87 Best Sports Psychology Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Kahneman

5.0

Major New York Times bestseller
Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012
Selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the best books of 2011
A Globe and Mail Best Books of the Year 2011 Title
One of The Economist's 2011 Books of the Year
One of The Wall Street Journal's Best Nonfiction Books of the Year 2011
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient

In the internatio

Recommended by Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Ev Williams, and 45 others.

Barack Obama

Former USA President

A few months ago, Mr. Obama read “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions — quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. [source]

Bill Gates

CEO/Microsoft

On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012. [source]

Marc Andreessen

Co-Founder/Andreessen Horowitz

Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? [source]

2

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

Matthew Walker

4.9

Preview Summary

“Why We Sleep is an important and fascinating book…Walker taught me a lot about this basic activity that every person on Earth needs. I suspect his book will do the same for you.” —Bill Gates

A New York Times bestseller and international sensation, this “stimulating and important book” (Financial Times) is a fascinating dive into the purpose and power of slumber.

With two appearances on CBS This Mor

Recommended by Bill Gates, Brad Feld, Alexis Ohanian Sr., and 11 others.

Bill Gates

CEO/Microsoft

Explains how neglecting sleep undercuts your creativity, problem solving, decision-making, learning, memory, heart health, brain health, mental health, emotional well-being, immune system, and even your life span. [source]

Brad Feld

Co-Founder/Foundry Group

Several friends, who know I both love to sleep and am intrigued with how sleep works, recommended that I read Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It was excellent. While my self-assessment of my sleep habits are very positive, I learned a few things. More importantly, I now have a much better understanding of the “Why” surrounding sleep, especially around sleep’s importance to a healthy and long life. [source]

Alexis Ohanian Sr.

Agree! Best book I've read this year. Wasted so many hours just proving to myself I'd be the last one up working at @reddit and for what??? Stupid. Diminishing marginal returns after enough hours without sleep. https://t.co/cT7fDNBF3A [source]

3

The Inner Game of Tennis

W. Timothy Gallwey

4.9

Preview Summary

The Inner Game of Tennis will help you: use the mind/body connection and learn to trust yourself on the court; find the state of "relaxed concentration" that allows you to play at your best; utilize the "inner game principles to make the most of traditional instruction techniques; focus your mind to overcome nervousness and self-doubt; and build skills by smart practice, then put it all together i

Recommended by Amir Salihefendic, Bill Cole, Dave Elitch, and 1 others.

Bill Cole

Gallwey was the first author to detail practical, in-the-trenches sports psychology techniques. He wasn’t really a theory guy or a data guy or a research guy, but practical techniques—his books are loaded with those. [source]

Dave Elitch

It had a huge effect. [source]

Rkun @ Tokyo

@krkdnz @perepereden I've read that one since it's a classic, great book 👍 [source]

4

The Champion's Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive

Jim Afremow, Jim Craig

4.9

Even among the most elite performers, certain athletes stand out as a cut above the rest, able to outperform in clutch, game-deciding moments. These athletes prove that raw athletic ability doesn't necessarily translate to a superior on-field experience its the mental game that matters most.

Sports participation-from the recreational to the collegiate Division I level-is at an all-time high. While

Recommended by Bill Cole and Katrín Davíðsdóttir.

Bill Cole

He talks about greatness, and how to learn it from other people: to look around your sport world, the coaches and athletes at every level, Olympic, pro, national, local, and notice what you like or admire in those people. He says, if you can notice some of these elements, that must mean you have some of those elements in yourself, that you could develop. That’s a big message he sends. [source]

Katrín Davíðsdóttir

It got me focusing on giving my absolute best in any given situation without the pressure of constantly stacking myself up to others. [source]

5

Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence

Gary Mack

4.9

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]

6

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

James Clear

4.9

Preview Summary

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is

Recommended by Cal Newport, Mark Manson, Noah Kagan, and 9 others.

Cal Newport

Author

I recently read an advance copy of James Clear’s new book, Atomic Habits. His thesis is that small but carefully selected habits can, over time, create massively positive results — not just in terms of what you accomplish, but also in terms of the type of person you become. James’s exposition rings true with what’ve I learned hanging around interesting people and high achievers. I recommend you give this book a closer look. [source]

Mark Manson

Founder/MarkManson.net

A lot of people email me asking about habits - how to form good ones, how to break bad ones, how to stop doing the dumb shit we always do. I've got a friend named James Clear. He's an accomplished author and business owner and is kind of a "habit guru." He's probably forgotten more habits research than I've ever brought myself to look at. He just launched his first book. It's called Atomic Habits and it's probably the most practical and complete guide I've ever seen about habit formation and habit change. Do check it out. And then email him and tell him that I have luscious and beautiful hair and he doesn't. Then stick out your tongue and go, "Nyah, nyanya, nyah, nyah." [source]

Noah Kagan

Founder/Sumo

James launched his book today, Atomic Habits. I’ve read it and recommend it. [source]

7

Relentless: The Ultimate Mind & Body Challenge

Tim S. Grover

4.8

Preview Summary

For more than two decades, legendary trainer Tim Grover has taken the greats—Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and dozens more—and made them greater. Now, for the first time in paperback, he reveals what it takes to get those results, showing you how to be relentless and achieve whatever you desire.

