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Beyond basketball, this book is an important cultural artifact of the impacts of COVID-19 on American life, as well as the interconnection of social justice and sports. An instant classic.
Branch’s essays depict ordinary people doing extraordinary things at the fringes of the sporting world. This collection can be enjoyed by a wide range of readers and sports fans.
Despite a rather abrupt conclusion, this engaging biography is a must-read for basketball fans. Howard-Cooper tells the story of a player who, with luck, pluck, and smarts, has evolved into a top-tier coach and political activist.
PREMIUM
Letters to a Young Athlete
Readers seeking a memoir about Bosh’s life may be disappointed. Although the advice here is not revolutionary, this straightforward book will find an audience with high school athletes hoping to improve their game outside of practice.
A lovely, ruminative book about a venerable sport; it bears comparison to Adrian Smith’s Monsters of Rivers and Rock. Coggins’s enthusiasm for fly fishing is so infectious that the book will readily hook non-fishers as well.
Historians, sports fans, and any readers interested in American culture will find this a fascinating look at three months with lasting implications. A thought-provoking and recommended choice for all public library collections.
This memoir will find readers among fans of insider sports accounts, or anyone fascinated by what it takes to become a pro athlete; it’s also a solid choice for young adults.
A fascinating and important look at baseball history, which will be appreciated by any fan of the sport.
This detailed history of night baseball will enlighten even the most knowledgeable fans and will surely appeal to readers interested in sports history more generally.
PREMIUM
Seeing Serena
At times, Mazorati’s critical tone takes away from the reading experience. Readers might get a fuller picture of Williams’s career by accompanying this book with the HBO series Being Serena, which is told in her own voice.
This disturbing tale will satisfy baseball fans, but will also be of great interest to many other sports followers.
Soderholm-Difatte’s great strength lies in his examination of the steroid era and the damages it wrought, representation of non-white people in baseball management, and new baseball analytics which look for the most productive players through statistical scrutiny. An engaging overview of the sport.
This book adds much new detail and perspective to the history and development of baseball. It is a must-read for baseball fans, particularly fans of the New York Yankees. It belongs in all public libraries, and libraries with a local connection to the subject.
Complete with a map of her route, the latest from Anderson will make hikers want to reach for their trekking poles and will satisfy armchair travelers looking for adventure.
Parker has a deep collection of stories and he tells them in a way that puts readers right in the thick of it all, from play-by-plays of the biggest playoff games to the brash and freewheeling banter that was always on tap in the Pirates' clubhouse.
This well-researched study of Ehmke, Quinn, and early 20th-century baseball will appeal to readers who enjoy inspiring sports stories.
This well-written, realistic, and necessary addition to current baseball literature belongs on the shelves of school and public libraries especially, as well as smaller college collections.
Both students and fans of basketball will find this a valuable survey of the last eight decades of the sport, even as it concentrates on the fortunes of Catholic teams.
There’s no other current book that captures the challenges women face in sports media, and DiCaro does this masterfully. Bringing a feminist lens to the world of sports, this book sets itself apart with its reporting and relevancy.
This unusual memoir deserves wide readership and discussion. A highly recommended purchase for all public libraries and sports collections.
Baseball fans will thoroughly enjoy this captivating look into a side of the sport they might not know about. This heartfelt book, with a foreword by Hank Aaron, is a must-read, and Perron’s personable writing succeeds in giving often overlooked players a voice.
Epplin has given us an entertaining account of this ball club, and we find ourselves rooting for them in the end. An enjoyable read for all sports fans.
PREMIUM
So Many Ways to Lose: The Amazin’ True Story of the New York Mets—The Best Worst Team in Sports
All sports fans will recognize in Gordon’s promising debut the dedication, disappointment, and pure elation that come with following their special team. A worthy companion to more comprehensive histories of the franchise, recommended for baseball collections in all public and specialty libraries.
With an extensive bibliography, this well-researched account sheds insight into the various issues that women in sport face, and the costs of their high visibility. Those teaching and studying sport management should consider reading this book and using it in their research. Highly recommended.
This reads as a self-promotional biography for Lunardi. The historical background is limited and there is no detailed comparative analysis highlighting differences between teams that make the tournament versus those that don’t. Not recommended.
While there have been other books written about fandom, this is a quick read that even casual fans of sports may enjoy.
One hundred years after the notorious Black Sox scandal, baseball scholars and historians will find this an essential study of a previously unexplored chapter of the game’s history. An important addition to baseball collections, especially for academic and specialty libraries.
Fans of Ali might not be pleased, but Lewis portrays Frazier as a fighter for the ages in this admiring book.
Baseball fans actively following the sport in the 1990s and 2000s will greatly appreciate this fantastic book and its detailed insight.
