100 Best Football Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

Inverting The Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tactics

Jonathan Wilson

5.0

"An outstanding work ... the [soccer] book of the decade." -Sunday Business Post

Inverting the Pyramid is a pioneering soccer book that chronicles the evolution of soccer tactics and the lives of the itinerant coaching geniuses who have spread their distinctive styles across the globe.

Through Jonathan Wilson's brilliant historical detective work we learn how the South Americans shrugged off the Br

Recommended by Coaching Badges.

Coaching Badges

@tomoconor @seanie_doyle Great book 👍⚽️ [source]

2

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game

Michael Lewis

4.9

Preview Summary

The young man at the center of this extraordinary and moving story will one day be among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or any of the things a child might learn in school such as, say, how to read or write. Nor has he ever t

Recommended by Malcolm Gladwell, Ev Williams, and Scott Keyes.

3

Fever Pitch

Nick Hornby

4.9

The Twentieth Anniversary Edition

*WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR*

Fever Pitch is Nick Hornby's million-copy-selling, award-winnning football classic

'A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming' Independent

For many people watching football is mere entertainment, to some it's more like a ritual; but to others, its highs and lows pro

Recommended by David Baddiel, David Papineau, and Simon Kuper.

David Baddiel

In about 1990 there was this sea change in the way people expressed themselves about football – more emotionally. Nick’s book sets the stall out for that. [source]

David Papineau

Sporting fandom is very interesting philosophically: it’s a case of partiality, partisanship, valuing something when you can see that what you value isn’t going to be valued by other people. [source]

Simon Kuper

Nick Hornby doesn’t revel in, ‘Oh I’m such a football geek, isn’t that funny?’ He treats it as something suspect. [source]

4

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream

H. G. Bissinger

4.8

Return once again to the enduring account of life in the Mojo lane, to the Permian Panthers of Odessa -- the winningest high school football team in Texas history. Odessa is not known to be a town big on dreams, but the Panthers help keep the hopes and dreams of this small, dusty town going. Socially and racially divided, its fragile economy follows the treacherous boom-bust path of the oil busine

Recommended by Brian Grazer.

Brian Grazer

About the fragility of what it’s like to grow up as a young boy – 15, 16, 17 years old. [source]

5

Soccernomics: Why England Loses; Why Germany, Spain, and France Win; and Why One Day Japan, Iraq, and the United States Will Become Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport

Simon Kuper, Stefan Szymanski

4.8

The 2018 World Cup edition of the international bestseller and "the most intelligent book ever written about soccer" (San Francisco Chronicle) is updated throughout and features new chapters on the FIFA scandal, why Iceland wins, and women's soccer.

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Guardian, Slate, Financial Times, Independent (UK), and Bloomberg News

Why doesn't the United States domi

Recommended by Andrei Markovits.

Andrei Markovits

Contrary to the common view in Britain and Europe that this term comprises prima facie evidence of yet another American bastardisation of a European cultural icon, the term is not an American invention at all… [source]

6

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

Mariana Zapat

4.7

Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's b

7

Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer

David Winner

4.6

If any one thing, Brilliant Orange is about Dutch space and a people whose unique conception of it has led to the most enduring arts, the weirdest architecture, and a bizarrely cerebral form of soccer—Total Football—that led in 1974 to a World Cup finals match with arch-rival Germany, and more recently to a devastating loss against Spain in 2010. With its intricacy and oddity, it continues to myst

Recommended by Simon Kuper.

Simon Kuper

This is about Holland and Dutch football and what makes it special. I grew up in Holland, so I have a particular tie to this book. Actually I was in Amsterdam the winter that David Winner was there writing his book. We were both writing books and we’d occasionally meet for dinner. And I got to know David and I really liked him, but I thought ‘Poor old David, he’s going to write a book about Dutch football, and nobody’s going to read it.’ Also I grew up in Holland, and I thought, there’s nothing he can tell me about Dutch football, it’s all going to be old hat or he won’t get it right. But he gave the book to me in manuscript and I read it, and when I finished it, I just wanted to break out into applause. He did it beautifully. It’s completely original. David is a film buff so it has all these film references and it’s just very surprising. He interviews architects and rabbis about what makes Dutch football special. It’s not like other football books – he approaches football through architecture and space and landscape and painting, and it’s absurd, but it works. [source]

8

The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer

David Goldblatt

4.5

The definitive book about soccer. With a new foreword for the American edition.

There may be no cultural practice more global than soccer. Rites of birth and marriage are infinitely diverse, but the rules of soccer are universal. No world religion can match its geographical scope. The single greatest simultaneous human collective experience is the World Cup final.

In this extraordinary tour de fo

Recommended by John Turnbull and Steve Bloomfield.

John Turnbull

It’s more a work of history and sociology: the game, the matches that are played, are just a way of illustrating the social forces at work. [source]

Steve Bloomfield

It’s [source]

9

I am Zlatan Ibrahimović

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

4.5

'Why be a Fiat when you can be a Ferrari?'

Welcome to Planet Zlatan.
This is the story of how a Swedish outsider rose from poverty to become a football genius.

In his own inimitable style, Zlatan Ibrahimović recalls every struggle, every goal and every training-ground bust-up on his journey to dominate the world's top clubs, including Ajax, Juventus, Internazionale, Barcelona, Milan and Paris Saint-G

Recommended by Juliet Jacques.

