Biography: sport Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisRobin Friday was an exceptional footballer who should have played for England. He never did. Robin Friday was a brilliant player who could have played in the top flight. He never did. Why? Because Robin Friday was a man who would not bow down to anyone, who refused to take life seriously and who lived every moment as if it were his last. For anyone lucky enough to have seen him play, Robin Friday was up there with the greats. Take it from one who knows: 'There is no doubt in my mind that if someone had taken a chance on him he would have set the top division alight,' says the legendary Stan Bowles. 'He could have gone right to the top, but he just went off the rails a bit.' Loved and admired by everyone who saw him, Friday also had a dark side: troubled, strong-minded, reckless, he would end up destroying himself. Tragically, after years of alcohol and drug abuse, he died at the age of 38 without ever having fulfilled his potential. The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw provides the first full appreciation of a man too long forgotten by the world of football, and, along with a forthcoming film based on Friday's life, with a screenplay by co-author Paolo Hewitt, this book will surely give him the cult status he deserves.Trade ReviewA story of shattered dreams, hedonism and a short life lived very much to the full . . . this is one of the essential modern football books * FourFourTwo *It has a magical atmosphere and is easily the most compulsive soccer biography you'll ever read * Melody Maker *A terrific read * Daily Mail *Poignant, funny and tragic * The Scotsman *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the author of Unbroken – a major motion picture releasing in 2015 – this is the bestselling true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse, Seabiscuit. In 1938 one figure received more press coverage than Mussolini, Hitler or Roosevelt. He was a cultural icon and a world-class athlete – and an undersized, crooked-legged racehorse by the name of Seabiscuit. Misunderstood and mishandled, Seabiscuit had spent seasons floundering in the lowest ranks of racing until a chance meeting of three men. Together, they created a champion. This is a story which topped the bestseller charts for over two years; a riveting tale of grit, grace, luck and an underdog’s stubborn determination to win against all odds. Made into a major motion picture starring Toby Maguire and Jeff Daniels.Trade Review‘A rip-roaring narrative from a cobwebbed chapter of the Depression.’ Sunday Times ‘Hillenbrand tells the story of the triumphs and tribulations of her cast of misfits with flair and skill, relishing the larger than life characters who inhabited this forgotten demimonde.’ Sunday Times ‘Most readable … a wonderful tale.’ Daily Mail ‘This season’s literary sensation.’ Financial Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisPat Tillman was well-known to American sports fans: a chisel-jawed and talented young professional football star, he was on the brink of signing a million dollar contract when, in 2001, al-Qaeda launched terrorist attacks against his country. Driven by deeply felt moral patriotism, he walked away from fame and money to enlist in the United States Special Operations Forces. A year later he was killed - apparently in the line of fire - on a desolate hillside near the Pakistan border in Afghanistan.News of Tillman's death shocked America. But even as the public mourned his loss, the US Army aggressively maneuvered to conceal the truth: that it was a ranger in Tillman's own platoon who had fired the fatal shots. In Where Men Win Glory, Jon Krakauer reveals how an entire country was deliberately deceived by those at the very highest levels of the US army and government. Infused with the power and authenticity readers have come to expect from Krakauer's storytelling, Where Men Win Glory exposes shattering truths about men and war.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER"I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs."--John Wooden Evoking days gone by when coaches were respected as much for their off-court performances as for their success on the court, Wooden presents the timeless wisdom of legendary basketball coach John Wooden.In honest and telling passages about virtually every aspect of life, Coach shares his personal philosophy on family, achievement, success, and excellence. Raised on a small farm in south-central Indiana, he offers lessons and wisdom learned throughout his career at UCLA, and life as a dedicated husband, father, and teacher.These lessons, along with personal letters from Bill Walton, Denny Crum, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bob Costas, among others, have made Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the Court an inspirational classic.Table of ContentsPreface Part I: Families, Values, VirtuesPart II: Success, Achievement, CompetitionPart III: Coaching, Teaching, LeadingPart IV: Putting It All Together: My Pyramid of SuccessMy Favorite Maxims

Read more less

Book SynopsisChrissie Wellington is the world''s No 1 female Ironman triathlete, a four times World Champion, having recently won the her fourth title in October 2011 and the World Record holder. In 2009 she was voted ''Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year'' and in 2010 was awarded the MBE.She is the undefeated champion of Triathlon, having won thirteen Ironman titles from thirteen races. She set a new World Record of 8 hours19:13 at Quelle Roth Germany in 2010, which slashed over 14 minutes from the previous record and where she was only beaten by six men. She went on to improve this time by another minute in the 2011 race. She also set a new world record for the fastest ever Ironman sanctioned event at Ironman South Africa in April 2011.Chrissie has displayed unprecedented levels of stamina, strength and competitiveness in becoming Ironman World Champion in only her second event at Ironman level. Her victory in Kona, Hawaii in 2007 finishing five minutes ahead of her ne

Read more less

Book SynopsisNamed one of TIME magazine's 100 Greatest Men of the Century, Bruce Lee's impact and influence has only grown since his untimely death in 1973Trade Review"Whether he was teaching, acting, writing, or speaking, Bruce was able to … 'simply and honestly expressing himself.' Superficially, this could be called 'charisma,' but on a more profound level this ability to bare the soul should be called 'artistry.' Just as Michelangelo chipped away at a block of marble to reveal David, so did Bruce peel away the layers of his inner soul to expose his true self to the world." --Linda Lee Cadwell, from the Foreword"The Bruce Lee Library stands as the definitive presentation of Bruce Lee's magnificent legacy. Each volume belongs on the bookshelf of every serious martial artist." --Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Nucleus"With rare letters, essays and even poems, the book offers readers a glimpse into the mind and work ethic that drove Lee, as well as a window into his philosophy." --News China Magazine

