Biography: sport Books

Book Synopsis'This belting read pulls off the nifty trick of making the kung fu legend's spiritual and combat ideas accessible' Maxim'Truly gets under the skin of this iconic figure' Film Review In the 1970s Bruce Lee emerged as the world's greatest fighting star - an accolade he has kept ever since. He battled to succeed in America in spite of the racial prejudice that denied him a starring role, eventually making films in Hong Kong that turned him into a star - the highest-paid movie star of his day. His controversial death, at the age of thirty-two when he was at the height of his powers, has given him a James-Dean style enduring appeal. In Bruce Lee - Fighting Spirit, Bruce Thomas has written a complete account not only of Lee's life and death, but of the fighting philosophy he developed (jeet kune do) which made him the greatest exponent of martial arts in modern times. In this updated edition he reassesses Lee's skills and examines the enduring impact of his legacy - on action films and martial arts today. As an icon Bruce Lee's popularity continues to grow and this book is a fitting tribute to an extraordinary man whose achievements have never been surpassed. 'An endlessly stimulating account of Lee's life and times' LoadedTrade ReviewWritten and researched with devotion and thought-provoking passion, the book truly gets under the skin of this iconic figure. * Film Review magazine *This belting read pulls off the nifty trick of making the kung fu legend's spiritual and combat ideas accessible. * Maxim *An essential for martial arts fans and a compelling read even for the uninitiated. * Derry Journal *By far the best, most honest, and most comprehensive book on Bruce Lee's life ever written * Goodreads *

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Book Synopsis75 MILLION FANS. AN ANNUAL INCOME OF MORE THAN 500 MILLION. AND A STORY THAT HAS NEVER FULLY BEEN TOLD - UNTIL NOW. ''A wonderfully entertaining history'' Sunday Telegraph ''When historians 1,000 years from now try to fathom the cult of Manchester United Football Club, White will be a good place to start'' Financial Times MANCHESTER UNITED: THE BIOGRAPHY contains everything a football fan needs to know about the club, from its birth in the smog-bound mud of Newton Heath to the Theatre of Dreams. From the solid yeomanry of Lancelot Holliday Richardson, through the gilded days of Law, Best and Charlton, to the dazzling artistry of Cristiano Ronaldo and becoming 20-time English football champions.Award-winning journalist and lifelong red Jim White brings the history of this extraordinary club to life - unofficial and unbiased, it is written with the passion of a true fan.Trade ReviewA rich and thoroughly enjoyable tapestry Sunday Business Post All encompassing yet readable Irish Times **** London Metro A must read for anyone who takes football seriously RTE Guide

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Book Synopsis'The definitive telling of the life of a West Indian hero' Sir Clive Lloyd  The brilliant all-rounder Frank Worrell had to wait until 1960 to become the first permanent Black captain of the West Indies cricket team, denied for a decade by the elitism, insularity and racism of Caribbean cricket’s rulers. When his chance finally came, Worrell transformed a talented but unfocused team into the most exciting side in the world and led his men into unforgettable series against Australia and England.   Worrell was universally admired as one of cricket’s great captains when he was knighted in 1964, but three years later, he was dead aged just forty-two.   Not merely an extraordinarily talented and record-breaking sportsman, he served the University of the West Indies after his retirement – along with the cricket team and the political federation, one of the three truly u

