Games were once things played in parlours or in fields among friends in their leisure time. Now some sports are among the biggest, or at least most visible, businesses in the world and we have interviews recommending books on every aspect of sport.
If some sports are bigger is some countries than football (soccer), none is more global. Sports journalist Rob Hughes writes about why football is about so much more than football. Comedian and football fan David Baddiel chooses his best five books on football. And Steve Bloomfield chooses his best on world football. David Cousins chooses his best books on football book for kids and young adults.
Moving to the US, where “soccer” is only a minor sport, Rick Telander chooses his best books on American football. Joe Posnanski and John Thorn both choose their best books on Baseball. And Michael Carlson chooses his best baseball novels. Bruce Dowbiggin chooses his on ice hockey.
Elsewhere, among others, champion equestrian Mary King chooses her best books on the equestrian life, and Daniel Norcross chooses his best books on cricket.
On more general themes, Debanijan Chakraborti talks about sportsmanship and cheating. And Tami Grey-Thompson talks about the spirit of sport. Bill Cole addresses sports psychology and David Papineau chooses his best books on philosophy and sport.
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A River Runs Through It
by Norman Maclean -
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The Habit of Rivers: Reflections on Trout Streams and Fly Fishing
by Ted Leeson -
3
The Secret Carp
by Chris Yates -
4
Trout Culture: How Fly Fishing Forever Changed the Rocky Mountain West
by Jen Corrinne Brown -
5
The Earth Is Enough: Growing Up in a World of Trout and Old Men
by Harry Middleton
The best books on Fishing, recommended by Malachy Tallack
The best books on Fishing, recommended by Malachy Tallack
Fishing as an activity offers the hobbyist an excuse to leave everyday worries on the shore; it’s an opportunity for solitude, and for deep, even meditative, appreciation of the natural world. Here, Malachy Tallack—the keen angler and author of fly-fishing memoir Illuminated by Water, selects five of the best books on fishing.
The Best Cycling Books, recommended by James Hibbard
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.
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Winning Chess Strategy (for Kids)
Jeff Coakley, Antoine Duff (illustrator) -
2
Steps Method chess workbooks
by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden -
3
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Bobby Fischer, Stuart Margulies, Donn Mosenfelder -
4
Chess for Tigers
Simon Webb, Edward McLachlan (illustrator) -
5
The Chess Player's Bible
James Eade, Al Lawrence, Carol & John Woodcock (illustrators)
Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Chess is one of the most enduringly popular games in the world, transcending language barriers and teaching valuable life skills. Chess teacher and master Andrew Green recommends books (plus a few websites) to help beginners of all ages learn the game.
The best books on Surfing, recommended by Gerry Lopez
The second best thing about surfing is talking about it afterward. Surf legend Gerry ‘Mr Pipeline’ Lopez’s collection of surfing stories Surf is Where You Find It, now out in its third edition, relates some of the epic waves he’s encountered, and the legendary individuals he met along the way in a lifetime’s pursuit of the glide on the ocean and on the land. Here, he picks five books on surfing by friends and heroes who have found lessons in surfing about what it means to live life well.
The Best Puzzle Books, recommended by A. J. Jacobs
In a quest to solve every puzzle imaginable, bestselling author A.J. Jacobs came across a lot of books. Here, he recommends some of his favourites, from logic puzzles to treasure hunts, from codebreaking to the biggest puzzle of them all—why we’re here.
The best books on Wanderlust, recommended by Matthew Brookes & Zack Raffin
What does it mean to live wild and young and free? We asked the authors of a photography book on surf van culture along the California coast—”a story of youth choosing to follow their dreams, living out of vans, existing for surf and travel and freedom, and always chasing the best waves”—for references that help answer this question. Wanderlust can be a philosophy for life, as these books illustrate beautifully.
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Stray Thoughts on Indian Cricket
by J M Framjee Patel -
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History of Indian Cricket
by Edward Docker -
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Patrons, Players, and the Crowd: The Phenomenon of Indian Cricket
by Richard Cashman -
4
A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport
by Ramachandra Guha -
5
Migrant Races: Empire, Identity and K.S. Ranjitsinhji
by Satadru Sen
The best books on Indian Cricket, recommended by Prashant Kidambi
The best books on Indian Cricket, recommended by Prashant Kidambi
South Asia has become the beating heart of cricket, with wild enthusiasm for the game at every level of society. Historian Prashant Kidambi—whose book, Cricket Country, was shortlisted for the 2020 Wolfson History Prize—takes us through the history of cricket in India, from its traditional, colonial roots through to the colourful, frenetic national game of today.
The best books on The Olympic Games, recommended by Philip Barker
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.