Juliet Jacques

Lagercrantz said he met Ibrahimovic and wasn’t really that taken with the material he got. So he just made it up. [source]

10

The Hook Up (Game On, #1)

Kristen Calliha

4.5

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thin

11

The Baller

Vi Keelan

4.5

From New York Times & USA Today Bestseller, Vi Keeland, comes a sexy new standalone novel.

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men's locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don't mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera

12

The Damned Utd

David Peace

4.5

Overachieving and eccentric football manager Brian Clough was on his way to take over at the country's most successful, and most reviled football club: Leeds United, home to a generation of fiercely competitive but ageing players. The battle he'd face there would make or break the club - or him.

David Peace's extraordinarily inventive novel tells the story of a world characterised by fear of failur

13

Football Against the Enemy

Simon Kuper

4.5

occer is much more than just the most popular game in the world. It is a matter of life and death for millions around the world, an international lingua franca.

Simon Kuper traveled to twenty-two countries to discover the sometimes bizarre effect soccer can have on politics and culture. At the same time he tried to discover what makes different countries play a simple game so differently.

Kuper meet

Recommended by John Turnbull and Steve Bloomfield.

John Turnbull

This book was published in the United Kingdom in 1994 and, to me, it’s the most important book on soccer in English. [source]

Steve Bloomfield

For me that was the first book that really tried to look at football through the political lens. It was just ahead of the 1994 World Cup in the US and it tells you just as much today as it did then. It set the template for a whole genre of using football to explain a whole country. [source]

14

The Mixer: The Story of Premier League Tactics, from Route One to False Nines

Michael Co

4.4

An absolutely essential book for every modern football fan, about the development of Premier League tactics, published to coincide with 25 years of the competition.

Back in 1992, English football was stuck in the dark ages, emerging from a five-year ban from European competition. The game was physical, bruising and attritional, based on strength over speed, aggression over finesse. It was the era o

15

Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography

Alex Ferguson

4.4

The celebratory, revealing, inspiring, and entertaining autobiography of the greatest manager in the history of British soccer.

Over the past four years, Alex Ferguson has been reflecting on and jotting down the highlights of his extraordinary career, and here he reveals his amazing story as it unfolded, from his very early days in the tough shipyard areas of Govan. Sir Alex announced his retiremen

16

Soccer in Sun and Shadow

Eduardo Galeano, Mark Fried

4.4

Discussing everything from the leveling of the Twin Towers to the death of the sole survivor of that extraordinary match between British and German soldiers in 1915, one of South America’s greatest commentators issues forth on robotic soccer in Japan, the mass-production of the game as a sign of the decline of civilization, the amazing success of Senegal and Turkey, and how Nike beat Adidas.

Recommended by John Turnbull.

John Turnbull

I haven’t read all books on soccer, but I think it would certainly be up there. Lyrical is true, though of course I’ve only read it in translation by Mark Fried. Interestingly, the title works well both in Spanish and in English: in Spanish it’s El fútbol a sol y sombra and in English it’s Soccer in Sun and Shadow. The metaphor refers to the football stadium, where you can buy seats on one side or the other. Some are in the sun and they are cheaper, or you can buy seats in the shady part which is preferable but more pricey. And the very first sentence of the book is: ‘The history of football is a sad voyage from beauty to duty.’ What Galeano means is that sport as play has been lost as an idea in Western capitalist culture. Sport is now competition and sport is consumable. The World Cup in South Africa will be a spectacle, something for consumption. The television rights will have been sold, the areas around the stadium in South Africa will be zones of exclusion, limited to sales by the sponsors – Coca-Cola etc. It won’t be the local sellers who make their own beer. So that’s an example of the kind of thing that Galeano is talking about. In South African culture football has been very important, a place of everyday interaction, but that element will be lost. The tournament could really be held anywhere; you wouldn’t especially know that it’s in South Africa. [source]

17

The Friend Zone (Game On, #2)

Kristen Calliha

4.4

Gray doesn’t make friends with women. He has sex with them. Until Ivy.

The last thing star tight-end Gray Grayson wants to do is drive his agent’s daughter’s bubblegum pink car. But he needs the wheels and she’s studying abroad. Something he explains when she sends him an irate text to let him know exactly how much pain she’ll put him in if he crashes her beloved ride. Before he knows it, Ivy Macke

18

The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge

Tony Dungy

4.4

Retailers Choice Award winner, 2012
Strengthen the core of your life and faith on a year-long journey with beloved Super Bowl-winning former head coach Tony Dungy! The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge contains 365 reflections from the #1 New York Times bestselling author on living an "uncommon life" of integrity, honoring your family and friends, creating a life of real significance and impac

Recommended by Doug McMillon.

Doug McMillon

CEO/Walmart

I start my day with a daily devotional from this book, and it doesn’t take a lot of time, but I do it every day. [source]

19

When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi

David Maraniss

4.4

"When Pride Still Mattered" is the quintessential story of the American family: how Vince Lombardi, the son of an immigrant Italian butcher, rose to the top, and how his character and will to prevail transformed him, his wife, his children, his players, his sport, and ultimately the entire country. It is also a vibrant football story, abundant with accounts of Lombardi's thrilling life in that wor

Recommended by Norman Ornstein.

