Sports & Recreation bestsellers

A New York Times Bestseller

A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of 2020

Named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR
 
“A fascinating scientific, cultural, spiritual and evolutionary history of the way humans breathe—and how we’ve all been doing it wrong for a long, long time.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic and Eat Pray Love

No matter what you... Read more »

A juicy and freewheeling biography of legendary golf champion Phil Mickelson—who has led a big, controversial life—as reported by longtime Sports Illustrated writer and bestselling author Alan Shipnuck.

Phil Mickelson is one of the most compelling figures in sports. For more than three decades he has been among the best golfers in the world, and... Read more »

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The incredible true story of survival and salvation that is the basis for two major motion pictures: 2014’s Unbroken and the upcoming Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil,... Read more »

“Abby is a relatable revolutionary — with WOLFPACK, she inspires the confidence, leadership and sisterhood we all so desperately need right now.” — Amy Schumer

This program is read by the author.

Based on her inspiring, viral 2018 commencement speech to Barnard College’s graduates in New York City, New York Times bestselling author, two-time...

If you enjoyed Dust Bowl Girls, then you’ll love The Boys in the Boat.

“Set during the Dust Bowl, amidst the Great Depression, a dedicated group of basketball beauties, the Cardinals of Oklahoma Presbyterian College, are determined to challenge societal strictures and Babe Didrickson on their quest for the National Championship title. Faced with much criticism, judged less feminine for participating in a competitive sport rather than lady-like acceptable activities, the Cardinals overcome poverty, performing to their potential recognized by Coach Babb, and capture the heart of a Nation. This is the true tale of trailblazing women overcoming the overwhelming odds against them sure to inspire the athlete in all of us. A great, informative read like The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.”

Kristin, McLean & Eakin Booksellers

Douglas W. Tallamy’s first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of individuals to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing. His solution? Plant more natives. In this new book, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to...

Bowhunter and ultramarathoner Cameron Hanes narrates his audiobook with guest appearances from Joe Rogan and David Goggins. Listen in to push beyond your physical limits and improve yourself by following Hanes's lifelong philosophies and disciplines.

“It’s all mental.”
I say this all the time, and it’s true.
If you believe you can do it, you...

“​Trailed is a beautifully written account of a great American tragedy—the unsolved murders of an undetermined number of young women, all by the same serial killer, who got away. The truth is still buried. I couldn’t put it down.”
—John Grisham, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A riveting deep dive into the unsolved murder of two free-spirited... Read more »

An instant New York Times bestseller!

“Rapinoe's 'signature pose' from the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup is synonymous to the feeling we got when finishing this book: heart full, arms wide and ready to take up space in this world.”—USA Today 
 
Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, reveals for the first time... Read more »

The author of the New York Times bestseller You Are the Placebo, as well as Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself and Evolve Your Brain, draws on research conducted at his advanced workshops since 2012 to explore how common people are doing the uncommon to transform themselves and their lives. Becoming Supernatural marries the some of the most... Read more »

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “imperative call to action” (Nick Offerman) for parenting tough, curious, and competent kids who feel at home in the outdoors, from the New York Times bestselling author and host of the TV series and podcast MeatEater

“A revelation for families struggling to get kids to GO OUTSIDE, or to just stop using the darn... Read more »

"An illuminating look at what it takes to be an Olympian… In this story, passion reigns supreme." —Cosmopolitan

"An emotionally articulate memoir…[and] an intimate insight into the good-hearted and talented young man behind the medals." —Attitude

A deeply personal and inspiring memoir from the celebrated Olympic gold medal diver and LGBTQ+... Read more »

The greatest athletic performances spring from the mind, not the body. Elite athletes have known this for decades and now science is learning why it's true. In his fascinating new book How Bad Do You Want It?, coach Matt Fitzgerald examines more than a dozen pivotal races to discover the surprising ways elite athletes strengthen their mental... Read more »

In his articles and in bestselling books such as The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan has established himself as one of our most important and beloved writers on modern man's place in the natural world. A new literary classic, Second Nature has become a manifesto not just for gardeners but for environmentalists everywhere. Chosen by the American...

A story about baseball, family, the American Dream, and the fight to turn Los Angeles into a big league city.
Dodger Stadium is an American icon. But the story of how it came to be goes far beyond baseball. The hills that cradle the stadium were once home to three vibrant Mexican American communities. In the early 1950s, those communities were... Read more »

As development and subsequent habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. But there is an important and simple step toward reversing this alarming trend: Everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity. There is an unbreakable link between... Read more »

Runners’ vocabulary is full of acronyms like DNS for “Did Not Start” and DNF for “Did Not Finish,” but when Mirna Valerio stepped up to the starting line, she needed a new one: DNQ for “Did Not Quit.”

Valerio has tied on her running shoes all across the country, from the dusty back roads of central New Jersey to the busy Route 222 corridor in...

Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, sixty-seven-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. And in September 1955, atop Maine's... Read more »

An eye-opening, myth-busting exploration of how the human body can best recover and adapt to sports and fitness training

In recent years "recovery" has become a sports and fitness buzzword. Anyone who works out or competes at any level is bombarded with the latest recovery products and services: from drinks and shakes to compression sleeves,... Read more »

In August 1908, three unknown riders arrived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, their hats adorned with wildflowers, to compete in the world’s greatest rodeo. Steer-roping virtuoso Ikua Purdy and his cousins Jack Low and Archie Ka’au’a had travelled 4,200 miles from Hawaii, of all places, to test themselves against the toughest riders in the West. Dismissed...

Wild meets The Boys in the Boat, a memoir about the quest for Olympic gold and the triumph of love over fear.

Ginny grew up in an era where girls mostly stayed on the sidelines in the gym–as observers and cheerleaders, not competitors and champions. Raised in a family where business acumen was treasured as the ultimate trophy, she toed the line...

The New York Times bestseller Eat and Run is "the inspiring story of an inspired man. Scott Jurek's phenomenal success as an ultra-marathoner demonstrates that meat and other animal foods are not necessary for optimum health, strength, and endurance."—Andrew Weil, #1 New York Times bestelling author of Spontaneous Happiness

For nearly two...

This is a sports and business tale of how money, ambition, and twenty-five years of drama remade an ancient institution into a twenty-first-century entertainment empire. No one knew it when their experiment began, but without any particular genius or acumen, the motley cast of billionaires and hucksters behind the modern Premier League struck... Read more »

Game of Shadows meets Among the Thugs in this revelatory true-to-life crime thriller and expose involving greed, corruption, an Asian crime syndicate, and the fixing of international soccer matches at the highest levels of the game, including the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup.

In February 2013, the director of Europol, the European...

Roger Angell, the acclaimed New Yorker writer and editor, returns with a selection of writings that celebrate a view from the tenth decade of an engaged, vibrant life. 

Long known for his range and supple prose (he is the only writer elected to membership in both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Letters), Angell won... Read more »

In Wenger: My Life and Lessons in Red and White, world-renowned and revolutionary soccer coach Arsène Wenger finally tells his own story for the very first time.

Wenger opens up about his life, sharing principles for success on and off the field with lessons on leadership, personal development, and management.

This book charts his extraordinary... Read more »

New York Times bestselling author Dr. Jason Fung joins forces with naturopathic doctor Nadia Pateguana to offer methods to prevent and reverse PCOS through diet and intermittent fasting.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive disorder in the world, affecting an estimated eight to 20 percent of women of reproductive age,...

From acclaimed journalist Ben Bradlee Jr. comes the epic biography of Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams that baseball fans have been waiting for.

Williams was the best hitter in baseball history. His batting average of .406 in 1941 has not been topped since, and no player who has hit more than 500 home runs has a higher career batting average.... Read more »

This is the story of Barbara and Larry Savage's sometimes dangerous, often zany, but ultimately rewarding 23,000-mile global bicycle odyssey, which took them through twenty-five countries in two years. Miles From Nowhere is an adventure not to be missed!

Along the way, these near-neophyte cyclists encountered warmhearted strangers eager to... Read more »

More harrowing firsthand tales of survival from the creators of the New York Times bestselling audio collection, MeatEater's Campfire Stories: Close Calls.

Featuring stories from Steven Rinella, MeatEater's Clay Newcomb and Kevin Gillespie, spearfishing champion Kimi Werner and more, along with tales from listeners who survived falling through... Read more »

When Bernd Heinrich decided to write a memoir of his ultramarathon running experience he realized that the preparation for the race was as important, if not more so, than the race itself. Considering the physiology and motivation of running from a scientific point of view, he wondered what he could learn from other animals.

In Why We Run,... Read more »

Praise for Mind Gym

"Believing in yourself is paramount to success for any athlete. Gary's lessons and David's writing provide examples of the importance of the mental game."
--Ben Crenshaw, two-time Masters champion and former Ryder Cup captain

"Mind Gym hits a home run. If you want to build mental muscle for the major leagues, read this...

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

"I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs."--John Wooden

Evoking days gone by when coaches were respected as much for their off-court performances as for their success on the court, Wooden presents the timeless wisdom of legendary basketball coach John Wooden.

In honest and telling passages about virtually every...

The inside story of how the Dodgers won their first championship in more than thirty years—but helped cripple the sport of baseball in the process

After years of frustrating playoff runs, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally reclaimed the World Series trophy after more than thirty years, led by star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, electric outfielder Mookie... Read more »

Foreword by Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk's personal trainers explain how you can enjoy your favorite foods without guilt while losing weight, getting stronger, and improving your health.

Some “experts” say, Don’t eat carbs because insulin makes you fat. Other “experts” say, Don’t eat fat because fat makes you fat. Others say, Don’t eat protein...

