. From his days in the Royal Navy and a playing career that took him all over England to becoming one of the game’s best-loved commentators, Kammy lifts the lid on a career that he could never have dreamt of growing up in Middlesbrough. Told with unflinching honesty, but with his trademark humour and positivity, this is a must-read for any football fan.

The World's Biggest Cash Machine

By chris blackhurst.

In The World's Biggest Cash Machine , Chris Blackhurst meticulously unravels the controversial reign of the Glazers over Manchester United. Purchasing the club in 2005, they ignited global discontent, driving it into record debts and marking the fiscal transformation of football. Despite on-field declines, they flourished financially. Blackhurst probes their secretive lives and business acumen, while mapping the club’s captivating journey amidst the Premier League’s metamorphosis into a billionaires' haven.

On Days Like These

By martin o'neill.

With a career spanning over fifty years, Martin tells of his exhilarating highs and painful lows; from the joys of winning trophies, promotion and fighting for World Cups to being harangued by fans, boardroom drama, relegation scraps and being fired. Written with his trademark honesty and humour,  On Days Like These  is one of the most insightful and captivating sports autobiographies and a must-read for any fans of the beautiful game.

Cheers, Geoff!

By geoff shreeves.

Packed full of hilarious stories on and off the pitch – including trying to teach Sir Michael Caine how to act, a frightening encounter with Mike Tyson, as well as getting a lift home from the World Cup with Mick Jagger –  Cheers, Geoff!  is a must-read autobiography for any football fan. A natural storyteller, Geoff brings an astonishing catalogue of tales to life with his unique brand of experience, insight and humour.

The Little Red Book of Klopp

By giles elliott.

It’s debatable whether Jürgen Klopp is better-known for his charisma off the pitch or his success on it. Having brought Liverpool back to winning ways in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, Klopp is known for captivating press conferences and charming touch-line antics. The Little Red Book of Klopp is a collection of his most iconic sayings, from light-hearted witticisms to cutting insults.

The Age of Football

By david goldblatt.

For many people around the world, football is so much more than just a game. In The Age of Football , sport historian David Goldblatt widens the lens to trace how the game intersects politics, economics and wider culture. With focuses as diverse as prison football in Uganda, the presidency of Recep Erdogan and the importance of the beautiful game in the Arab Spring, David demonstrates the extent to which the sport impacts society today.

My Life in Football

By kevin keegan.

Whether it’s being the only Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or twice, achieving European glory with Liverpool or managing Newcastle from the bottom of the Second Division to the brink of winning the Premier League title, Kevin Keegan – known as ‘King Kev’ – has proven his pedigree both on the pitch and the touchline.  His autobiography details the highs and lows of an illustrious career, including clashes with Sir Alex Ferguson and his return to Newcastle during the controversial Mike Ashley era.

The best rugby books

By rassie erasmus.

Rassie Erasmus, a rugby maverick, unfolds his unconventional journey from player to coach in the pinnacle of the sport. This candid account delves into his pivotal roles in iconic Springbok teams, grappling with injuries, and pioneering coaching methods. Most crucially, Rassie talks about his greatest contribution to South African rugby: appointing its first black captain, Siya Kolisi, without much fanfare or controversy. As his bold plans for effective racial transformation of the national team achieved immediate success, they culminated in glory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. 

Too Many Reasons to Live

By rob burrow.

The inspirational memoir from rugby league legend Rob Burrow on his extraordinary career and his battle with motor neurone disease.

This is the story of a tiny kid who adored rugby league but never should have made it  –  and ended up in the Leeds hall of fame. It's the story of a man who resolved to turn a terrible predicament into something positive  –  when he could have thrown the towel in. It's about the power of love, between Rob and his childhood sweetheart Lindsey; and of friendship, between Rob and his faithful team mates. Far more than a sports memoir,  Too Many Reasons to Live  is a story of boundless courage and infinite kindness.

‘ He is one in a million and his story is truly inspirational ’ Clare Balding on Rob Burrows

Belonging: The Autobiography

By alun wyn jones.

Belonging  is the story about how as a boy, Alun Wyn Jones left Mumbles and returned as the most capped rugby player of all time. It is the story of what it takes to become a player who is seen by many as one of the greatest Welsh players there has ever been. What it takes to go from sitting, crossed legged on the hall floor at school, watching the 1997 Lions Tour of South Africa to being named the 2021 Lions Captain.

But is it also about  perthyn  - belonging, playing for Wales, what it takes to earn the right to be there, and what it feels like to make the sacrifices along the way. 

‘ Unbelievable player. Magnificent captain. One of the game’s greatest icons. ’ James Haskell on Alun Wyn Jones

by Eddie Jones

One of the most successful sports coaches ever, Eddie Jones took three separate nations to Rugby World Cup Finals, and enjoyed a success rate with the England team of almost eighty per cent. An expert in guiding and managing high-performing teams, Jones believes that his methods can be applied to many walks of life. From fostering ambition to following your curiosity, Jones shares his methodology, much of it learned through conversations with other successful managers and leaders, including Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola. Leadership  is the ultimate guide to being your best, in rugby and in life.

My Life and Rugby

With a career spanning four World Cups, Eddie Jones is one of the most seasoned figures in Rugby Union. Possessing an unparalleled ability to transform teams, he built the Japan national team into the side that defeated South Africa in 2015, and turned a struggling England team into finalists at the 2019 World Cup. The England coach is never afraid to speak his mind, and his autobiography is told true to unflinching form.

The best running & athletics books

The running book, by john connell.

John Connell, award-winning author of The Cow Book, takes the reader on a marathon run of 42.2 kilometres through Ireland. Over 42 chapters and 42,000 words, John reflects on his life, Irish history and the stories of his greatest running heroes. Whether you’re a keen runner or you’d just like to read what it’s like to undertake a marathon, The Running Book is the perfect endorphin-filled sports book about the nature of happiness and how it can be found on foot.

Unbelievable - From My Childhood Dreams To Winning Olympic Gold

By jessica ennis.

Jessica Ennis-Hill has been one of the poster girls for women in sport for years. Indeed, arguably the greatest moment of the London 2012 games came when Jessica secured her heptathlon gold medal. But her rise was beset with challenges. From being bullied as a child for being small to her career-threatening injury on the eve of the 2008 Olympics, Jessica has had to show plenty of perseverance to prove her doubters wrong. This sports autobiography tells the full story behind the world’s greatest female all-rounder athlete.

The best tennis books

My life: queen of the court, by serena williams.

Serena Williams needs little introduction, having won every major title going in tennis. From growing up playing on courts covered in broken glass in Compton to reaching the top of world tennis, all while being criticised for her unorthodox playing style and dealing with the tragic shooting of her older sister, Serena has proven herself an inspiration to her multitudes of fans. In My Life , she reflects on her extraordinary journey.

The Inner Game of Tennis

Recently named by Bill Gates as one of his 'all-time favourite books', and described by Billie Jean King as her 'tennis bible', this bestseller has been a must-read for tennis players of all abilities for nearly fifty years. Rather than concentrating on how to improve technique, Gallwey deals with the 'inner game' within ourselves as we try to overcome doubt and maintain clarity of mind when playing. 'It’s the best book on tennis that I have ever read,' says Gates, 'and its profound advice applies to many other parts of life.'

‘ Groundbreaking . . . It’s the best book on tennis that I have ever read, and its profound advice applies to many other parts of life. I still give it to friends today. ’ Bill Gates

The best boxing books

When fury takes over, by john fury.

Born into a family of Irish traveller heritage, Big John Fury descends from a long line of bare-knuckle fighters. So it’s no surprise that he too found himself fighting outside the ring at a young age. From his early years in Manchester, John learned to box by practising fighting within the travelling community, before graduating into the sport professionally. The ring has never been far from his sights, and John has played a crucial role in coaching and being a cornerman for his two-time British heavyweight champion son, Tyson Fury. From Netflix's  At Home With The Furys  this is the Gypsy Warrior, Big John Fury, totally unfiltered and in his own words.

Believe: Boxing, Olympics and my life outside the ring

By nicola adams.

Nicola Adams famously changed the face of sport at London 2012 when she became the first woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal for boxing. Repeating her medal haul at Rio 2016 further cemented her place in the nation’s hearts, while she has also gone on to become a champion for  LGBTQ+ rights and a contestant on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Believe documents the grit and determination that got her to gold.

The best swimming books

By yusra mardini.

While Yusra Mardini was fleeing her native Syria for the Turkish coast in 2015, the small dingy she and many other refugees were on began to sink. Yusra, her sister and two others took to the water, pushing the boat for three and a half hours in open water until they arrived safely at Lesbos. Remarkably, Yusra went on to compete as a swimmer for the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and also became a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Her autobiography is for anyone who loves true-life stories of outstanding resilience.

In the 1970s, Diana Nyad was widely regarded as the greatest long-distance swimmer in the world but one record continually eluded her: becoming the first woman to swim between Cuba and the Florida Keys. Finally, after four failed attempts and at the age of sixty-four, Diana completed the crossing. This memoir shows her unwavering belief in the face of overwhelming odds. Winner of the Cross Sports International Autobiography of the Year, this is a story of perseverance, tenacity and commitment on an epic scale.

The best books about other sports

Jan ullrich: the best there never was, by daniel friebe.

In 1997, Jan Ullrich obliterated his rivals in the first mountain stage of the Tour de France. So awesome was his display that it sent shockwaves throughout the world of cycling. Everyone agreed: Jan Ullrich was the future of cycling. He was also voted Germany’s most popular sportsperson of all time, and his rivalry with Lance Armstrong defined the most controversial years of the Tour de France. But just what did happen to the best who never was? This is an account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual – Lance Armstrong – can conspire to reroute destiny.

by Poorna Bell

Have you ever worried that you're not enough, or that, if you were stronger or more confident you would achieve more? In Stronger , award-winning journalist and competitive amateur powerlifter Poorna Bell investigates and unveils the potential that women can unlock when they realise their strength – both physical, and mental. Through examining her own experiences, as well as those of dozens of women, Bell shows how finding strength can work for you, regardless of your age, ability or background, and offers actionable ways for your to harness it in your life. 

