Sports Books Guaranteed to Get You Moving
Inspirational sporting reads that are guaranteed to have you reaching for your trainers.
With the days getting longer and the weather (ever so slightly) heating up, you might not want to spend quite as much time indoors reading.
Spring's the perfect time to get outdoors and active so we’ve gathered together some inspirational sporting reads that are guaranteed to have you reaching for your trainers…
A Different Kind of Daughter
by Maria Toorpakai
We might see cold weather, feeling tired after work, or the temptation to pop to the pub as barriers to taking part in sport. Maria Toorpakai puts that all in to perspective. Forced to disguise herself as a boy for years in order to defy the Taliban and pursue her love of sport, she’s now one of the world’s leading squash players. This powerful and moving memoir tells her inspiring story and shows the lengths Maria had to go to just to follow her dream.
Eat Sweat Play
by Anna Kessel
Why is sport consistently defined as male territory? Why are there still so many obstacles for girls and women when it comes to sport? In this part manifesto, part how-to, Anna Kessel issues an inspiring call to arms for women to take back sport for themselves.
Out now in Paperback, Ebook and as an Audiobook.
Find a Way
In the 1970s, Diana Nyad was widely regarded as the greatest long-distance swimmer in the world but one record continually eluded her: becoming the first woman to swim between Cuba and the Florida Keys. Finally, after four failed attempts and at the age of sixty-four, Diana completed the crossing. This memoir shows her unwavering belief in the face of overwhelming odds.
Available in Paperback and as an Ebook.
Born to Run
by Christopher McDougall
If the idea of running 200 miles at a time seems insane, just imagine doing it barefoot. In Born to Run, Mcdougall sets out to track down members of the reclusive Mexican Tarahumara tribe, who have mastered this art over hundreds of years.
Running like a Girl
by Alexandra Heminsley
A book that proves that running truly can be for anyone, as we follow the author’s inspiring (and often hilarious) journey from her very first run to completing her fifth marathon.
The Invisible Mile
by David Coventry
One for the cycling fans, The Invisible Mile tells the story of the first English-speaking team to ride in the Tour de France, way back in 1928. Although it’s a fictional version of real events, the wonderfully poetic descriptions of endurance and camaraderie will make you desperate to get out on two wheels.
Out now in Paperback, and as an Ebook and Audiobook.
The Winning Mindset
Professor Damian Hughes draws on both his experience and academic background within sport, organization and change psychology to reveal the best ways to create a winning mindset in both personal and professional life.
Having worked with some of the top teams in the UK, and watched some of the best coaches in the country at work, hughes distills the five keys principles that separate the best coaches and teams from the rest.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
by Haruki Murakami
Proving that he’s not just an iconic fiction writer, this memoir sees Murakami discuss his experiences of over twenty marathons and an ultramarathon. He writes beautifully about the subject, detailing the physical and mental torment involved in taking on such extreme endurance challenges.
Alone on the Wall
Although Alex Honnold’s exploits are probably a bit too extreme for the average climber, the stories behind his incredible climbs on some of the world’s most dangerous peaks are exciting, uplifting and truly awe-inspiring. We wouldn’t advise you copy him, but a trip to your local climbing wall will be a must after reading this.