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Book SynopsisBRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2017. SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR. WINNER OF THE PEN/ESPN AWARD FOR LITERARY SPORTS WRITING. THE TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR. The most comprehensive and definitive biography of Muhammad Ali that has ever been published, based on more than 500 interviews with those who knew him best, with many dramatic new discoveries about his life and career.  When the frail, trembling figure of Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta in 1996, a TV audience of up to 3 billion people was once again gripped by the story of the world's most famous sporting icon. The man who had once been reviled for his refusal to fight for his country and for his fast-talking denunciation of his opponents was now almost universally adored, the true cost of his astonishing boxing career<Trade Review'Jonathan Eig's Ali: A Life is the business - 640 pages of patient scholarship and intelligent reassessment written in crackly prose and dancing gleefully and illuminatingly through the well-documented highlights while never shying away from the less glorious shadows.' -- Giles Smith * The Times *'A fine piece of journalism of the best American kind...wrought with sound judgment and rigorous prose. Ali's life is dissected with the detachment of a pathologist, and the picture isn't always a pretty one... In 50 or 100 years, people might wonder what all the fuss was about. Muhammad Ali: was there really such a character? They should read this book and learn that yes, there was, for all his flaws.' -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times *'This richly researched, sympathetic yet unsparing portrait of a controversial figure...could not have come at a more appropriate time... As Muhammad Ali's life was an epic of a life, so Ali: A Life is an epic of a biography... Even the familiar may be glanced from a new perspective in Eig's fluent prose.' -- Joyce Carol Oates * New York Times Book Review *'Finally, after so many works focusing on this fight or that, the whole man, his whole life, is presented here' -- Ken Burns'Goes deeper and uncovers more than any Ali biography has before’ * Esquire *'Jonathan Eig’s Ali: A Life is the first comprehensive biography worthy of this titanic figure... [Eig] vigorously narrates the story of the man who transformed the landscape of race and sports... Eig also paints Ali’s bouts with vivid detail and captivating sweep... Ali stirs together the sweet and the spicy, the gifts and the failings, the charm and the rage, the grace and the greed, the pride and the ego. Together, they made Ali the transcendent athlete of his age.' -- Aram Goudsouzian * Washington Post *'Does a remarkable job of synthesising the warring elements of Ali's life. Above all, it delivers a portrait of a hero that does not ignore his all too human flaws. This biography...ends in darkness & melancholy. Fortunately, the earlier chapters dazzle us.' -- Clive Davis * The Times *'Ali's extraordinary story, in all its complexity, is told in Jonathan Eig's excellent Ali: A Life' -- Martin Chilton * Daily Telegraph *'There have been countless tomes about the iconic fighter, of course, but Eig's is the definitive work to date.' * Sports Illustrated Sports Book of the Year *'Stunning new biography...Ali is a big, fat, entertaining and illuminating read...What makes Eig’s book stand out is its broad scope, its detailed reportage and its lively, cinematic writing.' -- Laurie Hertzel * Star Tribune *'Each blow echoes on the pages of Jonathan Eig’s relentless, image-altering biography Ali: A Life...Though replete with tales of race, religion, war protest, sex, marital turmoil and skulduggery, this book is, more than anything else, an indictment of boxing. The cumulative damage of Ali’s boxing career is a terrible and haunting thing to read about, and it becomes all the more so when you remind yourself that Mr. Eig’s subject is one of American sports’ most beloved figures, not some luckless tomato can.' -- John Schulian * Wall Street Journal *'Eig...has exhaustively covered the career of boxing’s very greatest in an unprecedented level of detail...The result is a biography that is as unflinching about Ali’s marriages and extra-marital activities as it is about his sporting decline. The closing chapters...are heartbreaking.' -- James Grey * Daily Express *'Achieved the minor miracle of refreshing ground already trodden by writers of the quality of Thomas Hauser, Mike Marqusee and David Remnick, relating groundbreaking analysis of the punches taken by Muhammad Ali, particularly in his later fights, to his subsequent ill health' -- Huw Richards * Guardian *'First rate... An exemplary life of an exemplary man' * Kirkus Reviews *Ali, who died last year, was contradictory and controversial, and Jonathan Eig tells his story beautifully in his stunning new biography of the champ, Ali: A Life... Eig recounts the champ's major bouts in dizzying detail. Even readers who don't care for boxing will be drawn in by his descriptions of the fights... Ali's life was more complex than most other sports figures, and Eig's brilliant, exhaustive book is the biography the champ deserves: a beautiful portrait of a man whose name will never be forgotten, who carried a torch for equality and justice, and lit a fire that will never go out. -- Michael Schaub * NPR Books *'Jonathan Eig’s masterful new biography of the champ is both captivating and highly relevant to the current discussions on race...Eig’s boxing descriptions are taut and lively, wisely eschewing the purple prose of the literary set who have written about the sport... Muhammad Ali was one of the most compelling figures in the 20th century, and Eig does ample justice to capturing his extraordinary and enduring legacy.' -- David Takami * Seattle Times *'Full justice is done to Ali's extraordinary athletic gifts' -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times *'[Jonathan Eig's] new book feels comprehensive...noteworthy is how much of Ali’s well-documented life has been overlooked by previous accounts... He’s breezy to read while also being a stickler for detail... It is by no stretch a hatchet job, but it’s no hagiography either and doesn’t shy away from stories that reveal Ali’s fallibilities and extreme views... Even in the most examined lives, there are corners where it is revealing to shine a light.' -- Tim Lewis * Observer *'Jonathan Eig’s book is the first major biography since Ali’s death, and it offers a bruising account of his life. It jabs at myths throughout... Masterful.' * The Economist *'That Eig has achieved his aim of revealing Ali afresh, which I think he has, is some kind of literary miracle...Eig has achieved the improbable and made Ali human again: flawed, inspiring, too complex to truly represent any one coherent idea.' -- Malcolm Knox * Sydney Morning Herald *'Comprehensive and definitive...uncovers new stories and tidbits about his life and career' * Sports Illustrated *'Ali’s life and times have been documented often but never more comprehensively or brilliantly than the recently published Ali: A Life...this is not only one of the best-ever sports books but an insightful social essay about a deeply troubled era for human rights in America.' -- Ron Reed * sportshounds.com.au *'This deeply researched, comprehensive biography. His prose is fast-paced, uncluttered, and rich in personal insights' -- J. Michael Lennon * Times Literary Supplement *'He may have been the greatest but he was no saint... Paints a portrait of his life in its entirety' * Mail on Sunday *'Eig’s richly researched, sympathetic yet unsparing portrait of a controversial figure for whom the personal and the political dramatically fused could not come at a more appropriate time.' -- John Williams * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive, fully authorised story of the record-breaking rivalry between London Olympics organiser Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, published to coincide with the 2012 games.Trade ReviewButcher weaves interviews with nostalgia, capturing the mood of those heady days for British middle-distance running. * THE HERALD *a magnificent book * EL PAIS *

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Book Synopsis''Bernie is not only a great strategist, but also a great team player and competitor'' Sebastian Vettel***THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*** Race-winning team strategist shows how F1 really works. Welcome to Bernie Collins'' world. Formula 1 drivers are the public face of Grand Prix racing but behind every driver is a team of several hundred people sharing the same passionate desire to win. On race day it''s the Team Strategist who calls the shots, working under immense pressure to make split second and crucial decisions. Through her eyes and experience as a Performance Engineer and Head of Race Strategy, Bernie takes you behind the scenes of a Formula 1 team - both in the factory and at the races - to uncover what it takes to put two Formula 1 cars on the grid and go racing.How to Win a Grand Prix gives incredible insight of the entire process from design and construction, through pre-season testing, and how a team pr

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Book SynopsisThe most complete and rounded picture of Matt Busby - the man and themanager - ever written, from an author widely regarded as the best ManchesterUnited historian alive today. Contains never-before-heard interviews with Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson and other key Manchester United figures.

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Book SynopsisA searching and at times harrowing re-appraisal of the life of Evel Knievel, the seventies American icon and the greatest daredevil motorcyclist that ever lived. Now fully updated in paperback with the story of the last few years of his life and his death in 2007.Stuart Barker''s definitive biography captures the super-star status that Knievel held and also examines the marketing phenomenon of a man who once boasted he made $60 million and blew $63 million'.Born in the town of Butte, Montana in 1938, Robert Craig Knievel was an outstanding athlete, ski jumper and ice hockey player at school. His early jobs included working in the copper mines and driving a bus as well as a stint in the US Army, but he always subsidised his income through crime (''I could crack a safe with one hand tied behind my back quicker than you could eat a hamburger with two.'')He used bikes to escape from the police and eventually hit upon the idea of jumping them after seeing a stunt driver jump cars at a stateTrade Review‘An informative and respectful reworking of the Knievel legend’ Manchester Evening News

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Deep and intelligent…a portrait of football greatness.” — Arsène Wenger "A comprehensive primer into the entwined histories of the two titans and the commercial forces that have molded their careers and, by extension, the sport." — New York Times “While these two soaring greats are known for their transcendent wonder on the field, this rollicking narrative plunges into the complex backstories and entire ecosystems that propelled their colliding trajectories. With a pair of epic hero stories like The Last Dance or Homer’s Odyssey in cleats, this book traces the journey from aspirational prodigies to global commercial billboards, explaining how these two juggernauts and their rivalry shaped the most popular, and lucrative, era of the world’s most beloved sport.” — Roger Bennett, founder, Men in Blazers Media Network "This rigorously researched book avoids becoming hagiography. The result is an ambitious and valuable study for all those who want to understand the modern world of football that Mr. Messi and Mr. Ronaldo have helped forge." — The Economist “This book explains the brilliant backstory behind how each player became a start and how that stardom changed the footballing landscape not just in Spain but in the wider world as well…I read it in a day.” — Rebecca Lowe, NBC Sports "Excellent... A brilliant follow-up to The Club." — The Independent (UK) "Impressive." — Boston Globe An absorbing cautionary tale for soccer fans and students of sports finance alike. — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe 'astonishing' (New York Times Book Review) and 'riveting' (New York Post) true story of Phiona Mutesi - a teenage chess prodigy from the slums of Uganda.