Thompson was the first Black coach to win a NCAA championship, and left an indelible mark on college basketball. His autobiography is an important American life story, highly recommended for all public libraries and sports collections.
An impactful collection on the enduring popularity of Friday Night Lights, that will appeal to fans of the book, movie, or TV series.
A fascinating look at hockey culture that also offers insight into the competitiveness of youth sports.
This definitive biography of Seaver’s life and times is well written and highly recommended. A must-read for all Mets fans.
Pappas is a talented writer and brilliant storyteller and her story is one worth telling. Highly recommended for all readers, especially high school and collegiate running coaches as well as those interested in learning more about distance running.
This is a well-written and highly enjoyable insider look at the professional hockey world that will appeal not only to hockey fans but also to those interested in sports media topics and those who appreciate a really good memoir.
PREMIUM
One Life
Essential for all readers. Rapinoe shares much wisdom throughout, and her words are a call for action to continue to fight societal inequalities.
A well-researched work for readers interested in sports business and NBA history. Casual basketball fans should seek out Jackie MacMullan’s Basketball: A Love Story.
Basketball and sports fans interested in what goes on behind their favorite team’s closed doors will find this an important and accessible account of the NBA’s salary cap and how it has affected professional sports, for better or worse. A unique history, recommended for all public library collections.
A fun and entertaining read with a multitude of insider stories. Will appeal to hockey fans and sports media enthusiasts.
Those not familiar with professional wrestling may initially get lost in a sea of names, places, and events that often seem to blur together. However, this intriguing, personal, family-centered telling of the Jacksons’ story will draw in and inspire many readers. Recommended for public libraries, and some academic business collections.
This is the book that sports fans didn’t know they needed. Highly recommended for any reader who has felt conflicted about being a sports fan.
PREMIUM
Havin’ a Ball
An appealing account that blends Adubato’s own memories with basketball’s growth over five decades. Recommended for all sports collections.
A wonderful and engaging book, not only for basketball and Knicks fans, but also a meaningful look about the importance of friendship.
PREMIUM
My Brother, Muhammad Ali
The only sibling of Ali brings us into the boxer's inner circle with warmth and ease. This engaging biography of a complicated, charismatic, and larger-than-life figure is recommended for all public library collections.
PREMIUM
The Dynasty
A well-written look of the Patriot dynasty that should be in demand by football fans, though it would not preclude a more gridiron-focused take on how the dynasty was constructed and maintained.
So much is presented here that it’s sometimes dizzying, but professional wrestling fans and historians will be gratified.
A wonderful exploration of a single baseball season told with great verve and exceptional research augmented by hours of interviews with Ferrara himself and numerous other baseball luminaries.
While some readers may find it interesting to go back and read about predraft analysis of the 2018 NFL draft class, for more intense NFL fans, information may be repetitive as nothing revolutionary is described in the book.
Giudice riffs on an old story here, but boxing fans who remember the ascendant days of lighter-weight fighters such as Roberto Durán, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio César Chávez, and Oscar De La Hoya will want to read.
A must-read for all basketball fans, especially considering Bryant’s tragic death in January 2020. For a biography of Bryant’s life, Roland Lazenby’s Showboat will interest readers.
Highly recommended for those wanting to learn more about CTE, especially how it can impact young athletes. This memorable story will stay with readers long after finishing the last pages.
An engaging account for fans of the Toronto Raptors or for readers who also enjoyed Phil Jackson’s Eleven Rings.
This highly readable work, loaded with numbers and statistics, is a must read for any baseball fan, and belongs in most public libraries. It also will find a place in academic collections that support the study of early 20th-century American culture., Delhi
PREMIUM
Elway: A Relentless Life
With exclusive recollections of Elway’s college football years, Cole delves into the forces that shaped the quarterback and gave him the resiliency to overcome challenges both on and off the field. Recommended for all public library collections, and especially for readers interested in the evolution of sports in the late 20th century.
A fascinating look at another side of sports, emphasizing those who lost games, matches, and tournaments, along with the pressures they faced and the ramifications of their losses. A wonderful choice for sports enthusiasts.
Fans of baseball history and those interested in learning more about one of the most celebrated pitchers in baseball history will thoroughly enjoy.
An intriguing book about a fascinating woman, and an inspirational story of her overcoming various odds to become a tennis legend. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
The Inside Game: Bad Calls, Strange Moves, and What Baseball Behavior Teaches Us About Ourselves
Highly recommended for serious followers of baseball and readers interested in how statistical analysis and trends can be applied in any sport.
Baseball fans will laugh alongside and, ultimately, feel touched by this look at an iconoclastic, often quixotic man who, despite the charges that his landmark book had hurt the game, loved baseball to the very end.