Norman Ornstein

@davidmaraniss When Pride Still Mattered , his biography of Vince Lombardi, a great book. https://t.co/n3CkewBHNV [source]

20

Playing for Pizza

John Grisham

4.4

Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was i

21

Sacked (Gridiron, #1)

Jen Frederic

4.3

What he wants he gets...

Knox Masters is a quarterback's worst nightmare. Warrior. Champion. And...virgin. Knox knows what he wants--and he gets it. All American Football player? Check. NFL pros scouting him? Check. Now, he's set his sight on two things. The national title. And Ellie Campbell. Sure, she's the sister of his fellow teammate, but that's not going to stop him. Especially not when he’

22

Calcio: A History of Italian Football

John Foot

4.3

The first history of Italian football to be written in English, 'Calcio' is a mix of serious analysis and comic storytelling, with vivid descriptions of games, goals, dives, missed penalties, riots and scandals in the richest and toughest league in the world. 'Calcio' tells the story of Italian football from its origins in the 1890's to the present day. It takes us through a history of great playe

23

Sweet Home (Sweet Home, #1)

Konami Kanata

4.3

At age twenty, Molly Shakespeare knows a lot.

She knows Descartes and Kant.

She knows academia and Oxford.

She knows that the people who love you leave you.

She knows how to be alone.

But when Molly leaves England's grey skies behind to start a new life at the University of Alabama, she finds that she has a lot to learn — she didn't know a summer could be so hot, she didn't know students could be so i

24

The Game Plan (Game On, #3)

Kristen Calliha

4.3

A beard-related dare and one hot-as-hell kiss changes everything.

NFL center Ethan Dexter’s focus has always been on playing football and little else. Except when it comes to one particular woman. The lovely Fiona Mackenzie might not care about his fame, but she’s also never looked at him as anything more than one of her brother-in-law’s best friend. That ends now.

Fi doesn’t know what to make of D

25

Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable

Darrin Donnelly

4.3

Discover the five inner beliefs shared by the world's greatest achievers.

If you want to take control of your life and achieve your biggest dreams, you must develop a "warrior mindset." This book will show you how to stop thinking like a victim and start thinking like a warrior.

In this inspirational fable, Chris McNeely is a college football coach who is at the end of his rope after a hard-and-fast

26

The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro

Joe McGinniss

4.3

When Joe McGinniss sets out for the remote Italian village of Castel di Sangro in the summer of 1996, he merely wants to spend a season with the village's soccer team, which only weeks before had, miraculously, reached the second-highest-ranking professional league in the land. But soon he Ends himself embroiled with an absurd yet irresistible cast of characters, including the team's owner, descri

Recommended by Richard Osman.

Richard Osman

@sportingintel Love that book! [source]

27

The Perfect Play (Play by Play, #1)

Jaci Burton

4.3

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than

28

Futebol

Alex Bellos

4.3

The Brazilian football team is one of the modern wonders of the world. Travelling extensively from the coastal cities of Rio de Janiero and Sao Paolo to the Amazon jungle, Bellos shows how Brazil changed football and how football shaped Brazil."

Recommended by Steve Bloomfield.

Steve Bloomfield

It’s a magical, magical book. I didn’t have much interest in Brazil as a country. [source]

29

Behind the Curtain

Jonathan Wilson

4.3

Alternate-Cover Edition for this ISBN can be found here

From the war-ravaged streets of Sarajevo, where turning up for training involved dodging snipers' bullets, to the crumbling splendor of Budapest's Bozsik Stadium, where the likes of Puskas and Kocsis masterminded the fall of England, the landscape of Eastern Europe has changed immeasurably since the fall of communism. Jonathan Wilson has trave

30

It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars, #1)

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

4.3

The Windy City isn’t quite ready for Phoebe Somerville -- the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not prepared for the Stars’ head coach Dan Celebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Celebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises -- a meddling bimbo who doesn’

Recommended by Eloisa James.

Eloisa James

Not particularly. I’ve never gone to a professional football game, and I don’t see myself going to one in the near future. But I will follow a great writer anywhere – into sports, outer space, even the Bronx. [source]

31

The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know About Soccer Is Wrong

Chris Anderson, David Sally

4.3

Moneyball meets Freakonomics in this myth-busting guide to understanding—and winning—the most popular sport on the planet - now with a new afterword on the 2014 World Cup!

Innovation is coming to soccer, and at the center of it all are the numbers—a way of thinking about the game that ignores the obvious in favor of how things actually are. In The Numbers Game, Chris Anderson, a former professional

Recommended by Rulani Mokwena.

Rulani Mokwena

Don’t know why I didn’t finish reading this book... very interesting 🧐 https://t.co/mVFTrI1zLX [source]

32

Bleachers

John Grisha

4.3

High school All-American Neely Crenshaw was probably the best quarterback ever to play for the legendary Messina Spartans. Fifteen years have gone by since those glory days, and Neely has come home to Messina to bury Coach Eddie Rake, the man who molded the Spartans into an unbeatable football dynasty.

As Coach Rake's 'boys' sit in the bleachers waiting for the dimming field lights to signal his pa

33

Never Settle: Sports, Family, and the American Soul

Marty Smith

4.3

The amazing and blessed life of popular ESPN reporter and correspondent for College GameDay, Marty Smith, whose mission in this thoughtful and funny memoir is to return fans to the true soul of sports in this country.
You know Marty right? The guy during College GameDay hanging off the back of a pickup truck while zooming around the Clemson athletic facilities. The guy who visits Nick Saban's lake

Recommended by Brian Fanzo Isocialfanz, Greg Sankey, Mike Davis, and 1 others.

