Sports, Games & Hobbies

Good sports writing should appeal not only to fans but also to readers with no special connection to a sport, says Alyson Rudd, chair of the judging panel of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. She talks us through the six excellent books that made the 2024 shortlist, from life on the lower rungs of the tennis circuit to women's football in Afghanistan.

Mountaineering is a thrilling, mind-altering pastime that brings the climber into direct contact with some of the world's most beautiful landscapes. But it is also one that carries significant risk, explains Anna Fleming, author of the rock-climbing memoir Time on Rock. Here, she recommends five fascinating mountaineering books that combine history, nature, and sheer adventure.

Success in running could be narrowly defined in terms of performance or more broadly as part of leading a good life, argues runner and ethics professor Sabrina Little. She recommends some of her favourite books on running, from the role models that inspired her to tales of what not to do.

As a professional cyclist, James Hibbard looked to philosophy to provide some of the answers he was looking for. He describes that quest in his book, The Art of Cycling. Here, he shares some of his own favourite cycling books, from the best cycling novel to the true story of cyclists who aim to ride the entire length of the United Kingdom in 40 hours. These are books that you don't need to be a professional cyclist or die-hard fan to appreciate.  

The Olympics are one of the world's great celebrations of sport. Here Philip Barker, Olympic historian and sports journalist, chooses five books that help you to understand the games, their origins and their traditions—and to relive the sporting drama of past Olympic Games.

Contrary to its popularization in Western culture, yoga isn't just a form of fitness: its history is rooted in a long Hindu tradition shaped by great teachers in India. Here we have the best books for those who want to learn more about yoga, recommended by Liz Derow, a longtime practitioner and teacher of yoga in India and around the world.

As World Cup fever builds to irresistible levels, there is no better time to get kids reading by presenting them with a few books about 'the beautiful game.' Award-winning children's author and self-confessed football fanatic Dave Cousins, recommends five fantastic football books for kids and young adults.

FT columnist and author Simon Kuper tells us what it means to be a football fan and why England always seem to lose. He picks the best football books (in English).

Video games have never been more popular – or more intricately designed. But we haven't yet developed the vocabulary to analyse a game's impact the way we do a film's, says professor of computational media Katherine Isbister. Here, she chooses five of the best books that explore the art of video game design, and the subcultures that grow up around them.

Sport can offer insights into philosophy and life in general, argues the philosophy professor and sports enthusiast David Papineau. He chooses the best books on philosophy and sport.