Fore more than two decades, legendary trainer Tim Grover has taken the greats—Michael Jordan

Recommended by Ryan Switzer.

Ryan Switzer

Never forget my FR year at Carolina, @CoachFedora handed me the book “Relentless” by Tim Grover. Inside look on the mindset that drove Dwade, MJ, KOBE. Gave me an idea of what it was going to take to live my dream. Relentless became my favorite word. My passion. My everything. [source]

8

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Daniel H. Pink

4.8

Preview Summary

The New York Times bestseller that gives readers a paradigm-shattering new way to think about motivation

Most people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. That's a mistake, says Daniel H. Pink (author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others). In this provocative and persuasive new book, he asserts that the secret t

Recommended by Tobi Lütke, Bogdan Lucaciu, David Brudo, and 5 others.

Tobi Lütke

Founder & CEO/Shopify

Tobi Lütke recommended this book in an interview in "The Globe and Mail." [source]

Bogdan Lucaciu

Spoiler: it’s autonomy, mastery, and purpose. [source]

David Brudo

One of the books that had an impact on . [source]

9

The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

David Epstein

4.8

Preview Summary

Now a New York Times Bestseller! With a new chapter added to the paperback.

In high school, I wondered whether the Jamaican Americans who made our track team so successful might carry some special speed gene from their tiny island. In college, I ran against Kenyans, and wondered whether endurance genes might have traveled with them from East Africa. At the same time, I began to notice that a train

Recommended by Dan Pink, Gabriel Coarna, and Paul Kedrosky.

Gabriel Coarna

David Epstein's "The Sports Gene" made me decide to never tell a child that "if you really really want something, and you work really really hard, then you can achieve your dream" -- not when it comes to sports, at least. [source]

Paul Kedrosky

@fromedome @nkl Start with @DavidEpstein’s terrific book The Sports Gene. Great independently, but many academic references as well. [source]

10

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David Epstein

4.8

Preview Summary

What's the most effective path to success in any domain? It's not what you think.

Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research

Recommended by Malcolm Gladwell, Kobe Bryant, Susan Cain, and 12 others.

Malcolm Gladwell

Writer & Journalist

For reasons I cannot explain, David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everything I thought about something was wrong. I loved Range. [source]

Kobe Bryant

Basketball Player / LA Lakers

This book looks at how an emphasis on specialization can actually hamper our ability to really excel at something. It aligns with what I try to do when I am coaching, in my stories, and what we’re doing with Mamba Sports Academy — create all-around athletes who can think critically and make assessments in real time to enhance their play rather than rely only on a narrow set of skills. [source]

Susan Cain

Author

It’s a joy to spend hours in the company of a writer as gifted as David Epstein. And the joy is all the greater when that writer shares so much crucial and revelatory information about performance, success, and education. [source]

11

Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success

Matthew Syed

4.8

In the vein of the international bestselling Freakonomics, award-winning journalist Matthew Syed reveals the hidden clues to success—in sports, business, school, and just about anything else that you’d want to be great at. Fans of Predictably Irrational and Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point will find many interesting and helpful insights in Bounce.

Recommended by James Altucher, Max Mosley, and Melody Hossaini.

James Altucher

Founder/StockPickr

And while you are at it, throw in “Bounce” by Mathew Syed, who was the UK Ping Pong champion when he was younger. I love any book where someone took their passion, documented it, and shared it with us. That’s when you can see the subtleties, the hard work, the luck, the talent, the skill, all come together to form a champion. Heck, throw in, “An Astronaut’s Guide to Earth” by Commander Chris Hadfield. [source]

Max Mosley

Bounce is fascinating. Matthew Syed was Britain’s number one table-tennis player for about 10 years and he’s now a top sports journalist on The Times. He writes extremely well. His thesis is that talent isn’t what matters, it’s all about hours and hours of training. The conventional view, and certainly my view before reading this book, is that some people are supremely gifted and therefore rise to the top of sport. But he says talent has got little, if anything, to do with success and it’s all to do with circumstances and the amount of practice they get. He gives example after example. To me the most fascinating example is of a Hungarian called Polgar in the 1960s who formed the same view. He advertised for a wife, found a wife and had three daughters. Then he thought: ‘What can I train them to do that has unquestionable standards and it’s not judged subjectively?’ He hit on chess. So, he set about making them interested in and practising chess and all three daughters became, successively, the best in the world – first female grandmaster, championships at the age of 14 and so on. [source]

Melody Hossaini

I came across this book by chance, read a few pages and was intrigued by the examples to prove how experts in their field (in this case, drawn mostly from the world of Sports) come to be experts. The book will leave you empowered that one can truly become anything, and that you can defy genetical and circumstantial hinderances through the input of time and practice in your chosen field. I found the real-life examples and stories the most fascinating. Well-written and to the point. [source]

12

Victory Favors the Fearless: How to Defeat the 7 Fears That Hold You Back

Darrin Donnelly

4.8

A Life-Changing Book About the Power of FEARLESS Thinking

You will never achieve any important goal until you first defeat the fears that stand between you and that goal-the fears that say it's too risky, you don't deserve it, or you're not good enough.