Read more less

Book SynopsisFootball Legends: Young readers will love findingout all about the lives of their favourite players in this greatnew biography series.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A tragic age and a tragic character, both seemingly compelled to destroy themselves...a chilling reminder of how little control we have over our fates' Damon Hill 'One of the greatest motor racing stories' Nick Mason 'Timely, vivid and enthralling … it’s unputdownable’ Miranda Seymour, author of The Bugatti QueenDick Seaman was the archetypal dashing motorsport hero of the 1930s, the first Englishman to win a race for Mercedes-Benz and the last Grand Prix driver to die at the wheel before the outbreak of the Second World War.   Award-winning author Richard Williams reveals the remarkable but now forgotten story of a driver whose battles against the leading figures of motor racing's golden age inspired the post-war generation of British champions. The son of wealthy parents, educated at Rugby and Cambridge, Seaman grew up in a privilegeTrade Review'Timely, vivid and enthralling in its close-up view of a world of heroes, Richard Williams’ splendid book corrects the many myths that cling to Dick Seaman’s name. Was he buried sitting upright in the car in which he died? Did his overbearing English mother light up the family’s ancestral home to guide Nazi pilots through the night? Williams has found a subject worthy of his rare combination of technical knowledge with compelling story-telling. It’s unputdownable.' -- Miranda Seymour * Author of The Bugatti Queen *'One of the greatest motor racing stories, about one of the greatest but least celebrated British drivers from an era that produced perhaps the most awesome - certainly the most fearsome - racing cars of all time, the original Silver Arrows.' -- Nick Mason'A fascinating story...as you'd expect from one of the finest sports writers of our lifetime, Williams advances our understanding of the subject by elegantly weaving a narrative that combines the Boy's Own derring-do of a between-the-wars hero with the suffocatingly stuffy expectations of British society...Gives you all the detail a purist would want from a racing biography, but it's also an easy-to-read yet fascinating social documentary of the era. -- Marcus Simmons * Autosport *'A tragic age and a tragic character, both seemingly compelled to destroy themselves...a chilling reminder of how little control we have over our fates' -- Damon Hill'To read A Race with Love and Death...is to smell the petrol that frequently caused conflagrations as cars burst into flame from leaks and collisions. Williams is the right man to tell [Seaman's story] - a fine sports writer.' -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *'Readers...will be familiar with the elegance of his prose and the breadth of his interests and expertise. All are on show here.' -- Sam Wollaston * Guardian *‘Richard Williams has written wonderful books…but this latest one tops them all for drama, insight and casting fresh light on old events.’ -- Colin Overland * Car *‘The gifted sports writer – Richard Williams recounts Seaman’s story vividly and with aplomb, ably calculating the spirit of the age.’ * GP Racing *‘The story of ‘Britain’s First Great Grand Prix Driver’ is expertly chronicled in A Race with Love and Death as journalist Richard Williams re-evaluates the speedster’s life and legacy.’ * The Sportsman *'Richard Williams’ charming account of Seaman’s life, will help...remind others of a time in Grand Prix racing when with grievous regularity...the fast died young and died often.' -- Michael Moritz * Financial Times *'Richard Williams – one of our most elegant sportswriters – has written a biography of Seaman that seeks to remind us of his unfairly expunged sporting achievements...once Seaman’s career takes off and he participates in bigger, more fully documented events, Williams’s gift for bringing a race to life in all its excitement comes into its own. He is a wonderfully lucid writer, and a sort of anti-Murray Walker in that he never tries to artificially ramp up the tension.' -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *'Williams writes like a novelist, vividly creating scenes in order to swing the spotlight on a character who should perhaps have been remembered in the same way as Mike Hawthorn...It makes of a compelling read.' * Classic Cars *'Williams provides the contextual sensitivity that takes a lifetime to acquire... [His] research is nothing short of incredible... A remarkable and moving account, one that places you in every room with Dick, told with reason – matter of factly, rather than chasing sensationalism.' * Classic & Sports Car *'Williams skilfully and gently lays out the nuances of a life that ended violently... As it is, this exhaustively researched and immaculately written book can only feed such fascinating but ultimately sad speculation.' -- Maurice Hamilton * Sport 500 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe controversial and revealing new biography of legendary golfer Phil Mickelson.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A brilliant book . . . brilliantly written. You really do need to read it'' Adrian Chiles''Mixing the sacred and the profane, high culture and low culture, the sublime and the ridiculous, Deep Pockets is the book this game of unfathomable difficulty and infinite mystery well deserves'' Critic The game of snooker has a remarkable history. From humble origins, it blossomed spectacularly in the 1980s into the nation''s most popular sport. Top players became celebrities. The papers were stuffed with snooker scandals. It even conquered the pop charts.In the twenty-first century, the game is still big news. Along with millions of British fans, a vast audience continues to grow across every corner of the world, from Europe to the Middle East to China. The global thirst for snooker has never been greater.But - strangely perhaps - snooker''s deeper meanings have rarely been explored. It is a game that celebrates subtlety aTrade ReviewCooper is a convincing, entertaining and philosophical guide to the strange magic of snooker over the past five decades - and what it might be able to teach us about the meaning of life. It should be his big break * Observer *A brilliant book . . . brilliantly written. You really do need to read it -- Adrian ChilesMixing the sacred and the profane, high culture and low culture, the sublime and the ridiculous, Deep Pockets is the book this game of unfathomable difficulty and infinite mystery well deserves * Critic *