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Book SynopsisAshwin is arguably the greatest match-winner for India in Test cricket. The fastest man to 300 Test wickets, he was a part of the team that won the 2011 World Cup in the ODI format. In T20 cricket, he has won two IPL titles and a Champions League T20. He is a feisty offspinner and more than a handy batter. But that's only half the tale. This nuanced portrait delves deep to paint a candid picture of a cricketer's life before crickethis struggles with health issues as a child, a middle-class family's unwavering fight and determination to give him the resources he needed for a professional career in the sport, and the little joys of growing up in a cricket-mad gully.

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Book SynopsisPaul Canovilles story is one of extreme racist bigotry, shattering career-ending injury, a decline into drug abuse, battles against cancer, family tragedy and a determination to beat the odds. Canoville was Chelsea''s first black first-team player, making his debut in 1982. But as he warmed up on the touchline, his own supporters began chanting ''We don''t want the nigger!'' The racist bile continued whenever he played, but within a year he had won over the terraces with his explosive pace and skill. Canoville fell out with the Chelsea board and moved to Reading in 1986, where injury suddenly ended his career at the age of 24. This started a downward spiral including the death of his baby in his arms, two bouts of life-threatening lymph cancer, drug abuse and homelessness. But Canoville fought back. In this explosive and shocking story, Paul finally explains why, despite everything, he is more positive than ever and has remained a fervent Chelsea fan all his life. This is a story of hoTrade Review'one of the most powerful sports books ever written...an exceptional account of an extraordinary man' * Pat Nevin, Chelseafc.com *'unputdownable' * Observer *'a compelling read skilfully put together' * Mirror *'compelling' * Henry Winter, Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating and unknown story of the Tour de France''s ever-changing relationship with money and power - and the enigmatic family behind it all.It started with a cash drop by an English spy in occupied Paris in 1944. Reserved for Resistance groups during the war, the money reached Émilien Amaury, an advertising executive, who was tasked to help France return to a free press once liberated. He soon launched a newspaper empire that - unbeknown to him - would own the rights to run what would become one of the greatest sporting events in history.Le Tour, once a struggling commercial phenomenon, began to rise in popularity across much of western Europe in the glum years after the Second World War, lifting the mood of the hungry and despondent French. But with the increased interest in the event, exacerbated by the creation of television and the internet, came several cultural threats to national heritage. Multiple attempts to wrest power and profits from the latest geTrade ReviewThe compelling story moves effortlessly from the empty boulevards of German-occupied Paris to the heart of the City of London, from a quiet house in Tring, Herts, to the 21 lungbusting hairpin turns on theascent to Alpe d'Huez. One of the best books you will read this year. * Daily Mail, Sports Books of the Year *Le Fric lifts the veil on the obscure family who run the world's most famous bicycle race, the Tour de France . . . Duff welds together the sporting and business worlds in a way that is always entertaining - like the race itself * Sunday Times, Sports Books of the Year *A rip-roaring read about war, money, politics and sport . . . The 300 pages flew by . . . Deftly covers the big stories and personalities without getting sensational, it's a page-turner but informative and well-sourced. Sports fans should enjoy it and anyone with an interest in media history in France would do well to read it too. * Inner Ring *Brilliant . . . a business history with the rhythm and suspense of a mystery thriller and plenty of curious revelations you will surely be repeating in conversation. * Stelvio *Rollicking * Times Literary Supplement *Le Fric brings new insight to the Tour de France . . . A welcome attempt to unravel the secretive business model and ownership of cycling's best-known event. * Road.cc *Sports book of the year * De Tijd *

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Book SynopsisTHE INCREDIBLE FIRST 12 YEARS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE AS TOLD BY THE LEGENDS WHO WERE THERE ''I met Jack Nicholson and when a Hollywood superstar asks about Manchester United, you realise how big the Premier League is around the world''David BeckhamBased on the acclaimed BBC Series, with a foreword by Alan ShearerThe Premier League is the most watched sports league in the world, broadcast into 188 countries and watched by 3.2 billion people worldwide. It revolutionised football, transforming the beautiful game into a multi-billion-pound business and making its biggest stars millionaires.Fever Pitch tells the inside story of the formation of the league, from the early discussions with Rupert Murdoch about how Sky could be at the heart of this new league, to the bitter rivalries and radical new managers who changed the face of football forever.With insight from football''s biggest names, this is the inside t

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Book SynopsisFrom Paris Olympics star and legendary gymnast Simone Biles’s longtime coach, an insider’s look at the making of a championWith a Foreword by Simone BilesThe Balance is coach Aimee Boorman’s inside account of the growth of a transcendent athlete and the tumultuous events—from the dictatorial coaching of Martha Karolyi to the sexual abuse by Larry Nassar—that upended the lives of many girls, including Biles. Simone Biles is one of the greatest athletes of all time. She’s won six all-around world championships and eleven Olympic medals (seven gold). Five gymnastics moves are named after her, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the youngest recipient ever), and at an age when most elite gymnasts have retired, Biles is not just still competing—she’s dominating. She’s soaring in Paris this summer, bringing home more Olympic gold. She’s having so much fun that LA 2