Brian Fanzo Isocialfanz

@MartySmithESPN @laurabturk @radfordu @ru_athletics RU memories are the best! Congrats @MartySmithESPN on the book launch... Going to get my hands on #NeverSettle! #Classof2003 [source]

Greg Sankey

Summer Reading Book #19—NEVER SETTLE: Sports, Family, and the American Soul by @MartySmithESPN. @ericchurch wrote the BEST book foreword I’ve read in years (just fish at the boat launch)! Honored Marty gave me an early copy & made it personal. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED NEVER SETTLE! https://t.co/m2rWVYohAg [source]

Mike Davis

“You know what was amazing, and hilarious? When you chugged that beer with Dale Earnhardt Jr. after his last NASCAR race. One of the best things I’ve seen on ESPN.” — Tiger Woods to @MartySmithESPN, as told by Marty in his new book #NeverSettle, available everywhere. https://t.co/d2DwGyH6QZ [source]

34

How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

Franklin Foer

4.2

Soccer is much more than a game, or even a way of life. It is a perfect window into the cross-currents of today's world, with all its joys and its sorrows. In this remarkably insightful, wide-ranging work of reportage, Franklin Foer takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shining a spotlight on the clash of civilizations, the international economy, and just about everything in b

35

I Am The Secret Footballer: Lifting the Lid on the Beautiful Game

Anonymus

4.2

Who is the Secret Footballer? Only a few people know the true identity of the man inside the game. But whoever he is - and whoever he plays for - he is always honest, always fearless and always opinionated.

Now, for the first time, he reveals everything you need to know about the hidden world of professional football - the extraordinary highs, the desperate lows....and what it's really like to do a

36

Touchdown Kid

Tim Green

4.2

From New York Times bestselling author and former NFL defensive end Tim Green comes a football story about a boy who is given a chance to prove that wealth and privilege don’t matter on the football field, as long as he has the skills to compete. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica!

Cory has always been passionate about football. But life for him and his single mom has been hard, making it difficult fo

37

The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire

John Eisenberg

4.2

The epic tale of the five owners who shepherded the NFL through its tumultuous early decades and built the most popular sport in America

The National Football League is a towering, distinctly American colossus spewing out $14 billion in annual revenue. But it was not always a success. In The League, John Eisenberg focuses on the pioneering sportsmen who kept the league alive in the 1920s, 1930s, an

38

Unstoppable

Tim Green

4.2

New York Times bestselling author Tim Green has written an unforgettable story—inspired by interviews with real-life cancer survivors and insider sports experience—showing a brave boy who learns what it truly means to be unstoppable.

"Absolutely heroic, and something every guy should read." (National Ambassador for Young People's Literature emeritus Jon Scieszka)

If anyone understands the phrase "

39

A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke

Ronald Reng

4.2

Here, award-winning writer Ronald Reng pieces together the puzzle of his lost friend's life. On November 10, 2009, the German national goalkeeper, Robert Enke, stepped in front of a passing train. He was 32 years old. Viewed from the outside, Enke had it all. He was a professional goalkeeper who had played for a string of Europe's top clubs, including Jose Mourinho's Benfica and Louis Van Gaal's B

Recommended by Ned Boulting.

Ned Boulting

@amylawrence71 @honigstein It’s a brilliant book [source]

40

No Excuses: The Making of a Head Coach

Bob Stoops, Gene Wojciechowski

4.2

From the legendary Oklahoma coach, a candid and inspiring memoir.When Bob Stoops took over as football coach in 1999, the Oklahoma Sooners were in disarray with back-to-back losing seasons. But in just two years' time, Stoops achieved the seemingly impossible: winning a national championship and returning the struggling Sooners to their powerhouse status, churning out NFL talent, Heisman Trophy wi

Recommended by Fran Fraschilla and Ivan Maisel.

Fran Fraschilla

Coaches: Great book on winning culture. Only time I’ve I met Bob Stoops was a Friday at OU Golf Grill before huge game with Texas A&M. Couldn’t believe he wasn’t watching tape or how relaxed he was eating his hamburger. He knew his preparation was done. They won 77-0 next day. https://t.co/u73DrS2pC9 [source]

Ivan Maisel

This book is Bob Stoops: straightforward, honest, without airs. You’ll enjoy spending time with him. https://t.co/Oxobw4V5f9 [source]

41

Catching Jordan

Miranda Kenneally

4.2

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is th

42

Football Genius

Tim Green

4.2

New York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green scores a touchdown with this exhilarating and action-packed story about an ordinary boy who becomes a hero you can really root for. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica.

Twelve-year-old Troy White has a phenomenal gift: He can predict football plays before they even happen. Any position. Any player. Any team.

When Troy's single mom gets a

43

Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL

Michael Lombardi

4.2

Former NFL general manager and three-time Super Bowl winner Michael Lombardi reveals what makes football organizations tick at the championship level. From personnel to practice to game-day decisions that win titles, Lombardi shares what he learned working with coaching legends Bill Walsh of the 49ers, Al Davis of the Raiders, and Bill Belichick of the Patriots, among others, during his three deca

Recommended by Eric Musselman.