Unrivalled gardening wisdom from Monty Don, including essential tips, knowledge and musings from his 50 years of gardening experience.

This is Monty Don right beside you in the garden, challenging norms and sharing advice.

Discover Monty's thoughts and garden ideas around nature, seasons, color, design, pests, flowering shrubs, containers and... Read more »

Running with Sherman

“Running With Sherman is one of those special books that just makes you happy. Sherman, an abused donkey adopted by Christopher McDougall and family, needs a task, and that task turns out to be joining the World Championship of burro running in Colorado. In his inimitably engaging style, McDougall has taken the best of his two previous books—the personal stories of Born to Run and the history from Natural Born Heroes—and created the most enjoyable book I’ve read this year. I laughed, I got teary, I smiled a lot. Sherman is my new hero!”

Pete Mock, McIntyre's Fine Books

Huw Richards set himself a challenge - to grow his own fruit and veg for free for a year. He succeeded, and now wants to help you do the same.

Can't afford a raised bed? Try repurposing an old wooden pallet.
Don't want to spend money on buying plants? Look in the fridge and your kitchen cupboards for food that you can plant.
Need a particular tool?... Read more »

Growing up in New Jersey as the only African American Muslim at school, Ibtihaj Muhammad always had to find her own way. When she discovered fencing, a sport traditionally reserved for the wealthy, she had to defy expectations and make a place for herself in a sport she grew to love.

From winning state championships to three-time All-America... Read more »

In this instant and tenacious New York Times bestseller, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight “offers a rare and revealing look at the notoriously media-shy man behind the swoosh” (Booklist, starred review), illuminating his company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing,... Read more »

The #1 New York Times bestseller that has all America talking: as seen/heard on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, Morning Joe, CBS This Morning, The Bill Simmons Podcast, Rich Roll, and more.

“The most important business—and parenting—book of the year.” —Forbes

“Urgent and important. . . an essential read for bosses, parents, coaches, and anyone who... Read more »

A “sublime” and “radically original” exploration of the Sierra Nevadas, the best mountains on Earth for hiking and camping, from New York Times bestselling novelist Kim Stanley Robinson (—Bill McKibben, Gary Snyder).
 
Kim Stanley Robinson first ventured into the Sierra Nevada mountains during the summer of 1973. He returned from that encounter a... Read more »

The Olympic runner, actress, filmmaker and writer Alexi Pappas shares what she’s learned about confidence, self-reliance, mental health, embracing pain, and achieving your dreams.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE • “Heartbreaking and hilarious.”—Mindy Kaling • “A beautiful read.”—Ruth Reichl • “Essential guidance to anyone... Read more »

Spirit Run

“Noe Alvarez's writing has an ease to it that welcomes the reader. It draws you in to in this journey.”

Julia, The Bookloft

The bestselling author of Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, and Under the Banner of Heaven delivers a stunning, eloquent account of a remarkable young man’s haunting journey.

Like the men whose epic stories Jon Krakauer has told in his previous bestsellers, Pat Tillman was an irrepressible individualist and iconoclast. In May 2002, Tillman ... Read more »

The Well-Gardened Mind

“As an amateur gardener and plant-lover, as well as an avid-reader of neuropsychology and mindfulness books, this book automatically made my list. A fascinating and compelling read about the power of nature and gardening to bring about restoration and healing in all aspects of the human body and society.”

Tina, Leaves Book and Tea Shop

All In

“What a gift the autobiography of Billie Jean King is for all of us! I listened to Billie Jean King tell me the history of women's tennis and sports (Title IX, equal pay), social justice movements, gay rights, women's liberation, and of her life. To use one of her words — amazing!...This is an autobiography, not a memoir, so it is comprehensive and goes from childhood to the present. Billie Jean King is careful to dole out credit where credit is due. She has no axes to grind— and is mostly interested in talking about the change that still needs to happen, and her legacy. I will now forever have her voice and her laugh in my head. What a gift that is.”

Julie, Honest Dog Books

In the Shadow of the Mountain

“In the Shadow of the Mountain intertwines the lives of sexual assault survivors with Vasquez-Lavado’s experience leading these survivors to summit Mount Everest. A collective story of perseverance, community, and healing.”

Clancey D'Isa, Seminary Co-op Bookstores

A celebration of the senses with practical advice on how to enhance sensory experience in your garden

Step outdoors and let your space nourish all of your senses and settle a busy mind.

Discover how to garden to enliven all five senses - touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste - to build a connection with the world around you and bring joy and... Read more »

One of Esquire's best books of spring 2022

An extended meditation on late style and last works from "one of our greatest living critics" (Kathryn Schulz, New York).

When artists and athletes age, what happens to their work? Does it ripen or rot? Achieve a new serenity or succumb to an escalating torment? As our bodies decay, how do we keep on? In...