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020 'Reads like a thriller, or even a spy novel...Walsh keeps you gripped' Rosamund Urwin, Sunday Times'A turbulent but ultimately inspiring tale. The candour...is rare and gripping' Matt Dickinson, The TimesIt was the story that shocked the world: Russian athletics was revealed to be corrupt from top to bottom, with institutionalised doping used to help the nation's athletes win medals they did not deserve. But the full story of the couple who blew the whistle has never been told - until now. When Russian anti-doping official Vitaly Stepanov met the young 800m athlete Yuliya Rusanova, for him it was love at first sight. Within two months, they were married. But there was a problem – in fact, there were lots of problems. She admitted she was doping and that everyone else wTrade Review'An extraordinary and unlikely romance; and a remarkable tale not just of love but of courage....[Stepanov's] persistence in becoming one of sport’s most remarkable whistleblowers...is staggering given everything set against him. When David Walsh, the chief sports writer of The Sunday Times, set out to meet the Stepanovs for the first time, he thought he was writing a doping story...but in The Russian Affair, he has ended up with so much more. The extraordinary, lurching relationship between Vitaly and Yuliya lies at the heart of a turbulent but ultimately inspiring tale. The candour with which they have allowed Walsh to tell their story is rare and gripping.' -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *'Vitaly Stepanov and Yuliya Stepanova are the doping tester and the drug-taking runner whose unlikely love for one another gives them the moral strength to act as whistleblowers.' -- Nick Greenslade * Sunday Times, Sport Books of the Year *'What makes this account of Russia's state-sponsored doping so utterly compelling is that at its heart it is a love story about the young couple who blew the lid on the scandal. It is a tale of the implausible, complex and fractious relationship between Vitaly Stepanov and Yuliya Rusanova... The story reads like a fast-paced thriller... This masterful work is so much more than a story about drugs, cover-ups and corruption... A beautiful record of a compelling and emotional journey.' -- James Restall * The Times, Sports Books of the Year *'More than one review has likened Walsh’s book to a Cold War thriller, the true story of the committed anti-doping official who falls in love and marries a star 800m runner who turns out an admitted drugs cheat. The book is a journey through deception, betrayal, infidelity, and an eventual escape from the country.' -- Damien O'Meara * RTE *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the British Sports Book Awards 2018“What’s your dream, son?”A six year-old boy, head bowed, mumbles the eternal answer: “Be a footballer….” Steadman Scott, football’s most unlikely talent scout, smiles indulgently, and takes him in from the street. He knows the odds. Only 180 of the 1.5 million boys who play organised youth football in England will become a Premier League pro. That’s a success rate of 0.012 per cent.How and why do the favoured few make it? What separates the good from the great? Who should they trust – the coach, the agent or their parents?Michael Calvin provides the answers on a journey from non-league grounds to hermetically sealed Premier League palaces, via gang-controlled sink estates and the England team’s inner sanctum. He interviews decision makers, behavioural specialists, football agents and leading coaches. He shares the hopes and fears of players and their parents. He exposes bullying and a black economy in which children are commodities, but remains true to the dream.Trade ReviewAnother landmark work from Mike Calvin, who has taken us beyond the surface of football to show its true workings. Ground-breaking reportage with a heart and a conscience. A service to the game. -- Paul Hayward * Telegraph *Extraordinary writing, a vital subject, a brilliant read -- Jonathan Northcroft * Sunday Times *If you’re in any way interested in what lies beneath the water of the Premier League Iceberg, read Mike Calvin’s latest book No Hunger in Paradise -- Owen Gibson * Guardian *A fascinating insight which gets to the heart of the matter – and problems – chasing every kid’s dream. A compelling read for anyone who likes football and the stories surrounding the stars of tomorrow. I couldn't put it down. -- John Cross * Daily Mirror *Another exceptional piece of work -- Jason Burt * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisSince 1995, there have been four deaths following fights in Britain and forty around the world. In Death of a Boxer, Pete Carvill sets out to explore the psychology of those who choose to fight and what draws them towards this most dangerous of pursuits. But to write about the death of fighters would only be half the story. Carvill, who has written extensively on boxing and combat sports for fifteen years, will take off his own gloves and pick up a pen to explore the lives of fighters, from the early days in amateur clubs, to established professionals, to those down on their luck and to the retired still hankering for the feeling of being able to do what once came so easily to them. A deep and powerful meditation on the nature of boxing that asks why people do it, what it does for them – and ultimately to them. This may be the most important book on the sport for decades.

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Book SynopsisOn the night of 29 April 2017, at Wembley Stadium, Anthony Joshua knocked down and defeated the Ukraine's former world heavyweight champion, Vladimir Klitschko. In doing so, he added the WBA and IBO heavyweight titles to the IBF belt he already held. That bald statement of fact does little justice to what proved to be one of the finest heavyweight contests of all time, in which a brilliant but relatively inexperienced fighter took on, and eventually defeated, one of the finest boxers of his or any other age. It was a twelve-round fight before a record post-War crowd, and for eleven of those rounds it could have gone either way; indeed, in Round 6 it looked as though Joshua was finished when a massive right hand from Klitschko sent him to the canvas.

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Book SynopsisIn the spring of 2021, as the UK's latest pandemic lockdowns were lifted, Nick Butter set out from the Eden Project to become the fastest person to cover every mile of Britain's mainland coastline on foot.Battling the most extreme winds Britain had seen in 100 years, days of torrential rain and the unrelenting hills of Western Scotland and Cornwall, Nick suffered two broken bones and countless injuries, whilst taking on two marathons a day, every day, for 100 days.Covering an extraordinary 5,250 miles, running for over 12 hours a day, struggling to take in the 8,000 daily calories required to fuel his body, Nick battled sleep deprivation and extreme weight loss as he pushed his body and mind to their limit.Supported by close friends and family (including his ever-dependable right-hand man, Andy Swain, whose diary extracts feature in this book), Nick experienced spiralling lows and euphoric highs. As he traversed footpaths, country lanes and busy A roads, he passed through over two thousand coastal communities, buoyed along by supporters cheering from windows, balconies, passing cars and pavements, by school children and fellow runners, and by the stunning sights and sounds of the British coast.Run Britain is Nick's account of his extraordinary adventure.

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Book SynopsisA local legend with a national cult-following, former Premier League striker Dean Windass tackles retirement and the challenges it brings. Going from 20,000 people singing your name, week in, week out, to nothing. Just silence. A silence which nearly killed him.Deano explains how football defined him. A terrier, a goalscorer, he played with a smile on his face during a career that took him north and south of the border with Aberdeen and Oxford United, Sheffield United and Wednesday, Middlesbrough and Bradford City. Popular wherever he played, his career is crystallised by one very special goal for his local club.Thousands of fans travelled from his hometown of Hull to Wembley and saw their hero score the 30m goal. Typical of Deano, it was no ordinary goal, but a stunning volley. It secured Hull City's promotion to the top flight for the first time since. Genuine Roy of The Rovers stuff'' said the BBC but what happens at the end of a career spanning more than 800 games and 200 goals, once the boots are hung up and the phone stops ringing? That''s another challenge altogether.Highs, lows, drink, divorce, despair, collapse. And then reinvention, positive mental health and learning how to live again. If it helps one more person than me, then I''m happy, says Deano, with that warmth and authenticity that won the hearts of fans at each of the clubs he represented. A proud and straight-talking Yorkshireman, he pulls no punches, to tell it all in Life After Football and shows once the final whistle blows retirement from the game comes with its own wins and losses.

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Book SynopsisVirat Kohli, the undisputed monarch of the cricket world today, is no stranger to loss. His biggest support both on and off the field-his father Prem Kohli-succumbed to a cerebral stroke when Virat was only 18 years old. In a fitting tribute that would''ve made his father proud, Virat returned to the field to continue an innings just a few hours after his father passed away. In Driven, Vijay Lokapally recounts happier times in the journey of Virat''s rapid rise to international stardom-an account punctuated with little-known stories from fellow players, coaches, and intimates. Virat is already the recipient of countless accolades including the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri, India''s highest sporting honour-Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the title of BCCI''s ''International Cricketer of the Year'' as well as the ICC''s ''ODI Cricketer of the Decade''. But for him, it''s not about the fame or the money, or the roar of the crowds. Few know of his altruistic nature and his dedication to numerous charities for underprivileged children. What has not escaped the public eye though, is how this wizard of the willow wears his heavy mantle with such insouciant ease.