In fact, fearful thinking is one of the most destructive thought patterns you can fall into. Whenever you find yourself worrying, procrastinating, o

13

The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence

Josh Waitzkin

4.8

Preview Summary

Josh Waitzkin knows what it means to be at the top of his game. A public figure since winning his first National Chess Championship at the age of nine, Waitzkin was catapulted into a media whirlwind as a teenager when his father's book "Searching for Bobby Fischer" was made into a major motion picture. After dominating the scholastic chess world for ten years, Waitzkin expanded his horizons, takin

Recommended by Bryan Callen, Chris Oliver, Dave Elitch, and 4 others.

Bryan Callen

I probably have recommended The Art of Learning and The 4-Hour Body, I'm not kidding, more than any other books. [source]

Chris Oliver

The Art of Learning as well is phenomenal. You're always learning new things in programming and startups so being good at learning is a crucial skill to have. [source]

Dave Elitch

I tell everyone I teach to get this book. [source]

14

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

4.8

Preview Summary

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this posit

Recommended by Austin Kleon, Brian Tracy, Dan Pink, and 1 others.

Austin Kleon

While re-reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s wonderful book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, I came across this passage on working crossword puzzles. I think he could just as well be talking about making blackout poems: "There is much to be said in favor of this popular pastime, which in its best form resembles the ancient riddle contests. It is inexpensive and portable, its challenges can be finely graduated so that both novices and experts can enjoy it, and its solution produces a sense of pleasing order that gives one a satisfying feeling of accomplishment. It provides opportunities to experience a mild state of flow to many people who are stranded in airport lounges, who travel on commuter trains, or who are simply whiling away Sunday mornings." [source]

Tom Chatfield

The notion of flow is the idea that there is a state that is characterised by complete immersion in an activity, by a constant response to stimuli, and a perfect match between your ability and the challenge in front of you. [source]

15

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect

Bob Rotella

4.7

Preview Summary

Filled with insightful stories about golf, Dr. Bob Rotella’s delightful book will improve the game of even the most casual weekend player.

Dr. Bob Rotella is one of the hottest performance consultants in America today. Among his many professional clients are Nick Price (last year's Player of the Year), Tom Kite, Davis Love III, Pat Bradley, Brad Faxon, John Daly, and many others. Rotella, or “Doc,”

Recommended by Bill Cole.

Bill Cole

Bob Rotella is probably currently the most famous sports psychologist out there, still active. It’s very easy reading and it has the ring of truth because he’s in the trenches every single day, and has a huge amount of credibility. [source]

16

How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life

Robert J. Rotella

4.7

Preview Summary

This New York Times bestselling, groundbreaking guide to success from America’s preeminent sports psychologist is “so good that this reviewer has recommended it to all, golfers and non-golfers alike” (Library Journal, starred review).

Acclaimed sports psychologist Bob Rotella has advised everyone from professional golfers to NBA superstars to business executives on how to flourish under pressure an

17

The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.

Daniel Coyle

4.7

Preview Summary

What is the secret of talent? How do we unlock it? In this groundbreaking work, journalist and New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle provides parents, teachers, coaches, businesspeople—and everyone else—with tools they can use to maximize potential in themselves and others.

Whether you're coaching soccer or teaching a child to play the piano, writing a novel or trying to improve your golf

Recommended by Peter Attia, Rupert Murdoch, Jason Fried, and 4 others.

Peter Attia

Founder/Attia Medical

One of the books I’ve read the most. [source]

Rupert Murdoch

CEO/News Corporation

Great reading. The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle. Forget genes! Greatness isn't born, it's grown - the hard way. [source]

Jason Fried

Co-Founder/Basecamp

Highly recommend reading The Talent Code. Wonderful book w/ great insights. [source]

18

Relentless Optimism: How a Commitment to Positive Thinking Changes Everything

Darrin Donnelly

4.7

Studies prove that positive thinkers are happier, healthier, and more successful than everyone else. Discover the simple, proven techniques for becoming a more positive person...

Positive thinking leads to positive outcomes. Study after study proves this. Researchers have found that optimistic people live longer, live healthier, have more energy, have more successful careers, make better decisions,

19

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

John O'Sullivan

4.7

20

The Art of Mental Training - A Guide to Performance Excellence

DC Gonzalez

4.7

Achieve the Warrior Mindset for Peak Performance.

Reach new levels of success and mental toughness with this ultimate guide.

Learn the "Science of Success" and prepare to excel. In this concise and highly acclaimed success mental training guide, peak performance coach DC Gonzalez teaches a blend of unique mental training technologies, sports psychology essentials, and peak performance methods that

21

With Winning in Mind: The Mental Management System: An Olympic Champion's Success System

Lanny R. Bassham

4.7

22

Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

Alex Hutchinson

4.7

From the National Magazine Award-winning Runner’s World columnist, frequent New Yorker online contributor, and Cambridge-trained physicist: a fascinating and definitive exploration of the extraordinary science of human endurance and the secrets of human performance, for fans of The Sports Gene, Born to Run, and Grit.

From running a two-hour marathon to summiting Mount Everest, we’re fascinated by t

Recommended by Malcolm Gladwell, Bear Grylls, Adam Grant, and 2 others.