Eric Musselman

Reading an awesome book Gridiron Genius written by @mlombardiNFL ! A must read for all coaches and leaders! https://t.co/CTlF2sVamr [source]

44

Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football

Dent

4.1

Jim Dent, author of the New York Times bestselling The Junction Boys, returns with his most powerful story of human courage and determination.

More than a century ago, a school was constructed in Fort Worth, Texas, for the purpose of housing and educating the orphans of Texas Freemasons. It was a humble project that for years existed quietly on a hillside east of town. Life at the Masonic Home was

45

Scholastic Year in Sports 2020

James Buckley Jr.

4.1

The must-have guidebook for young sports fans is back with the latest news and features on the top athletes and sports moments from the past year.
Scholastic's annual Year in Sports returns with brand-new, exciting coverage of the past year's sporting events. This 2020 edition features colorful photographs from right in the action, completely updated facts and stats, plus special features on the X

46

Every Moment Matters: How the World's Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams

John O'Sullivan

4.1

47

NFL: 100 Years

National Football League

4.1

An authorized visual history of America’s most popular sport

Timed to coincide with the National Football League’s 100th anniversary, NFL: 100 Years celebrates the history of America’s most popular and highly watched sport. From its humble beginnings in Canton, Ohio, to its emergence as a sport cherished by millions, all the key moments and famous athletes are honored within the pages of this hand

48

Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence

Gary Mack

4.1

Drawing on his work with some of the top teams in professional sports, noted sport psychology consultant Gary Mack shares with you the same techniques and exercises he uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle." These 40 accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes will help you gain the "head edge" over the competition.

Recommended by Michael Gervais.

Michael Gervais

One of the books I often give away is Mind Gym by Gary Mack. It’s a very mechanical, easy, lots-of-white-space-on-the-page book. And it’s one of my favourites, a very applied synopsis of mental skills from a sport and performance psychology standpoint. [source]

49

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms

Tim Tebow

4.1

First, he was a beloved college football champion, Heisman trophy winner, media sensation, and best-selling author drafted in the first round of the 2010 Draft. Then he had a miracle playoff run with the Denver Broncos before being traded to the New York Jets. After one season he was cut by New York. Next he was signed by the New England Patriots then let go after training camp—a scenario that rep

50

Penso quindi gioco

Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Alciato

4.1

"Per me il gruppo conta tantissimo, ma se mi dimenticassi di me stesso toglierei forza proprio ai miei compagni: tanti singoli fanno una squadra, tanti sogni fanno un trionfo." Un fuoriclasse. Un super campione iper titolato. I complimenti iperbolici non sono mai sprecati se riferiti ad Andrea Pirlo, fantasista della Juventus e della Nazionale, ex Milan - con cui ha vinto e rivinto tutto il possib

51

Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the World's Greatest Sports Rivalry

Sid Lowe

4.1

It's Messi vs Ronaldo, it's Catalonia vs Castilla. It's the nation against the state, freedom fighters vs Franco's fascists. It's majestic goals and mesmerising skills, red cards and bench brawls. It's the best two teams on the planet going face to face and toe to toe. It's more than a game. It's a war. It's Barcelona vs Real Madrid.

...Only, it's not that simple. From the wounds left by the civil

52

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

Jon Krakauer

4.1

This edition has been updated to reflect new developments and includes new material obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Pat Tillman walked away from a multimillion-dollar NFL contract to join the Army and became an icon of post-9/11 patriotism. When he was killed in Afghanistan two years later, a legend was born. But the real Pat Tillman was much more remarkable, and considerably more

Recommended by Ryan Holiday.

Ryan Holiday

Author

Jon Krakauer’s biography of Pat Tillman, Where Men Win Glory, was the most inspiring and moving book I read this year. [source]

53

Shaken: Young Reader's Edition: Fighting to Stand Strong No Matter What Comes Your Way

Tim Tebow and A. J. Gregory

4.1

The New York Times best-selling author and Heisman Trophy winner shares a vision for young Christians still forming their identity and finding their God-given purpose--even when life doesn't go as planned.

Beloved sports icon Tim Tebow was a college football champion and a first-round draft pick--but then he was traded and eventually cut. In Shaken Young Reader's Edition, he reveals how he navigat

54

Overtime: Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines at the Crossroads of College Football

John U. Bacon

4.1

A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER

"One of the best insider-football books ever written.” —Douglas Brinkley

A riveting chronicle of Michigan's Jim Harbaugh era, and "an unprecedented look at the inner workings" (Sporting News) of a big-time college football program

For the past year, John U. Bacon has received rare access to Jim Harbaugh’s University of Michigan football team: coaches, players, and staff

Recommended by The Sklar Brothers.

The Sklar Brothers

This book, like all of @Johnubacon’s books, is fantastic. It’s hilarious that people are running with one quote and misquoting that one quote. But if that sells this book, we’re good with that. https://t.co/qnTOqINY3E [source]

55

Football: Great Records, Weird Happenings, Odd Facts, Amazing Moments & Other Cool Stuff

Ron Martirano

4.1

Jam-packed with cool trivia, history-making records, unforgettable moments, and wacky true tales of your favorite games, players and events, these stories from the gridiron will set fans abuzz.

