Sports
The boys in the boat : the true story of an American team's epic journey to win gold at the 1936 olympics
Daniel James Brown
j797.1230922 Brown
Kids, Nonfiction, Sports
Out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington's eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler. At the center of the tale is Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, whose personal quest captures the spirit of his generation the generation that would prove in the coming years that the Nazis could not prevail over American determination and optimism.
The crossover
Kwame Alexander
jFICTION Alexander, Kwame
Kids, Sports, Poetry
Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.
Added by Anne W
The Sixth Man : a memoir
Andre Iguodala
796.323092 /Iguodala
Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir
"A standout sports memoir from NBA powerhouse, a swingman and NBA All-Star of the Golden State Warriors"--
Librarians love it when prominent people publicize their "best of" book lists. Former President Barack Obama is an avid sports fan, and the basketball biography from Andre Igoudala made the President's Best of 2019 list. Igoudala's life story is thoughtful and inspiring. The whole list is impressive, too. Find it on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6oYKxAgCn7/ -Melody
Ballpark : baseball in the American city
Paul Goldberger
796.35709 /Goldberger
Nonfiction, History, Sports
"An exhilarating, splendidly illustrated, entirely new look at the history of baseball: told through the stories of the vibrant and ever-changing ballparks where the game was and is staged, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic. From the earliest corrals of the mid-1800s (Union Grounds in Brooklyn was a 'saloon in the open air'), to the much mourned parks of the early 1900s (Detroit's Tiger Stadium, Cincinnati's Palace of the Fans), to the stadiums we fill today, Paul Goldberger makes clear the inextricable bond between the American city and America's favorite pastime. In the changing locations and architecture of our ballparks, Goldberger reveals the manifestations of a changing society: the earliest ballparks evoked the Victorian age in their accommodations--bleachers for the riffraff, grandstands for the middle-class; the 'concrete donuts' of the 1950s and 60s made plain television's grip on the public's attention; and more recent ballparks, like Baltimore's Camden Yards, signal a new way forward for stadium design and for baseball's role in urban development. Throughout, Goldberger shows us the way in which baseball's history is concurrent with our cultural history: the rise of urban parks and public transportation; the development of new building materials and engineering and design skills. And how the site details and the requirements of the game--the diamond, the outfields, the walls, the grandstands--shaped our most beloved ballparks. A fascinating, exuberant ode to the Edens at the heart of our cities--where dreams are as limitless as the outfields"--
This is more of an architectural history book than a sports book. Goldberger focuses on the relationship between the major league ballpark and the city it serves, discussing the different trends of stadium architectural history. This is more than just for baseball fans. If you are interested in urban development and renewal, I highly recommend it. -Anne M
Let your mind run : a memoir of thinking my way to victory
Deena Kastor
796.42092 /Kastor
Memoir, Sports, Health
"From an Olympic medalist runner and the record-holder in the women's marathon and half-marathon, a vividly inspirational memoir on using positive psychology and brain science to achieve unparalleled athletic success"--
Deena Kastor is a phenomenal runner with numerous medals and records, but it hasn't always been easy. Her book is engaging and inspirational, and shows how some of the more turbulent times in her life and career have made her the head-strong, committed person she is today. -Candice
Run fast, eat slow : nourishing recipes for athletes
Shalane Flanagan
641.563 /Flanagan
Cookbooks, Sports, Health
If you want to run, you have to eat. Flanagan and Kopecky present a tasty way to get all the necessary calories and nutrients in. -Candice
What I talk about when I talk about running : a memoir
Haruki Murakami
796.4252 /Murakami
Biographies, Sports
In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, not to mention triathlons and a dozen critically acclaimed books, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and-- even more important-- on his writing.--From publisher description.
A paean to running and its relation to, and effects on, health, life, and creativity. -Candice
Born to run : a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen
Christopher McDougall
796.424 /McDougall
Sports
McDougall reveals the secrets of the world's greatest distance runners-- the Tarahumara Indians of Copper Canyon, Mexico-- and how he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of super-athletic Americans.
McDougall's look at the Tarahumara--the almost superhuman long-distance runners of Mexico--is an exciting feat of literary journalism. -Candice
Running is my therapy : relieve stress and anxiety, fight depression, ditch bad habits, and live happier
Scott Douglas
796.42 /Douglas
Sports, Health, Science
Running has many benefits, some not as obvious as others. Many people find that it helps to relieve many mood disorders, acts as an antidepressant, and eases anxiety. Douglas' book explains some of the science behind what goes on in your brain as well as your body when you lace up and step out the door. -Candice
Added by Anne W