Read more less

Book SynopsisConor McGregor is the biggest star in the fight game. The Dubliner has achieved more in three years with the Ultimate Fighting Championship than anyone in the twenty year history of the organization. From an unknown prospect in 2013 to the first man to hold two world titles simultaneously, McGregor's knockout-filled march through the featherweight and then lightweight rankings sent shockwaves through the world. But as effortless as McGregor's heroics have seemed, his journey was far from smooth and his destiny anything but certain.Just another teenager trading martial arts techniques with his friends in a shed, the seemingly delusional boy packed in his plumbing gig - to the massive anxiety of his parents - to chase a pipe dream with little promise of reward. No one could have guessed he would go on to become the biggest pay-per-view attraction in the world. As a technician and tactician inside the cage, McGregor was something special. Outside of the cage McGregor could draw thousands of screaming fans to press events with his wit and presence. And away from the cameras, McGregor's life was built around a love of treating his friends and a loyalty to his teammates and his hometown.This is not another tale about an athlete who was born exceptional and groomed for success. It is about how one young man, through bloody-minded determination and indomitable spirit, came to change the whole game. Fully updated to put his mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather under the microscope, Notorious: The Life and Fights of Conor McGregor explores not just how the fight game changed Conor McGregor, but how Conor McGregor revolutionized the fight game.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture, directed by George Clooney.From the Great Depression to Nazi Germany, The Boys in the Boat is the astonishing true story of the 1936 American men's eight rowing team on their quest for Olympic gold.'It is impossible not to get wrapped up in the emotion' – The TimesIt is considered one of the most difficult sports in the world. For Joe Rantz, it might be his only choice.Cast aside by his family at an early age, Joe was abandoned, left to fend for himself in the woods of Washington State. Like so many, he had to work his way through college. The rowing team offered money – and a home.An extraordinary journey follows, as Joe and eight other working-class boys exchange the sweat and dust of life in 1930s America for the promise of glory on the team – and at the Berlin Olympics, in the heart of Hitler’s Germany.With the weight of history on his shoulders, sTrade ReviewChariots of Fire – with oars [Brown’s] descriptions of the key races are exciting and dramatic, and it is impossible not to get wrapped up in the emotion * The Times *Like Laura Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit and Michael Lewis’s Moneyball before it, The Boys in the Boat has all the ingredients for a film adaptation . . . a moving, enlightening and gripping tale. * Financial Times *Daniel James Brown has written a robust, emotional snapshot of an era, a book you will recommend to your best friends. -- James Bradley, Flags of Our Fathers, Flyboys, The Imperial CruiseA fine-grained portrait of the Depression era . . . inspiring * Guardian *The Boys in the Boat is a triumph of great writing matched with a magnificent story. Daniel James Brown strokes the keyboard like a master oarsman, blending power and grace to propel readers toward a heart-pounding finish. -- Mitchell Zuckoff, author of Lost in Shangri-La and Frozen in Time.For this nautical version of Chariots of Fire, Brown crafts an evocative, cinematic prose … studded with engrossing explanations of rowing technique and strategy, exciting come-from-behind race scenes, and the requisite hymns to "mystic bands of trust and affection" forged on the water. * Publishers Weekly *A story this breathtaking demands an equally compelling author, and Brown does not disappoint. The narrative rises inexorably, with the final 50 pages blurring by with white-knuckled suspense as these all-American underdogs pull off the unimaginable. * The Seattle Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMeet Gary Fisher. The maverick kid bike racer who cycled straight into the Acid Test scene and lit up the Grateful Dead gigs, the relentless tinkerer who transformed an industry and sold mountain biking to the world and the visionary who's still working flat-out every day to prove that bikes are the answer to a healthier, happier future for everyone. A collaboration with cycling writer Guy Kesteven, Being Gary Fisher and the Bicycle Revolution is an autobiography of sorts. It's also a mind-blowing trip of ingenious innovation, dogged determination and boundless energy. Get caught up in Gary's crazy tales and his lifelong mission to invite everyone to the greatest dance on earth.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor fans of Netflix's The Last Dance, this is the definitive account of Michael Jordan's spectacular and disastrous return to basketball. As one of the greatest, most celebrated athletes in history, Michael Jordan conquered professional basketball as no one before. Powered by a potent mix of charisma, near superhuman abilities and a ferocious drive to dominate the game, he achieved every award and accolade conceivable before retiring from the Chicago Bulls and taking an executive post with the Washington Wizards. But retirement didn't suit the man who was once king, and at the advanced age of thirty-eight Michael Jordan decided it was time to reclaim the court that was once his. Having closely followed Jordan's final two seasons, Michael Leahy draws a fascinating portrait of an intensely complex man hampered by injuries and assaulted by younger players eager to usurp his throne. In this enthralling book Jordan emerges as a