An engaging presentation for football's toughest fans. Find out all about the culture of superstition and the crazy events that surround the game, about the hazing that's an integral part of the sport, and a

56

The Hot Shot (Game On, #4)

Kristen Calliha

4.1

First we were friends. Then we were roommates. Now I want more…

What can I say about Chess Copper? The woman is capable of bringing me to my knees. I know this about five minutes after getting naked for her.

No one is more surprised than me. The prickly photographer my team hired to shoot our annual charity calendar isn’t my usual type. She’s defense to my offense, a challenge at every turn. But whe

57

Football Outsiders Almanac 2019: The Essential Guide to the 2019 NFL and College Football Seasons

Aaron Schatz, Thomas Bassinger, et al.

4.1

58

Believe It: My Journey of Success, Failure, and Overcoming the Odds

Nick Foles

4.1

*New York Times Bestseller*
Get ready to defy the odds when everyone's counting you out.
When the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback went down with a torn ACL in week 14 of the 2017 NFL season, many fans--and commentators--assumed the Eagles' season was over.

Instead, Nick Foles came off the bench and, against all odds, led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in history.

How did Nick g

59

The Art of Smart Football

Chris B. Brown

4.1

Masterfully blending thought provoking analysis with engrossing storytelling, The Art of Smart Football examines football's most innovative and enduring strategies and ideas, through the lens of the sport's best coaches and players. The Art of Smart Football is an eye-opening, fascinating and accessible contribution to our understanding of America's favorite sport. The Art of Smart Football featur

60

Quarterback Rush

Carl Bowen and Eduardo Garcia

4.1

61

Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football

Phil Ball

4.1

English writer Phil Ball has put the history of Spanish football into the context of the epomymous Morbo. Hard to pin down in translation (though the author manfully spends a chapter trying to explain the term in its fullest sense), "morbo" encapsulates the fierce rivalry across a club scene fragmented by history, language and politics. The bitter feeling between Barcelona and Real Madrid has, of

62

The People's Team: An Illustrated History of the Green Bay Packers

Mark Beech

4.1

The definitive, lavishly illustrated history of the Green Bay Packers, commemorating the team's 100-year anniversaryNot only are the Packers the only fan-owned team in any of North America’s major pro sports leagues, but Green Bay — population 104,057 — is also the smallest city with a big-time franchise. The Packers are, in other words, unlikely candidates to be pro football's preeminent team. An

63

I Dare You

Ilsa Madden-Mill

4.1

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills kicks off a brand-new, sexy, heartfelt contemporary romance series with I DARE YOU!

Badass Athlete: I dare you to…
Delaney Shaw: Who is this?

The late night text is random, but "Badass Athlete" sure seems to know who she is…

Delaney Shaw.
Good girl.
Lover of fluffy kitties and Star Wars.
Curious.

His dare? Spend one night in his bed—a night he pro

64

Season of Life: A Football Star, a Boy, a Journey to Manhood

Jeffrey Marx

4.1

The bestselling inspirational book in which the author reunites with a childhood football hero, now a minister and coach, and witnesses a revelatory demonstration of the true meaning of manhood.

Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL football star and volunteer coach for the Gilman high school football team, teaches his players the keys to successful defense: penetrate, pursue, punish, love. Love? A former capt

65

Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity

Drew Brees

4.1

When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team--and facing the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again--coaches around the NFL wondered, Will he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving more than 80 percent of the city underwater, many wondered, Will the city ever come back? And with their stadi

66

Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Stars

Gregory Zuckerman, Elijah Zuckerman, et al.

4.1

Discover the inspirational real-life stories of superstar athletes like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Tim Howard, and more!

"Packs a powerful message--perseverance and passion pay off. Even non-sports fans will cheer for superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry."-- Scholastic Teacher

Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a natio

67

Barça: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World

Graham Hunter

4.1

FC Barcelona are the greatest football team in the world, the greatest for a generation and possibly the greatest of all time. This is the inside story of how the team came to redefine how the game is played, told by the journalist closer to it than any other. This edition contains a new epilogue reflecting on the departure of Pep Guardiola and Spain s victory at Euro 2012. It is of huge interest

68

The Mentor Leader: Secrets to Building People and Teams That Win Consistently

Tony Dungy

4.1

"Your only job is to help your players be better." That single idea had a huge impact on Tony Dungy when he heard it from one of his earliest mentors, and it led him to develop the successful leadership style so admired by players and coaches throughout the NFL. Now, a storied career and a Super Bowl victory later, Tony Dungy is sharing his unique leadership philosophy with you. In The Mentor Lead

69

Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL

Jeff Pearlman

4.1

From a multiple New York Times bestselling author, the rollicking, outrageous, you-can’t-make-this-up story of the USFL

The United States Football League—known fondly to millions of sports fans as the USFL—was the last football league to not merely challenge the NFL, but cause its owners and executives to collectively shudder. It spanned three seasons, 1983-85. It secured multiple television deals

70

The Eagles Encyclopedia: Champions Edition: Champions Edition

Ray Didinger

4.1

Ray Didinger, like every die-hard Eagles fan, has been waiting since the 1960 NFL Title for the Birds to win the Super Bowl. In this “Champions Edition” of The Eagles Encyclopedia, beloved Eagles commentator Didinger celebrates his team and their remarkable, against-all-odds season that ended at Super Bowl LII, where they claimed victory over the Patriots in Minnesota.