Malcolm Gladwell

Writer & Journalist

This book is AMAZING! [source]

Bear Grylls

Adventurer, author, survival instructor

If you want to gain insight into the mind of great athletes, adventurers, and peak performers then prepare to be enthralled by Alex Hutchinson’s Endure. [source]

Adam Grant

Reveals how we can all surpass our perceived physical limits. [source]

23

How Bad Do You Want It?: Mastering the Psychology of Mind Over Muscle

Matt Fitzgerald

4.7

The greatest athletic performances spring from the mind, not the body. Elite athletes have known this for decades and now science is learning why it s true. In his fascinating new book "How Bad Do You Want It?," coach Matt Fitzgerald examines more than a dozen pivotal races to discover the surprising ways elite athletes strengthen their mental toughness.

Fitzgerald puts you into the pulse-pounding

24

The MVP Machine: How Baseball's New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players

Ben Lindbergh, Travis Sawchik

4.7

Move over, Moneyball -- a cutting-edge look at major league baseball's next revolution: the high-tech quest to build better players.

As bestselling authors Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik reveal in The MVP Machine, the Moneyball era is over. Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland Athletics' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light, every front office takes a data-driven app

Recommended by Anders Ericsson, Bill Simmons, Eno Sarris, and 3 others.

Anders Ericsson

Author, Psychologist

High-speed cameras and radar-tracking devices have revolutionized training and are now giving baseball pitchers accurate, detailed and actionable feedback during practice. This captivating book details step-by-step how merely good major league pitchers have recently been able to transform themselves into great ones and reach previously unattainable levels of mastery by purposeful and deliberate practice. [source]

Bill Simmons

I wish this book spent more time on the Red Sox winning four times as many titles as the Yankees this century, but The MVP Machine is a great and informative deep dive on the challenges of unlocking talent and building winning teams in the age of analytics. [source]

Eno Sarris

@dmoniz611 yeah that was a great book! [source]

25

Get Your Mind Right: 10 Keys to Unlock Your Potential and Ignite Your Success

Todd Durkin

4.7

As founder of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, California, Todd Durkin is used to pushing high-profile, high-performance athletes to their physical limit. But that's only half the battle. A crucial aspect of creating any kind of success--whether in business, sports, health, or relationships--is having the right mind-set.

In Get Your Mind Right, this world-class performance coach shares his top 10 pri

26

Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success

Brad Stulberg, Steve Magness

4.7

Preview Summary

A few common principles drive performance, regardless of the field or the task at hand. Whether someone is trying to qualify for the Olympics, break ground in mathematical theory or craft an artistic masterpiece, many of the practices that lead to great success are the same. In Peak Performance, Brad Stulberg, a former McKinsey and Company consultant and journalist who covers health and the scienc

Recommended by Arianna Huffington, Dick Costolo, Dustin Moskovitz, and 7 others.

Arianna Huffington

Founder/The Huffington Post

An essential playbook for success, happiness, and getting the most out of ourselves. [source]

Dick Costolo

Former CEO/Twitter

So much in this book resonates with me. With practical advice for performance in the workplace or on the playing field, Brad and Steve meticulously deliver a comprehensive understanding of peak performance and howto achieve it. [source]

Dustin Moskovitz

Co-founder/Facebook and Asana

Sharpen the saw. [source]

27

The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness

Steve Peters

4.7

Preview Summary

Your inner Chimp can be your best friend or your worst enemy...this is the Chimp Paradox

Do you sabotage your own happiness and success? Are you struggling to make sense of yourself? Do your emotions sometimes dictate your life?

Dr. Steve Peters explains that we all have a being within our minds that can wreak havoc on every aspect of our lives—be it business or personal. He calls this being "the

Recommended by Stuart Mcmillan.

Stuart Mcmillan

@TheKurtHester Little know fact this side of the Atlantic: the athlete here is Dr. Steve Peters - very well-known and respected sport psychologist, and author of what I believe to be the best sport psych book for coaches & athletes - ‘The Chimp Paradox’ [source]

28

Maximum Composure: Dominate Emotions with the Adaptive Mindset System

Stephanie Cunha and Lisa Lucchesi

4.7

A composed athlete remains put together, regardless of circumstances and it is reflected in their body language, attitude, and overall presence.
Composure starts with attitude, how a person carries themselves. It means having a certain style in and outside the game. It is not about what you do; it’s how you do it. The Adaptive Mindset System is composed of the ultimate elements you must dominate to

Cover unavailable

29

A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage

Cyndie Spiegel

4.7

The acclaimed author of Chimera and The Hydra Protocol delivers his spectacular breakout novel—an entertaining, page-turning zombie epic.

Anyone can be positive . . .

Years after a plague killed 99 percent of the population, turning them into infectious zombies, Finnegan and his family live in a barricaded New York City. But Finn's sheltered life fractures when his unsuspecting mother falls sick wit

30

What to Say When You Talk to Your Self

Shad Helmstetter

4.7

Discover Dr. Shad Helmstetter’s wildly popular self-help book What to Say When You Talk to Your Self, now updated with new information for the twenty-first century, and learn how to reverse the effects of negative self-talk and embrace a more positive, optimistic outlook on life!

We talk to ourselves all of the time, usually without realizing it. And most of what we tell ourselves is negative, coun

Recommended by Andrew Elliott.

Andrew Elliott

A book that will help you manage stress, setbacks and positivity. I recommend What to Say When You Talk to Your Self by Shad Helmstetter. Starting your own business is a path fraught with stress and setbacks, learning how to successfully navigate these issues will help you in more than just business. [source]

31

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

Jeffrey Marx

4.7

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

32

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Susan Jeffers

4.7

Success can be yours with Susan Jeffers's
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

The world's foremost producer of personal development and motivational audio programs gives you the tools to face the fears that hold you back.