Read more less

Book SynopsisChasing Salah will shed a truer light on Liverpool legend and the most famous Egyptian footballer in the history of the sport.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Just Tyrus returns in his inimitable style with deeper reminiscences on the life that shaped him and how he views the world we’re living in."In this sequel, you'll delve into some of Tyrus's extraordinary life experiences and see how they connect with the most pressing issues of our time: immigration, crime, bullying, athletics, politics, China, parenting, and respect (for ourselves, each other, and the planet). It is Tyrus’s commentary on all of these issues that has the power to silence a room. When he talks, people listen. There's so much wisdom and common sense in his takes that you’ll finish this book more informed and more optimistic about the future—and we could all use that.” —Dana Perino A rare voice of reason and authentic storyteller who never holds back, Tyrus picks up where he left off in Just Tyrus, delivering a series of gut-wrenching, heart-rending and redemptive tales from his remarkable life and coupling them with no-nonsense insights on the hottest issues being discussed around the country. “Tyrus remains one of the most distinct, original voices in any medium, if not one of the most brutally honest to enter the realm of television since Charles Krauthammer. I mention them both because they're not different—both deep thinkers who leave inedible marks on those who are lucky enough to cross their paths. It’s Tyrus's thinking that drives this book, and you'll get it through his powerful words. Writers spend years trying to concoct a voice. Tyrus makes it seem like it was always there.” —Greg Gutfeld Whether he’s tackling the issues of race and activism in America today or confronting his past with stories of family, relationships, wrestling, and more, this is pure Tyrus at his unbridled best. The parallels he draws between current culture and his personal past are insightful, provocative, and profound. Nuff Said is a powerful reflection on a complex life and a complicated world.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisRaphael Honigstein is the UK's top expert on German football. He is a columnist for the Guardian and ESPN, writes for Süddeutsche Zeitung in Germany and appears as a pundit for BT Sport and ESPN as well as Sky in Germany. He is also a regular fixture on the Guardian's award-winning podcast, Football Weekly. His first book, Englischer Fussball, was shortlisted for Football Book of the Year and his latest book is Das Reboot: How German Football Reinvented Itself and Conquered the World.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Terrific ... well-researched, well written' David Winner, author of Brilliant Orange 'Deeply researched...nicely written, and manages to get inside Cruyff's very bizarre head' Simon Kuper Argumentative, brilliant, arrogant, visionary. Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest footballers of all time, a worldwide phenomenon and arguably the most famous Dutchman of the twentieth century. Both on the pitch and from the sidelines as a coach, with his brand of Total Football he changed how the game was played and left a lasting legacy. Although Cruyff led a large part of his illustrious career and life in the spotlight, in many ways Cruyff the man and sportsman is still a complete mystery. Based on years of extensive research, this biography the first to cover all aspects of Cruyff’s life and work, from his key influence in the great Ajax and Netherlands sides of the 1970s to his role inTrade Review'Terrific' -- David Winner, author of Brilliant Orange'Deeply researched...nicely written, and manages to get inside Cruyff's very bizarre head' -- Simon Kuper

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA bestseller in both the UK and the USA on its first publication, this book was the first fully authorised life of world's greatest living footballer. With exclusive access to Pelé, award-winning sports writer Harry Harris charts his meteoric rise from humble beginnings in Brazil to his first international at the age of sixteen. Superb athleticism, speed of thought and execution, and astonishing ball control helped him become the only player to have appeared in three World Cup-winning sides, and to have scored more than 1,200 goals in his senior career, a feat that is now unlikely ever to be equalled, let alone surpassed.Pelé remains the best footballer of all time, despite the extraordinary exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and legends such as Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff. Now revised and updated to bring the story completely up to date, this is a tribute to a world-class sporting hero, a great sportsman and, to this day, an inspiration to millions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMeticulously researched, engagingly written, and complete with photographs from Shelby’s personal collection, Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography is a magnificent and lasting tribute to one of the twentieth century’s greatest automotive figures.Trade Review"...the book is worth adding to a personal automotive library" - The New York Times“This biography is not the usual fluff. Here at last is the real, raw, high octane truth, right from Shelby’s first memory as a child through to the present day. Mills has it all in fascinating detail that can be as outrageous as it is funny. It’s all there including the whole deeply researched early automotive history in Texas with Jim Hall, Shelby’s racing days in Europe and, of course, the legendary Cobra and Ford eras, as well as the years with Toyota and Chrysler and including Carroll’s “lost” years in Africa. It’s all etched deeply in the pages of this fantastic 400+ page volume that took Mills several years to research and write. In his almost nine decades Shelby managed to surround himself with incredible talent and wily scoundrels who created as many byzantine problems as stellar triumphs that made Shelby one of the most colorful and controversial characters of our time. I personally recommend this fine book as one of the most interesting and intriguing biographies you’ll ever have a chance to read. Having spent several years of my life with Shelby I thought I knew more than most…I wasn’t even close. Rinsey has it all.” - Peter Brock“Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography by Rinsey Mills has set a tough standard for any future books on Shelby the man because he covers so many areas so thoroughly there’s almost nothing else anyone could add – no new area to shine light on. We’re glad to see that Mills’ biography got published while Shelby was still there to add to it and to steer the author to sources who could come up with a lot of information that’s new. The best part is the price. With a suggested retail price of $35.00 (and lower online), the price represents a real bargain for a book that will take you a whole weekend to read.” – SportsCarMarket.com“Anyone who reads the book will come away with a far larger appreciation for just how good he was. This was not a guy who dipped his toe into the whole racing thing and built some cars, Carroll Shelby was a world class driver on the level of Moss and Fangio in his era. He was a factory driver for Aston Martin and drove nearly every exotic high end piece of iron made in the 1950s and early 1960s. From Maserati’s to Allard’s he was there and winning in them. If you want the most academic account of Shelby’s racing life that has ever been written and realistically will ever be written, this is the book for you.” – Bangshift.com“For Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography, author Rinsey Mills received full cooperation from Shelby, who sat down with Mills on numerous occasions for interviews. Mills also interviewed family members, friends, and former Shelby American employees/drivers like Chuck Cantwell, Allen Grant, Pete Brock, and Bob Bondurant. Many of the photos are from Carroll Shelby’s personal collection and have never been published before. Cobra and Shelby Mustang enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the majority of the 464-page book covers the 1962-1967 time period, from the building of the first Cobra and the formation of Shelby American to the company’s third and final win at LeMans. But the book starts with Shelby’s birth and childhood in Texas and follows his early success as a race car driver before heart problems forced him to hang up his helmet in 1960. We can’t wait to read it.” – MustangMonthly.com"The result is the best, most complete and most reliable of version of the Shelby story, and as someone who has personally written his own error-riddled stories about Shelby (and corrected the error-riddled stories of others), it’s a relief to read something about Shelby that isn’t overcome with hype. This is a unique and invaluable piece of Carroll Shelby lore." - Edmunds.com InsideLine "This is the book that everyone in the Shelby world has been waiting for. Despite the flow of publicity, what was lacking - and has been lacking for 50 years - is the story behind the story. That narrative has been ably provided by Rinsey Mills. He comes to the fore with no shortage of Cobra experience. Other books about Carroll Shelby will certainly be written, but none as thoroughly researched or with so much attention to detail as this one. It is a comprehensive and sometimes confusing story; Mills perseveres and gets it right." - Shelby American Automobile Club "Shelby's life and achievements are succinctly summarized in Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography. Rinsey Mills, who has written several auto-related books including three about Cobras, the authorized biography leaves no stone unturned. Mills has shone a set of high-intensity driving lights on Shelby's life, and he spent years interviewing not only the man himself, but also his family (including ex-wives), and those most closely connected to his various ventures." - Canada.com "Carroll Shelby: That Authorized Biography is a nice way to remember the man and the legend. With lots of images from Shelby's own collection, this is a book that any enthusiast would enjoy." - AutoWeek"Biography goes full throttle to keep pace with Cobra founder." - Denver PostTable of ContentsForeword by Edsel B. Ford II 1 The Boy from East Texas 2 The Army Air Force 3 Children, Trucks, and Chicken 4 Racing for Real 5 Foreign Representative 6 Record-Breaking and the Mexican Road Race 7 Guiberson’s Ferraris 8 Italian Summer 9 Moving On 10 Unrestricted National Champion 11 In Hemingway’s Footsteps 12 Carroll Shelby Sport Cars 13 Mainly Maseratis 14 Looking to the Future 15 Back to The Bahamas and a Kidnapping in Cuba 16 A Season in Europe 17 The Writing on the Wall 18 Works Driver 19 Victory at Le Mans 20 Aston Takes the Championship 21 El Paso by Sundown, Nassau by Night 22 “Lucky” Experiences 23 The Last Laps 24 Starting Afresh 25 Out into the Sunshine 26 The Cobra is Born 27 Let the Racing Begin 28 The Watershed Year 29 Further Ambitions 30 World Championship Bid 31 Over to Europe 32 A New Era 33 Upping the Ante 34 Getting the Job Done 35 Trials and Tribulations 36 The Price of Success 37 One More Time 38 Fresh Horizons 39 Off to Africa 40 Dodging Around 41 Rejuvenation 42 The First One 43 Millennium Man Author’s Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2018 GIRO D''ITALIA!THREE TIME WINNER OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE.THE FIRST MAN SINCE BERNARD HINAULT TO HOLD THE MAGLIA ROSA, THE MAILLOT JAUNE AND THE MAILLOT ROJO AT THE SAME TIME.This is Chris Foome in his own words.''Engaging, vividly evoked'' Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year''What Chris has done is phenomenal'' Sir Chris HoySunday Times Bestseller, July 2014Trade ReviewIn this engaging memoir, Froome recalls his childhood in Nairobi, gives a vividly evoked account of his victory and doesn't attempt to gloss over the rivalry between the two Team Sky riders * Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year *Hard to beat for a top pro's perspective * Financial Times *Froome's story is an intriguing one -- Richard Williams * Guardian *A brutally tough upbringing -- Paul KimmageThe key to (Chris's) success is his mental resilience. He might look like an unlikely strong man at first glance, but I wouldn't let that fool you. Beneath the surface there is a real fighter. He's a tough guy -- Sir Dave BrailsfordChris Froome is an absolutely phenominal athlete. It blows my mind how incredible his performances have been -- Victoria PendletonEven though we don't see each other so much anymore he has lived in my dreams. He (was) wearing the yellow jersey every day and I almost felt I was wearing it myself -- David Kinjah, Chris Froome’s former cycling mentor and coach, Safari SimbazJust a few years ago we did not have anyone who could podium, but now we have two cyclists who can win the Tour in consecutive years. It is a phenomenal achievement and what Chris has done is phenomenal -- Sir Chris Hoy

