Autobiography: sport Books
Counterpoint Annapurna: A Woman's Place
Book SynopsisIn August 1978, thirteen women left San Francisco for the Nepal Himalaya to make history as the first Americans—and the first women—to scale the treacherous slopes of Annapurna I, the world's tenth highest peak. Expedition leader Arlene Blum here tells their dramatic story: the logistical problems, storms, and hazardous ice climbing; the conflicts and reconciliations within the team; the terror of avalanches that threatened to sweep away camps and climbers.On October 15, two women and two Sherpas at last stood on the summit—but the celebration was cut short, for two days later, the two women of the second summit team fell to their deaths. Never before has such an account of mountaineering triumph and tragedy been told from a woman's point of view. By proving that women had the skill, strength, and courage necessary to make this difficult and dangerous climb, the 1978 Women's Himalayan Expedition's accomplishment had a positive impact around the world, changing perceptions about women's abilities in sports and other arenas. And Annapurna: A Woman's Place has become an acknowledged classic in the annals of women's achievements—a story of challenge and commitment told with passion, humor, and unflinching honesty.
£16.14
Scribner Book Company Running Man
Book Synopsis
£15.19
Hodder & Stoughton Remembering Richie
Book SynopsisA tribute to Richie Benaud and a celebration of his life.Remembering Richie is a compilation of the very best writing from Richie''s books, along with the best tributes and obituaries from those who knew and worked with him. As a player, Richie was one of the greatest of cricket''s all-rounders. As a commentator and thinker on the game he became the leading figure of his generation. As a man he was revered by cricket''s multitude of followers and as a friend he was both loved and admired by his close circle of friends.This celebratory book brings together the best of Richie''s writing on a range of subjects from his love of cricket as a child to his all time XIs; from his thoughts on T20 to insight into his family life, along with his most loved sayings and best known pieces of commentary. All perfectly complemented with tributes from his friends and colleagues.Trade ReviewRemembering Richie Benaud collects plenty of well selected excerpts from his own various memoirs - Sunday AgeRemembering Richie is a celebration of the life of one of Australia's cricket icons - SA Life
£12.34
Little, Brown Book Group That Will Be England Gone
Book SynopsisIncluded in the Financial Times best books of 2020 selection''For those who fear the worst for the sport they love, this is like cool, clear water for a man dying of thirst. It''s barnstorming, coruscating stuff, and as fine a book about the game as you''ll read for years'' Mail on Sunday''Charming . . . a threnody for a vanished and possibly mythical England'' Sebastian Faulks, Sunday Times''Lyrical . . . [Henderson''s] pen is filled with the romantic spirit of the great Neville Cardus . . . This book is an extended love letter, a beautifully written one, to a world that he is desperate to keep alive for others to discover and share. Not just his love of cricket, either, but of poetry and classical music and fine cinema'' The Times (best summer books)''To those who love both cricket and the context in which it is played, the book is rather wonderful, and moving'' DailyTrade ReviewAbsolutely and completely loved this book by Michael Henderson - love letter, memoir, lament, polemic. Read, in place of cricket * Marina Hyde *Michael Henderson is one of the most knowledgeable writers there is about the summer game. In this vibrant chronicle of the 2019 cricket season, he travels around England taking the temperature of the sport he loves. The result is pure gold . . . The book is also a love poem to an England fast disappearing . . . For those who fear the worst for the sport they love, this is like cool, clear water for a man dying of thirst. It's barnstorming, coruscating stuff, and as fine a book about the game as you'll read for years -- Michael Simkins * Mail on Sunday *Philip Larkin's line "that will be England gone" is the premise of this fascinating book which is about music, literature, poetry and films as well as cricket. Henderson is that rare bird, a reporter with a fine grasp of time and place, but also a stylist of enviable quality and perception * Michael Parkinson *Admirers of Neville Cardus and A. E. Housman will warm to Michael Henderson's elegy for an ideal England. A rich roast dinner of cricket, music, topography, nostalgia and anecdote, washed down with prose as smooth and satisfying as a pint of Otter Ale * Sebastian Faulks *Charming . . . a threnody for a vanished and possibly mythical England -- Sebastian Faulks * Sunday Times *Lyrical . . . [Henderson's] pen is filled with the romantic spirit of the great Neville Cardus . . . Thisbook is an extended love letter, a beautifully written one, to a world that he is desperate to keep alive forothers to discover and share. Not just his love of cricket, either, but of poetry and classical music and finecinema . . . A book that started out as an elegy for a changing game seems more poignant now -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *To those who love both cricket and the context in which it is played, the book is rather wonderful, and moving -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph *It is about cricket but also about much more: landscape, place, poetry, music, national mythology . . . This is the book's authentic register, and it is haunted by loss -- Jason Cowley * New Statesman *Englishness itself, as much as cricket, is the main theme of Michael Henderson's genre-melding That Will Be England Gone . . . extremely readable . . . often amusing . . . That Will be England Gone is part memoir, part sports book, part essay . . . Given that this may be a summer without leather and willow, and that coughing has become taboo, Henderson's book provides a much-needed literary-cricketing alternative: a beautiful clearing of the throat -- Daniel Rey * Spectator *In a work that now seems improbably prescient, that same sense of gazing at a disappearing world has been articulated with great skill and, most of all, great affection by Michael Henderson . . . The book - a paean to the sub-culture of county cricket, its supporters, its players, its observers, its writers, its pubs and its arenas - was completed before the coronavirus crisis struck but its premise seems more pertinent thanever -- Oliver Holt * Mail on Sunday *A travelogue and a love letter to the festival and spa towns of England and in particular to the places where county cricket is played . . . Henderson writes beautifully about Cheltenham and Chesterfield and Trent Bridge in Nottingham, his favourite Test ground. You do not need to love cricket to feel the point -- Philip Collins * The Times *One of my favourite writers about cricket -- Martin Samuel * Daily Mail *Beautifully written piece of work . . . wonderful book - not just a sports book, which is why it is so good - is to be reminded, or even educated, of what it means to be English and of England's history * Yorkshire Post *All good sports books are about more than just sport, and this anti-modern elegy to an old rural England takes in countless bypaths from Vienna to Ken Dodd . . . Erudite and occasionally beautiful * Financial Times *Erudite . . . genuinely beautiful * Wisden Cricket Monthly *It would perhaps be a mistake to regard this as purely a cricket book. Each excursion to a cricket ground is preceded and accompanied by extensive digressions elsewhere. But the digressions are not wandering from the point, but carefully crafted scene-setting as Henderson provides the social, artistic and historical context for the cricket he witnesses. Rather than purely a cricket book, this is an elegy for a vanishing world with cricket as its framework -- Richard Lawrence * The Journal of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians *Wonderful elegy to a game that, way more than any other, defines our shared identity . . . a timely reminderof what is missing from our lives in cricket's absence -- Jim White * The Oldie *Henderson has a gift for the telling phrase and illuminating anecdote -- Peter Wilby * New Statesman *
£17.00
Little, Brown Book Group My Story