We're all afraid of something: beginnings, endings, changing, getting stuck. But fear doesn't have to hold you back from happiness or success. You can change your relationship with fea

33

Championship Bowling Psychology

Dean Hinitz

4.7

As the leading authority on bowling's mental game, Dean Hinitz has worked with the premier players, coaches, and teams in the sport. He's helped countless pros elevate their scores, avoid slumps, and overcome stressors impacting performance. He's improved their play, now he's ready for you.

In "Bowling Psychology," you'll learn the mental strategies to perform your best, day in day out. From progre

34

10-Minute Toughness: The Mental Training Program for Winning Before the Game Begins

Jason Selk

4.7

"10-Minute Toughness is a solid mental training program. In fact I feel it is the best of its kind. . . . [It's] what the title says: ten minutes a day that connects your talents and abilities to the outcome you're seeking. As a retired NFL player looking forward, I can see as many applications for the toughness Jason Selk's program brought out of me in the business world as there were on the foot

35

Conscious Coaching: The Art and Science of Building Buy-In

Brett Bartholomew

4.7

36

Be a Player: A Breakthrough Approach to Playing Better ON the Golf Course

Pia Nilsson

4.7

The founders of the world-renowned VISION54 training program and the authors of the bestselling Every Shot Must Have a Purpose take golf instruction to the next level in this groundbreaking new approach to mastering the game.

Golf is a beloved yet technical game, so a sound swing and precise technique are essential. Most golfers who want to improve their skills go to the range and work painstakingl

37

Life, the Universe and Everything (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3)

Douglas Adams

4.7

The unhappy inhabitants of planet Krikkit are sick of looking at the night sky above their heads–so they plan to destroy it. The universe, that is. Now only five individuals stand between the killer robots of Krikkit and their goal of total annihilation.

They are Arthur Dent, a mild-mannered space and time traveler who tries to learn how to fly by throwing himself at the ground and missing; Ford Pr

38

What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude and Environmental Conditioning will Renew our Lost Evolutionary Strength

Scott Carney

4.7

What Doesn't Kill Us traces our evolutionary journey back to a time when survival depended on how well we adapted to the environment around us. Our ancestors crossed the Alps in animal skins and colonized the New World in loin cloths. They evaded predators and built civilizations with just their raw brainpower and inner grit. But things have changed and now comfort is king. Today we live in the th

39

Intangibles: Unlocking The Science and Soul of Team Chemistry

Joan Ryan

4.7

Does team chemistry actually exist? Is there scientific or mathematical proof? Is team chemistry as real and relevant as on-base percentages and wins-above-replacement?

In Joan Ryan's groundbreaking new book we discover that the answer to all of the above is a resounding yes. As Ryan puts it, team chemistry, or the combination of biological and social forces that boosts selfless effort among more

40

Integrated Periodization in Sports Training & Athletic Development: Combining Training Methodology, Sports Psychology, and Nutrition to Optimize Performance

Tudor Bompa, Boris Blumstein, et al.

4.7

Integrated Periodization inSports Training & Athletic Development considers the large problem of training specialists working in isolation and builds a case for integrated periodization as conceived by Tudor Bompa. The book begins by defining periodization as a specific theory and methodology, historically detailing how the term was formally derived, differentiating it from the current view of per

41

Sport Psychology for Coaches

Damon Burton and Thomas D. Raedeke

4.7

We marvel at the steely nerves, acute concentration, and flawless execution exhibited on the 18th green, at the free-throw line, in the starting blocks, and on the balance beam. While state-of-the-art training regimens have extended athletes' physical boundaries, more and more coaches are realizing the importance of sport psychology in taking athletic performance to new levels. Tomorrow's record-b

Cover unavailable

42

Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports

Stephen Rollnick, Jonathan Fader, et al.

4.7

The measure of a great coach is bringing the best out of athletes. This is the first guide to motivational interviewing (MI)--the proven approach to harnessing the power of conversations to build relationships and trust--for coaches, sport psychologists, training and rehabilitation specialists, and other affiliated staff. Revealing why conventional ways of giving feedback and addressing conflict a

43

The Captain Class: The Hidden Force that Creates the World's Greatest Teams

Sam Walker

4.7

From the founding editor of The Wall Street Journal's sports section comes a bold new theory of leadership drawn from the elite captains who inspired their teams to achieve extraordinary success.

Named one of the best business books of the year by CNBC, strategy+business, Forbes, and SI.com

The secret to winning is not what you think it is.
It's not the coach. It's not the star.
It's not money. It's

Recommended by Eric Ries and Ryan Holiday.

Eric Ries

Founder/Long-Term Stock Exchange

A fascinating book about the one thing that the greatest sports teams in history have in common and the critical aspects of leadership they share. [source]

Ryan Holiday

Author

This was definitely the best business/leadership book I read this year. It proves that we have really missed what makes great teams and organizations work. It’s not star players, it’s not even how much they can spend–it’s whether they have great captains. Walker’s chapter on “carrying the water” had some great insights re: Ego is the Enemy and I think this incredibly well-written book should be studied by anyone trying to build a great organization (or trying to find a role for themselves inside one). [source]

44

Mindful Pitching

Toni Paisley

4.7

45

This Is Your Brain on Sports: Beating Blocks, Slumps and Performance Anxiety for Good!