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith his last-gasp victory as part of the Great British coxless four team at the Athens Olympics, Matthew Pinsent clinched an historic fourth Olympic Gold to add to the three already won with his legendary rowing partner Steve Redgrave. In an uniquely exciting and evocative autobiography, Pinsent interweaves the build-up to Athens 2004 with the extraordinary story of his career and unforgettable partnership with Redgrave. Plucked from obscurity at the age of 20, told to partner his hero, and trained to within an inch of his life, Pinsent''s story is uniquely revealing about what it takes to be a champion and the mixed blessings of success. Culminating with a nail-biting final chapter detailing the team''s extraordinary victory in Athens in blow-by-blow detail, A Lifetime in a Race is a sports book in a different mould.Trade ReviewA very honest book - not in a sensational way - but more revealing in the realities of training, competing and racing ... Extremely enjoyable * Daily Telegraph *A good book, well-written, informative, engaging, revealing ... The insights Pinsent brings to his sport are worth the price alone * Sunday Times *The most insightful of the post-Olympic books in which the super-human rower demonstrates a reflectiveness that is rare among sportspeople ... He writes superbly * Independent on Sunday *Pinsent tells his own story in A Lifetime in a Race, and tells it truthfully ...This is another tale that rips off the page and says big, powerful things about sport, and about the frailties of big, powerful men * The Times *A gripping account of his life and most recent times. He deftly conveys the sheer effort needed to survive the brutal training regimes in top-level rowing, as well as the obsessive intensity that brought him his Olympic haul * Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAndy Cave was born into a mining family and is now a cutting-edge alpinist with several formidable first ascents to his credit. He has a PhD in socio-linguistics and is an IFMGA international mountain and ski guide.Trade ReviewA tale of split lives fused into one extraordinary story of adventure, laughter, tears and joy * Joe Simpson *A brilliant book, well-written, gripping, honest and very moving * Chris Bonington *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 ... Fascinating * Observer *Enthralling ... Cave's elegant writing draws on the congruence between mining and climbing, the black humour, the danger, the camaraderie ... Excellent * Independent on Sunday *The story of Andy Cave's transition from Yorkshire coal miner into one of Britain's best climbers echoes the heroic tones of Don Whillans or Joe Brown ... Thoughtful and often gripping ... Cave explains what it actually feels like to climb the kind of exceptionally dangerous routes that the rest of us, climbers or not, find unimaginable. There are few other climbers with the writing skills to be able to pull this off. There are fewer still who have led such an interesting and varied life as Cave * Scotland on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuncan Hamilton is the author of Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year for 2007. In 2009, he was awarded the William Hill again, for Harold Larwood, as well as winning the prestigious Wisden Book of the Year for 2009 and Biography of the Year at the 2010 British Sports Book Awards. He lives in the Yorkshire Dales.Trade ReviewIn putting together Immortal: The Approved Biography of George Best, it must be said that author Duncan Hamilton has done little to redefine the genre. Instead, he has done everything he can with it as it is, he has pushed it, refined it, stretched it, lovingly touched up every corner of it until it is almost as perfect as it can be. In short, Hamilton has essentially won biography writing. […] what makes thisbook so wonderful, [is] the way that Hamilton patiently sets the scene, apparently meandering indulgently through the back stories of incidental characters, but actually drawing the reader deep into the 1960s, imperceptibly marking out the structures of sport, society and celebrity that the shockwave of Best’s arrival obliterated. * Mirror online *[An]evocative account, though that should not come as a surprise. The former newspaperman has become one of sport’s foremost biographers and he is in excellent form here with this account of a footballer who was once his hero. * The Times *A marriage of prose and detail so fine and fastidious that it takes the breath away. * Independent *This compulsively readable book will not be the last written about Best, but it may prove to be the most illuminating. * Independent on Sunday *What Duncan Hamilton’s impressively researched, definitive new biography, published on the 50th anniversary of Best’s United debut, captures is the artistry of the little Ulsterman. * Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBernard Hinault is one of the greatest cyclists of all time. He is a five-time winner of the Tour de France and the only man to have won each of the Grand Tours on more than one occasion. Hinault is the last old-school' champion: a larger-than-life character from a working-class background, capable of winning on all terrains, in major Tours and one-day Classics. Nicknamed the Badger' for his combative style, he led a cyclists' strike in his first Tour and instigated a legendary punch-up with demonstrators in 1982 while in the middle of a race. His battles with teammates Laurent Fignon and Greg LeMond in the 1986 Tour resulted in one of the greatest races of all time. Three decades on from his retirement, Hinault remains the last French winner of the Tour de France. Here, William Fotheringham shows that while France may one day find a new champion, there will never be another Bernard Hinault.Trade ReviewA thorough, well-researched and highly readable biography about one of cycling's best ever riders * Road *One of cycling’s most fascinating characters * Sport *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe book that inspired the major film Ferrari directed by Michael Mann, starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz.Ferrari means red. It means racing. Excellence, luxury, and performance.Less well-known is the man behind the brand.For nearly seventy years, Enzo Ferrari dominated a motor-sports empire that defined the world of high-performance cars. Next to the Pope, Ferrari was the most revered man in Italy. But was he the benign padrone portrayed by an adoring world press at the time, or was he a ruthless despot, who drove his staff to the edge of madness, and his racing drivers even further?Brock Yates''s definitive biography penetrated Ferrari''s elaborately constructed veneer and uncovered the truth behind Ferrari''s bizarre relationships, his work with Mussolini''s fascists, and his fanatical obsession with speed. A fascinating and provocative book The Observer.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe offical biography of one of wrestling's most legendary stars.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis One of the greatest players of all time, Duncan Edwards's story is one of tragic heroism, brilliantly and movingly told in this superb biography. From a working-class Dudley upbringing, Edwards rose to great heights at Manchester United. In only five years, he helped United to win two league championships and to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup. Among the Busby Babes - United's young, homegrown team - he was the player they all looked to, someone who could (and did) play in any position and still be the best on the pitch. Edwards made his England debut in a game against Scotland at the age of 18 years and 183 days, becoming his country's youngest international since the Second World War - a record which stood until Michael Owen's debut over forty years later. He went on to play 18 games for his country, including all four of the qualifying matched for the 1958 World Cup, in which he was expected to