Book Synopsis''Inspirational'' Sunday Express''Moving and forthright'' Mirror''Like so many of the stories in his book, Bright''s account of meeting his father for the first time in more than 20 years is told with brutal honesty'' GuardianWith a foreword by Gary LinekerMark Bright''s 1990s partnership with Ian Wright at Crystal Palace earned them legendary status with the club. Bright played top-level football for most of his career, after starting in non-league while working as an apprentice engineer. He appeared in FA and League Cup finals, played abroad and experienced the change which swept through the game with the introduction of the Premier League.But this book is not just about Bright''s time in the game. This is the story of someone who battled against the odds to achieve his dream. It is the story of a boy coping with the bewildering and frightening circumstances of being taken into care with his bTrade ReviewMoving and forthright * Mirror *An inspirational tale * Sunday Express *Like so many of the stories in his book, Bright's account of meeting his father for the first time in more than 20 years is told with brutal honesty * Guardian *
£7.99
Gallery Books The Longest Race
Book SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In “one of the most important athlete memoirs of its generation” (Kate Fagan, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Olympian Kara Goucher reveals her experience of living through and speaking out about one of the biggest scandals in running.Kara Goucher grew up with Olympic dreams. She excelled at running from a young age and was offered a Nike sponsorship deal when she graduated from college. Then in 2004, she was invited to join a secretive, lavishly funded new team, dubbed the Nike Oregon Project. Coached by distance running legend Alberto Salazar, it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. Kara was soon winning a World Championship medal, going to the Olympics, and standing on the podium at the New York and Boston marathons, just like her coach had done. But behind the scenes, Salazar was hiding dark secrets. He pushed the limits of anti-doping rules and created what Kara ex
£16.19
Allen & Unwin Straight Up
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£13.49
NeWest Press Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am
Book Synopsis
£17.09
Xlibris Pile Driver
£17.59
BenBella Books Darkness to Light
Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestseller Fame. Sex. Pain. Drugs. Death. Booze. Money. Addiction. Redemption. Dizzying heights. Rock-bottom depths. Desperation and elation—sometimes in the same hour. Not to mention power . . . and the struggle for it. The world knows Lamar Odom as a two-time NBA world champion who rocketed to uncharted heights of fame thanks to being a member of both the storied Los Angeles Lakers and the ubiquitous Kardashian empire. But who is Lamar, really? Fans have long praised his accessibility and genuine everyman quality—he is a blinding talent who has suffered a series of heartaches, setback, and loss. But until now, his most candid moments have remained behind closed doors . . . sometimes face-down on the floor. In Darkness to Light, Lamar gives readers an intimate look into his life like never before. His exclusive and revealing memoir recounts the highs and lows of fame and his strug
£14.39
Simon & Schuster Home and Away
Book SynopsisINSTANT #1 BESTSELLER In one of the last great remaining untold stories in all of sports, the Hall of Fame Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin shares for the first time an unfiltered look at playing hockey in Sweden and across North America as part of the sport's most fabled franchises.Growing up in Sollentuna, Sweden, on the outskirts of Stockholm, Mats Sundin skated on the lake downhill from his house, a house his father had built with his own hands, on land his mother insisted on buying for their future. In the darkness of the Scandinavian winter Sundin would chase after his older brother on that lake for countless hours. Summers spent in nature with his grandparents instilled a lifelong love for the outdoors. Playing hockey in their driveway, the three Sundin brothers imagined scenes of suiting up for Sweden's national team and scoring a game winning goal against their favoured rival, the Soviet Union. It wasn't until his late teens that he caught
£26.99
Transworld Unfiltered
Book SynopsisThe unmissable new Sunday Times bestseller about life in elite motorsport, from the Formula 1 sensation and author Surviving To Drive, Guenther Steiner.With a foreword by Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 CEO Toto Wolff.Fasten your seatbelts as Formula 1''s favourite underdog, Guenther Steiner, takes you on a wild, behind-the-scenes ride through his ten years at Team Haas.From the first seeds of his idea to establish a new F1 team, to the challenges of funding and building that team from the ground up, Guenther shares the real story of the origins of Team Haas, immersing readers in the highs and lows of its first decade on the grid, and opening up about his departure from the team at the end of 2023.As Guenther recalls his proudest achievements, as well as the many, many disasters he has faced, he takes readers behind the scenes, into the pit lanes and garages, and out on to the circuits of the world''s greatest race tracks.Told in his inimitable style and packed with hugely entertaining stories, outspoken opinions and unvarnished truths, this is Guenther at his very best insightful, opinionated and completely unfiltered.Praise for Surviving to Drive:A brilliant, brilliant book.' Matt Baker, Sky Sport F1 PodcastA gleeful guide to a bonkers sport from a loveable rogue insider.' The TimesIt''s gripping to read. It''s funny, it''s real, it''s exciting. It''s a brilliant book.' Chris EvansLifts the lid on life as a Formula One team principal. The book gives us honest, unfiltered Steiner.' The AthleticSurviving to Drive, Number 1 Sunday Times Bestseller, April 2023Unfiltered, Top 10 Sunday Times Bestseller, October 2024
£15.29
Tellwell Talent Earl Fee is Running
£19.56
Scottish Mountaineering Trust Tears of the Dawn
Book SynopsisJules Lines, Britain's most accomplished free solo climber, gives a rare and candid glimpse into the mind of one of climbing's most audacious and determined legends. Tears of the Dawn is a journey unlike any other. With artistic eloquence and an unexpected humbleness, Lines recreates the triumphs, tribulations, friendships, romances and perhaps most poignantly of all, his close encounters with death, leaving the reader breathless, on edge, and, as the sunlight breaks, dreaming of mountain tops, oil rigs and a sense of adventure. This heartfelt and at times humourous, adrenaline-infused account is more than a story of adventure, it is a tale of obsession, addiction, passion, courage and the ability to push boundaries. Beautifully designed and illustrated, for dreamers and realists alike, Tears of the Dawn is an awe-inspiring and toe-tingling tale to be enjoyed by all. This second edition of the sellout original includes refreshed photography.Table of Contents1. Walking on the Moon 2. The Lure of the Tables 3. Precious Stones 4. The Hunted 5. Spirits in the Rocks 6. Grit Years 7. A Calm Sea Never Lies 8. Skye is the Limit 9. Icon of Lust 10. Dreamtime 11. Voices from the Abyss 12. Vanishing Point 13. Brazilian Learning Curve 14. Howff Dwellers 15. Déjà Vu 16. Feeding the Hens 17. Am Fear Liath Mor 18. Threading the Needles 19. The Otter's Breakfast Table 20. Rumours of Rain 21. The Dark Tide 22. Soul of Silence
£23.75
HarperCollins Publishers Inc House of Nails A Memoir Of Life On The Edge
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Pitch Publishing Ltd Hats; Handwraps and Headaches: A Life on the
Book SynopsisHats, Handwraps and Headaches is the inspiring, surprising and sometimes shocking story of Irish boxing coach Paddy Fitzpatrick, a failed pro boxer who was almost a Foreign Legionary before finding fame as a trainer of world-class fighters. After struggling as a young adult and attempting suicide, Paddy's life was transformed by a chance meeting with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. Paddy moved to LA to learn his trade at Roach's Wild Card gym, working with the likes of world champions James Toney and Laila Ali, and spending time with Laila's legendary father Muhammad Ali. Back in England, Paddy used the things he had learnt to take George Groves to three world title fights, including the return super-fight with Carl Froch, which drew 80,000 fans to Wembley Stadium. Filled with astonishing anecdotes - like the time Paddy took shots from a Heavyweight contender and a near-miss with a grizzly bear - Hats, Handwraps and Headaches is funny and poignant in equal measure, with riveting tales from both sides of the Atlantic.