Lights Out, Full Throttle

By damon hill.

Amassing 261 Grand Prix appearances between them, Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill have experienced all the highs, lows and injury records associated with the greatest names in motorsport. In Lights Out, Full Throttle , Johnny and Damon take the reader on a tour around the high-octane world of F1 racing, from Silverstone and safety to Monaco and money, as well as looking at the future of racing in the light of Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter.

Alone on the Wall

By alex honnold.

Anyone who has seen the Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentary Free Solo will be familiar with Alex Honnold’s vertigo-inducing work. As one of the world’s best ‘free solo’ climbers, Alex tackles perilous rock faces without the use of any climbing gear. Free soloists undertake one of the deadliest sports on the planet – many have died in pursuit of their sport. Alone on the Wall is a pulse-raising account of some of Alex’s greatest climbs, told with Alex ‘No Big Deal’ Honnold’s trademark calm and collected humour in the face of mortal danger. A sports autobiography for adrenaline junkies.

Dream Horse

By janet vokes.

Janet Vokes dreamed of breeding a working-class horse to take on the wealthy high-flyers. To pursue this idea she bought a mare for £350, bred it with a pedigree stallion and encouraged her Welsh mining village to band together to raise the resulting foal, Dream Alliance. Despite being raised on an allotment, Dream went on to defy the odds at Ascot, Aintree and even Cheltenham Festival. Heart-warming reading for anyone who loves a true underhorse sports book.

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9 Powerful Sports Autobiographies Every Fan Should Read

“The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win.”

To millions across the globe, sportspeople are the closest things to superheroes. Their exploits on the pitch, field or stadium conjure emotions seldom few things can match, and the memories they fashion can last for a lifetime. And on the back of this, the inspiration these athletes can wield has seen their influence grow immeasurably, especially in the world of books where their stories, motivations and beliefs can be explored in incredible detail. With that in mind, check out What We Reading for the 8 most powerful sports autobiographies! 

Why We Kneel, How We Rise – Michael Holding

Michael Holding was one of the most prolific bowlers in cricket history, leading the infamous West Indian attack that dominated the sport across the 1970s and ‘80s. He has also become one of the most respected voices in the game in the years since with his work as a pundit and commentator. 

In Why We Kneel, How We Rise, Holding explores how racism dehumanises professionals, and how the Black Lives Matter movement has triggered a counter-offensive from strong figures from across the world of sport. Speaking to various figures who have experienced the effects of racism firsthand, this sports biography is one of the most insightful, powerful, and eye-opening pieces of education. 

Check out the Best Ashes Books

Lioness: My Journey To Glory – Beth Mead

England’s win at Euro 2022 was one of the defining moments in women’s football being put on an equal pedestal, with the Lionesses being spearheaded by the exploits of Beth Mead on the pitch. The 2021-22 Arsenal Player of the Year finished as top scorer and Player of the Tournament , and Lioness: My Journey to Glory is her recounting of how she and the team finally brought football home. 

As well as all the glorious days in the 2022 sun, it is also a powerful story of Mead’s rise up the football pyramid, exploring the challenges that moulded her along the way. Powerful and honest, it is one of the best sports biographies for people of all ages to feel inspired. 

Too Many Reasons To Live – Rob Burrow 

One of the most talented Rugby League players of his generation, Rob Burrow also served as one of his sport’s most inspirational figures. Told from an early age that he was too small to make it as a professional player, Burrow’s career was one of defying expectations. 

In 2019, not long after his playing career came to an end, Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a degenerative disease that doctors only gave a life expectancy of a handful of years. However, spurred on by his wife and three children, Burrow would showcase the sort of strength his in fight that made the entire sporting world stop and stare at him in awe. Too Many Reasons to Live is Burrow’s inspiring tale of love and courage in the face of so much adversity. 

Resilience – Elise Christie 

Shortlisted for Sunday Times’ best sports autobiographies in 2022, Resilience is the autobiography from triple World Champion speed skater Elise Christie. 

Refreshingly open and honest, the book details the torrents of mental anguish, abuse, and floods of misinformation that have followed Christie throughout her career. And yet it is also an inspiring tale of incredible strength and determination, documenting how Christie has been able to overcome hurdle after hurdle on her way to cementing herself as one of British athletics’ greatest modern competitors. 

Love Of The Game – Ricky Hill 

Ricky Hill was born under the shadow of Wembley Stadium, the home of English football for over a century. At the time, he was told only two for every hundred people could hope to make it as professional footballers; however, this was also a society where racism was prevalent and the hurdles Hill would have to scale in pursuit of his dream were far greater than most had to deal with. 

Despite this, Hill would go on to fashion a remarkable career in the beautiful game. He would become only the fourth Black player to play for the England men’s team and became a trailblazing reformer for BAME coaches across the country following his retirement. Love Of The Game is one of the pioneering sports autobiographies on how prejudice in football coaching took one of its first steps to being tackled on the back of the experiences courtesy of Hill. 

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play – Kobe Bryant 

Kobe Bryant was, and still remains, one of the biggest icons in the world of basketball. The only player in NBA history to have two jersey numbers retired, Bryant was a titan on and off the court during his twenty years in the sport and even managed an Academy Award for his 2017 film, Dear Basketball. 

His sudden death in 2020 shook the world of sports , with even those outside of basketball paying homage to Black Mamba in its wake. The Mamba Mentality is the autobiography from Bryant, detailing his passion for all things basketball and the core beliefs and values that shaped him as a player. Released just after his retirement, it is one of the most intimate sports autobiographies for those looking to get into the mind of one of the all-time greats. 

Hooked – Paul Merson 

Paul Merson is one of the most recognisable faces in the world of football punditry today. An accomplished attacker, Merson made over 300 appearances for Arsenal, won two league titles and played for his country 21 times. He has become a familiar voice to all football fans on the back of his appearances on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports and is one of the game’s most beloved names. 

However, Merson has also become one of the most important figures in opening dialogues within the beautiful game on a number of candid subjects. His difficulties with mental health, gambling and addiction are given the spotlight in his autobiography, Hooked. An eye-opening and honest self-reflection, it is a strong reminder outside looks can be deceiving, Merson deserves huge credit for breaking the normal footy formula when it comes to sports autobiographies here. 

The Death Of Ayrton Senna – Richard Williams

Ayrton Senna was one of the most fearless and mercurial talents the world of motorsports has ever served up. The three-time Formula 1 World Champion became and endures as one of the sport’s most iconic figures for his relentless pursuit of perfection and fearlessness when it came to finding the limit.

His death in 1994, however, also remains one of the darkest moments not only in Formula 1, but also across sports history. In his beautiful and classic sports biography on the complexities and brilliance of the Brazilian, Richard Williams pays homage to the life and death of Ayrton Senna. Embodying the courage and spirit that any sports fan can admire, it is an essential Formula 1 book for anyone looking to learn more about the pinnacle of motorsport.

The First Half – Gabby Logan 

From Strictly Come Dancing, Match of the Day, all the way to the Olympics, Gabby Logan is one of the most recognisable presenters in British television. A staple fixture in the sporting world for over twenty-five years now, Logan stands as one of the most beloved pioneers on the small box and has continued to trailblaze a place for women with her columns, contributions and very-own podcast . 

The First Half is Gabby Logan’s first-ever book. In a sports autobiography that will have readers laughing and crying in equal measure, the presenter details the key decisions that have shaped her career, the obstacles she has had to navigate along the way, and how painful losses have continued to fuel her ambitions. 

Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).

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11 best sports autobiographies

From dealing with pressure on the pitch to overcoming demons in their personal lives, indybest finds sports stars whose memoirs pack a punch, article bookmarked.

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Whatever sports you're into, these books, all published in the last six months, make for absorbing reads.

{1} Gareth Thomas: Proud: Ebury, £20

Since becoming Britain’s first openly-gay professional rugby player in 2009, Thomas has been something of a pin-up for the LBGT community. But it was not an easy path to contentment, as he lays bare in this accomplished, moving effort.

{2} Nicole Cooke: The Breakaway: Ebury, £20

Before the likes of Laura Trott was making headlines for women’s road racing, Cooke was battling to give the sport the recognition she felt it deserved. Her grit and determination, spanning from childhood to the London Olympics, radiates from the page in this account of achieving in a male-dominated arena.

{3} I an Poulter: No Limits: Quercus, £20

The media has seized upon snappy dresser Poulter’s “rags to riches” story. But the one-time market trader who became a Ryder Cup master’s story has impact when it comes from the horse’s mouth. His revealing tale is an absorbing one for golf aficionados.

{4} Our Life on Ice: The Autobiography: Simon & Schuster, £20

From their gold medal-winning routine in 1984 to eight years judging Dancing on Ice, Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean have come as a professional pair. This shines a light on their individual personal struggles and how their – entirely unromantic – partnership has worked for four decades in the figure skating business. Fans will love it.

{5} Roy Keane: The Second Half: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £20

To use a sporting cliché, this blisteringly honest book - written in collaboration with Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle — is a tale of two halves. An account of the driven Premier League star’s career, then an insight into life as a manager. Keane’s self-deprecating wit, combined with a take-no-prisoners approach, make for an entertaining read.

{6} Jimmy White: Second Wind: Trinity Mirror sport media, £20

Snooker might not be your usual bag, but White’s searingly honest account of how drugs cost him ten world titles and nearly his life, is a gripping one. “The Whirlwind” airs his dirty laundry and leaves you to make up your own mind on his legacy.

{7} Luis Suarez: Crossing the Line : Headline, £20

When you’ve gone from the street football of Montevideo to the excellence of Ajax, married your childhood sweetheart, been banned for racism and biting, almost dragged Liverpool to the title, been thrown out of the World Cup, and joined Barcelona, you’ve got a story to tell. Suarez delivers his brilliantly and honestly.