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis100 years of Wembley Stadium told through 100 matches.  Hundreds of thousands of fans, 5,000 were on the pitch, and a horse called Billy. That was the scene for the inauspicious first football match to be played at the British Empire Exhibition Stadium back in 1923, soon to be known as Wembley.  More than a century later, Wembley remains the world's most famous football stadium. Watching your team there is the highlight of a fan's lifetime of support; playing on its hallowed turf the fulfilment of a childhood dream. Nige Tassell chooses 100 matches that have shaped Wembley's legacy - from England's triumphs in World Cup and Euros tournaments to groundbreaking women's matches and various non-league finals, by way of greyhounds, stunt motorcycles and the feet of 72,000 music fans at Live Aid - and tells a lively and original alternative history of the past century of football, and of Britain.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW''Wayne Barton's knowledge on Manchester United is unparalleled'' - The MirrorThis compelling and moving story of Manchester United's rejuvenation after the Munich Air Crash revisits an era that is fundamental to the club's place in the modern game. The 1958 Munich Air Crash that ripped the heart from one of Britain's greatest ever teams. In this book, Wayne Barton, author of 20 Manchester United titles, has produced a forensic account of how those post-tragedy years forged the character of one of the world's biggest clubs. Barton focuses on the five years immediately after the tragedy, how the shattered ambitions of the club were revived and rejuvenated by recovering manager Matt Busby and his assistant Murphy. The engrossing story is told through in-depth research and exclusive interviews with many players from the era. They include Harry Gregg, Jackie Blanchflower, Bill Foulkes and Albert Scanlon, who all survived the crash; Albert Quixall, David Herd, Pat Crerand, Wilf McGuinness and others who became stars of the rebuilt team; and supporters and back room staff who witnessed an extraordinary period at the club.The scars of that fateful night will never fade, but in its aftermath a spirit of resolve, a belief in homegrown players and a never-say-die attitude developed and became essential elements of Manchester United's DNA.