Recommended for readers interested in sports psychology, as well fan of the San Francisco Giants and the women’s basketball.
PREMIUM
Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay
Well written and thoroughly researched, this book celebrates Halladay’s career while telling the story of a Hall of Famer who’s legacy continues to be felt on the sport.
The iconic uniform number 24 is the inspiration for the life story of Mays, told in his own words. Baseball fans of all ages and anyone seeking inspiration will enjoy memories and motivation shared in a warm, joyous manner by the irrepressible Say Hey Kid.
Abramsky has done a masterly job researching Dod’s story and calling attention to the achievements of this pioneer who should be recognized by all interested in sports.
PREMIUM
Toe Blake: Winning Is Everything
Logothetis presents Blake’s story ably and thoroughly, though a lack of bibliography may be problematic for some. The appeal will be to hockey fans as well as filling a gap of coverage of one of the NHL’s top coaches and players.
Readers interested in running, the dynamics of pursuing high goals, and the life of a professional runner will find this book worthwhile.
PREMIUM
The Second Life of Tiger Woods
Readers who enjoyed Roaring Back as well as Tiger Woods (2019) by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian will appreciate the insight here.
Complete with details of conversations with those involved from Overwatch, this fast-paced, highly recommended book will appeal to readers interested in learning more about eSports and their growing popularity.
Readers looking for an offbeat, uplifting account, and those with an interest in surfing or outdoor challenges, should find this engaging. An ideal selection for book groups and recommended for all public library collections.
Poehler has done a fine job of researching the life of Rajo Jack, relating his determination and poise in the face of discrimination.
Whether readers are setting out on their first day hike or considering an extended road trip, they will find useful guidance on what to take, where to go, and how to make the most of their outdoor adventure.
A detailed look at an important subject which provides a snapshot of the Issei experience, how integral baseball was in American culture, and how the sport served as a crucible for new immigrants.
Cyrgalis does a credible job of covering the current state of golf in what is a passable overview of the sport for casual readers.
Goldblatt’s talent for storytelling and clear organization of a vast amount of information makes this an important cornerstone addition for sports collections in both public and academic libraries, and readers with an interest in international socioeconomics.
Sports dynasties tend to inspire the extremes of love and hate, and more than ever in this era of constant connection. For basketball fans interested in the lesser-known business side of the sport.
An absorbing, unputdownable book about an intrepid climber and pioneer in high-altitude mountaineering. By including accounts from those who accompanied Boskoff on various climbing expeditions, this work serves as a wonderful tribute to her life and enduring legacy.
PREMIUM
The World Beneath Their Feet: Mountaineering, Madness, and the Deadly Race To Summit the Himalayas
An excellent overview of mountaineering and exploration in the Himalayas and Karakoram, set against the backdrop of 20th-century history, that will appeal to mountaineers and armchair adventurers.
Readers interested in the business of basketball, and how it affects teams and players above all, will find this a must-read.
Will appeal not only to baseball fans but also to enthusiasts of sports history nostalgic for a bygone era.
A well-written account by one of baseball’s most influential players. Fans of America’s pastime and die-hard sabermetrics devotees will savor this informed perspective.
PREMIUM
The Back Roads to March: The Unsung, Unheralded, and Unknown Heroes of a College Basketball Season
Feinstein’s geographic scope may be limited to schools in the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, but this insider look into college basketball should nevertheless draw in fans seeking more about teams and coaches outside the power conferences.
PREMIUM
Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir
This memoir highlights baseball and its players from a golden age, and would have been more emotionally and historically appealing had Gaff offered more about the subject's provenance.
A must-have for all libraries without a copy of the original, especially those with active biking communities seeking entertaining adventure stories. Savage also provides practical touring advice relevant to any bike traveler.
A timely reminder that most limits are self-imposed, and most records are made to be broken. Baseball fans who enjoyed Michael Lewis’s Moneyball will embrace Diamond’s account of new methods of hitting and strategies that are both true to the sport’s history and promising for its future.
While there are plenty of books about running, few are as approachable and helpful as this one. Highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their running ability, and those who consider themselves a “middle of the pack” runner.
Eruzione adds an honest insider’s view of the Miracle, which will appeal to hockey fans and admirers of sports autobiographies.
Even though the organization of the book could have been improved, overall it will appeal to readers interested in the history of the Olympics and World War II and might best serve as a companion piece to the documentary.
The authors’ exhaustive research and relentless pursuit of the truth create an unsettling and stark record of the abuse scandal that sent shockwaves across America and which continues to resonate deeply.
Foreman fans and those who remember his Rumble in the Jungle will enjoy this adept look at the champion’s life inside the ring.
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