{8} Carl Froch: Froch The Autobiography: Ebury, £20.87

Froch has never been scared to take on the hardest opponents in the boxing ring. Here, alongside his in-depth analysis of fights – including his much-hyped win against George Groves to– you see a softer side, loyal to friends, family and trainer Rob McCracken.

{9} KP: The Autobiography : Sphere, £20

Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen takes a no-holds-barred approach to telling the stories - and apportioning blame - for his memorable moments, including being dropped before the failed 2013/14 Ashes series. Like him or not, KP’s book is compulsive reading.

{10} Brian O’Driscoll: The Test: Penguin, £20

With Ireland a favourite to take the Six Nations, now’s an apt time to delve into the life of the national side’s former rugby captain. The likeable O’Driscoll covers his turmoil over the suicide of his best friend, along with his own surprising on-pitch struggles. Buy

11. Geoffrey Boycott: The Corridor Of Certainty: Simon & Schuster, £20

The batsman-turned-commentator is always forthright on his beloved sport but here you get a unusually candid insight into his life away from cricket, notably a harrowing account of his recent cancer treatment. You sense the impact the illness had on his family in this engaging book that reads almost as if Boycott was sat next you telling the story. Buy

Verdict For books that transcend sport and are moving and thought-provoking memoirs, try Gareth Thomas' Proud or Nicole Cooke's The Breakaway .

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All In: An Autobiography Hardcover – Deckle Edge, August 17, 2021

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Print length 496 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Knopf
• Publication date August 17, 2021
• Dimensions 6.71 x 1.54 x 9.55 inches
• ISBN-10 1101947330
• ISBN-13 978-1101947333
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Editorial reviews, amazon.com review, about the author, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved., product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf; First American Edition (August 17, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1101947330
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1101947333
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.02 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.71 x 1.54 x 9.55 inches
• #13 in Tennis (Books)
• #37 in LGBTQ+ Biographies (Books)
• #1,754 in Memoirs (Books)

About the authors

Johnette howard.

Johnette Howard is a best-selling author who previously worked as a national columnist and on-air commentator for ESPN, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated general sports columnist for Newsday, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and The National Sports Daily, and an enterprise writer/ columnist for The Washington Post. Howard began her career at the Detroit Free Press as an NBA and Olympics writer. Her work has been collected in nine anthologies, most notably The Best American Sports Writing of The Century, which was published in 2000 and edited by David Halberstam.

Howard is the author of two books. She collaborated with Billie Jean King on King's autobiography, "All in", which was released by Knopf in August 2021 and debuted at No. 5 on the New York Times Best-Seller List. Booklist and Publisher's Weekly gave "All In" starred reviews, and Kirkus called it, "A memoir bristling with energy and passion." New York Times reviewer Caitlin Thompson wrote, "King’s instincts to shape seismic events in culture have set the table for (and in some cases, created) conversations about race, gender identity, sexuality and equity that are especially resonant now, and it’s hard not to read this book as a call to arms...'All In' reads as a manifesto, like “Letters to a Young Poet” with a heavy dash of bell hooks....Her book is a powerful rallying cry, in a life full of them."

Howard also wrote "The Rivals: Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova, Their Epic Duels and Extraordinary Friendship" (Broadway Books). The Rivals was as an Editor's Choice of The New York Times Review of Books, and The Times of London termed it, "Beautifully constructed...Vivid and enthralling." A Los Angeles Times reviewer wrote, "Splendidly written...Reads like a short cultural history of the 1970s and 1980s."

Billie Jean King

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They’ve Got Game: New Sports Books

The season’s latest releases take up the New England Patriots, the origin story of Giannis Antetokounmpo — and the role of discrimination, protests and money in the world of athletics.

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By Oskar Garcia

Sports fans can easily forget or dismiss a clear reality about the games they love: They are a form of entertainment, a business endeavor competing among many options for emotional and financial attention.

The leagues know this, and have made television the foundation of their enterprises. So, too, do the biggest stars — and not just athletes but coaches, executives, team owners and television personalities, too.

That relationship between celebrity and audience was tested and picked apart repeatedly in 2021. The tennis star Naomi Osaka pulled back from her sport twice, and challenged conventions about how athletes, especially women, should be treated by fans and the press. Simone Biles, the gymnast who entered the Tokyo Olympics as the face of Team U.S.A., became the talk of the Games not by competing, but by acknowledging vulnerability and withdrawing from her enormous stage.

Some lighter moments showed the shrewdness of the game. Floyd Mayweather trash-talked his way into a meaningless yet marketable exhibition against the YouTube star Logan Paul. And a few bigger developments pointed toward a landscape far different from what fans have been used to. College athletes gained the right to earn money off their fame. And some of the most transcendent stars, including Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Serena Williams, showed that their biggest championships could be exceedingly difficult to recapture.

Several books in 2021 scrutinized athletes and the people around them in ways that might have appeared less obvious to casual fans a decade ago, before the coronavirus pandemic and broader cultural conversations illuminated the already changing interactions between athletes and the general public.

In GIANNIS: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP (Hachette, 400 pp., $30), the journalist Mirin Fader details the origin story of Giannis Antetokounmpo , the Milwaukee Bucks star who was born in Greece without citizenship and eventually led his team to an N.B.A. championship in July. (The New York Times published excerpts from the book when it was released in August.)

Through extensive interviews with family members, coaches, teammates, friends and others, Fader presents Antetokounmpo as a rising talent who challenged notions of race in a country that does not offer citizenship as a birthright. Antetokounmpo and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo were granted citizenship in 2013 because of the potential of their basketball careers. It validated for the family that they were indeed Greek, even if some people in the country had trouble accepting Black people as Greek. “There are hundreds of Black Greek kids growing up today who may never receive the opportunities Giannis did,” Fader writes, adding: “These kids are not embraced, affirmed, the way Giannis is now.”

Antetokounmpo’s parents arrived from Nigeria in 1991, three years before he was born. The family struggled to pay for food and bounced around apartments when they could not make rent. Antetokounmpo, at 13, met a coach who persuaded him to play basketball to chase a better life. “Giannis,” an expansion of a piece Fader reported for Bleacher Report in 2019, captures an endearing portrait of Antetokounmpo by using his family as its primary through-line as he made his way to the N.B.A. and the United States.

The framing makes for a more compelling journey than what would normally be expected of a parade of tough coaches, on-court rivals and personal uncertainty. And it gives the necessary heft to Antetokounmpo’s emotional speech in 2019 after he won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.

“When you’re a little kid, you don’t see the future, right? Your parent sees the future for you,” Antetokounmpo said of his mother, Veronica. And “she always saw the future in us.”

The unpredictability of the future is at the heart of one of the most repeated stories about the quarterback Tom Brady: He was selected No. 199 in the 2000 N.F.L. draft by the New England Patriots and Coach Bill Belichick.

Football fans know (and many loathe) what came next: six Super Bowl wins over two decades together. Their dynasty has been dissected so much that even the games Brady and Belichick have played without each other the past two seasons have become markers to reassess their partnership.

And yet the ESPN writer Seth Wickersham, with thorough reporting and the experience of covering New England’s twists and turns, manages a noteworthy feat in IT’S BETTER TO BE FEARED: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness (Norton, 528 pp., $30) — he humanizes Brady, Belichick and the Patriots owner Robert Kraft for outsiders in a way that can be exceedingly difficult. Hate the Patriots? This is Belichick as Walter White rather than Heisenberg, and Brady with intimate moments of self-awareness about his career and personal life. Love New England? Spygate, Deflategate and the other self-inflicted problems and toxicity within the organization were probably uglier than you thought.

Wickersham does not shy away from any of the problems associated with New England’s rise and eventual breakup, with Brady going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Belichick bet against his quarterback’s idea of throwing passes into his mid-40s. Given the team’s attitudes toward journalists over the years, Wickersham actually may have boosted his account’s credibility with Belichick, Kraft and Brady declining to be interviewed specifically for this book and Belichick dismissing its contents. Their history is told in parallel with the growth of the N.F.L. itself, including the rise of Roger Goodell to commissioner and the machinations of team owners who are used to getting what they want.

Months after a tense bar outing with a former assistant coach in 2008, Belichick reflected on the personal costs of his system of demanding loyalty. “You put a lot of time and commitment in the relationship, but it’s not easy because of the competitive part of it,” Belichick told Wickersham. “You really do care about each other, after all you’ve been through, and for all of that to dissipate because you’re in a competitive situation — you’d like to find a way to keep both going in the right balance, and it’s not always the easiest thing to do.”

Wickersham lays out the strains in the Brady-Belichick relationship over hundreds of pages. The Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen immediately goes after Michael Jordan in UNGUARDED (Atria, 320 pp., $28), a book that could more accurately be titled “Defensive.”

Co-authored with the sportswriter Michael Arkush, the book is worthwhile for the 14-page prologue alone. Pippen offers a fiery rebuke to “The Last Dance,” the Jordan-produced documentary that became a sensation during the early stages of the pandemic.

Pippen believes he and his teammates don’t get enough credit for Chicago’s success in the 1990s, and that Jordan played down their roles to boost himself for younger N.B.A. fans who may favor LeBron James in discussions about all-time greats. “He couldn’t have been more condescending if he tried. On second thought, I could believe my eyes. I spent a lot of time around the man. I knew what made him tick. How naïve I was to expect anything else,” Pippen writes.

Pippen’s description of his own journey is certainly fascinating at times, as when he describes his roots in the small town of Hamburg, Ark., where his father struggled with arthritis and a stroke and where his brother was paralyzed by a school bully’s sucker punch. He connects his upbringing with his decision to sign an undervalued contract extension in 1991.

“Because of what happened to my brother and father, I learned early on how everything in your life can be taken away without the slightest warning,” Pippen said. “I couldn’t afford the risk I would get injured and end up with nothing.”