Dr. David Grand and Dr. Alan Goldberg

4.7

"THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS is a must read for anyone involved in or simply interested in sports. It tells the real story of what I went through and how countless athletes of all levels are still going through now.....unnecessarily. When no one else could, they helped me to recognize how my throwing problems came directly from sports traumas that were stuck in my brain. And then Grand and Goldberg had the knowhow to release it with the miracle of Brainspotting." Mackey Sasser Former catcher for NY Mets "THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS is a MUST READ for athletes, their parents and coaches, as well as for all psychotherapists and performance experts. In case you didn't know it, THE YIPS has a clearly explainable relationship to past trauma. All one has to do is take a detailed history of the life of an athlete from his/her earliest childhood, relate that to his/her history of physical injuries and throw in a dollop of shame and criticism from parents and coaches and the reason for the yips emerges with crystal clarity. These facts are clearly illustrated in this compelling, fascinating and ground-breaking book by Drs. Grand and Goldberg. Brain-based principles of body-based memory, neurosensitization and cue-related anxiety from the trauma literature clearly prove that the yips come from post-traumatic stress syndrome. And Brainspotting has shown to be dramatically effective in mitigating, and even healing, this vexing syndrome." Robert Scaer, MD Author of THE BODY BEARS THE BURDEN and THE TRAUMA SPECTRUM THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS: Beating Blocks, Slumps and Performance Anxiety for Good! is the ground-breaking book that will change the face of sports performance forever. This book introduces the breakthrough concept of STSD (Sport Traumatic Stress Disorder). Grand and Goldberg have discovered that STSDs are the cause of most significant performance problems. Performance blocks and anxiety, including the yips, stem from accumulated sports traumas including sports injuries, failures and humiliations. The authors also introduce the Brainspotting Sports Performance System (BSPS) which quickly finds, releases and resolves the sports traumas held in your brain and body. An easy read, THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS is filled with engaging, informative, inspiring stories. These case examples illustrate how professional, elite, collegiate and junior athletes have been freed for good from this silent "epidemic" of performance blocks and anxiety including: the yips, "Steve Blass disease," "Mackey Sasser syndrome," protracted slumps, balking, choking and freezing. THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS provides the answers and the cure for athletes, their coaches and parents about "Beating Blocks, Slumps and Performance Anxiety for Good!" Grand and Goldberg also show how their BSPS can take all athletes to levels they could only heretofore dream of! www.thisisyourbrainonsports.com

46

InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives

Michael Prichard, Joe Ehrmann, et al

4.7

In this inspirational yet practical book, the man Parade called “the most important coach in America,” subject of the national bestseller Season of Life, Joe Ehrmann, describes his coaching philosophy and explains how sports can transform lives at every level of play, from the earliest years to professional sports.

Coaches have a tremendous platform, says Joe Ehrmann, a former Syracuse University A

47

Be a Player: How to Become a Better Golfer Every Time You Play

Pia Nilsson

4.7

48

Your Short Game Solution: Mastering the Finesse Game from 120 Yards and In

James Sieckmann

4.7

Supported by state-of-the-art motion analysis research, "short game guru to the pros" James Sieckmann unveils his "finesse wedge" swing -- a proven and pragmatic way to learn, practice, and perform with each wedge in the bag in every situation -- and shows players that upgrading their short game is possible.

Since James Sieckmann first revealed his short-game methods two decades ago, he has amasse

49

Get Strong: The Ultimate 16-Week Transformation Program For Gaining Muscle and Strength--Using The Power Of Progressive Calisthenics

Al Kavadlo, Danny Kavadlo, et al

4.7

50

Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sports

Yaron Weitzman

4.7

How the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers trusted The Process -- a bold plan to get to first by becoming the worst.

When a group of private equity bigwigs purchased the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011, the team was both bad and boring. Attendance was down. So were ratings. The Sixers had an aging coach, an antiquated front office, and a group of players that could best be described as mediocre.

Enter Sam Hinkie -

51

Old School Grit: Times May Change, But the Rules for Success Never Do (Sports for the Soul Book 2)

Darrin Donnelly

4.6

52

Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life

JIM MURPHY

4.6

Want More Joy and Confidence?

Discover the life guide that has developed world champions, empowered athletes to become world #1, and most importantly, transformed their hearts and minds. This step-by-step training manual from one of the world's top mental skills coaches will teach you how the mindset of some of the best performers and leaders on the planet allowed them to have freedom and confidenc

53

Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide To Living Your Best Life

Vernon Brundage Jr.

4.6

54

Expert Approaches to Sport Psychology: Applied Theories of Performance Excellence

Mark Aoyagi and Artur Poczwardowski

4.6

55

Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success

John Wooden

4.6

Legendary college basketball coach John Wooden and Jay Carty know that when it comes down to it, success is an equal opportunity player. Anyone can create it in his or her career, family and beyond. Based on John Wooden's own method to victory, Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success reveals that success is built block by block, where each block is a crucial principle contributing to life-long achieveme

56

Biofeedback & Neurofeedback Applications in Sport Psychology

Benjamin W. Strack, PhD, et al.