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Book SynopsisAward-winning writer JD Morvan and renowned photographer Abbas' stunning graphic novel masterpiece which uses iconic photos to uniquely illustrate the historical 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. "The drawings and photos allow us to revel in the imagery and history of that unforgettable night, and the torrid pace of the storytelling, the many flashbacks allow us to see the full context of the fight" - The Ring Award-winning writer JD Morvan and renowned photographer Abbas' stunning graphic novel masterpiece which uses iconic photos to uniquely illustrate the historical 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. On the 30 th October 1974, the most famous boxing match of the 20 th Century took place. Nicknamed the "Rumble in the Jungle", it pitted Muhammad Ali, desperate to win back his world champion belt, and George Foreman, the current holder, against each other. Foreman had just KO'd the only two boxers to have ever beaten Ali. By his own admission, Ali was terrified of facing him in the ring... Now, the photojournalist Abbas immortalises this legendary meeting, having kept his photos in his personal archives for 36 years before unveiling them to the world. In a cross between a documentary, photo report and graphic novel, this book reveals the context of the most powerful photographs taken by one of the greatest photographers of the Magnum Photos agency. Enriched by the testimony of Abbas himself, Jean-David Morvan's script is rigorously brought to life by artist Rafael Ortiz.Trade Review"A graphic novel turns the Rumble in the Jungle into a visual gut punch" - The New York Times"A Powerful Combination of rarely seen photographs and comic book art in a new graphic novel" - The New York Times"Muhammad Ali as you’ve never seen him...powerful" - The New York Times “The drawings and photos allow us to revel in the imagery and history of that unforgettable night, and the torrid pace of the storytelling, the many flashbacks allow us to see the full context of the fight” - The Ring“[A] gritty, action-packed hybrid work of photography and comics art ... lands plenty of punches” - Publishers Weekly“One of the most interesting sports documentary graphic novels I’ve read, and one of my favorite reads of 2021” - Comic Book Herald “One of the pleasures of reading Muhammad Ali, Kinshasa 1974 is how seamlessly Abbas’ photos mesh with Ortiz’ artwork. Combined with Morvan’s prose it is as though you are ringside witnessing history while viewing the spectacle from Abbas’ perspective ... Using a new lens on a spectacle that has been chronicled many times over it delivers from start to finish and adds another layer to one of the most famous sporting events of all time” - Comix Asylum “A must-have book for boxing fans ... Abbas’s photographs combined with Rafael Ortiz’s art elevates this legendary fight to a new level” The Fandom Post“Equal parts sports journalism and comics history, it's the celebration of one of the all time greats viewed through the lenses of art as history, and history as art” - AlastairStewart.com

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Book SynopsisShane Warne, who died in 2022, is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and the greatest spin bowler ever. Warne in Wisden records the highlights of an exceptional career handpicked from all Wisden publications over more than 30 years and curated for a global audience.Warne in Wisden features coverage from Warne''s first Test against India in 1992 where he took one wicket to his retirement from Test cricket in 2007, having taken 708 Test wickets. It includes complete reports and scorecards for key Tests, as well as Wisden''s assessment of his impact on the English county game and the Indian Premier League, and his journey from master spinner to global celebrity.Warne combined a prodigious talent for leg-spin with a turbulent life off the pitch. While Wisden''s focus was generally on his cricket, Warne in Wisden also relates the controversies and rows that earned him a occasional menTable of ContentsPart One The Rising: 1991-1998 Part Two Star Turn: 1999-2003 Part Three The Greatest Showman: 2004-2006 Part Four Still Crazy: 2007-2021 Part Five The Final Curtain: 2022

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Book SynopsisLeading football journalist Nick Miller lifts the lid on football club ownership: the defining issue shaping the modern game.The landscape of football club ownership has changed. Long gone are the days when clubs were dominated by local factory proprietors or millionaire boyhood fans. This clear, insightful and thought-provoking guide provides serious football fans with a unique and timely account of modern football ownership: the central issue shaping the game.Fascinating for supporters looking to understand their club's and its rivals' strategy and methods, and those curious about finance and power in football, Who Owns Football? reveals how the game''s custodians operate. Football club owners can take teams to the heights of the Champions League or financial oblivion. Still, in a world of super leagues, rapidly escalating wages, transfer fees, Financial Fair Play and an increasingly profitable women's game, they tread a precarious tightrope. This boo

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Book Synopsis''I''m no angel.'' Bernie Ecclestone Born into poverty, Bernie Ecclestone has made himself a billionaire by developing the world''s second most popular sport - Formula One racing. Private, mysterious and some say sinister, the eighty-year-old criss-crosses the globe in his private jet, mixing with celebrities, statesmen and sporting heroes. His success is not just in creating a multibillion-pound global business but in resisting repeated attempts to snatch the glittering prize from his control. Ecclestone has never before revealed how he graduated from selling second-hand cars in London''s notorious Warren Street to become the major player he is today. He has finally decided to reveal his secrets: the deals, the marriages, the disasters and the successes in Formula One racing, in Downing Street, in casinos, on yachts and in the air. Surprisingly, he has granted access to his inner circle to Tom Bower, described by Ecclestone as ''The Undertaker'' - the man w