Sadly, too many of Pippen’s other opportunities for reflection are overridden by defensiveness, anger or a lack of self-awareness or empathy. Sometimes the blame-shifting is trivial and funny: He holds Jordan and the coach Doug Collins to account for a 1988 stretch in which he missed 11 of 12 free throws. “I was to blame, needless to say. Although not entirely. Doug and Michael were also partly responsible,” he writes. “In many games I barely touched the basketball. As a result, I couldn’t sustain any rhythm.”

But Pippen shows more serious moments of dissonance, too.

In perhaps the book’s most reflective moment, Pippen details his regret over not reaching out to Jordan after Jordan’s father died. “Looking back, I wish I could blame my youth for being so incredibly insensitive. I can’t. There is no excuse,” Pippen says. “A friend of mine lost his father and I didn’t say a word to him. I will have to live with that for the rest of my life.”

Yet in the same chapter, he chides Jordan for not telephoning him after he was criticized for sitting out the last 1.8 seconds of a playoff game because he was angry that Phil Jackson, the team’s coach, had called for a teammate, Toni Kukoc, to take what became the game-winning shot. “Not that I expected Michael to call,” Pippen said. “That would have been out of character for him. Then again, I didn’t call him, either.” Of course, it’s unclear how firm Pippen is on his own sentiments.

In June, he said that he believed Jackson’s decision to turn to Kukoc, who is white, was motivated by racism. Pippen, who is Black, walks that claim back in his book: “I told myself at the time that Phil’s decision must have been racially motivated, and I allowed myself to believe that lie for nearly 30 years. Only when I saw my words in print did it dawn on me how wrong I was.”

Then, while promoting the book, Pippen seemed to deny his own denial, which he attempted to clarify during a recent interview with The New York Times: “I feel like it was a moment where he did me wrong. How about that? How about I answer your question that way.”

Posing questions to athletes, especially on television, has long been considered a dream career, and many sportscasters have become celebrities themselves, including Howard Cosell, Hannah Storm and Maria Taylor. Unfortunately, for women that fame also carries downsides that are not experienced by men — scorn and scrutiny that arise precisely because they are women.

Guy Harrison, an assistant professor of journalism and electronic media at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, makes this argument in ON THE SIDELINES: Gendered Neoliberalism and the American Female Sportscaster (University of Nebraska, 186 pp., $99) and adds that the many problems women face as sportscasters speak to wider ideas about feminism.

His is a scholarly discussion that challenges both fans and media professionals to look inward rather than dismiss problems like online trolls, harassment, sexism and racism as simply the cost of becoming a public figure. “The idealized female sportscaster subject is someone who the industry and its consumers expect to be an always autonomous and entrepreneurial figure, capable of successfully navigating gendered barriers — such as sexual harassment — and persevering,” Harrison writes.

Harrison conducted focus groups of consumers and interviews with 10 women in various on-air roles. The professionals tell stories about poor treatment by co-workers and athletes, while the focus groups demonstrate beliefs that fall into negative stereotypes. The discussion can get a little arcane at times — an explanation of the term “postfeminism” includes a breakdown of why Harrison doesn’t hyphenate the word — but the stories of sexism and professional double standards are resonant about an industry that has favored white men.

They also apply beyond sideline reporters and on-air talent, and Harrison’s discussion could have benefited from more breadth and acknowledgment of how those relationships intertwine. “There are other media industries that rely on the presentation of attractive women to draw an audience. Sports media organizations are not among those industries and need not try to be,” Harrison says.

That ideal is certainly fair. But given how media companies operate, it is unrealistic to consider decisions about sports separately from decisions about other forms of entertainment programming.

In college sports, many of the most important decisions have centered on the large television contracts that have become the primary moneymakers for the top university athletic programs. In THE BIG EAST: Inside the Most Entertaining and Influential Conference in College Basketball History (Ballantine, 272 pp., $28), the journalist Dana O’Neil tells the story of a league driven by men’s basketball, the sport that, along with football, has made college athletics a multibillion-dollar behemoth.

The twists of the Big East Conference, known for its gritty teams and stars, including Patrick Ewing of Georgetown and Chris Mullin of St. John’s, are presented largely through the eyes of the coaches who became the faces of their teams: John Thompson Jr. at Georgetown, Jim Boeheim at Syracuse, Jim Calhoun at Connecticut and others.

That presentation is consistent with how college basketball teams and conferences focus on coaches, which is much different from the athlete-driven N.B.A. O’Neil, who has more than 30 years of experience reporting on the Big East, draws readers into a series of romps with the league’s marquee names.

Formed in 1979, the Big East built its reputation with tough games and siblinglike relationships among coaches and administrators. And with national championships came grandeur and a television contract with ESPN, though the league became caught up in a realignment of conferences that ultimately led to a split. “Mention of the conference conjures up a well of sentiment, a heavy dose of yarn-spinning and more than a little awe at what everyone got away with,” O’Neil writes.

There are moments throughout the book where it is difficult not to think about the tales of lavish outings (ostensibly for business) in a more modern context. One such episode is a coaches’ meeting in 1988 at a luxury Florida golf resort. P.J. Carlesimo, the coach of Seton Hall, encourages the Big East newcomer Rick Barnes of Providence to stack up on shirts and other items at a pro shop and charge them to the conference. “‘I might have done that,’ Carlesimo says now with a chuckle,” O’Neil writes.

Left unsaid, perhaps because it is so obvious, is that the misadventures of the highly paid coaches and administrators contrast with how their athletes were treated. The N.C.A.A. agreed this year, under pressure, to allow students who play sports to make some outside money from their fame.

Of course, many college athletes have become more vocal in recent years about their circumstances as well as about broader social issues. Many who have demonstrated have nodded toward Colin Kaepernick, the N.F.L. quarterback who used the playing of the U.S. national anthem to protest police brutality and systemic inequity and subsequently found himself unable to secure a roster spot.

In THE KAEPERNICK EFFECT: Taking a Knee, Changing the World (New Press, 240 pp., $25.99), Dave Zirin, the sports editor of The Nation, tells the individual stories of dozens of athletes who were inspired by Kaepernick to demonstrate. “They are bound together by a belief in racial justice,” Zirin writes. He adds: “They are bound together by the idea that they needed to take Kaepernick’s effort to start a conversation and put it into action. They are bound together by the strength to withstand backlash. They braved death threats. They stood up to bigots. They were in some cases threatened with expulsion from their team.” Through a series of vignettes, athletes share what led to their protests and their views of how their teams, families and others in their communities reacted to their demonstrations.

These stories give a pointed sense of why the athletes would be willing to risk alienating themselves from their teams. “Nothing in life is going to start by being silent,” said Winston Jones, a forward on the 2017 men’s basketball team at St. Michael’s College in Vermont.

The stories are interesting, emotional and sincere. But Zirin misses opportunities by not talking often enough with the people around the players: teammates, administrators, coaches, parents and others. Their perspectives would have rounded out Zirin’s reporting, especially concerning the most severe claims of mistreatment. Some of the accounts end too early, as well, with little attention paid to what happened after a protest and the immediate reaction to it.

Zirin’s point of view is clear. He supports the athletes and, with some noted exceptions, sees team and league administrators as obstructionists who favor their own business needs. But the oversimplification of some of the vignettes could carry an unintended effect: People who aren’t already predisposed to agree may dismiss the athletes prematurely.

Oskar Garcia is a deputy sports editor at The Times.

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“The Chocolate War,” published 50 years ago, became one of the most challenged books in the United States. Its author, Robert Cormier, spent years fighting attempts to ban it .

Joan Didion’s distinctive prose and sharp eye were tuned to an outsider’s frequency, telling us about ourselves in essays that are almost reflexively skeptical. Here are her essential works .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

10 sports books we loved in 2021

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Two high school teams overcome unbelievable odds to play football. Women push through layer after layer of sexism to succeed. One pro league fights to finish a season inside a bubble amid racial unrest, while one coach most people love to hate keeps winning.

All those stories were highlighted by a group of talented writers who captured our attention and taught us much during the past year.

Take a closer look at 10 sports books we enjoyed reading in 2021.

“Paradise Found: A High School Football Team’s Rise From the Ashes” | Bill Plaschke

“Rising from the ashes” is a common metaphor in the athletic comeback genre, but in this case it is literally the story of the Paradise Bobcats, most of whom lost almost everything in the 2018 wildfire that reduced 18,000 homes in the California town to smoldering ember. The role of sports is sometimes overstated in helping communities heal. Not here. Plaschke, for 25 years an L.A. Times columnist, begins the book by telling in harrowing detail the flight to safety, then turning to the rebuild, which finds its raw, gripping voice in the individual stories of more than a dozen players and coaches.

“Across the River: Life, Death, and Football in an American City” | Kent Babb

The Washington Post’s Kent Babb takes readers to a place it’s unlikely they’d explore on their own — the New Orleans neighborhood of Algiers. Pairing detailed reporting with fluid writing, Babb introduces us to Ednar Karr High coach Brice Brown and the weight he carries beyond trying to win a fourth state championship. His players are growing up amid a gun violence epidemic, leaving him to not only coach football fundamentals but also how to deal with the strain of mental health challenges, a prolific drug trade and economic inequality.

“All In: An Autobiography” | Billie Jean King

Athletic activism has its antecedents in the 1960s, when tennis star Billie Jean King — who grew up on 36th Street in Long Beach — began her fight for gender, racial and economic equity that continues to this day. The 432-page book, co-written with journalists Johnette Howard and Maryanne Vollers, carries King’s unmistakably forceful and feisty voice and shares the author’s most personal struggles. Like Andre Agassi’s 2009 autobiography, “Open,” King’s memoir is not only great reading but also an essential public service.

“Bubbleball: Inside the NBA’s Fight to Save a Season” | Ben Golliver

The Washington Post national basketball writer was one of a very few sportswriters who spent all 107 days in the pandemic-necessitated NBA bubble. It was a long, strange — if stationary — trip, 22 teams chasing a championship in effectively a high school gym environment. The Lakers would claim that title, which Golliver captures in great detail, but his ground-floor eyewitness to the real-world tumult of the summer of 2020, which included a work stoppage prompted by the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wis., and player mental health being challenged by extended seclusion, is the true gold in the book. The NBA erected a bubble and it saved the season (and the Lakers’ 17th championship) but it did not seal off the real world from its occupants.

“Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP” | Mirin Fader

Mirin Fader couldn’t have timed an inside look into the improbable rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo any better, with the Greek sensation leading the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA title in tandem with the book’s release. Fader is a gifted writer who shares vivid details about Antetokounmpo’s impoverished upbringing in Greece. His undocumented immigrant status blocked him from playing on top Greek club teams and he sold trinkets with his family on the streets as they struggled in the face of racism. Despite it all, Antetokounmpo fought his way to the NBA. While he remains hard on himself as he pushes to retain the opportunities he’s earned, the book is dotted with the Greek star’s humility and good humor that has made him one of the NBA’s most endearing stars.

“Glory Days: The Summer of 1984 and the 90 Days That Changed Sports and Culture Forever” | L. Jon Wertheim

Middle-aged sportswriters have made a cottage industry of infusing their work with references to John Hughes movies, Michaels Jackson and Jordan and the “Karate Kid,” to name a few. Few, if any, have turned them into a rollicking 336-page account of a decade that, truthfully, was pretty damn fun and hilarious. The prolific Wertheim, an executive editor at Sports Illustrated and author of 15 books ranging from children’s books to Al Michaels’ memoir, drills down on a summer that spawned outsized cultural personalities and moments alike, notably the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, still considered the gold standard of the modern Games.

“Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League” | Britni de la Cretaz and Lyndsey D’Arcangelo

You’ve likely heard of “A League of their Own,” a movie that captured the magic of a women’s pro baseball team that once thrived in the U.S. Britni de la Cretaz and Lyndsey D’Arcangelo deliver equally enjoyable stories of another remarkable professional women’s league that got little attention. They showcase the scrappy women’s pro football league that operated in the United States in the 1970s. The squads include the short-lived L.A. Dandelions, which was competitive but couldn’t overcome the geographic distance from other teams operating in other parts of the country.

“It’s Better to be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness” | Seth Wickersham

Throughout his career, Wickersham, an ESPN writer, has brought a reportorial attention to detail that can make an NFL owners meeting read as absorbingly and entertainingly as the final minutes of a Tom Brady Super Bowl comeback. The Brady-Bill Belichick Dynasty is an irresistible canvas, and a forbidding one, for anyone setting out to tell the definitive story of the most famously secretive success story in NFL history. Wickersham delivers the goods with a Halberstamian level of original detail and insight. You might hate-read the book — because the Brady-Belichick Patriots tend to inspire that sort of thing — but you will not regret hate-reading it (unless, perhaps, you’re a fan of USC and/or the Chargers, both of whom had Brady in their grasp more than two decades ago, only to pass on him in favor of much, much less).

“Sidelined: Sports, Culture, and Being a Woman in America” | Julie DiCaro

Julie Dicaro shines a spotlight on issues that are often ignored because they make both writers and readers uncomfortable. While so many of us love sports and see it as an escape, it’s important to acknowledge sexism, inequality and uneven accountability for athletes involved in intimate partner violence that sideline women. Along with her personal experience, Dicaro uses a mix of interviews and research to give readers a more complete picture of everything many women must overcome to enjoy any sort of affiliation with sports in America.

“Tall Men, Short Shorts” | Leigh Montville

The former Boston Globe columnist and Sports Illustrated senior writer has made a successful second journalistic life as one of the sports world’s foremost biographers. The latest addition to the Montville oeuvre is more of an autobiography, the memoir of a 25-year Boston columnist thrust into the final days of the Bill Russell-led Celtics dynasty and its dominance of the Lakers. While Montville is a Boston guy, he brings a fresh insider’s eye to the Jerry West/Elgin Baylor/Wilt Chamberlain Lakers. These were the days when teams traveled commercial with the writers who covered them, when the biggest stars stuck around long after the final whistle to swap goodness with those same writers. Montville kept his half-century-old notebooks, for which readers are rewarded with the definitive account of a pivotal season in one of sports’ great rivalries, supplemented by the personal, often hilarious, memories of a generational observer of sports.

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The 25 Best Sports Books of All Time

By Camille Hove

Camille Hove

Contributor

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We all miss the way sports used to be, but what better way to reconnect than with one of the best sports books of all time? The greatest books transport you to another world, and sports books are no exception.

Take a deep dive into the life of your favorite players, coaches and legends through a classic sports biography, memoir or even a playbook. Sports novels are another great way to experience your favorite game in a new way, especially when told through the lens of a sports fanatic who also happens to be a novelist. Or, if you’re more interested in bettering yourself, coaches like Pete Carrol have written how-to guides to help you improve your mental game on and off the field. Whatever it is you love about sports, be it the entertainment factor, the history or hometown pride, there’s a book here for you.

Get back into the game with the best sports books ever written. These 25 books are also great gifts for sports fans . So whether you love baseball, basketball, football or more obscure sports like trail running, we’ve got something for every type of player and fan.

1. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

What better way to start a new hobby than with one of the most beloved American brands? Reading about the beginning and lasting legacy of Nike is an astute form of sports knowledge and entertainment. You’ll have plenty of fun facts and trivia to impress your friends with by the time we can all watch a game together again. Knight went on to sell his Nike shoes from the back of his car to being a worldwide phenomenon. His story is intriguing and brilliantly told: you won’t regret picking up a copy of this enthralling life story of the man behind the brand.

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Psa: adidas golf gear is up to 67% off on amazon right now, this pickleball paddle set is just $25 on amazon today, $9.08 $20.00 55% off, 2. born to run by christopher mcdougall.

If you’re an avid runner, then you probably have plenty of running memoirs and advice books but Christopher McDougall’s exploration of the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico’s Copper Canyon is the ultimate adventure story. McDougall set out to discover why his foot was hurting and discovered an entirely new (to him) way of running from the Tarahumara’s ancient practice. They can run for hundreds of miles without stopping, chasing deer and Olympic marathoners with equal glee, but what’s their secret? Why have we all been running wrong this entire time? McDougall’s book explores all of these questions and seeks to answer his own initial question of why he’s been taught the wrong techniques his entire life. Pick up this book if you’re interested in a new way of running and to explore an untold history.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

$16 $35.00 54% off, 3. the mamba mentality: how i play by kobe bryant.

Famous all-star player Kobe Bryant’s book has been an all-time favorite since its publication in 2018. The basketball star goes on to explain his role in the game and how he personally approaches it with a strong mindset and something called “the Mamba Mentality” which he cites is his key to success. A teacher, mentor, and fan favorite, Bryant has given the world a gift with this book, a how-to guide for young players around the world to play in his style. As one of the most successful and creative players, Bryant has a thing or two to say to young people or anyone seeking to find their way into the game. A great book for any basketball fan and aspiring player.

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant

$18.00 $40.00 55% off, 4. one line drive: a life-threatening injury and a faith fueled comeback by daniel ponce de leon and tom zenner.

At once a horrific story of injury and an amazing recovery story, Daniel Ponce De Leon was drafted four times by the MLB, only to take a hard one line drive to the skull that landed him in the hospital. Told with the help of writer Tom Zenner, De Leon’s story is a tale of how faith can take us as far as we want to go. The book follows De Leon’s miraculous recovery 14 months later to show one of the most impressive baseball pitching debuts in history. A great read for anyone seeking encouragement that your dreams are never over.

One Line Drive: A Life Threatening Injury and a Faith Fueled Comeback by Daniel Ponce De Leon and Tom Zenner

$19.59 $26.00 25% off, 5. i came as a shadow: an autobiography by john thompson.

Georgetown University’s famous basketball coach has finally gifted us with a book of personal secrets. Having spent the last three decades inside the lives of famous players, on the front lines of racial disparity, and coming to terms with his childhood in the Jim Crow south, Thompson opens up and lets readers in. You won’t want to miss this autobiography for all of it’s insider stories, basketball lore, and plain good history. A great book for any basketball hopeful or fan.

I Came as a Shadow: An Autobiography by John Thompson

$20.59 $29.99 31% off, 6. finding ultra by rich roll.

Rich Roll may be known best for his podcast but it all started with the book. His inspirational story covers the transformation he made from slightly overweight and not exercising, abusing alcohol and feeling depressed to becoming an Ironman athlete. His story is at once an inspiring tale and a cautionary one, foretelling what we can let happen to our bodies but also how we are capable of so much wonderful change. This is a great book for anyone on the cusp of changing their life or for those who are realizing they need to.

Finding Ultra by Rich Roll

$15.50 $18.00 14% off, 7. the bona fide legend of cool papa bell by lonnie wheeler.

The historical legend that is Cool Papa Bell is a baseball player rich in stories and history. Born to sharecroppers in the south, baseball saved him from a life working in the slaughterhouses. A player known for his speed, Bell’s story is told by baseball writer and historian Lonnie Wheeler, who charts his ups and downs throughout the US during racial disparity and Bell’s escape to Mexico and the Dominican Republic to be free of the MLB color line. This is a fantastic story for all baseball fans and contains legends and lore you won’t want to miss.

The Bona Fide Legend of Cool Papa Bell by Lonnie Wheeler

$21.11 $28.00 25% off, 8. montana: the biography of football’s joe cool by keith dunnavant.

This epic football biography covers the life of the legend Joe Cool, one of the most famous and influential players out there. Writer Keith Dunnavant takes readers along for a sweeping view of the life and struggles of Joe Cool as he portrays a keen-eyed portrait of the man who again and again defied the odds of the game. This competitive player’s life was a routine of tension on and off the field from back surgery to the father who pushed him to the college coach who nearly got rid of him and every football fan who’s ever played a sport will relate to his harrowing journey. An excellent choice for anyone missing out on the action.

Montana: The Biography of Football's Joe Cool by Keith Dunnavant

$11.05 $26.00 58% off, 9. qb: my life behind the spiral by steve young and jeff benedict.