Didinger updates his best-se

71

Das Reboot: How German Football Reinvented Itself and Conquered the World

Raphael Honigstei

4.0

July 13th 2014, World Cup Final, the last ten minutes of extra time: Germany forward Mario Götze, receiving a floated pass from his international teammate André Schürrle, jumps slightly to meet the ball and cushion it with his chest. Landing on his left foot, he takes a step with his right, swivels, and in one fluid motion, without the ball touching the ground, volleys it past the onrushing Argent

72

Football Hero

Tim Green

4.0

Success comes with risk and a high price in this thrilling standalone football novel from New York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica.

Ever since Ty Lewis was orphaned and forced to stay with his legal guardian, Uncle Gus, he’s always wanted to prove how fast he is on a football field and be like his older brother, Thane "Tiger" Lewis, who's ab

73

Jockblocked (Gridiron, #2)

Jen Frederic

4.0

She’s always played it safe…

College junior Lucy Washington abides by one rule—avoid risk at all costs. She’s cautious in every aspect of her life, from her health, to her mock trial team, to the boring guys she dates. When a brash, gorgeous jock walks into the campus coffee shop and turns his flirt on, Lucy is stunned by the force of attraction. For the first time ever, she’s willing to step out o

74

I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond

Michael Oher

4.0

The football star made famous in the hit film (and book) The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher shares his personal account of his story, in this inspirational New York Times bestseller.Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had to break out of the cycle of

75

Relentless: A Memoir

Julian Edelman

4.0

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Bill Belichick: "Julian is the epitome of competitiveness, toughness, and the great things that are possible when someone is determined to achieve their goals."

Tom Brady: "It's a privilege for me to play with someone as special as Julian."

The Super Bowl champion wide receiver for the New England Patriots shares his inspiring story of an underdog kid who was always doubted

76

Through My Eyes

Tim Tebow

4.0

Former University of Florida star quarterback, 2010 first-round draft pick for the Denver Broncos, and devout Christian Tim Tebow tells the story of his faith, his life, and his career in football in Through My Eyes. Written with Nathan Whitaker, the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Quiet Strength, with Tony Dungy, Through My Eyes gives fans a first look into the heart of an athlete whose ta

77

MVP #3: The Football Fumble

David A. Kelly and Scott Brundage

4.0

From the author of the Ballpark Mysteries comes the coolest sports club around—the Most Valuable Players!

The MVP kids can’t wait to play in the big football game. That is, until they catch a glimpse of their opponents! The team from Hamilton Elementary School seems bigger and—even worse—just plain mean. Taking on a tough opponent is never easy. Will this bully blitz keep the MVPs off their game?

78

Weird But True Sports: 300 Wacky Facts about Awesome Athletics

National Geographic Kids

4.0

79

Find A Way: What I Wish I'd Known When I Became A Head Football Coach

Kenny Simpson

4.0

80

Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time

Ian O'Connor

4.0

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The definitive biography of the NFL’s most enigmatic, controversial, and yet successful coach

Bill Belichick is perhaps the most fascinating figure in the NFL—the infamously dour face of one of the winningest franchises in sports. As head coach of the New England Patriots, he’s led the team to five Super Bowl championship trophies. In this revelatory and robust biograph

81

Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance

Tony Dungy

4.0

The New York Times bestseller is now in softcover with a bonus chapter on how the "Dare to Be Uncommon" movement is reaching schools, teams, and families across the country and an update on Tony's life since retiring as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. What does it take to live a life of significance? When Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy took home the trophy in Super Bowl XLI, fans around

82

Green Bay Packers Trivia Quiz Book: 500 Questions on the Legends of Lambeau

Chris Bradshaw

4.0

83

How Good Do You Want to Be?: A Champion's Tips on How to Lead and Succeed at Work and in Life

Nick Saban

4.0

He guided LSU to its first football championship in forty-five years. He turned down countless offers from professional teams to stay with the job he loves. Now Nick Saban reveals the secrets that will help you lead and succeed at work and in life.

Excellence doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from hard work, consistency, the drive to be the best, and a passion for what you do. Few understand this

Recommended by Adam Lawrence.

Adam Lawrence

Question: What’s your favorite book and why? Answer: … How Good Do You Want To Be by Nick Saban … [source]

84

Football For Dummies, 6th Edition

Howie Long and John Czarnecki

4.0

Are you ready for some football?

New stadiums have been built, new stars have been born, and records have been broken since the last edition of Football For Dummies. This new edition is the fan's ultimate, up-to-date guide to all things pigskin. Perfect for new and veteran fans of the sport alike, it covers everything you need to be the most knowledgeable spectator in the stadium.

With deep explanat

85

Defensive Coordinator's Football Handbook

Leo Hand

4.0

86

The Truth About Aaron

Jonathan Hernandez

4.0

The unvarnished true story of the tragic life and death of Aaron Hernandez, the college All-American and New England Patriots star convicted of murder, told by one of the few people who knew him best, his brother.

To football fans, Aaron Hernandez was a superstar in the making. A standout at the University of Florida, he helped the Gators win the national title in 2008. Drafted by the New England P

87

The Education of a Coach

David Halberstam

4.0

Pulitzer Prize-winner David Halberstam's bestseller takes you inside the football genius of Bill Belichick for an insightful profile in leadership. Bill Belichick's thirty-one years in the NFL have been marked by amazing success--most recently with the New England Patriots. In this groundbreaking book, David Halberstam explores the nuances of both the game and the man behind it. He uncovers what m

Recommended by Ryan Holiday and Bobby Voicu.