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Book SynopsisSonny Liston was a legend, described by Mike Tyson as "the baddest man boxing ever produced". From veteran sports reporter Shaun Assael, The Murder of Sonny Liston is a gripping, intense examination of the former Heavyweight Champion's death in mob-ruled 1970s Las Vegas.'The Murder of Sonny Liston is a classic of the genre' – Daily MailOn January 5th 1971, former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston was found dead at his Las Vegas home.Liston’s death, labelled an overdose, has long hung over Las Vegas and the boxing world, leaving unanswered questions about his ties to mob kingpins, drug lords, billionaire hoteliers and powerful promoters.Against the backdrop of the pivotal era in the history of Las Vegas when the mob turned a sleep desert oasis into a gambling paradise, Shaun Assael's The Murder of Sonny Liston is both a riveting murder hunt and a stunning portrait of a city that was home to the Rat Pack, race riots and glittering high-rises along the strip.'Shaun Assael has delved deeper into Liston's mysterious death than anybody and come up with sensational results' – Nigel Collins, former editor-in-chief of The RingTrade ReviewReaders of James Ellroy's Underworld USA Trilogy will feel very much at home. -- Dan Jones * Sunday Times *The Murder of Sonny Liston is a classic of the genre . . . The cast of characters in these pages is a casino-packed assembly of the showbiz stars of a neon era who performed on that fabled Strip, heroes of the prize-ring, shadowy figures of a Mafia underworld, money-grubbing hangers-on, showgirls, straight and crooked cops. -- Jeff Powell * Daily Mail *Writing with the flair of a mystery writer and the attention to detail of an investigative journalist . . . Assael dissects the suspicious death of former heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston . . . The engrossing depiction of Sin City's corrupt cops, malevolent mobsters, and drug dens follows in the footsteps of Nick Tosches's The Devil and Sonny Liston . . . Assael's journey into the seedy underworld of the Las Vegas's past is worth the ride. * Publishers Weekly *Shaun Assael delves into Las Vegas at the turn of the '70s and uncovers a thrilling mystery. Leave it to Sonny Liston to emerge as its larger-than-life anti-hero. -- Nicholas Pileggi, Oscar-nominated screewriter of GoodfellasMobsters, casino moguls, degenerate gamblers, junkies, strung out fighters, drug dealers, crooked cops and coke-head judges all play a role in The Murder of Sonny Liston. Shaun Assael has delved deeper into Liston's mysterious death than anybody and come up with sensational results. Investigative reporting at its finest. * Nigel Collins, Former editor-in-chief, The Ring *As tough and pounding as its subject, this is the send-off Sonny Liston deserved. Only read it if you're interested in crime, Vegas, and boxing, or the complications of being human. -- Robert Lipsyte, author of The Contender and An Accidental SportswriterDrugs, booze, gambling, fixed fights. Casino moguls, crooked cops, mob bosses. The Murder of Sonny Liston has it all. Investigative reporter Shaun Assael's account of the death and life of one of boxing's biggest and saddest characters crackles with drama, tension, and suspense. It's part The Wire, part Chinatown, part The Professional-but unlike those works of fiction, all remarkably true. Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak and A Few Seconds of Panic -- Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak and A Few Seconds of PanicAssael, a member of ESPN’s investigations unit, is typically thorough in his research and approach yet manages to balance a meticulous attention to detail with a consideration for his audience, which is to say he never loses sight of the need to tell a story. The narrative is fluid and engaging, while the Las Vegas backdrop, arguably as important a character as any human being featured, is as alluring on the page as it is when witnessed in person. -- Elliot Worsell * Boxing News *

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Book SynopsisOne week in June. One small island. Raw speed. High risk of fatalities. The Isle of Man TT motorcycle road race. Five minutes to go. The claxon sounds, harsh as an air raid siren. Television crews attempt last-minute interviews with riders. The thousand-yard stares give it away: they're really not listening now. Three minutes to go. For the first man on the road, hidden dangers exist. And he is the hare that the greyhounds will be chasing. Some racers tell their mechanics, 'I'll see you later for a pint' - just to reinforce the belief that they will.One minutes to go. By the end of the first lap, riders will be howling past at 160pmh. And that's not even the fastest stretch. F1 drivers can crash spectacularly and walk away. Everyone knows that's not the case here.Five seconds. No more time for nerves, for doubts. The TT has begun. How it will end, no-one knows. Ragged Edge

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Book SynopsisHarry Lockett: Football''s Unassuming, Unknown and Unsung Founding Father, is a biography of the man who became first secretary of the Football League and later manager of Stoke Football Club in the late Victorian era.Harry Lockett lived a quite remarkable life. Born to parents who lived in Derby, when football was outlawed, he moved to the Potteries and experienced tragedy as a child, before becoming a well-known athlete, match official and sports administrator.It was those abilities which led to his work in football, while also running a substantial printing business and volunteering for over three decades as an Army Reserve Soldier. He was secretary and treasurer of the Football League, holding power and status until temptation caused his downfall.Lockett did bounce back however, donated time and money to charities, socialised with celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin and established a consortium to save Stoke when the club was on the b

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Book Synopsis‘The definitive work on Diego Maradona’ The 42 'One of football’s greatest stories ... this is the best football book in ages' Goal 'A modern footballing classic' FHM _________________________ Anyone doubting that Diego Maradona was more than just a football player had only to witness the outpourings after his death on November 25th 2020. During his tempestuous life and career, he played for top clubs in South America and Europe, notably Napoli where he became an adored hero and adopted son, and grew to be a legend in his homeland of Argentina after leading them to victory in the 1986 World Cup. Having gained access to his inner circle, Jimmy Burns traces Maradona’s life from the slums of Buenos Aires, where he was born, through his great years of triumph, to the United States from where, in 1994, he was ignobly expelled after undergoing a positive drugs test. He also tells of his failed attempt to bring further glory to Argentina as coach in the 2010 World Cup, and ultimately, his tragic decline and recent death. Widely regarded as the best and most revealing account of the highs, lows, genius and flaws of arguably the greatest footballer of all time, this biography inspired Asif Kapadia’s award-winning 2019 film Diego Maradona. _________________________ 'Excellent and well-researched' Sunday Times ‘I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona one day’ Asif Kapadia, director of Diego MaradonaTrade ReviewIf [those interviewed in this book] are my friends, I prefer to have enemies -- Diego MaradonaBurns’ forensic skills are to the fore in this deft, perceptive study of politics, corruption, exploitation and the occasional dash of genuine sporting genius * Time Out *An excellent book … The seamy backstairs politics of international soccer have never been more tellingly exposed * Financial Times *The Hand of God is illuminating and atmospheric as it cuts through the web of myth, mystery and full-blooded hypocrisy * Irish Times *Maradona’s life is one of grotesque farce ... Gazza’s career compared with this looks like Emmerdale sat next to the Borgias * Peter Davies, author of All Played Out *A compelling cocktail of celebration and cheating * Daily Mail *Excellent and well-researched * Sunday Times *Jaw-on-the-floor fascinating. A modern footballing classic * FHM *I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona -- Asif Kapadia, director of the award-winning film Diego MaradonaLove or hate the man, his is one of football’s greatest stories and so this is the best football book in ages * Goal *The definitive work on Diego Maradona * The 42 *A violent mix of sporting brilliance and personal disgrace * Daily Mirror *Shows that Maradona has got a lot of soul -- Noal Gallagher, Oasis