Steve Young started out as an eighth-string quarterback at BYU — slim chances of ever getting to the big leagues but his story changed when he became All American and was the first pick of drafting season. But the more intense and deeply personal story of Young comes with the revealing of his anxiety and the consequences that led him to almost leave the NFL forever. An instant New York Times Bestseller, Young’s story is a lesson for all young sports players about mental health and where the intensity can lead you, on and off the field.

QB: My Life Behind the Spiral by Steve Young

$14.49 $21.99 34% off, 10. tiger woods by jeff benedict and armen keteyian.

The inspiration for the HBO series directed by Alex Gibeny, the real untold story of Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers that ever lived. Dive deeper than ever before for the harrowing account of the superstar’s childhood, relationship with his father, and his narrow focus on golf and how he came to be the best player in history. As the most famous player in 2009, to the terrible Thanksgiving Day crash that set his personal and professional life over a cliff, who is Tiger Woods, really? A fantastic story told by two excellent sports writers, this is a great book for any fan of Woods looking to continue the story.

Tiger Woods by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian

$13.49 $20.99 36% off, 11. talking to goats: the moments you remember and the stories you ever heard by jim gray.

Jim Gray is one of the best sports historians and sportscaster of all time and he’s written an enticing tell-all book about his adventures with and around some of the best players during some of the best games in the world. Why not read about the juiciest tales in sports lore by anyone other than Jim Gray? From his view on the sidelines to the dugout, Gray has written memorable tales from his career as a sportscaster to insider never heard before stories. A great book for any sports junkie with a keen ear for legendary players.

Talking to GOATs: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You ever Heard by Jim Gray

$11.54 $28.99 60% off, 12. gods at play: an eyewitness account of great moments in american sports by tom callahan.

A prolific sports writer and columnist for Time magazine, Tom Callahan witnessed many memorable moments in US sports history and has decided to document the stories for everyone to read. Told in vignette-style prose, Callahan writes about the smaller scenes that no one else witnessed to the heavy hitters like Muhammad Ali fighting George Foreman in Zaire. He keeps his stories interesting and intriguing, leaving the reader wanting more and more. Callahan was a great witness to sports history and every avid fan will enjoy this book.

Gods at Play: An Eyewitness Account of Great Moments in American Sports by Tom Callahan

$16.39 $26.95 39% off, 13. best american sports writing 2020 edited by glenn stout and jackie macmullan.

These pieces are the best sports writing published in 2020 and edited by the esteemed Glenn Stout and Jackie MacMullan. Take a tour through the past year and relive your favorite moments again and again through some of the best journalism from around the world. A few stories include “For People Suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Baseball Brings Back Fun Memories” by Bill Plaschke in which the journalist Plaschke interviews patients and observes their fondness for the game brighten their eyes to Bryan Burrough following a man-eating tiger hunt in India. More than just play-by-play coverage of your favorite games in the States, the Best American Sports Writing follows journalists as they travel the world and bring back intriguing stories for their audience. A must-have for any sports fan.

Best American Sports Writing 2020 edited by Glenn Stout and Jackie Macmullan

$13.34 $16.99 21% off, 14. tom seaver: a terrific life by bill madden.

A biography of one of the greatest pitchers of all time, Tom Seaver, recounts the life and achievements of baseball’s favorite star. One of only two pitchers with 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and an ERA under 3.00, he was a twelve-time All-Star and inducted into the Hall of Fame with the highest ever percentage at the time. Seaver was quite the popular player among fans and teammates alike, often putting the success of the team over his own personal glory. Bill Madden sweeps through his life and career with excellent storytelling, finding the true joy that baseball and its amazing players to the fans at home. A must-have biography for any baseball buff.

Tom Seaver: A Terrific Life by Bill Madden

$16.82 $28.00 40% off, 15. alone on the wall: alex honnold and the ultimate limits of adventure by alex honnold and david roberts.

We all gasped at the film Free Solo , right? If not, head to Disney Plus and watch it immediately . Well, guess what, it’s the same guy, and this is the book he wrote along with David Roberts that explores seven of his most insane climbs, From Yosemite’s breathtaking Half Dome to Mexico’s El Sendero Luminoso, follow along as Honnold explores the why and how he free climbs all of these giants alone. He gets across the singular focus and drive it takes to look morality in the face every time he goes for a climb and takes us on his harrowing journey through the world’s best climbs. A great read for anyone seeking adventure and thrills.

Alone on the Wall: Alex Honnold and the Ultimate Limits of Adventure by Alex Honnold and David Roberts

16. barbarian days: a surfing life by william finnegan.

Surfer and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist William Finnegan explores the different surfing locales around the world and with them, the local people and culture. Take a trip with Finnegan as he surfs his way to paradise and offers insights on humility, surfing, and traveling. He gives us stories of his childhood growing up in Hawaii, being in an all-white gang when his best friend was Hawaiian, dropping LSD while surfing one of the biggest waves in the world on Maui, and traversing the black market in Indonesia, all while keeping the reader engaged. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2016, this will forever remain a popular book, one of the best on surfing ever written.

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan

$15.19 $19.00 20% off, 17. it’s not about the bike: my journey back to life by lance armstrong.

The legendary Lance Armstrong may be America’s most controversial athlete of all time, and his tell-all book is an intriguing read into the life of the strong cyclist. If you’re at all curious about what happened before and after Lance’s big scandal in the early aughts, to his early racing career, to his battle with cancer, then you’re in for a treat. If you’re a cycling fan or not, this is an epic sports book for any endurance junkie who’s interested in other’s lives in and around the sport that has focused their life.

It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong

18. why we swim by bonnie tsui.

If you’re a curious swimmer, you’ll enjoy Bonnie Tsui’s exploration of the history of humans swimming, our collective obsession with water and the idea of relaxation it comes with, and of course, the long laps some of us enjoy. Why do people swim? Why do we enjoy it? Tsui explores these questions as well as her own love of swimming in this comprehensive look at our history as a whole with water. A truly beautiful book that any swimmer will love it and want to share with their friends.

Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui

19. to shake the sleeping self: a journey from oregon to patagonia, and a quest for a life with no regret by jedidiah jenkins.

At once a cycling journey and a spiritual journey, Jenkins quits his job on the eve of turning 30 in search of a more profound existence. As his journey unfolds, we see him begin to question his relationship with God, his family, and his sexuality. He goes on many curious adventures that are breathtaking to read and that won’t let you put the book down. Travel along with Jenkins as he makes his way through South America while tackling his own ideas of religion and the power of family. A truly engaging read for anyone who wants to cycle across a continent and survey their own life and its trajectory.

To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins

$15.00 $26.00 42% off, 20. miracle in lake placid: the greatest hockey story ever told by john gilbert.

One of the best-known stories in US hockey history as told by journalist John Gilbert, Miracle in Lake Placid is a book of the great details and the aftermath of the player’s lives. What happened after that fateful game with the Soviets? How did hockey change in our collective memory? The effects that rippled out to reach a generation of readers is here in one epic book. This is the story you’ll want to give any hockey fan in your family.

Miracle in Lake Placid: The Greatest Hockey Story Ever Told by John Gilbert

21. the art of fielding by chad harbach.

Maybe the greatest baseball novel of all time and the most talked about, Chad Harbach’s famous book is not to be missed by any reader, sports fan or not. The love of the game certainly comes through in this epic saga of one pitcher’s destiny and the fates of five others as the story spirals outward. At once a harrowing tale of friendship, choice, and regret, Harbach writes with great empathy and precision about how our decisions may alter more than just ourselves.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

$10.95 $19.99 45% off, 22. the cactus league by emily nemens.

In this character-driven world obsessed with baseball, writer Emily Nemens transports readers to a new land where protagonist Jason Goodyear is stationed with his team for their annual spring training in Arizona. But Goodyear is hiding more than he lets on and is beginning to unravel, affecting all of his coaches, friends, fans, and family. What will happen to him? As his diehard fans watch closely to find out, Nemens spins a tale bright with the Arizona sun and the humility of the player’s psyches. Told in breathtaking prose, an expert at baseball herself, Nemens weaves throughout her knowledge of the game on and off the field. Not a book to be missed.

The Cactus League by Emily Nemens

$12.63 $17.00 26% off, 23. beneath the surface: my story by michael phelps and brian cazenevue.

In this startling memoir, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps takes us into his world pre-swimming and after the limelight. He describes his struggles with ADD, his parent’s divorce, and how the amount of attention in the spotlight affected him in and out of the pool. Like any great athlete, Phelps shares his story for the world to see, honest and tender, touching and heartbreaking. The inner lives of athletes always seem to be a mystery to most but when they open up in a memoir, we are allowed to see a truly unique peek into their souls. If you’re interested in swimming, the inner workings of high caliber athletes, or just love the Olympics, Michael Phelps has a story for you.

Beneath The Surface: My Story by Michael Phelps and Brian Cazenevue

$11.79 $16.99 31% off, 24. the boys in the boat by daniel james brown.

One of the oldest and revered sports in American history is rowing and Daniel James Brown has written a beautiful and compelling story of the nine young men trying for the Olympic gold in 1936. Individual stories tell this harrowing account and the fight for Olympics glory. Brown takes us from Seattle Washington to the rivers in Berlin where the boys in the boat must stake their final claim for victory. A breathtaking and captivating story for all sports fans to enjoy.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

25. the champion’s mind: how great athletes think, train, and thrive by jim afremow.

More than a guide, this instructional book by sports psychologist Jim Afremow, PhD, shows us how to thrive like a professional athlete by sharing their stories, successes, and failures. Why not up your own ability by researching how the pro’s do it? Most of sports is the mental challenge, the competitive edge they thrive on during a race or game versus physical ability, but that’s important too. Can you change your mindset to thrive on the court? Better your pitch or stroke? Afremow shows us how humans are capable of change and has given us a wonderful guide into how to do it that includes workouts, tips, and tricks.