Ryan Holiday

Author

In 2014, I read The Education of a Coach, a book about Bill Belichick which influenced me immensely (coincidentally, the Patriots have also read my book and were influenced by it). [source]

Bobby Voicu

The first one is gentler with the coach, because the author had access to him personally. It also has only the first two Superbowls, because it stops in 2003. This means the writer didn’t know about the 2 biggest scandals that involved Belichick: Spygate and Deflategate. [source]

88

The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football

Jeff Benedict

4.0

AN EXPLOSIVE AND REVELATORY PORTRAIT REPORTED FROM DEEP BEHIND THE SCENES OF BIG-TIME NCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL: THE PASSION, THE THRILLING ACTION—AND THE SHOCKING REALITIES THAT LIE BENEATH THIS COLOSSAL, MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL has never been more popular—or more chaotic. Millions fill 100,000-seat stadiums every Saturday; tens of millions more watch on television every weekend.

89

The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football

S. C. Gwynne

4.0

An “excellent sports history” (Publishers Weekly) in the tradition of Michael Lewis’s Moneyball, award-winning historian S.C. Gwynne tells the incredible story of how two unknown coaches revolutionized American football at every level, from high school to the NFL.

Hal Mumme spent fourteen mostly losing seasons coaching football before inventing a potent passing offense that would soon shock players

90

The Big Game

Tim Green

4.0

New York Times bestselling author and former NFL defensive end Tim Green encourages readers to fight for their dreams in this heartfelt story about a young football star grappling with the stress of living up to his father’s name. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica!

Danny Owens is dedicating his seventh-grade season to his Super Bowl champion father, who recently passed away. Danny promises everyone t

91

Seattle Seahawks Trivia Quiz Book: 500 Questions on All Things Blue, Green and Grey

Chris Bradshaw

4.0

Think you know about the Seattle Seahawks? Put your knowledge to the test with this selection of quizzes on all things blue, green and grey. The book covers the whole history of the franchise, from the early days at the Kingdome through to the World Championship era of Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson and the Legion of Boom. The biggest names in Seahawks history are present and correct so look out for

92

Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life

Mike Leach

4.0

SWING YOUR SWORD is the first ever book by one of the most fascinating and successful coaches in sports today. A maverick who took an unlikely path to coaching through law school, Mike Leach talks about his unorthodox approach to coaching and the choices that have brought him success throughout his career. A lover of the game who started creating formations and drawing his own plays as a kid, Leac

93

Stillness and Speed: My Story

Dennis Bergkamp

4.0

In a team that included some famously heavy drinkers, and players who did not always set the highest standards in their behaviour, Dennis Bergkamp arrived at Arsenal and soon everything changed. Along with the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira, he provided an inspirational cutting edge to the Gunners' play and set them on the way to becoming one of the most formidable sides i

94

Mastering the Premier League: The Tactical Concepts Behind Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City

Lee Scott

4.0

Discover the secrets of the game model developed by Pep Guardiola that sets Manchester City apart from the rest. When Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 there were doubts that he could replicate his successful model in the English game. But after a single season of acclimatization we saw those doubts shattered as City won the Premier League in 2017/18 with a record 100 points. Beyond the tro

95

Complete Running Back

Tim Horton

4.0

There is nothing more exciting than watching a skilled running back sidestep a tackler, hit an open hole in the line, pivot, turn, and accelerate up the field for a huge gain. It's a position that many have played but few have excelled in. And not one has succeeded alone.

Complete Running Back will help you step onto the field with the skills to thrill and knowledge to succeed. Tim Horton, running

96

Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look

Pat Kirwan

4.0

Renowned NFL analysts’ tips to make football more accessible, colorful, and compelling than ever before

More and more football fans are watching the NFL each week, but many of them don’t know exactly what they should be watching. What does the offense’s formation tell you about the play that’s about to be run? When a quarterback throws a pass toward the sideline and the wide receiver cuts inside,

97

Red Zone

Tiki Barber, Ronde Barber, et al.

4.0

The Hidden Valley Eagles have the championship in sight—but will chicken pox get in the way?

The Hidden Valley Eagles are on track to make the playoffs. Full of focus and determination, every player is at his best, and the team is working better together than ever before. But when a bout of chicken pox threatens to overtake the team, will their playoff dreams disappear?

98

Deal Breaker: The First Myron Bolitar Novel

Harlan Coben

4.0

99

Chasing the Bear: How Bear Bryant and Nick Saban Made Alabama the Greatest College Football Program of All Time

Lars Anderson

4.0

A dual biography of two coaching legends -- Bear Bryant and Nick Saban -- who built the Alabama Crimson Tide into a true football dynasty.
Both Bear Bryant and Nick Saban are undeniable kings of college football, two coaches at Alabama who have each won more national championships-six apiece-than anyone else in the history of the game. Chasing the Bear examines how they did it, revealing along

100

Gerrard: My Autobiography

Steven Gerrard

4.0

Steven Gerrard is a hero to millions, not only as the inspirational captain of Liverpool FC, but as a key member of the England team. Here, for the first time, he tells the story of his lifelong obsession with football, in an honest and revealing book which captures the extraordinary camaraderie, the soul-destroying tensions and the high-octane thrills of the modern game as never before. He speaks