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Book SynopsisEddy Merckx. Fausto Coppi. Jacques Anquetil. Bernard Hinault. Beryl Burton. Marianne Vos.Since the first road race in May 1869, revealed here for the very first time, cycle road racing has been dominated by iconic cyclists who redefined endurance and fortitude. The battles facing these cyclists are not fought over just one race, but an annual series beginning with the Spring Classics and culminating in the three great tours the Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España and the Tour de France before the cyclists retire to lick their wounds and start on another winter of training.How were the great races founded and developed? How have the great riders stamped their authority on them through the ages? Truly international in scope, looking at road racing in North and Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia, as well as continental Europe, The Call of the Road is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the history, tactics or personalities of cycle road racing.Trade ReviewPraise for Chris Sidwells: ‘An intriguing read for almost any reader, not only those who are interested in cycling’ Tuam Herald ‘[An] engaging and accessible account of the race’s history’ Sunday Business Post

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Book SynopsisBill Bryson on two wheels' IndependentSelf-confessed loafer Tim Moore, seduced by the speed and glamour of the biggest annual sporting event in the world, sets out to cycle the Tour de France. All 3,630km of it.A few weeks before the actual Tour de France, British writer Tim Moore sets out to cycle the course and offers a laugh-out-loud funny and highly entertaining account of how the great ride would feel when embarked on by an amateur. Racing old men on butchers'' bikes and being chased by cows, Moore soon resorts to standard race tactics - cheating and drugs - in a hilarious and moving tale of true adventure.Trade ReviewOne of the funniest books about sport ever written * Sunday Times *Bill Bryson on two wheels... A one-liner every other line...not so much witty travelogue as self-examination in a joke-heavy trial by fire * Independent *Moore is a talented and funny writer who, through a combination of slapstick, absurd simile and a healthy suspicion of French civilisation, gives us something to laugh at on almost every page * Daily Telegraph *Moore unleashes a high-energy torrent of astute observation and hilarious self-deprecation. Hailed as the new Bill Bryson, he is in fact a writer of considerably more substance... The jokes come thick and fast * Irish Times *Hilarious and inspiring... It is embarrassingly laugh-out-loud * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisTelling the unforgettable story of America''s greatest Freediver, One Breath is a gripping and unforgettable read for anyone captivated by Netflix''s The Deepest Breath.Competitive freediving-a sport built on diving as deep as possible on a single breath-tests the limits of human ability in the most hostile environment on earth. The unique and eclectic breed of individuals who freedive at the highest level regularly dive hundreds of feet below the ocean''s surface, reaching such depths that their organs compress, light disappears, and one mistake could kill them.Even among freedivers, few have ever gone as deep as Nicholas Mevoli. A handsome young American with an unmatched talent for the sport, Nick was among freediving''s brightest stars. He was also an extraordinary individual, one who rebelled against the vapid and commoditized society around him by relentlessly questing for something more meaningful and authentic, whatever the risks. So when

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 SHORTLISTED FOR THE FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR, SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2018The full story of the man who brought unprecedented and since unmatched success to Liverpool FC. Bob Paisley was the quiet man in the flat cap who swept all domestic and European opposition aside and produced arguably the greatest club team that Britain has ever known. The man whose Liverpool team won trophies at a rate-per-season that dwarfs Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements at Manchester United and who remains the only Briton to lead a team to three European Cups. From Wembley to Rome, Manchester to Madrid, Paisley's team was the one no one could touch. Working in a city which was on its knees, in deep post-industrial decline, still tainted by the 1981 Toxteth riots and in a state of open warfare with Margaret Thatcher, he delivered a golden era never re-attained since which made the city of Liverpool synonymous with success and won them supporteTrade ReviewAn evocative, intimate portrait -- Rory Smith * New York Times *Quiet Genius is like its subject, a winner and surely a candidate already for the best football books of the year, whether you are of a Liverpool FC persuasion or not. * Blackpool Gazette *Terrific * Scotland on Sunday *Herbert has written perhaps the best Paisley biography, emphasising how hard work, an uncanny eye for a player and a belief that football is, at its heart, a simple game, worked wonders. * Bristol Post *This brilliant new book chronicles how Bob Paisley the player reinvented himself as Bob the builder, Bob the physio, and ultimately Bob the all-conquering manager * LFC Magazine *This biography puts Paisley on the map once again and brings him into the discussion of being one of the world’s best football managers ever. Herbert deserves loads of credit for this as no other author could deliver a text as great as this. Kudos to Bloomsbury for yet another great football title and perhaps the top title of 2017 * International Soccer Network *A cut above many formulaic sports books. * Daily Telegraph *A beautifully constructed tribute to the virtues of the quiet approach, and all the more stirring for arriving in an age of constant noise. * The Times (Saturday review) *The depth of research is outstanding with the input of former players and coaches providing authoritative insights into a great man. * Daily Express *Herbert will leave you with no doubt regarding Paisley’s exalted position in football’s pantheon. * Coach *Herbert’s biography of Bob Paisley, the great Liverpool manager, is also a vivid - and often unflattering – portrait of Seventies football. * The TImes Saturday Review *An eloquent portrait of the introvert who became Liverpool’s greatest manager of all time. * Daily Express *Herbert reveals the paradoxes of the most unassuming boss to find footballing immortality and bring Anfield unparalleled glory. * Sunday Mirror *Ian Herbert’s book is a beautifully constructed tribute to the virtues of the quiet approach, and all the more stirring for arriving in an age of constant noise. * The Times *Table of ContentsPrologue 1 On Bank 2 Isn't That So, Bob? 3 Not Me 4 Hello, Boss 5 Room with No Windows 6 We Need to Talk about Kevin 7 Munching Gladback 8 Transfer Committee 9 Red Tree Challenge 10 Frank's Lonely Spirit 11 Hetton Spirit 12 Trouble 13 End of the Road 14 Afterwards Epilogue Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisEye-opening contributions from the stars of game make this a powerful, groundbreaking investigation into the mind of the professional golfer. The perfect gift for Father's Day.* SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS *Professional golf is the most remorseless of sports, unique in the complexity of its demands. Technical perfection must be produced in short, concentrated bursts of synchronised movement. Huge mental strength is required. Why, then, do we know so little about what it takes to succeed - even survive - at the highest level? What separates the good from the great? What are the rituals of preparation and execution? How does an elite team come together? In a truly groundbreaking exposé of professional golf, Michael Calvin and Thomas Bjorn - captain of the 2018 European Ryder Cup Team - capture the distinctive nature of the game, and the principles and philosophies of players who dominate the world rankings. With unprecedented access to the European Tour players, and in-depth interviews with the European Ryder Cup team, Calvin reveals a sport which operates entirely within the finest margins of excellence.Trade ReviewFascinating and beautifully written -- Donald McRaeI have heard it said that there has never been a book written which gets to the heart of golf and to the golfers themselves. I can tell you, there is now and that book is ‘Mind Game’. I have made it a must-read for all our staff to help them better understand the complexities of our players and just what it takes to succeed in our sport * Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief Executive *I have never read a Mike Calvin book I didn't like. And anyone who likes golf will absolutely love this brilliant book. I loved it. -- Barry GlendenningYou've got to get this book. This is for anyone who loves their sport and anyone who loves their golf. -- Jim White * TalkSport *Delves not only into that Ryder Cup victory, but into the demons tournament golfers face on a regular basis. Martin Kaymer, Robert Karlsson, Matt Wallace, Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood and others give personal insights. -- Golf Week * Alistair Tait *