The Champion's Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive by Jim Afremow

$14.39 $15.99 10% off, honorable mention: win forever by pete carroll.

Pete Carroll first rose to fame as the head coach of the USC Trojans, and under his leadership, the team won six bowl games and a BCS National Championship. After graduating to the NFL, he would coach the Seattle Seahawks to their first-ever Super Bowl win. Carroll has a proven track record of elite success, and he shares his secrets to cultivating a winning lifestyle and mindset in this inspirational sports book. Carrol shares his tips for playing and living like a champion, and while that might sound like a typical self-help book, this best-selling book has so much more to offer.

Camille is a writer and amateur bike racer in New York City. She has an MFA from the New School and is currently at work on a novel.

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33 Sports Books to Read Now That Sports Are (Mostly) Back

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Everyone loves an underdog. That’s why we’re drawn to sports movies—there’s something special about the magic depicted in Remember The Titans , Miracle , or even something silly like The Waterboy . But good sports books, and we mean good ones, go even deeper. Whether we’re learning a lot about something we already care about, diving deep into a brand new subject, or taking in an entirely fictional world in a novel set in a universe alternate to our own, there’s always going to just be more when you’re the one painting the pictures inside your own mind.

And now with so much time—there’s still a pandemic happening, last we checked—sports fans need to find alternate ways to get their fix; just flipping to ESPN doesn’t hit the same when there’s no NBA Playoffs Game 5 to catch the end of. But that’s OK, because for every epic sports moment or figure that you can think of, there’s probably a book where you can learn more.

Want to learn more about Mike Tyson? You got it. How about Michael Jordan? Sure. Maybe you want to find a great Yogi Berra quote to text your mom to make her laugh. A solid option! All of that and more can come from picking the right book. And below, we’ve got 33 of the very best that can help to make this sports-less quarantine period that much less painful.

Pocket Books The Jordan Rules: The Inside Story of One Turbulent Season with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls

Brand: Riverhead Fever Pitch

You've probably heard of this one in its form as a Jimmy Fallon-led (remember when he used to act?) 2004 romantic comedy about a guy balancing his love life with his obsessive love for the Boston Red Sox. The movie, actually, is based on a memoir of obsessive devotion to English Football Club Arsenal, written by author Nick Hornby ( High Fidelity, A Long Way Down).  Funny, interesting, and still engrossing, if you're a sports fan who just can't figure out why you continue rooting for the loser , you'll find home here. 

St. Martin's Press 24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid

While we're all missing baseball (and believe me, we  all  wish we were at a ballpark with a hot dog and a beer right about now), why not read a brand new book from the mind of one of the game's all-time greats? Willie Mays came together with co-author John Shea to tell the story of his incredible, lengthy career (he played from 1951-1973), which saw him play through the civil rights era as one of the game's earliest superstars. 

Back Bay Books What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen

Things might not always be as shiny as they seem. That's the main takeaway in this crushing book by Kate Fagan, expanded from her ESPN Magazine story about the tragic suicide of Madison Holleran. The story looks at a college athlete who by all accounts would've seemed to "have it all," but always had an unexplainable darkness bubbling under the surface. An absolutely crushing story, but one that deserves to be read. 

Back Bay Books Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN

This nonfiction story on the past and present of ESPN is long (763 pages) but it's an oral history—so you can read through it like movie dialogue. Starting with stories of the network's very beginning in 1979, and coming up to date with many names that you'll still see on TV every day, this book is gripping, and quite cinematic. So cinematic, in fact, that a major adaptation has been in discussion for a couple years now. Read the book now and get ahead of the curve. 

Workman Publishing Company The Yogi Book

This isn't so much a book you'll sit down and read for a couple hours as much as it's something you'll pick up when sitting with family and friends and get a good laugh at. As a collection of Yogi Berra's greatest quotes and his funniest anecdotes (and with less than 200 pages) , it's hard to beat  The Yogi Book. 

Scribner Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

Did you ever wonder what goes into those cool sneakers you picked up for $120? If you have, great. If you haven't, maybe now is the time to start wondering.  Shoe Dog  is an interesting, never-before-told story from Phil Knight about founding a company you might have heard of called Nike. Where did 'Just Do It' come from? The answer is here. 

Triumph Books Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay

Todd Zolecki's brand-new book (it just came out on May 19) takes a deeper look at the late MLB star Roy Halladay. Halladay, who was inducted in the Hall of Fame last summer, and is yet another case of someone who had demons hiding beneath the surface;  Doc  tells the fascinating story behind Halladay's balancing act. He was a star on the field, and a beloved father and husband, while also dealing with the dark demons that come along with addiction. 

Plume Undisputed Truth

It can feel like there's a divide a lot of the time with celebrity memoirs. Sure, it's someone you want to read from and learn about, but the book isn't in their voice—it's some undisclosed ghostwriter's voice. Well,  Undisputed  Truth  almost certainly has its own ghostwriter, but it's a damn good one, because it reads  exactly  like a book that Mike Tyson would write. This book hops from one entertaining anecdote to the next, and never feels like you're getting your information from anywhere other than the man itself. 

Simon & Schuster Tiger Woods

When  The Last Dance  ended, a popular conversation emerged: Who else could possibly be as compelling as Michael Jordan? Who could possibly power their own 10-part documentary series? A common response was Tiger Woods, and as this biography by Jeff Benedict—published just before his incredible 2019 Masters win—proves, there's quite a lot to mine.  Tiger Woods  talks to more than 250 people in the golfer's orbit, and paints as clear a picture as you could possibly imagine. 

Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster The Dynasty

OK, we'll be up front with you— The Dynasty  isn't out yet. It comes out in September. But you're going to want to pre-order this book from writer Jeff Benedict—who wrote the above  Tiger Woods . Here, he has a book of the same ilk on the way about the New England Patriots, with more than 200 interviews conducted about the team's three lightening rods: Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady .  With Brady now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, we're guessing there might have been some last-minute edits—and we can't wait to read them. 

PublicAffairs The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty

If you liked  The Jordan Rules,  this book from NBA writer Ethan Sherwood Strauss might be the closest thing to a modern-day version of it. Focusing on the late-2010s Golden State Warriors dynasty years, this book takes inside looks at Warriors ownership and the emergence of the dynasty, and at Kevin Durant's entry and exit into the story. The mercurial Durant refused to be interviewed for the book—which, in a lot of ways, that makes it even juicier. 

The Cactus League: A Novel

Do you love baseball? Do you love good writing? Then  The Cactus League —the debut novel from  Paris Review  editor Emily Nemens—is for you. You know the baseball player stereotypes: the tobacco-chewing, steroid-using, meathead beefcakes.  The characters in  The Cactus League  are not this. Instead, it  looks at the inverse; the guys in spring training. Guys who don't know their future; who don't know if they're even going to make the team. It's fiction, but it's a baseball fan's dream—especially when games aren't currently being played. 

H. G. Bissinger Friday Night Lights

The book that launched the critically acclaimed film and television show, Bissinger’s chronicle of high school football in West Texas is a snapshot of the gridiron’s grip on small town America.

John McPhee A Sense of Where You Are: Bill Bradley at Princeton

The legendary New Yorker writer’s brilliant profile of Bill Bradley—the former U.S. senator and New York Knicks star.

Jim Bouton Ball Four: Twentieth Anniversary Edition

The ex-pitcher’s chronicle of his 1969 season with the New York Yankees is one of the greatest books about baseball not because it glorifies the sport, as so many baseball books do, but because it serves as an insider account of the seedier side of the game: the infighting, the womanizing, and Mickey Mantle’s heavy drinking. With its unblinking look at the side of locker room culture most of us will never see up close, it was critically lauded at the time and has become a non-fiction classic—even though it cost him friends on the diamond.

Andre Agassi Open: An Autobiography

Memoirs by former athletes are almost always dull, self-glorifying, and cliche. But tennis great Andre Agassi threw out the formula for his 2009 memoir, in which the Punisher peels back the curtain to show readers the price he paid for his success on the court—an unhappy childhood in which he was groomed for tennis greatness at an early age that gave way to a stressful adulthood which found him unfulfilled by his accomplishments.

Michael Lewis Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

You’d be hard-pressed to find a book that’s had more of an impact on the sport it’s about. Lewis’s insightful 2003 profile of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics, which was later turned into the Brad Pitt movie of the same name, inspired front offices across the MLB and beyond to rethink their approach to assembling their teams—for better and for worse.

A. J. Liebling The Sweet Science

No list of sports books could be complete without Liebling’s collection of essays on boxing. The late author and New Yorker writer wrote about boxing the way he wrote about food, another of his favorite subjects—with insight and wit in equal parts. He was so renowned for his meditations on the sport that the Boxing Writers Association of America named a damn award after him.

Wayne Coffey The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

The former New York Daily News sportswriter’s 2005 book is perhaps the definitive account of the 1980 U.S. Men’s Hockey Team—the group of amateur Americans who took on the superb Russian squad in Lake Placid and performed a “Miracle on Ice.”

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Best biographies and memoirs of 2021

Brian Cox is punchy, David Harewood candid and Miriam Margolyes raucously indiscreet

In a bonanza year for memoirs, Ruth Coker Burks got us off to a strong start with All the Young Men (Trapeze), a clear-eyed and poignant account of her years spent looking after Aids patients in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the 1980s. While visiting a friend in hospital, Burks witnessed a group of nurses drawing straws over who should enter a room labelled “Biohazard”, the ward for men with “that gay disease”. And so she took it upon herself to sit with the dying and bury them when their families wouldn’t. Later, as the scale of fear and prejudice became apparent, she helped patients with food, transport, social security and housing, often at enormous personal cost. Her book, written with Kevin Carr O’Leary, finds light in the darkness as it reveals the love and camaraderie of a hidden community fighting for its life.

