Below I’ll give you my selections for the best Nonfiction Sports books by a few categories. I will cover these and other great books more in depth later.
1. Scholastic Year in Sports 2019 (2018)
A thrilling look at the past year for sports fans of all ages!Scholastic’s annual Year in Sports celebrates its 10th edition with a brand new 2019 release. The exciting coverage of this year’s sporting events features colorful photographs from right in the action, completely updated facts and stats, plus special features on the 2018 Winter Olympics and more. Read about all of the top athletes, championships, and legends. Featuring all your favorite stars in baseball, basketball, football, and more, this book is perfect for sports newbies, as well as the most devoted fans….
2. Sports in American Life: A History (2011)
This new edition of Davies’ highly praised narrative of American sports history makes use of the very latest research and now includes updated and expanded coverage of major sporting events since 2006, extreme sports, and women in sports….
3. Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide To Living Your Best Life (2018)
‘Shoot Your Shot’ identifies the key principles that the world’s most elite basketball players have applied to their lives and explains in detail how you can can use those same exact principles to help you navigate through life, accomplish your goals, and realize your dreams.Divided into Quarters and making you feel like you are in an actual basketball game, ‘Shoot Your Shot’ provides an entertaining and unique reading experience while equipping you with proven tools for success. More than just a book about sports, ‘Shoot Your Shoot’ is suitable…
4. Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball (Anchor Sports) (2015)
Minor league baseball is quintessentially American: small towns, small stadiums, $5 tickets, $2 hot dogs, the never-ending possibility of making it big. But looming above it all is always the real deal: Major League Baseball. John Feinstein takes the reader behind the curtain into the guarded world of the minor leagues, like no other writer can. Where Nobody Knows Your Name explores the trials and travails of the inhabitants of Triple-A, focusing on nine men, including players, managers and umpires, among many colorful characters, living on the cusp of the dream. The…
5. National Geographic Kids Everything Sports: All the Photos, Facts, and Fun to Make You Jump! (2016)
Become an expert on sports, just in time for the 2016 Olympics! From archery to zip lining this book covers EVERYTHING about the world’s favorite team and individual sports. With stunning visuals and energetic, impactful design, readers won’t stop until they’ve learned everything there is to know about the history, rules and regs, training, and practice of dozens of athletic pursuits. Includes popular sports such as baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, and quirkier sports such as fencing, curling, and table tennis….
6. Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Stars (2017)
Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry was told he was too small, too weak, and too slow to even receive a scholarship to play college basketball. He outworked everyone and went on to become MVP of the National Basketball Association. Jim Abbott was born without his right hand, yet he refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues.Athlete after…
7. Amazing Sports and Science (TIME For Kids Book of WHY) (TIME for Kids Big Books of WHY) (2014)
TIME for Kids The BIG Book of Why: Sports and Science answers the why, what, when, where, who and how questions that kids commonly ask, but adults can rarely answer. Why does a curve ball curve? Why does a Super Ball bounce so high? How can David Beckham make a soccer ball “bend”? Why can eating chocolate make people hyper?Written in an upbeat manner, each answer is accompanied by either a photo or an illustration to show the reasons why. Of course, TIME For Kids goes beyond answering the question, and dips into the science or history to further explain the answer in an easy-to-follow, straightforward manner.TIME For Kids…
8. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident (Historical Nonfiction Bestseller, True Story Book of Survival) (2014)
The mystery of Dead Mountain: In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. Eerie aspects of the mountain climbing incident—unexplained violent injuries, signs that they cut open and fled the tent without proper clothing or shoes, a strange final photograph taken by one of the hikers, and elevated levels of radiation found on some of their clothes—have led to decades of speculation over the true stories and what really happened.As gripping and bizarre as Hunt for the Skin Walker: This New York Times bestseller, Dead Mountain: The Untold…
9. Law in Sport: Concepts and Cases (Sports Management Library) (2012)
This 4th edition uses up-to-date and specific case examples to illustrate laws that apply to sport-related conflict. Throughout this reader-friendly text, students will become familiar with the basics of tort, constitutional, and business law. The new edition includes updated chapters, as well as an entirely new section devoted to risk and disaster management, which covers terrorism, storms, and other unforeseen events. The book also presents detailed analyses of Title IX and NCAA contemporary litigation, and a thorough exploration of gender equity. Law in Sport is a must-read for students interested in pursuing a career in sport…
10. Introduction to Sport Management: Theory and Practice (2015)
Introduction to Sport Management: Theory and Practice bridges the theoretical-practical divide by providing students with practical perspectives on today’s sport management issues, based upon sound theoretical frameworks. Introduction to Sport Management introduces readers to the complex nature of today’s sport industry and offers advice from sport-industry insiders.Introduction to Sport Management: Theory and Practice:…
11. Football Faith: 52 NFL Stars Reflect on Their Faith (2015)
Football Faith will inspire and encourage you in your faith journey, as 52 NFL players share their stories and how they are chasing the success that only comes from being God's man and following His plan. These men are committed to living their lives with eternity in mind. Empowered by God, they are looking beyond the competition to a larger goal: following God's game plan for their lives as team players, as husbands, fathers, sons, and then using their influence to point others toward Him. Featuring personal stories from Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Colin Kaepernick, RDeion Sanders, and…
12. The Greatest Baseball Stories Ever Told: Thirty Unforgettable Tales from the Diamond (2004)
At a 1931 barnstorming exhibition game in Tennessee, a seventeen-year-old pitcher for the Chattanooga Lookouts struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig back to back. Her name was Jackie Mitchell–“organized baseball’s first girl pitcher.” On September 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax made baseball history by pitching his fourth perfect game. In July 1970, a stripper rushed onto the field at Riverfront Stadium to kiss Johnny Bench, temporarily disrupting a game attended by President Nixon and his family. These are just some of the great, quirky, and comic moments in the annals of baseball recorded in THE GREATEST BASEBALL STORIES EVER TOLD. Here…
13. Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies (2016)
Sports in Society provides a comprehensive introduction to understanding the issues and controversies surrounding sports in society. Coakley delivers a critical approach toward sports related issues with an emphasis on social class, race, and ethnicity within the sports world. The new Connect course includes SmartBook, an adaptive reading and study experience. This technology encourages readers to apply their knowledge and consider the role sports plays in their personal experiences, schools, and communities.Instructors and students can now access their course content through the Connect digital learning…
14. Nutrition for Health, Fitness & Sport (2012)
, now in its tenth edition, provides the reader with thorough coverage of the role nutrition plays in enhancing one’s health, fitness, and sport performance. Current research and practical activities are incorporated throughout. This edition welcomes the addition of two new authors, Dawn E. Anderson and Eric S. Rawson, both of whom are actively involved in the disciplines of exercise physiology and sports nutrition, and who have used this textbook over the years to teach their university classes. The tenth edition includes incorporation of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the…
Best Nonfiction Sports Books That You Need
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Genesis and download some nonfiction sports books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Please note that this booklist is not errorless. Some books are truly record-breakers according to The New York Times, others are drafted by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.