£19.99
Transworld Publishers Ltd Carra
Book SynopsisFor the Anfield faithful, Jamie Carragher represents everything that is great about Liverpool Football Club, prompting the Kop to sing ''we all dream of a team of Carraghers''. The club''s vice-captain, longest-serving player and one of a select band of players to have made more than 500 appearances for the Reds, Carra never gives less than 100 per cent for the cause. He is the embodiment of old-fashioned football values - a rarity in the modern game - honest and uncompromising.In Carra: My Autobiography, the Liverpool defender takes us deep into the heart of Anfield, into the club''s past glories and its uncertain future. In his typically down-to-earth style, Carra reveals what made him discard his blue Evertonian roots to become a fully fledged Red, how he mended his wild ways to become a true professional and a multiple trophy-winner, and the truth about a succession of managers - Evans, Houllier, Benítez - in the hottest seat in football. A Scouser through and through, Carra also has some forthright views on the England team, and tells why he rejected calls to return to the international fold.Full of sensational stories and controversial opinions, of glory and heartbreak on and off the pitch, Carra: My Autobiography is a football book unlike any other. The authentic voice of Anfield, Carra is one of the Bootroom Boys in true Liverpool tradition, and is as committed on the page as in every game he has played.Trade ReviewTypically a product of honesty and dedication. The Kop dreams of a "team of Carraghers". Journalists wouldn't mind a game full of them -- Jonathan Northcroft * The Sunday Times *Top man, top memoirs... At last, an autobiography of Premier League standard * FourFourTwo *Startlingly forthright... his memoirs are a perfect gauge of his intelligence -- Paul Hayward * Guardian *Carragher's memoirs are every bit as forthright and single-minded as you would expect -- Tony Barrett * Liverpool Echo *This fine autobiography strengthens the belief that he is a football fan doing something he adores while enjoying the recognition of those he admires most -- Peter Sharkey * Yorkshire Evening Post *
£999.99
Headline Publishing Group My England Years The Autobiography
Book Synopsis''For me, he is England''s greatest ever player'' - Gary Lineker''Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world'' - Manchester United FCSir Bobby Charlton is widely acknowledged as the greatest player ever to wear an England shirt. He won a record number of caps and scored a record number of goals. Here, in the second volume of his bestselling autobiography, Sir Bobby talks in detail about his phenomenal career with England. During the 12 years he played for his country, he was involved in some of the greatest England games of all time: the 9-3 thrashing of Scotland, the 1962 and 1970 World Cup games against the Brazilians, the classic 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany and, of course, the triumph of the 1966 World Cup. His story encompasses drama, passion, goals, controversies, classic matches, world-class players, and moments of footballing genTrade Review'Hailed as one of the best football autobiographies ever... If you love the beautiful game, this is unmissable' * Daily Mail *'Compelling...beautifully co-authored' * Leo McKinstry, Sunday Telegraph *'As in volume one, the combination of Charlton's story and the work of James Lawton is unstoppable' * Sunday Times *'That the book doesn't quite live up to My Manchester United Years isn't a criticism - that it almost reaches the same heights is a sign of just how good a follow-up it is' * FourFourTwo *
£11.69
Little, Brown Book Group No Such Thing As Failure
Book SynopsisIf there's an adventure to be had, it's likely that David Hempleman-Adams has been there first. Ranking alongside Ranulph Fiennes and Chris Bonnington in the pantheon of British explorers, he is the first person in history to achieve what is termed the Adventurers' Grand Slam, by reaching the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles as well as climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents. The question Hempleman-Adams is most often asked is, simply: what drives him on? Why risk frostbite pulling a sledge to the North Pole? Why experience the Death Zone on Everest? Why fly in the tiny basket of a precarious balloon across the Atlantic? Is it simply the case that he likes to push himself to the limits, or is there something more to it? No Such Thing as Failure answers these questions and more, uncovering what drives arguably the world''s greatest adventurer.Trade ReviewI admire David hugely. He is a true adventurer and this book shows the breadth and depth of his achievements. NO SUCH THING AS FAILURE is an astonishing book, depicting an awe-inspiring life.
£9.99
Headline Publishing Group Whistle Blower
Book SynopsisThe outspoken and hard-hitting autobiography of one of the most highly-rated, recognisable and controversial football referees of modern times.Mark Clattenburg found himself in the centre circle, whistle in hand, at the start of 450 Premier League matches during a highly eventful 13-year career in football''s top flight. He has shaken hands with, issued red and yellow cards to, and been sworn at by hundreds of players. He has been screamed at and shared jokes with dozens and dozens of managers. And he''s felt the wrath of thousands upon thousands of irate fans.His autobiography is the ultimate guide to what it''s really like to be in the referee''s spotlight. It offers numerous intriguing insights into the daily trials and tribulations, the acute stresses and strains, of a top-flight referee. Clattenburg takes the reader into the referee''s room, the players'' tunnel and out on the pitch to experience precisely what a referee goe
£18.00
Bonnier Books Ltd Robbie Fowler: My Life In Football: Goals, Glory
Book SynopsisBorn in Liverpool in 1975, Robbie Fowler became a club icon by the time he was eighteen. Now, he takes us through the games that have shaped his life and football philosophy, more than 25 years after he first signed as a professional.Engaging, personal and revealing, Robbie opens up about his astounding achievements, the price of fame and the regrets and struggles of being a professional footballer. From Hillsborough to Madrid, via the cup treble, that goal line celebration, Houllier, Benítez, Klopp and more, Robbie explains his thinking about the modern game. Inviting readers inside the dressing room, he shares stories of legendary teammates like Rush, McManaman and Gerrard, as well as his rise to football's top table. What inspired him to play the beautiful game? How did he get back up after the injuries that blighted his career? What gave him the drive to keep going and pursue his dreams?My Life in Football is the inspiring story of a local boy who became a legend.