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The Politics of the Olympic Games
by Richard Espy -
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Five Ring Circus: Money, Power, and Politics at the Olympic Games
by Alan Tomlinson and Garry Whannel -
3
The Lords of the Rings: Power, Money, and Drugs in the Modern Olympics
by Vyv Simson and Andrew Jennings -
4
Inside the Olympic Industry: Power, Politics, and Activism
by Helen Jefferson Lenskyj -
5
Hosting the Olympic Games: the Real Costs for Cities
by John Rennie Short
The best books on The Dark Side of the Olympics, recommended by Helen J Lenskyj
The best books on The Dark Side of the Olympics, recommended by Helen J Lenskyj
The Olympics are big business—but the extent to which they benefit their host cities is increasingly called into question. They’ve also long been enmired in political controversy. Here Helen J Lenskyj, the academic and anti-Olympics activist, discusses the malign influence of big business, and the inseparability of sport and politics, as she chooses her best books on the bad side of the Olympics.
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The Inner Game of Tennis
by W. Timothy Gallwey -
2
Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect
by Bob Rotella -
3
Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens
by Joseph Parent -
4
Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time
by Ken Ravizza & Tom Hanson -
5
The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, And Thrive
by Jim Afremow
The best books on Sports Psychology, recommended by Bill Cole
The best books on Sports Psychology, recommended by Bill Cole
What do you think about when you’re training at the gym, or on the tennis court? And what should you think about, if your goal is maximizing performance and results? Seasoned sports psychologist Bill Cole, coach for numerous Olympic teams and top-level international athletes, reveals that the number one road block to athletic performance often isn’t physical—it’s overthinking.
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Yoga for the Three Stages of Life
by Srivatsa Ramaswami -
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The Ayurvedic Cookbook
by Amadea Morningstar -
3
Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom
by B K S Iyengar -
4
Ramakrishna and His Disciples
by Christopher Isherwood -
5
Awakening the Spine
by Vanda Scaravelli
The best books on Yoga, recommended by Liz Derow
The best books on Yoga, recommended by Liz Derow
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.
Best Football Books for Kids and Young Adults, recommended by Dave Cousins
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.
Best Football Books (in English), recommended by Simon Kuper
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).
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The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses
by Jesse Schell -
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What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy
by James Paul Gee -
3
Communities of Play: Emergent Cultures in Multiplayer Games and Virtual Worlds
by Celia Pearce -
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Raising the Stakes: E-Sports and the Professionalization of Computer Gaming
by T L Taylor -
5
Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline
The best books on Video Games, recommended by Katherine Isbister
The best books on Video Games, recommended by Katherine Isbister
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.
The best books on Philosophy and Sport, recommended by David Papineau
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.
The best books on Football, recommended by Rob Hughes
Football is about so much more than just football. Veteran sport journalist Rob Hughes recommends some of his favourite football books.
The best books on Football, recommended by David Baddiel
British writer, comedian and broadcaster David Baddiel with his five football must-reads.
The best books on World Football, recommended by Steve Bloomfield
The author and journalist makes his selection of the best books on World Football. Features volumes from Simon Kuper and Alex Bellos, as well as a cracking investigation into FIFA corruption
Novels with Sporting Themes, recommended by Chad Harbach
Sport is central to American culture but there are surprisingly few great novels devoted to it. Chad Harbach, author of the bestselling novel, The Art of Fielding, picks his favourite ‘novels with sporting themes.’
The best books on American Football (and its Dark Side), recommended by Rick Telander
It’s America’s favourite sport – at its best, a wonderful, thrilling spectacle; at its worst, legitimised violence exacting a terrible price on players. The Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter takes us inside the dark heart of American football.
The Best Books About Chess, recommended by Dominic Lawson
You don’t have to be a genius to play chess, but it helps. British journalist and chess aficionado Dominic Lawson recommends the best books on chess, focusing on some of the great players of the 20th century and including the “best novel ever written about chess players.”
The best books on London Olympic History, recommended by David Runciman
As the Olympics open, David Runciman looks back at the two previous times that the Games have been staged in London and finds that the thrift of today looks modest compared with austerities of the past
The Best Baseball Novels, recommended by Michael Carlson
Sports pundit Michael Carlson says baseball reflects an American ideal which is now an American fantasy. It works well as a metaphor for life, which may be why there have been so many good novels written about it
The best books on The Spirit of Sport, recommended by Tanni Grey-Thompson
The 11 times gold medal-winning Paralympian athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson, now a peer in Britain’s House of Lords, tells us about the spirit and legacy of the Olympics. She picks books on “the spirit of sport.”
The best books on The Equestrian Life, recommended by Mary King
The world championship winning horse rider Mary King, who has represented Great Britain at six Olympics from 1992 to 2012, tells us what it takes to succeed in her sport
The best books on Ice Hockey, recommended by Bruce Dowbiggin
Fast, violent and with a passionately political history, hockey is the sport that defines Canada. The sports columnist tells us how this came to be, and why hockey, still a thrilling spectacle, has also become more dangerous to play. He picks the best books on ice hockey.
Ed Smith on My Life and Luck
The former international cricketer, author of a book on luck, and England’s national selector tells us about the chance happenings that have helped shape his life, for better or worse
Monty Don recommends His Favourite Gardening Books
Monty Don OBE, Britain’s most loved gardener and lead presenter of Gardeners World, discusses his favourite books on gardening including one he describes as “the best gardening book ever written.” This is a strong endorsement, given that his own gardening library extends to over three thousand books.