4.6

57

The Mental Game of Poker: Proven Strategies for Improving Tilt Control, Confidence, Motivation, Coping with Variance, and More

Jared Tendler and Barry Carter

4.6

58

Sports Psychology for Dummies

Leif H. Smith and Todd M. Kays

4.6

Acquiring the winning edge in sports-the mental edge Mental conditioning is now seen by many to be as critical to sports success as physical conditioning. And for parents eager to ensure their children have a winning edge-as well as a future college scholarship-nothing could be more critical to success. This book offers readers a comprehensive program to gain that winning edge, providing training

59

It Takes What It Takes: How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life

Trevor Moawad

4.6

Foreword by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
From a top mental conditioning coach—”the world’s best brain trainer” (Sports Illustrated)—who has transformed the lives and careers of elite athletes, business leaders, and military personnel, battle-tested strategies that will give you tools to manage and overcome negativity and achieve any goal.

Trevor Moawad is a mental conditioning coach w

60

Psyching for Sport: Mental Training for Athletes

Terry Orlick

4.6

This complete psychological training program will help athletes perform consistently closer to their full potential. Includes step-by-step directions for improving athletic performance through relaxation and imagery training, centering techniques, and goal setting.

61

The Mental ABCs of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement

H.A. Dorfman and Rick Wolff

4.6

Author H.A. Dorfman brings his years of expertise as instructor/counselor with the A's, Marlins, and Devil Rays to provide an easy-to-use, A-to-Z handbook which will give insight and instruction on how to pitch to peak performance at every level of the game. Perfect for pitchers who need that extra edge or hitters who want to better understand the mental moves on the mound. With a new foreword by

62

ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running

Danny Dreyer and Katherine Dreyer

4.6

A groundbreaking program that teaches you how to run faster and farther with less effort, and prevent and heal injuries, for runners of any age or fitness level.

In ChiRunning, Danny and Katherine Dreyer, well-known walking and running coaches, provide powerful insight that transforms running from a high-injury sport to a body-friendly, injury-free fitness phenomenon. ChiRunning employs the deep po

63

Old School Grit

Darrin Donnelly

4.6

Psychologists tell us that the secret to a successful and happy life, more than anything else, is something called GRIT. Defined as the willpower to persevere with passion and a sense of purpose, research shows that grit is what matters most in whether a person succeeds or fails.

That same research shows that previous generations had a lot more grit than today’s younger generations. This isn’t surp

64

Strong: A Confidence Journal for Runners and All Brave Women

Kara Goucher and Blue Star Press

4.6

In Strong: A Confidence Journal For Runners and All Brave Women, Kara teaches you how to improve your confidence and mental preparedness while training for a race. Although often overlooked, mental preparation is just as important as physical preparation when it comes to preparing for a race. For the first time ever, two-time Olympian, World Champion runner, and most Influential Female Running P

65

The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance

H.A. Dorfman, Karl Kuehl, et al.

4.6

In this book, authors H.A. Dorfman and Karl Kuehl present their practical and proven strategy for developing the mental skills needed to achieve peak performance at every level of the game.The theory and applications are illustrated by anecdotes and insights from major and minor league players, who at some point discovered the importance of mastering the inner game in order to play baseball as it

66

Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

4.6

From one of the pioneers of the scientific study of happiness, an indispensable guide to living your best life.

What makes a good life? Is it money? An important job? Leisure time? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes our obsessive focus on such measures has led us astray. Work fills our days with anxiety and pressure, so that during our free time, we tend to live in boredom, watching TV or absorbed by

67

Mental Toughness Training for Sports: Achieving Athletic Excellence

James E. Loehr

4.6

68

The Unstoppable Golfer: Trusting Your Mind & Your Short Game to Achieve Greatness

Bob Rotella

4.6

From Dr. Bob Rotella, the preeminent golf psychologist to the game's top players comes the defining guide to mastering the enormous challenges of chips, pitches, bunker shots and putts. It's no secret that more than two-thirds of the shots a golfer makes are short ones. Dr. Rotella tackles the mind's role in this most difficult aspect of the game. The short game is typically a source of fear for a

69

The Mental Keys to Hitting: A Handbook of Strategies for Performance Enhancement

H.A. Dorfman and Rick Wolff

4.6

A must-have book by acclaimed author and expert H.A. Dorfman that highlights the crucial mental components involved in hitting a baseball and playing the game, components that are as important, if not more so, than the intense physical regimen of an athlete...".helpful to hitters in little leagues or in the big leagues. The information is clear and to the point..." -- Charles Johnson, former catch

70

Mastering Golf's Mental Game: Your Ultimate Guide to Better On-Course Performance and Lower Scores

Michael Lardon, Matthew Rudy, Phil Mickleson

4.6

Perfect your mental approach to your game

To be a golfer is to tinker—with everything from equipment to grip to swing. But one thing most players don’t give enough attention to is the mental game. Psychologists aren’t a new phenomenon in golf, but Dr. Michael Lardon is a different breed of performance coach. Instead of sending his players into a losing battle against emotion, indecision, and fear o

71

Sports Medicine Review

Francis G O'Connor MD

4.6

72

The Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation

Monna Arvinen-Barrow

4.6

Athletes routinely use psychological skills and interventions for performance enhancement but, perhaps surprisingly, not always to assist in recovery from injury. This book demonstrates the ways in which athletes and practitioners can transfer psychological skills to an injury and rehabilitation setting, to enhance recovery and the well-being of the athlete.