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the
Book SynopsisIn 1977, Lorne Rubenstein, an avid golfer, travelled to Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands. Young and adrift in life, he was profoundly affected by the experience. As he writes, 'My week in Dornoch introduced me to a place with which I felt a connection. A week wasn't living there, but it was enough for Dornoch to imprint itself on my mind.' Twenty-three years later, in 2000, now an established golf writer, Rubenstein returned to Dornoch to spend an entire summer. He rented a flat close to the Royal Dornoch Golf Club and set out to explore the area on many levels. Rubenstein writes about the melancholy history of the Highland Clearances, which have left the beautiful landscape sparsely populated to this day. He writes about the friendly and sometimes eccentric people who love their town, their golf and their single malt whisky, and who delight in sharing them with visitors. But most of all he writes about a summer lived in a community where golf is king and the golf course is part of the common lands where townspeople stroll of an evening. Rubenstein is able to return to thinking of golf as play, as opposed to a game of analysis and effort. A Season in Dornoch is an affectionate portrait of a place and the people who live there, a fascinating look at golf and the spirit and skills it calls forth, and a perceptive and ultimately moving memoir of one man's quest to experience again the pure love of sport that he knew in his youth.Trade ReviewRubenstein gives the reader a feel for what makes the appeal of the Highlands so enduring. He brings the place and its people to life -- Tom Watson, five-time British Open championOne of golf's most gifted writers has done every fan of the game a great and entertaining service -- James Dodson, author of Final Rounds
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Tourist
Book SynopsisWhat Goes on Tour, Stays on Tour…Until Now!
£19.80
Ebury Publishing Cycling the Earth A Lifechanging Race Around the
Book SynopsisSean Conway was stuck in a life dead end of his own making when he heard about a round the world cycling race. He was immediately inspired but it was a huge undertaking and he'd hardly been on a bike in years. Could he really cycle all the way round the world, solo and unsupported?Six months later, after completing a punishing training schedule and packing up everything he owned into boxes, Sean was in Greenwich Park on the start line of the adventure of a lifetime. Soon he was way ahead of schedule, averaging 180 miles per day, and on course to break the round the world cycling record. But then disaster struck, and Sean was forced to confront the possibility that he may not be able to complete the race...In the course of his 16,000-mile journey, Sean travelled the famous pan-American highway across the Atacama Desert, outran tornados, relied on fellow travellers to ferry water across the Australian outback, and inadvertently joined a cycle club in Mumbai. He learntTrade ReviewConway is hardcore * Evening Standard *Britain's most inspiring maniac * Shortlist *
£999.99
Vintage Publishing Flame Of Adventure
Book SynopsisSimon Yates, author of Against the Wall, takes us back to his early years as a climber - the escapades and excitement of a young life lived on the edge and for the moment, when experience was all-important and dramatic achievements and failures came as naturally as the hair-raising risks themselves.A mountaineering travelogue of dazzling variety, The Flame of Adventure moves from the camaraderie of deprived Russian climbers in the little-known peaks in the Tien Shan to the awesome experience of the North Face of the Eiger, from a rumbustious motorbike ride across Australia with a psychotic lorry driver. We meet a remarkable gallery of climbers, from Doug Scott to Joe Simpson, and, when not exploring high mountains, we enter the bizarre world of rope access workers: mavericks balancing high above building sites on the London skyline.Trade ReviewSimon Yates' remarkable climbing journal, which offers the armchair alpinist a detailed account of lucky escapes, near disasters and more than a few triumphs, is one of the most readable mountaineering books currently on the market * Literary Review *
£10.44
Cornerstone Thin White Line
Book SynopsisIn 1997, Andy Cave returned from the Himalayas, having climbed the stupendous north face of Changabang but losing his friend and climbing partner in the process. Traumatized by the savage ordeal, he must examine his relationship with the mountains that have defined his life so far. Will he have the courage to undertake such a challenge again? Does he want to? Thin White Line charts his struggle towards finding an answer. It is as much a journey into the mind of an extreme mountaineer as it is into the wild landscapes through which he travels. In a nail biting narrative set in Patagonia, Norway and Alaska, Cave tackles the severest challenges modern Alpinism can pose. Juxtaposed with the stark beauty of the environment are the colourful characters populating his stories, from the adventurers around him, past and present, to the pioneer aviators who get him and his kind to those impossibly remote places. He vividly recreates the joy and despair of climbing, building the book tTrade ReviewAn intriguing mix of travelogue, mountaineering history, geography and an affectionate portrait of the climbing fraternity * Financial Times *A skilful blend of dialogue and descriptive prose threading a narrative that captures the highs and lows of a mountaineer's existence and the environments he travels through... Plenty of action... Gripping * Climb *In Thin White Line, Andy Cave picks up the story after his epic on the north face of Changabang in which his partner was lost in an avalanche. He could have been forgiven for giving up climbing after the harrowing experience but he returns with a vengeance, climbing hard routes from Alaska to Patagonia * Daily Telegraph *Andy Cave's compelling autobiography is, like Joe Simpson's Touching the Void, a gripping book on mountaineering that will appeal even to those who didn't know they were interested in climbing * The Observer *
£15.19
Hancock House Publishers Ltd ,Canada A Man and His River
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£22.09
Porter Press International Stirling Moss Scrapbook 1929 1954
Book SynopsisThe Stirling Moss Scrapbook 1929-1954 tells the story of the formative years of one of the greatest racing drivers of all time. Moss's meteoric rise through the junior ranks with the little F3 500s, the big break with a borrowed XK120, the highs and lows with HWM when he took on the best in their more powerful Ferraris and shook the big names, the great drives and successes with Jaguar in the TT and at Le Mans, missing a Monte Carlo Rally win at the first attempt by mere seconds, the frustrating years when he put patriotism first and soldiered on with inadequate machinery and, finally, 1954 - the year when everything fell into place on the international stage.