Sadness and joy also go hand-in-hand in What It Feels Like for a Girl (Penguin), an exuberant account of Paris Lees’s tearaway teenage years in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, where “the streets are paved wi’ dog shit”. Her gender nonconformity is just one aspect of an adolescence that also features bullying, violence, prostitution, robbery and a spell in a young offenders’ institute. Yet despite the many traumas, Lees finds joy and kinship in the underground club scene and a group of drag queens who cocoon her in love and laughter.

Miriam Margolyes’s This Much Is True (John Murray) traces her path from cherished child of an Oxford GP to Bafta-winning actor to chat-show sofa staple, in a raucously indiscreet memoir replete with fruity tales of sexual experimentation, tricky co-stars and Olympic-level farting. And Bob Mortimer’s winningly heartfelt And Away… (Gallery) reveals the brilliant highs and terrible lows of his childhood as the “irritating runt” of four brothers, his initial career as a solicitor and subsequent reinvention as a celebrated comic alongside his partner in crime, Vic Reeves.

Themes of identity and belonging underpin Beautiful Country (Viking), Qian Julie Wang’s elegantly affecting account of her move from China to New York where she lived undocumented and under threat of deportation, and Nadia Owusu’s powerful Aftershocks (Sceptre), in which the author recalls a peripatetic childhood as the daughter of a volatile Armenian-American mother and a Ghanaian father, a United Nations official who died when she was 13. Both books tell remarkable stories of displacement, heartache and resilience.

1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows (Bodley Head) is another tale of extraordinary resilience, as the artist Ai Weiwei vividly reflects on his own life and that of his father, who was a poet. Both men fell foul of the Chinese authorities: Ai’s father, Ai Qing, was exiled to a place nicknamed “Little Siberia”, where he lived with his young son in a dug-out pit with a roof made from mud and branches, while Ai himself was imprisoned in 2011 for 11 weeks on spurious tax charges. Lea Ypi’s Free: Coming of Age at the End of History (Penguin) is a beautifully written account of life under a crumbling Stalinist system in Albania and the shock and chaos of what came next. In telling her story and examining the political systems in which she was raised, the author and LSE professor asks tough questions about the nature of freedom.

In Maybe I Don’t Belong Here (Bluebird), the actor David Harewood lays bare his struggles with racial injustice and mental illness, and shows how these things are connected. Harewood’s childhood was punctuated by racist abuse; later, as he tried to get his career off the ground, he was bullied by colleagues and critics. At 23, he had a psychotic breakdown during which it took six police officers to restrain him, and was dispatched to a psychiatric ward where, he learns from his hospital records, he was described as a “large black man” and administered drugs at four times the recommended dose. His recollections of his unravelling, treatment and recovery are acutely drawn.

Huma Abedin’s electrifying memoir Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds (Simon & Schuster) grapples with her multiple identities as a woman with Indian parents, who was born in Michigan and raised in Saudi Arabia. It is also a brave and unflinching account of her job as aide to Hillary Clinton and her years as the wife of Anthony Weiner , the congressman at the centre of a sexting scandal that landed him in prison, prompted an investigation by child services and ultimately derailed Clinton’s presidential campaign. Of the night Abedin learned her work emails had been discovered on her husband’s laptop, which would lead to the FBI reopening its investigation into Clinton’s handling of classified information, she recalls: “I wrote one line in my notebook. ‘I do not know how I am going to survive this. Help me God.’”

The actor Brian Cox lost his father to pancreatic cancer when he was eight years old, his mother battled with mental illness and his childhood was one of almost Dickensian poverty. But you won’t find self-pity in his meandering but amusingly irreverent memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat (Quercus). Instead, we get a whistlestop tour of his working life, during which he takes entertaining pot-shots at Johnny Depp (“overrated”), Steven Seagal (“ludicrous”) and Edward Norton (“a pain in the arse”).

Finally, two terrific biographies. Frances Wilson’s smart and scholarly Burning Man: The Ascent of DH Lawrence (Bloomsbury) paints a vivid picture of a brilliant writer who was “censored and worshipped” in his lifetime, and remained furious at the world and at those not sufficiently cognisant of his genius.

And Paula Byrne’s The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym (William Collins), about the British postwar novelist whom Philip Larkin compared to Jane Austen, is a touching and revealing portrait of a flawed romantic and a free spirit.

• Autobiography and memoir
• Best books of 2021
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These 12 Stunning Autobiographies Will Leave You in Wonder

By Mia Barzilay Freund

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to win Wimbledon , run The Washington Post , or get drunk with Jimmy Buffett ? Through the best autobiographies and celebrity memoirs , we can access gripping true stories told in the words of the people who lived through them.

Translating experience into language is a creative act. Autobiography can be earnest or irreverent, playful or profound. Often, real life can be stranger than fiction. The best autobiographies bring us closer to remarkable people and circumstances—and they’re well-written, to boot.

But that’s not all. The best examples from the genre can provide insights that help us improve our own lives. After all, there’s nothing like a story of perseverance against all odds to prove anything is possible.

These tales of endurance, transformation, and unlikely triumph are sure to command your attention––and dare we say, inspire your own main character energy .

Open by Andre Agassi

You don’t need to love tennis to find yourself totally engrossed by the story of Agassi’s legendary career. Once the number-one player in the world, Agassi led a life of pressure and publicity—from his intense childhood coached by his father to his high-profile marriages to Brooke Shields and Steffi Graf to the acute physical pain of his last chapter in professional tennis. The book was written with the help of ghostwriter J. R. Moehringer, whose own memoir The Tender Bar inspired a 2021 film with Ben Affleck. (Moehringer most recently helped Prince Harry pen his memoir, Spare .)

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

The Glass Castle

A New York Times bestseller for more than eight years, this stunning memoir details the author’s unconventional upbringing and her trajectory from a trailer park in Arizona to the New York City literary scene. Under her troubled but relentlessly dreaming father, Wells nurtured her imagination as she and her siblings learned to fend for themselves within their dysfunctional household. Her approach was creative and sometimes painful—like when she suffered full-body burns cooking hot dogs at age three, or when she fashioned homemade braces from rubber bands and wire. A brilliant prequel, Half Broke Horses , focuses on Walls’s adventurous grandmother during the early 1900s.

The Accidental Life by Terry McDonell

The Accidental Life

A legend in the world of magazines and publishing, McDonell was the trusted editor and friend of literary greats like James Salter and George Plimpton. His 2016 memoir chronicles relationships and skirmishes across a four-decade career in journalism—from sipping wine with Jimmy Buffett to playing “acid golf” with Hunter S. Thompson. Each chapter comes marked with a word count, making for satisfying, self-contained dips into literary lore. Evocative, irreverent, and honest, McDonell’s memoir spans a wild and wonderful time in American media.

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

How to Say Babylon

A poet as well as a memoirist, Sinclair fills her 2023 memoir with lyrical descriptions of her upbringing in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where the Rastafarian faith into which she was born prescribed rigid codes on the basis of gender. However, language—specifically, poetry —served as a welcome escape, made possible by Sinclair’s literature-loving mother. Moving and unflinching, Babylon is an astonishing feat of memory set in motion.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I Know Why the Caged Bird

Angelou enlarged and enriched the genre of autobiography with her 1969 account of her early life in Stamps, Arkansas. In it, she fashions her younger self into a literary character through whom she revisits events of the past. A young Maya endures affronts to her humanity through encounters with racism and sexual violence, but her story channels adolescent insecurity into self-possession, reflected in the author’s breathtaking command of language and narrative.

Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jones

Easy Beauty

Born with sacral agenesis, a rare condition that affects her gait and stature, Cooper Jones is keenly aware of the reactions her physicality elicits. Her subtle and humorous 2022 memoir—a Pulitzer Prize finalist—challenges the reader to reassess the way bodies claim space , tracing how Cooper Jones’s own perspective shifts when she unexpectedly becomes a mother.

Personal History: A Memoir by Katharine Graham

Personal History

Graham’s Pulitzer Prize–winning autobiography explores her isolating upbringing amid extreme privilege, her exhilarating and agonizing marriage, and her leadership of The Washington Post during its coverage of events like the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal. With its intimate insight into a formidable figure in American life, Graham’s Personal History makes the memoir a literary force.

Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington

Vogue ’s longtime creative director pulls back the curtain on the fashion industry and the creative world surrounding it, documenting the insecurities of moving from industry outsider to insider and the joy of bringing to life fashion fantasies in the magazine’s pages. Beginning with her upbringing in Wales and her early career in modeling, Coddington recounts things in a playful and characteristically British tone: the professional squabbles, artistic decisions, iconic outfits, and all. The memoir also features Coddington’s personal photographs, as well as lush spreads from her favorite features.

Por Estas Calles Bravas / Down These Mean Streets by Piri Tomás

Down These Mean Streets

Growing up in Spanish Harlem in the 1930s and ’40s, Tomás experienced discrimination and abuse on the basis of his Puerto Rican heritage. In an environment of poverty and violence, he fell into crime and drug addiction and eventually was incarcerated over a dispute with a police officer. His vivid personal account, available in both English and Spanish, details his journey from a place of hopelessness to self-acceptance through storytelling.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Douglass’s narrative is an important document of American history, as well as an essential piece of American literature. It records his experiences under slavery and his eventual escape and involvement in the abolition movement. A story of incredible hardship and triumph, the narrative includes the acquisition of language itself; Douglass taught himself to read and write, skills the enslaved were otherwise denied.

The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day

The Long Loneliness

A leader in the Catholic Worker movement, Day was a radical political organizer and journalist governed by principles of nonviolence and charity. Her autobiography captures a storied life, including her religious conversion, her personal conflicts over motherhood, and her founding and operation of the Catholic Worker newspaper. Her autobiography stands as an exquisite piece of personal reflection and social activism (with a moving introduction by psychiatrist Robert Coles).

Night by Elie Wiesel

Written in 1960, Wiesel’s memoir is the sobering account of his experiences during the Holocaust, including his time in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. At certain moments, his prose takes on a fractured, faltering quality, as if language itself fails to capture the horrors he endured. Sixty-four years after its publication, Night remains an important record of a dark chapter in recent history.

By Christian Allaire