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Book Synopsis''This is Dan Martin''s long-awaited autobiography, full of ''the warmth, sharp insights and vivid colour of his 14-year career'' GuardianKnown, thanks to his racing style and attitude, for being one of road cycling''s last romantics, Dan has always shied away from revealing too much about himself and his story. Now, having retired at the end of the 2021 season aged 35 and no longer bound by the constraints of the racing circuit, Dan feels the time is right to tell his story in the same forthright and honest manner that he rode his bike.This book reflects Dan''s generous and outspoken spirit, his resilience to pain, crashes, bad luck and, finally, his acceptance of destiny. Each chapter''s title has a sub-title based on a typical cyclist''s fear: the fear of losing a race, the fear of retiring from the sport, the fear of mountains or downhills, the fear of doping and, ultimately, the fear of death. Dan also discusses every aspect of the professional cyc

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Book SynopsisAn adventurer, firefighter, and jiu-jitsu practitioner embarks on a journey of a lifetime—a 1,000 mile voyage through the Canadian sub-arctic—after recovering from a life-threatening illness.The Canadian North is a vast and lonely land where bears roam free, fires rage unchecked, and storms blast every living thing on the tundra. When Stephan Kesting, already no stranger to pushing his own physical limits, was faced with a rare illness, he knew the only way for him to recover in both body and mind was to dig even deeper. Despite the dangers inherent in the sub-arctic, Kesting sets out on an unimaginably difficult journey. Completely alone in the wilderness for six weeks, where a single mistake could cost his life, Kesting followed in the footsteps of the native peoples and earliest explorers. In this deepest solitude and wracked with self-doubt, he found the strength to endure. Perseverance is the moving and nail-biting account of his journey from near-death to a raw embrace of adventure and life. Inspirational, vulnerable and honest, Kesting shares the lessons he learned in the wilderness that will help us hold onto hope in our darkest moments and show how we can find the strength to overcome any obstacle.

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Book SynopsisIn Heart of Dart-ness, TV's Ned Boulting sets out to answer the forty-something year old question: What exactly is darts? Is it a sport, a freak show, a side-show, a pantomime, a riot or a party?From Purfleet to Minehead, Milton Keynes to Frankfurt, Ned embarks on a journey back to the beginning of the modern game. He tracks down some of the household names who graced childhood television screens and are still among us; names such as Andy Fordham, whose fifty bottles of Pils a day habit led to his near death on the oche, Cliff Lazarenko, whose prodigious drinking was the stuff of legend even among his not exactly abstemious peer-group, Phil Taylor, the greatest of all time, as well as the Europeans, Michael van Gerwen, and Raymond van Barneveld.Is it entertainment, or exploitation? To answer that question, as well as every other, he learns that all roads lead to the Heart of Dart-ness, and the biggest character the game has ever produced, Eric Bristow.Perhaps darts is after all, just exactly what it sets out to be; an anti-sport sport, a two-fingered salute to the establishment, a piss-up in a brewery, the ultimate escape. The best night out.

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Book Synopsis'Rahaman has, at last, written the definitive biography on his late brother, which tells the real Ali story' - Mike Tyson'The real life of the Great One' - George Foreman'A must for fight fans' - Sunday Sport'A welcome and insightful addition to Ali literature' - Sunday Times'Heart-warming, multi-faceted and hard-hitting [...] Unlike any other biography on Muhammad Ali' - Fox SportsMore words have been written about Muhammad Ali than almost anyone else. He was, without doubt, the world's most-loved sportsman. At the height of his celebrity he was the most famous person in the world. And yet, until now, the one voice missing belonged to the man who knew him best - his only sibling, and best friend, Rahaman Ali.No one was closer to Ali than Rahaman. Born Cassius and Rudolph Arnett Clay, the two brothers grew up together, lived together, trained together, travelled together, and fought together in the street and in the ring.A near-constant fixture in his sibling's company, Rahaman saw Ali at both his best and his worst: the relentless prankster and the jealous older brother, the outspoken advocate, the husband and father. In My Brother, Muhammad Ali, he is able to offer a surprising insider's perspective on the well-known stories, as well as never-before-told tales, painting a rich and intimate portrait of a proud, relentlessly polarizing, yet often vulnerable man. In this extraordinary, poignant memoir, Rahaman tells a much bigger and more personal story than in any other book on the great man - that of two brothers, almost inseparable from birth to death. It is the final and most important perspective on one of the most iconic figures of the last century.

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Book SynopsisThe Jimmy Greaves We Knew celebrates the life and career of a national treasure through the memories of friends, family, team-mates, the media and fans. They recall a goalscoring great, a TV celebrity - most notably as one half of the legendary Saint and Greavsie - a newspaper columnist, comedian and raconteur who battled alcohol addiction. The modern game also pays tribute to this charismatic, friendly, down-to-earth, witty individual who built a reputation for hitting the back of the net playing for Chelsea, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and England. Greaves set a European record of 357 goals in 516 top-flight games and netted 44 in 57 full international appearances. Tragically, Greaves suffered a stroke in 2015 and died on 19 September 2021, when two of his former clubs, Spurs and Chelsea - plus 60,000 fans - gave him a minute's applause before they played each other at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The love and affection is as strong as ever.

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Book SynopsisThe rollercoaster career of Tony Lock, extending over twenty-five years, is the saga of a resilient cricketer who triumphed over adversity.He was an inspirational figure in Surrey’s seven consecutive championship wins in the 1950s when he forged a feared spin partnership with Jim Laker for both club and country. Controversy stalked Lock as a bowler during his destructive rule with Surrey and England but the return to the orthodox style of his youth brought renewed acclaim. He rejoiced in another role as captain in reviving the fortunes of Leicestershire and Western Australia, where he led the state to victory in the Sheffield Shield.Tony Lock was, for a legion of admirers, an incorrigible showman, with boundless enthusiasm for the game. It was said of him, for instance, that when he appealed at the Oval, someone else was given out at Lord’s. Tony Lock: Aggressive Master of Spin is an engrossing study that reveals the paradox of a volatile and vulnerable man, but an astonishingly durable cricketer; his memory will endure.

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