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for Football Book of the Year (Sports Book Awards)''Gripping'' Daily Mail''Moving... chronicles two remarkable lives'' Guardian''Razor-sharp tactical analysis'' Irish Independent''Wilson is a fine, nuanced writer'' Times Literary SupplementThe story of Jack and Bobby Charlton, and a family that characterised English football for decadesIn later life Jack and Bobby didn''t get on and barely spoke but the lives of these very different brothers from the coalfield tell the story of late twentieth-century English football: the tensions between flair and industry, between individuality and the collective, between right and left, between middle- and working-classes, between exile and home.Jack was open, charismatic, selfish and pig-headed; Bobby was guarded, shy, polite and reserved to the point of reclusiveness. They were very different Trade ReviewRazor-sharp tactical analysis and an intriguing angle of its own * Irish Independent *Gripping * Daily Mail *Wilson is a fine, nuanced writer * TLS *Compelling... gets to the heart of Bobby and Jackie * Late Tackle Magazine *This is a social history, yet surprisingly moving as it chronicles two remarkable lives * Guardian *A powerful chronicle of the transformation of English soccer and society through the prism of two very different characters * Irish Times *Tells a familar, yet extraordinary, tale exceptionally well, illuminated and refreshed by Wilson's particular perspectives and insights * When Saturday Comes Magazine *A book that Jonathan Wilson was born to write... He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game... There is much poignancy in their stories -- Books of the Year * Irish Examiner *Explores the careers and personalities of Bobby and Jack Charlton, who we discover could not have been more different, and Wilson is meticulous in providing all manner of nuggets -- Sports Books of the Year * The Times *Wilson skilfully interweaves the stories of brothers with polar opposite personalities who also happened to be two of the most iconic footballing figures in the last century, using their respective career trajectories to tell a broader story of what it said about English and (sometimes) Irish society of the time of their heydays * The 42 *

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis_______________''A biography that sparkles with enthusiastic research and empathetic writing'' - Sunday Times''A small jewel of a biography'' - The New Yorker''A fascinating, hilarious and deliciously subversive book'' - Literary Review_______________THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERBorn in 1900 to a promiscuous American oil heiress and a British army captain, Marion Barbara Carstairs realised very early on that she was not like most little girls. Liberated by war work in WWI, Marion reinvented herself as Joe, and quickly went on to establish herself as a leading light of the fashionable lesbian demi-monde. She dressed in men''s clothes, smoked cigars and cheroots, tattooed her arms, and became Britain''s most celebrated female speed-boat racer - the ''fastest woman on water''. Yet Joe tired of the limelight in 1934, and retired to the Bahamian Island of Whale Cay. There she fashioned her own self-sufficient kingdom, whTrade ReviewShe was crazy and brave and her story is jaw-droppingly amazing ... Great stuff * Val Hennessy, Daily Mail *A wonderful account of a truly extraordinary life * Mail on Sunday *A biography that sparkles with enthusiastic research and empathetic writing * Sunday Times *A small jewel of a biography * The New Yorker *A fascinating, hilarious and deliciously subversive book * Literary Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe best football autobiography I have ever read The Sunday Times Alex Ferguson is a legend in his lifetime, universally respected for his tough, but caring managerial style. This book covers the beginning of his football career, including his triumphant 1999 run to the treble and a Knighthood from the Queen.Covering his tough Govan upbringing through to his playing days and onto his shift into management, Managing My Life is told with the fine balance of biting controversy and human sensitivity.Trade ReviewThe best football autobiography I have ever read * The Sunday Times *The richest and most enthralling story in post-war British sport * Independent *Danielle Steele meets Geoffrey Archer, with a Booker Prize quality injected by Hugh McIlvanney * Independent on Sunday *A treat * Sunday Express *Ferguson emerges from this account as a genuine national hero, one of the great Scots of the 20th century * Mail on Sunday *Provocative, stimulating, emotional and honest * The Herald *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin ''Magic'' Johnson, from the author of Michael Jordan: the Life. Magic Johnson is one of the most beloved, and also controversial, athletes in history. He lifted the dowdy sport of American pro basketball into the global spotlight, a transformation driven by his ability to eviscerate opponents with a grand sense of fun. He was a master entertainer who directed basketball to the heights of both glory and epic excess, all of it driven by his mind-blowing no-look passes and personal charm. At the charismatic height of his power, Johnson shocked the world with his personal story which pushed public awareness of the HIV and AIDs crisis. Through hundreds of interviews with Johnson''s coaches, representatives past and present, teammates, opponents, friends and loved ones, including key conversations with Johnson himself, this is the first truly definitive study of the revolutionary player: the man, the

Read more less

Book SynopsisWest Indies legend Sir Clyde Walcott was one of the greatest cricketers of all time, but he was also an important administrator and activist. This first biography offers a detailed examination of his extraordinary life and achievements. -- .