£37.95
Dementi Milestone Publishing Rocks Across the Pond Lessons Learned Stories
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£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Bloody Minded
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR''Immensely readable and revealing''The Guardian''A must read''Phil Liggett, MBE''A story like no other in cycling''Ned BoultingIMAGINE COMPETING IN THE WORLD''S MOST BRUTAL CYCLE RACES, KNOWING THAT A CRASH COULD BE FATALAlex Dowsett is one of Britain''s greatest cyclists. He has ridden Grand Tours and Classics for elite teams including Sky and Movistar and broke the iconic World Hour Record the ultimate time trial challenge. With humour, insight and honesty, Alex recounts his years as a pro-cyclist and the challenges he has faced in his struggle to reach the top. Alex has achieved all this despite being the only able-bodied elite sportsperson in the world with haemophilia A. He describes how the condition in which falls can be fatal both blighted his young sporting life, and boosted his determination to succeeTrade ReviewImmensely readable and revealing -- Donald McRae * The Guardian *A story to tell like no other in cycling * Ned Boulting *A great champion in sport and in life, and a credit for all young aspiring people to follow. A must read * Phil Liggett, MBE, international commentator *Truly inspirational * Cycling Weekly *The humblest super-talent in the peloton, proving nice guys can win. A wonderful book * Carlton Kirby *Such an inspiring tale. Poignant and moving, and told with forthright honesty * Peter Cossins *An inspiration for anyone who wants to do whatever they’re told they can’t. -- Michael HutchinsonUnembellished and honest. Alex tells what life as a professional cyclist is really like * Rick Zabel *Truly compelling.… a must read book for any cycling fan * Alan Murchison *Compelling -- Phil CavellA fascinating insight into the mindset of an elite sportsman who overcame great odds to reach the very top * Simon Brotherton *Table of ContentsNot Horrific, Just Terrible - The Hour Record, 2015 The Day My Dad Stopped Whistling - Diagnosis 1990 Freedom - The Commonwealth Games, 2014 One Evening, on the River Blackwater - The beginning, 2001 Hunger Games - The British Academy, 2007-2010 The University of Livestrong - Riding for a legend, 2010 Treading My Own Path - Team Sky to Movistar, 2011-2013 Letting Go of the Bike - The Giro, 2013 The Armstrong Comment - The Start Line, Beijing, 2012 Growing Up – On the road with Cavendish, 2013-2015 Mummy’s Boy - Sub-title? 2016 Heartbreak and Glory - The Olympics and The Commonwealths Mayhem - Katusha-Alpecin, 2018—2019 Life Expectancy - The Tour de France, 2019 An Arm around my Shoulder - The Worlds, 2019 Stage 8 - Giro d’Italia, 2020 Winners and Losers - The Hour, 2021 Born Lucky - Leaving the World Tour, 2022.
£19.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Brutal
Book Synopsis''Lays bare the realities of a sporting career''Lord Sebastian Coe''Gripping, revealing and honest''Steve Cram OBE''A gripping read ... Iwan runs and runs and runs, and arrives at himself''Jeremy VineRunning has been Iwan Thomas''s life. He put everything into becoming and remaining an elite athlete to such a point that his efforts left him scarred.Iwan reveals the highs of his career, but also his battles with the dark side of running the loneliness, the doubts, the hurt and, ultimately, the serious mental health issues. After a youthful stint as a world-class BMX rider, Iwan dedicated himself to running. Between 1995 and 1998, he became one of the world''s fastest men, taking silver in the 4x400m at the Olympics and gold at the European and World Championships. Yet, although his British 400m record of 44.36s would stand unbroken for 25 years, niggling injuries were already beginning to limit hi
£18.00
Abrams Big Sexy
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of the most beautifully made sports books I’ve ever seen. -- Ben Reiter * New York Times bestselling author of Astroball *“Every moment with Bartolo Colón is a story. He’s an awesome guy." -- Manny Ramirez * Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox teammate *“He was one of those guys who, when he took the mound, he went all out.” -- Omar Vizquel * Cleveland Indians teammate *“He’s a great guy, a great human being, who does a lot of things for his country, and he never takes anything for granted." -- Albert Pujols * friend and World Baseball Classic teammate for the Dominican Republic *"Every time he would start, before the game we’d play hide-and-seek. He’d come out of the locker room, and I’d be hiding. I’d have a tarp over me; I’d hide behind walls. I was in garbage cans, linen baskets. And he would always find me, and he would give off this belly laugh. Sometimes I’d jump out at him from inside a closet. It was like we were a couple of kids again.” -- Dan Warthen * New York Mets pitching coach *“He could have pitched for me forever.” -- Terry Collins * New York Mets manager *“He held up his right arm and said, ‘Don’t worry, Dad. With this arm I’m going to make you rich and you won’t have to work anymore.’" -- Miguel Valerio Colón * father *“My mother did tell me he was a genius at math, though.” -- José Antonio Torres Reyes * general manager at the Bartolo Colón Baseball Academy *
£15.29
Abrams My Greatest Save The Brave BarrierBreaking
Book SynopsisA deeply moving and painfully honest memoir from the trailblazing, World Cup–winning, Olympic gold medalist, and U.S. Women’s soccer goalie Briana Scurry with New York Times bestselling author Wayne CoffeyForeword by Robin Roberts Briana Scurry was a pioneer on the U.S. Women’s National Team. She won gold in Atlanta in 1996, the first time women’s soccer was ever played in the Olympics. She was a key part of the fabled “99ers,” making an epic save in the decisive penalty-kick shootout in the final. Scurry captured her second Olympic gold in 2004, cementing her status as one of the premier players in the world. She was the only Black player on the team, and she was also the first player to be openly gay. It was a singularly amazing ride, one that Scurry handled with her trademark generosity and class—qualities that made her one of the most popular players ever to wear a U.S. jersey. But ScTrade Review“My Greatest Save is more than the story of an all-time great goalkeeper. It's about a pioneering female athlete who made sure to honor those who came before her even as she worked hard to make things better for those who came after her.” * Billie Jean King *“Before every USWNT game we played together, Briana would look me in the eye, give me a double-gloved fist bump, and ask, ‘Ready?’ I knew I didn’t have to ask her because she was always ready. Everybody knows Bri was one of the greatest keepers in the history of women’s soccer. When you read My Greatest Save, you will find out that her heart and courage were every bit the equal of her ball-stopping skills.” * Mia Hamm *“Briana Scurry is one of the most dominant and courageous goalkeepers I've ever played with. Her character and courage go far beyond the pitch. My Greatest Save is a moving story of resilience and triumph. It helped me get to know Bri—and myself—better.” * Abby Wambach *“A triumphant sports memoir by one of the first African American female soccer players, an athlete who rose to fame and suffered great loss only to rise again, stronger.” * Booklist *