Drawing on the very latest research in s

73

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

James Nestor

4.6

Preview Summary

No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you're not breathing properly.

There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences.

Journalist James Nestor travels the world

74

How to Be Better At Basketball in 21 days: The Ultimate Guide to Drastically Improving Your Basketball Shooting, Passing and Dribbling Skills

James Wilson

4.6

Want to learn the exact basketball skills, strategies, and techniques the pros use? Discover a 21-day fast-track program to break through your basketball barriers. Struggling to nail that winning shot? Can't seem to pull off the spectacular passes and incredible crossovers you see on TV? James Wilson is a 30-year veteran of basketball coaching with experience gained in 20 countries. Wilson's geniu

75

The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks

Ben Cohen

4.6

A brilliant and buoyant investigation into the existence (or not) of streaks, from a rising star at the Wall Street Journal.

For decades, statisticians, social scientists, psychologists, and economists (among them Nobel Prize winners) have spent massive amounts of precious time thinking about whether streaks actually exist. After all, a substantial number of decisions that we make in our everyday l

76

Bring Your "a" Game: A Young Athlete's Guide to Mental Toughness

Jennifer L. Etnier

4.6

Mental training is just as important as physical training when it comes to success in sport. And like physical fitness, mental toughness is something that can be taught and learned. Yet many young athletes have not learned the psychological skills needed to develop their best game. This book was written specifically for young athletes interested in improving their performance and reaching their po

77

The Mental Toughness Advantage: A 5-Step Program to Boost Your Resilience and Reach Your Goals

Douglas Comstock

4.6

78

Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To

Sian Beilock

4.6

Why do the smartest students often do poorly on standardized tests?

Why did you tank that interview or miss that golf swing when you should have had it in the bag?

Why do you mess up when it matters the most—and how can you perform your best instead?

It happens to all of us. You’ve prepared for days, weeks, even years for the big day when you will finally show your stuff—in academics, in your caree

79

Sport Psychology for Youth Coaches: Developing Champions in Sports and Life

Ronald E. Smith

4.6

Today, more than 68 million children and adolescents participate in sport programs in the United States. Yet despite the growth and popularity of highly-organized athletic competition, controversy still swirls around the role that adults, particularly coaches, play in the world of youth sports. Coaches not only occupy a critical leadership position in the athletic setting, but their influence can

80

The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL

Ross Bernstein

4.6

For decades, hockey crowds have been brought to their feet for one of the most exciting aspects of NHL games—the fights. The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL by Ross Bernstein takes you in-depth and behind the scenes to explore the history of fighting during hockey games and the honor system behind it. More than 50 NHL players, coaches, and media personalities wer

81

Master Your Tennis Game: 50 Mental Strategies and Tactics

Ken DeHart

4.6

82

Mathletics: How Gamblers, Managers, and Sports Enthusiasts Use Mathematics in Baseball, Basketball, and Football

Wayne L. Winston

4.6

Mathletics is a remarkably entertaining book that shows readers how to use simple mathematics to analyze a range of statistical and probability-related questions in professional baseball, basketball, and football, and in sports gambling. How does professional baseball evaluate hitters? Is a singles hitter like Wade Boggs more valuable than a power hitter like David Ortiz? Should NFL teams pass or

83

The Mental Edge

Kenneth Baum

4.6

No matter what sport you enjoy or what level you play, you have the potential for a peak performance--and realizing that potential is the goal of everyone who makes athletics part of their lives. And while you can benefit from the advice of tennis and golf pros, marathon runners, and skiing instructors, the edge you seek to maximize your performance isn't in your stroke, your pace, or your posture

84

Tipping the Balance: The Mental Skills Handbook for Athletes [Sport Psychology Series]

Martin Turner and Jamie Barker

4.6

At the highest level, athletes are highly skilled, highly trained, and highly proficient machines. Take the 100m sprint for example. All of the athletes in the Olympic final can run sub-ten seconds. They are all fast! But on the day, the deciding factor is often not how fast they are, but rather, how fast they can run under the high pressure circumstances of an Olympic final. The ability to deal w

85

Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications

Richard Cox

4.5

"Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications" shows how concepts supported by current scientific research can be used to address issues and situations encountered everyday by physical activity specialists, coaches, athletic trainers, and athletes.
This introduction to sport and exercise psychology addresses practical issues, such as dealing with anxiety, arousal, and stress; developing coping, re

86

Sport Psychology: From Theory to Practice

Mark H. Anshel

4.5

Sport Psychology, Fifth Edition provides a comprehensive overview of sport and exercise psychology. It outlines the theoretical framework and provides the necessary psychological foundation of sport psychology while offering a real-life handbook approach to using psychological strategies as a sport participant and coach. This unique book stresses an applied approach to the field and presents scien

87

The Little Book of Breaking 80 - How to Shoot in the 70s (Almost) Every Time You Play Golf

Shane Jones

4.5

In the Little Book of Breaking 80, the author, a struggling amateur golfer who finally discovered the true keys to breaking 80 after more than 30 years of trial and error, blows the cover off of the hopelessly doomed conventional approach to golf improvement that keeps most golfers stuck on the endless merry-go-round of frustration and failure, and provides a realistic blueprint for breaking 80 th