Read more less

Book SynopsisARSENAL: THE STORY OF A FOOTBALL CLUB IN 101 LIVES tells the history of the Gunners through the biographies of key individuals associated with the club from its formation in the gas-lit days of Victorian Britain through to the present day. From David Danskin, the Scottish mechanical engineer and footballer who was the driving force behind the team raised at Dial Square, a workshop at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, to Arsene Wenger, the longest-serving and most successful manager in Arsenal's history. The in-depth stories of the characters - players, managers, chairmen - here paint a fascinating picture of how the club - indeed, the game of football itself - has developed from workers playing for fun to today's multi-million-pound business.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe hilarious, heartwarming and - unbelievably - true story of Maurice Flitcroft, the World's Worst Golfer'The story of its greatest anti-hero is just what the game needs' SpectatorWhen 46-year-old crane driver Maurice Flitcroft chanced his way into the Open - having never before played a round of golf in his life - he ran up a record-worst score of 121. The sport's ruling classes banned him for life.Maurice didn't take it lying down. In a hilarious game of cat-and-mouse with The Man, he entered tournaments again - and again, and again - using increasingly ludicrous pseudonyms such as Gene Pacecki, Arnold Palmtree and Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel (more often than not disguised by a fake moustache).In doing so, he sent the authorities into apoplexy, and won the hearts of fans from Muirfield to Michigan, becoming arguably the most popular - and certainly the bravest - sporting underdog the world has ever known'Hilarious' EsquireTrade ReviewHilarious—EsquireThe story of its greatest anti-hero is just what the game needs.—Spectator

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe man who can''t stop scoring goals for funIn his debut season with Manchester City, Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland has set the footballing world ablaze. The 23-year-old striker, known for his unique blend of speed and strength, has redefined the art of goal-scoring.Highly regarded football journalist Lars Sivertsen follows Haaland's meteoric rise to stardom in this biography, a tale that begins in the small Norwegian town of Bryne where they both grew up. Born to former Manchester City player Alfie Haaland, Erling started his journey at hometown club Bryne FK in 2016 and later moved to Molde FK, Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund before Manchester City announced his arrival in the Premier League.In his first Premier League season with Manchester City, Haaland has shattered records and achieved his ultimate dream: winning the treble in his first season with the club. This accomplishment solidifies his status as one of the most exceptional ta

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Bobby Fischer died in January 2008, he left behind a confounding legacy. Everyone knew the basics of his life: he began as a brilliant youngster, then became the pride of American chess, then took a sharp turn, struggling with paranoia and mental illness. But nobody truly understood him. What motivated him from such a young age, and what was the source of his remarkable intellect? How could a man so ambivalent about money and fame be so driven to succeed? What drew this man of Jewish descent to fulminate against Jews, and how was it that a mind so famously disciplined could unravel so completely? From his meteoric rise, to an utterly dominant prime, to his eventual descent into madness, the book draws upon hundreds of newly discovered documents and recordings, and numerous firsthand interviews conducted with those who knew Fischer best, to paint, for the very first time, a complete picture of one of the most enigmatic icons. This is the definitive account of a fascinating man and an extraordinary life, one that at last reconciles Fischer's deeply contradictory legacy and answers the question: 'Who was Bobby Fischer?'Trade ReviewFascinating. * The Times *A rapt, intimate book... Fascinating. * New York Times *Frank Brady's superlative Endgame is a biography more than worthy of its charismatic subject ...the second half of his life is one of the saddest stories, even as this is one the year's best biographies. * Washington Post *A superb storyteller. * Literary Review *(An) engaging account. * Sunday Telegraph *Well-researched and enjoyable. * Jewish Chronicle *The Mozart of the chessboard is inseparable from the monster of paranoid egotism in this fascinating biography. Brady, founding publisher of Chess Life magazine and a friend of Fischer, gives a richly detailed account of the impoverished Brooklyn wunderkind's sensational opening--he was history's first 15-year-old grandmaster--and the 1972 match with Boris Spassky, in which Fischer captivated the world with his brilliant play and towering tantrums. Brady's chronicle of Fischer's graceless endgame is just as engrossing, as the chess superstar sinks into poverty after rejecting million-dollar matches; flirts with cults; and becomes, though himself Jewish, a raving anti-Semite and conspiracy theorist.... Brady gives us a vivid, tragic narrative of a life that became a chess game. * Publishing News (Starred review) *Rich in detail and insight...I consider this book essential reading in the effort to understandBobby Fischer and his place in our world. -- David Shenk, author of The Genius in All of Us.The definitive portrait of the greatest- and most disturbed-chess genius of all time. -- Paul Hoffman, author of The Man Who Loved Only NumbersTells the full and fair story of Fischer's astonishing rise and heartbreaking fall...Brady is the perfect biographer for Bobby Fischer. -- Christopher Chabris, author of The Invisible GorillaA heartbreaking story of failed hopes and torment. * Catholic Herald *Well-researched. * Mail on Sunday *Review. * Oldie *Frank Brady knew Fischer well as a young man and has now written this biography with sympathy and skill. * Sunday Business Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHe was one of the hardest, most controversial footballers of his generation: the £20million man who became the first professional player to go to jail for an offence committed on the field of play. He was the fans’ hero who disappeared. Duncan Ferguson was an old-fashioned Scottish centre-forward who went from a boarding house in Dundee to the marble staircase of Rangers in a record-breaking transfer. His £4m move from Dundee United to Ibrox made him British football’s most expensive native player. But he would also become one of the most notorious footballers in the land. Sent to prison after head-butting an opponent during a Scottish Premier Division match between Rangers and Raith Rovers, Ferguson made history all over again. He served half of a three-month sentence in Glasgow’s infamous Barlinnie Prison. A twelve-match ban from the Scottish Football Association was later overturned following a long appeal process. Bruised by the experience, he turned his back on Scotland’s national team and the media. Ferguson reaped the riches of the Sky era. He was a folk hero at Everton, where he spent ten years either side of an injury-hit spell at Newcastle United. Although the game made him a millionaire, he rejected its new culture of celebrity and remained a fiery figure, racking up a Premiership record of eight red cards. And then, after scoring in the final minute of the last game of his career, he turned his back on football completely – or so it seemed.Trade ReviewAn illuminating, well-sourced and forensic examination of the enigma of British football * Henry Winter *A truly exceptional football biography, a study of one of the game’s great enigmas… sensitive and beautifully written * Patrick Barclay *Duncan Ferguson’s life brought to book at last… gripping * Scotsman *One of football’s biggest enigmas…The author has painstakingly interviewed and researched every aspect of the player’s life * scotlandnow.dailyrecord *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less