£18.99
Hodder & Stoughton Lewis Moody Mad Dog An Englishman
Book SynopsisLewis ''Mad Dog'' Moody has been a familiar face in English rugby for fifteen successful and, at times, painful years. The former Leicester and now Bath flanker has seen and done it all in a sport that has changed beyond recognition from his first forays into the sport to the huge spectacle that rugby, and especially test match rugby, has become. Known for his near-suicidal fashion of playing the game, Moody has achieved as much as anyone in the history of the sport, from league, cup and European honours with an iconic Leicester Tigers team alongside the likes of Martin Johnson and Neil Back, to a 2003 World Cup winners medal and an MBE when still a young man. A great deal of heartbreak would follow - pain, illness, self-doubt and dark days in the four years before the next World Cup campaign that saw Moody and England fall in the 2007 final but he re-emerged to finally captain his country to a third World Cup campaign in 2011. Mad Dog - An Englishman
£11.69
Amberley Publishing Thank You Hermann Goering
Book SynopsisThe entertaining and hugely readable autobiography of one of sports journalism's most famous names
£9.74
Headline Publishing Group Where Am I
Book SynopsisAs England''s cricket team compete for the Ashes in Australia, ex-England spinner Phil Tufnell is enjoying life as a retired cricketer and national treasure. When the sporting legend hung up his cricket boots back in 2003, little did he know the dramatic direction his professional life would take next.Yet since being crowned ''King of the Jungle'', the ex-England spin bowler has never looked back and has become a much loved television and radio presenter. Cricket''s dressing-room clown is now broadcasting''s joker in the pack.Whether it''s dining on mealworms on I''m a Celebrity, displaying his ballroom fleckle on Strictly Come Dancing or causing weekly mayhem for the long-suffering host Sue Barker on A Question of Sport, millions of us enjoy Tuffers'' lust for life and endearing sense of humour.In Where Am I?, Phil gamely tries to make sense of the wonderful roller-coaster he has been riding these last dozen years, delighti
£10.44
Hachette Books Ireland Blood Sweat and McAteer
Book SynopsisThis is the real Jason McAteer: a little bit bruised, a little bit battered. But still fighting.Trade ReviewA meaty memoir with as much gristle as its title promises * Irish Independent *
£15.29
Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd Catch Me If You Can: Revolutionizing My Sport,
Book SynopsisNearly half a century ago, Filbert Bayi revolutionized how the middle-distance races were run. During that heyday of athletics competition before pacemakers were hired to take the lead, the unheralded Tanzanian served as his own ‘rabbit’. The innovative Bayi set a blistering pace that dared formidable challengers from around the globe to, as his autobiography suggests, Catch Me If You Can. After an inspiring career that included two world records and an Olympic medal, Bayi took the same assertive approach into post-racing life as an educator, entrepreneur and sports administrator. Today, he still embodies excellence in a school and foundation that bear his name as he strives to improve his country and community. In telling his long-awaited story, Bayi recounts hardships, including his mother’s encounter with hyenas while he was still in the womb, bouts of malaria and an Olympic boycott, as well as enduring friendships with John Walker and other great rivals. Over nearly 70 years, his experiences consistently reflect the three values he treasures most – sacrifice, commitment and confidence – resulting in an unforgettable example for anyone, anywhere to follow.
£13.46
Biteback Publishing Vince: The Autobiography of Vince Hilaire
Book SynopsisA cult football figure, Vince Hilaire's career spanned over 600 games and took in spells at Crystal Palace, Portsmouth, Leeds United and Stoke City, playing in every professional division as well as for England at Youth and Under 21 levels. Hilaire shared a dressing room with some of the stars of the era including Kenny Sansom, Mick Channon, Gordon Strachan and Vinnie Jones, and was managed by some of the biggest figures in British football - Malcolm Allison, Terry Venables, Alan Ball and Howard Wilkinson. This book offers a fascinating insight into the methods of these managers - Allison and Venables' desperation to produce a side that rivalled the free-flowing football of the famous `Busby Babes', contrasting with the dourness and rigidity of Wilkinson's Leeds. One of the first black players to break into the professional game, Vince made his professional debut at seventeen and was a member of the famous `Team of the `80s at Palace that topped the First Division table. He details exactly why that team fell apart so quickly and the chaos that subsequently engulfed the club. Vince also outlines the regular abuse that he faced as a young black player making his way in football and the dread he felt playing at certain grounds. This massively entertaining autobiography gives a fascinating insight into the beautiful game as it used to be played.
£12.34
Biteback Publishing Kicking Back
Book Synopsis'My identity is built on conflicts, and I'm proud of who I am ... I can walk through the rest of my life with something to say.' Nedum Onuoha was not a typical footballer. A young black Mancunian picked by the Manchester City Academy aged ten, he was determined to continue his education despite the lure of a career under the floodlights. Fiercely intelligent on and off the pitch, Onuoha developed into a talented defender and played his part in City's meteoric rise. He was at the Etihad Stadium when they won their first Premier League title - as an opposition player for QPR, having left the Blues just four months earlier. In this characteristically forthright book, Onuoha reveals what goes on behind the scenes at top-tier clubs. Stuffed with insights into household names like Stuart Pearce, Sven-Goeran Eriksson, Roberto Mancini and Harry Redknapp, this is football and its most famous figures as you've never seen them before. Kicking Back is also the story of one man's search for identity: as a footballer, as a black man in England and as an outsider in the US during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. What is it like to receive horrific racist abuse while doing your job? And how has football utterly failed the black community? Onuoha provides a damning assessment of the sport's authorities, finally claiming his voice as he dives deep into a life spent on the pitch.