The best books on Garden Design, recommended by Arabella Lennox-Boyd
Trees are the backbone of any garden, says award-winning garden designer, Arabella Lennox-Boyd. She recommends some great books to get you thinking about garden design.
The best books on Gardening, recommended by Helen Dillon
Gardening expert Helen Dillon recommends five books that have influenced her, from 300-year old gardening tips to the difficulty of describing flowers
The best books on Gardening, recommended by Gregory Long
The President Emeritus of The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York tells us about the books that all aspiring gardeners should have on their bookshelves, from reference works to the most fun guide to making the best of your garden
The best books on Baseball, recommended by Joe Posnanski
The Sports Illustrated columnist says the best sports books tell human stories – and tells us why nostalgia is intrinsic to baseball
The best books on Baseball, recommended by John Thorn
John Thorn, the official historian for Major League Baseball, explains how America’s national pastime has been culturally transformative, even radicalising. He recommends the best books on baseball.
The best books on Garden Photography, recommended by Andrew Lawson
One of the world’s leading garden photographers talks us through the many different styles employed in his field
The best books on Rugby, recommended by Richard Beard
Rugby fanatic Richard Beard explains the difference between rugby league and rugby union – and says the aggression you need for the game doesn’t always translate well into life
The best books on Watson, recommended by Stephen Baker
Former BusinessWeek writer recommends five books that deepen our understanding of the science and psychology behind Jeopardy!’s computer champion, Watson
The best books on Cricket, recommended by Daniel Norcross
What are the best books about cricket? In 2011 Test Match Special‘s Daniel Norcross gave an interview about his favourite books on cricket. At the time, he was running an irreverent, uncensored and partial cricket commentary service, Test Match Sofa.
The best books on Champions, recommended by Matthew Syed
Table tennis champion and author of Bounce: How Champions are Made, Matthew Syed believes that winning is partly the placebo effect of confidence.
The best books on Soccer as a Second Language, recommended by John Turnbull
When the World Cup comes around, many of us think of our national teams and their chances of winning. But the beauty of football is how international it is, and its ability to cut across borders. John Turnbull of the Global Game blog introduces us to football (or soccer) ‘as a second language.’
The best books on Horticulture, recommended by Andrea Wulf
The respected horticulturalist says if you plant an oak tree you know you’re never going to see it grow into maturity, but in planting it you are asserting your belief in the future and in future generations.
The best books on Plants, recommended by Jonathan Silvertown
Internationally known ecologist says plants are grievously overlooked, because no life on earth would exist without them – essential reading on plants
The best books on Sportsmanship and Cheating, recommended by Debanjan Chakrabarti
Debanjan Chakrabarti, head of the Intercultural Dialogue Programme of the British Council in India, says good sportsmanship is a 19th-century imperial construct. He walks us through five engaging books on sportsmanship and cheating.
The best books on Global Sport, recommended by Andrei Markovits
The Professor of Comparative Politics & German Studies at the University of Michigan and avid baseball, basketball, American football and ice-hockey fan gives us his views on Global Sport.
The best books on Computer Games, recommended by Tom Chatfield
Computer games aren’t just for teenage boys locked in their bedrooms says author and former Prospect senior editor Tom Chatfield – they are vital tools for social development. Here he selects five of the best books on the theory behind games, and the culture that grows up around them.
The best books on Plants and Plant Hunting, recommended by Kenneth Cox
The author, plantsman and rhododendron expert selects his favourite books on botanical exploration and explains his passion for plant hunting
The best books on Horticultural Inspiration, recommended by Penelope Hobhouse
Historian of garden design Penelope Hobhouse says creating a garden is not about pulling out weeds – it’s about fulfilling man’s need for organisation and security
The best books on Guerrilla Gardening, recommended by Richard Reynolds
Discussion of the lesser-known subject of guerilla gardening – the illicit cultivation of someone else’s land. A fascinating and historical topic, and eclectic book selections include a history of Google
The best books on Birdwatching, recommended by Jeremy Mynott
What drives people’s passion for birds and birdwatching? For Jeremy Mynott, it’s as much about us as it is about them. He recommends the best books on birds and birdwatching.
The best books on Poker, recommended by Victoria Coren Mitchell
European poker champion, author and presenter, Victoria Coren Mitchell, talks us through her library of the best books on poker.
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1
Goalkeepers Are Different
by Brian Glanville -
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The Illustrated History of Football
by David Squires -
3
The Kingfisher Football Encyclopedia
by Clive Gifford -
4
Kane (Ultimate Football Heroes)
by Matt & Tom Oldfield -
5
Football School Season 1: Where Football Explains the World
by Alex Bellos, Ben Lyttleton & Spike Gerrell
Best Football Books for 11 Year Olds, recommended by Alexander
Best Football Books for 11 Year Olds, recommended by Alexander
There are a lot of books about football for sale in bookshops these days, but which ones are any good? 11-year-old Alexander, who loves football as well as reading, shares his choices of the best football books for kids as part of our ‘By Children for Children‘ series.