£18.00
Atlantic Books Late Cuts: Musings on cricket
Book SynopsisWhat follows, which explores some of the charms, the quirks and the peculiar allure of cricket from a variety of perspectives, is not intended as a memorial for long-lost sepia days. The game is still alive. Whether it turns out to be therapy for me or entertainment for you remains to be seen. To achieve both would be a bonus.From Somerset stalwart to acclaimed writer and broadcaster, Vic Marks has lived a life steeped in cricket. In Late Cuts he takes us beyond the boundary rope, sharing the parts of the game fans don't get to see, from the food served at lunchtime (then - sweaty ham; now - quinoa, cranberry and feta salad) to the politics of the dressing room.Whether revisiting his playing days to reveal the secrets of bowling a killer spell and what it feels like to be heckled by a riled-up crowd, or ruminating on the current state of the game (don't mention The Hundred!), this amusing and insightful collection will delight all cricket lovers.Trade ReviewIn amongst his artfully delivered stock balls, enough deliveries grip to keep the pages turning. It's the literary equivalent of an afternoon in the sun at a county outground, and who doesn't enjoy that? -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *Distinctively Marksist: thoughtful and wry, gentle and wise * The Cricketer *Table of Contents1: Selection 2: Captains 3: Partnerships 4: The Spell 5: Declarations 6: Crowds 7: Failure 8: Food 9: Twelfth Man 10: Press Conferences 11: The Library 12: Somerset
£16.99
Atlantic Books The Break: FEATURED ON THE NETFLIX SERIES TOUR DE
Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR*The gripping and revealing autobiography of one of Britain's most successful international cyclists of the modern era'Getting in a break was my one chance of winning. The hard part was working out, again and again, how to make that chance count'Sharp, resourceful and a permanent outsider; for nearly 20 years Steve Cummings determinedly blazed his own winning trail in international cycling. A maverick who defied the dominant teams, to record a sequence of gloriously improbable victories, he has lived and raced with legends of the sport - Cavendish, Wiggins, Froome, Thomas and others - about whom he has strong views and untold stories.This autobiography of one of Britain's most successful international riders of the modern era takes the reader from Steve's earliest days as a junior, pounding across the flatlands of the Wirral, through his love-hate relationships with the British Cycling track cycling squad, to his series of top-level breakaway victories in the Tour de France, Tour of Britain and Vuelta a España and - rather than standout physical talent - how developing his own strategies and training techniques enabled him to succeed against the odds.The Break will be the first full-length account of the life and times of, in the words of ProCycling magazine, a 'universally popular and respected rider in the cycling world'.Trade ReviewIf you wanted me to pinpoint the main reason why Steve succeeded, it's the way he sees bike racing, his willingness to try something new, to do something differently ... There are so many guys out there who are strong, but Steve didn't just have the legs, he had the brains and the head for it all as well and that was his big advantage. * Geraint Thomas *Table of Contentsi: Foreword: Geraint Thomas ii: Preface: The Landmark That Wasn't 1: Doughnuts 2: Dilemmas 3: Contrasts 4: 2008-09: Road or Track? 5: Man on a Mission 6: The Wrong Kind of Limits: Team Sky 2010-11 7: No Stress Man 8: Roller Coaster 9: A Human Time Bomb 10: Mandela Day 11: Why I Couldn't Train with Mark Cavendish 12: The Right Direction 13: A Race Against Time 14: Back to My Roots 15: Bottles, Britain and a New Beginning iii: Nine Lessons iv: Palmarés v: Acknowledgements vi: Index
£18.00
Atlantic Books The Wood Life: WINNER OF THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK
Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR**FOREWORD BY BEN STOKES*Hallo - I'm Mark Wood. As an England and Durham cricketer who was born, raised and refined in Ashington, Northumberland, my life has been quite unique. Over the course of my career so far, I've won an Ashes and a World Cup in an international career that at the time of writing is going on seven years and counting. Being a fast bowler like myself is up there with the toughest of all sporting pursuits, like being Tyson Fury's punchbag or working behind the bar during the darts at Ally Pally.Being a cricketer? There's nothing like it. And doing it for England? Well, I'm lucky to call it a profession. There's been a lot of hard work along the way. Plenty of sacrifices and pain to accompany the good times that make them all worthwhile.I've been everywhere, from Barbados to Brisbane, Chester-le-Street to Chennai, waiting rooms to operating tables. I've played in some of the most exotic locations in the world and eaten margherita pizzas in every single one of them. To be honest, it's amazing I've waited this long to bring out my own self-help book.Trade ReviewA self-help manual laced with simple humour, homespun wisdom and an insight into the England cricket machine. -- Richard Hobson * The Cricketer *Table of Contentsi: Foreword by Ben Stokes ii: Introduction 1: How to Celebrate 2: How to Kill Time 3: How to Be Fast 4: How to Love 5: How to Travel 6: How to Stay Healthy 7: How to Keep Level 8: How to Be True to Yourself 9: Q & A x: Epilogue: Mark Wood, A Second Opinion by Miles Jupp
£19.00
Atlantic Books Legacy - My Autobiography: 'Powerful and Moving'
Book SynopsisFOREWORD BY ALASTAIR COOKWho ever hoped like a cricketer?Nick Compton has an incredible sporting ancestry. A literal golden boy, his grandfather Denis Compton played cricket for England and football for Arsenal.Honed at an elite English boarding school, with a telegenic profile perfectly suited to the modern media environment, Nick appeared to be blessed with that rare ability to be able to stride out and face down the world's quickest bowlers, to survive and thrive in the danger zone of the hurtling new ball.However, greatness in any field comes at a price and this gripping memoir explores the almost 'Faustian pact' he made in order to secure that time in the sun as a key member of an England team alongside such greats as Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Ben Stokes. It will show what 'Mistress Cricket' demanded from Nick as his side of that bargain. The family he left behind, the failed relationships both personal and professional and the utter physical and mental exhaustion which resulted from his drive to stay at the top.Trade ReviewA fascinating, at times painfully honest, study of obsession, perfectionism and a mental health struggle. * Matt Dickinson, The Times *A powerful and moving book, dominated by his obsession with cricket and the emotional difficulties he faced. The lessons it offers seem timely and resonant. * Donald McRae, Observer *A compelling read. -- George Dobell * The Cricketer *Table of Contentsi: Foreword ii: Prologue 1: Old and new 2: Grandad 3: The obsession 4: To Harrow and beyond 5: The impatience of youth 6: 'You've done nothing, mate' 7: A breakthrough 8: A new beginning 9: 'Just don't ever get out' 10: The Compton Cricket Club 11: A dream realised 12: This isn't going to be easy 13: A series win and niggling doubts 14: Proving my worth 15: A sense of injustice 16: 'They simply don't like Nick Compton' 17: A Middlesex recall 18: A clean slate 19: So near and yet so far 20: Walking the Lord's plank 21: An inevitable conclusion 22: A lens on life 23: The graft behind the craft 24: A sum of its parts 25: A legacy of my own iii: Acknowledgements
£18.00
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Failure is an Option: On the trail of the world’s
Book Synopsis‘We’re not at parkrun any more,’ I mutter to myself, quietly longing for the presence of nice marshals in high-visibility vests.Failure is an Option is the story of an average runner who sets out to discover just how far he can go. With the support (and misgivings) of his family, and aware that his quickest years are behind him, Matt Whyman leaves the Saturday morning 5K to push towards 100-mile ultramarathons and beyond. By slowing things down to run a very long way, he joins a growing number of men and women from all walks of life striving to do something extraordinary.A newcomer to a world that can often seem off-limits, Matt finds his feet as an ultrarunner by learning the hard way. He battles monster hallucinations on endurance races spanning day and night, loses himself on tantalising trails across landscapes far from home, and forges bonds with fellow competitors in which small, kind gestures mean more than any medal. Determined to touch the boundaries of his running world before it starts to shrink, ultimately Matt sets his sights on a six-day mountain ultra that even hardened veterans consider to be the most formidable on earth: the Dragon’s Back Race.Brimming with good humour, honesty and joy, Failure is an Option pits ambition against ability to uncover human truths that resonate with us all. A mid-pack competitor who could win prizes for enthusiasm – if nothing else – Matt takes us on a journey far beyond his comfort zone and with no guaranteed outcome of success. The results are entertaining from start to finish, often very funny and at times deeply moving.Trade Review‘What an absolute JOY! – perfectly captures the folly and ambition of this silly and wonderful sport.’– Vassos Alexander, sports presenter, ultrarunner and author‘A funny and inspirational read. From parkrunner to ultramarathoner, Matt shows what it means to keep trying – both in running and in life.’– Elise Downing, ultrarunner and author of Coasting‘Poignant, relatable and told with refreshing honesty.’– Damian Hall, elite ultrarunner, coach and author of In It for the Long Run'Make no mistake, this book is not about failure! It’s an account of how the love of running can keep you wanting more no matter where, or how, you end up in the field! The patience and support of a good partner also helps. Eloquently written with humour. Loved it!'– Shane Benzie, coach, author and founder of Running Reborn
£12.34
Orion Publishing Co Riding Through The Storm: My Fight Back to
Book SynopsisGeoff Thomas's heroic battle to overcome leukaemia, and then take on the toughest sporting challenge: to ride the Tour de France'A wonderfully compelling read' INDEPENDENT'RIDING THROUGH THE STORM details movingly and eloquently how Thomas fought cancer and then took on the Tour de France to prove how alive he was ... All human life graces Thomas' outstanding book' DAILY TELEGRAPHWhen Geoff Thomas struggled to play a friendly game of tennis while on holiday in Mallorca in May 2003, he thought little of it. Recently retired as a footballer, he believed it was a sign of ageing and perhaps a pulled muscle. But when the pain wouldn't go away, his wife Julie persuaded him to go to a doctor. He was diagnosed as having leukaemia.RIDING THROUGH THE STORM focuses on his journey round the Tour de France in the summer of 2005, riding the 2,240-mile course in the 21 days it takes Lance Armstrong and all the top cyclists, despite never having cycled much before. Despite the odds against him achieving it, he rode the course and raised nearly £200,000 for charity. As he rides, he looks back on his successful career as a footballer, and the bone-marrow transplant that saved his life. This is a powerful, moving and inspirational story of extraordinary achievement.Trade ReviewA wonderfully compelling read * INDEPENDENT *RIDING THROUGH THE STORM details movingly and eloquently how Thomas fought cancer and then took on the Tour de France to prove how alive he was ... All human life graces Thomas' outstanding book * DAILY TELEGRAPH *
£9.49
Baton Wicks Publications Itching to Climb: Mountaineer Explorer Pilot
Book SynopsisInherited eczema and allergies made Barbara James different from her classmates, something she did not like. She was lucky. The severity of her eczema had lessened when her teacher introduced her to the Snowdonia hills. In 1964 she became a full time mountaineering instructor and mountain rescue first aider in Capel Curig at a time when there were few females instructing or leading difficult rock routes. Divorced in 1976 and with a mortgage to pay, Barbara needed a job, and became the first and possibly the only woman civilian to be employed by MOD to train soldiers. At the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion in Folkestone she learned another language, new codes of behaviour, and to lead expeditions. After early retirement, Barbara took her first holiday in 11 years. She was probably the second person to go, unaccompanied, to the magical Falkland Islands soon after the conflict. Alone she walked up Tumbledown, communed with wild life and was told that "Anyone can learn to fly". So on return, her 50th birthday present to herself was to get a Private Pilot's Licence. A year later she flew a Cessna 40 hours solo around Florida. But nothing Barbara had done was as challenging as surviving, alone, the furiously tourist evenings in Tenerife's Playa de Las Americas. Only the magical El Teide National Park and the genuine, spontaneous kindness of the Canarians ensured her return. She rented an apartment in Adeje village and the locals' initial suspicious looks soon disappeared. Itching to Climb tells the story of one woman's undaunting spirit in the face of adversities, of a life spent facing challenges head on, with a singleminded determination to achieve despite the difficulties that life had laid in her way. This is a story of encouragement and hope for anyone who suffers with eczema, or any similar debilitating condition.
£9.99
Empire Publications Ltd Catch a Falling Star: The Autobiography of Neil
Book SynopsisOne of the most perceptive descriptions of Manchester City''s play during their glory years was made by Manchester Evening News reporter Peter Gardner who said that "When Youngy plays, City play". For all the talk in the intervening years of greats such as Summerbee, Bell and Lee, it was the local lad made good who made most impact when it mattered. A tall, leggy striker with a venomous left-foot shot, Young scored in every significant game for City in the late 60s. Scorer of two goals in the 1968 Championship win up at Newcastle, the scorer of the 1969 FA Cup Final winner and the first goal in the 1970 Cup Winners'' Cup final, Neil Young played as significant a role in the success and style of the Mercer-Allison partnership as anyone. Yet by 1972 he was allowed to leave the club as City began their now familiar relationship with underachievement and mismanagement. In ''Catch a Falling Star'', Neil Young explains what he has been up to in the years since his sizzling shots stung the hands of the country''s finest goalkeepers. Here he frankly discusses the problem that faced footballers of the pre-Premiership era: "When I left Rochdale for the last time one Friday afternoon I had a week''s wages... about 60. I drove home and sat in my lounge for about two hours, wondering what the hell I was going to do. I had a car on HP, a mortgage, a wife and three children to feed. I was the provider who could no longer provide. I had no savings whatsoever and my wife didn''t work. I didn''t see it coming. It was a calamity waiting to happen." Thus starts Neil''s decline into illness and depression. During the next painful decade Neil suffered numerous illnesses, lost his family, his mother and survived a suicide attempt. Thankfully, he has emerged with his spirit intact thanks largely to the love of his third wife, Carmen. ''Catch a Falling Star'' is the moving tale of a how a star on the wane managed to mount a personal comeback as impressive as any achieved on the pitch by City''s star-studded squad of the late 60s.
£16.16
