I need some good books both for presents for the holidays, and to read myself…
I’ll start it off with Gold in the water - by P.H. Mullen - I’ve actually read this book cover to cover twice… and I never do that… I will never get tired of the story.
I’ve heard into thin air is good too, any other suggestions?
I’d perfer sports themed as I’d be giving them to athletes, but all suggestions are welcome.
Thanks
Swimming to Antarctica
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The Perfect Mile–the pursuit of the 4 minute mile
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The New Toughness Training for Athletes–An outstanding book for those looking to focus on the area where most of us spend the least amount of time
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Going Long–Gordo’s book is insightful and easy to read for developing your LC Training Plan
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Bicycle Racing 101–Wenzel Coaching’s updated volume to help improve your cycling
Cheers,
Jonathan C. Puskas
I’ve heard into thin air is good too, any other suggestions?
Start there. Fantastic book, goes even better as a combo gift with the IMAX “Everest” DVD. They cross reference each other directly and it adds a nice visual to the read.
Read it… didn’t really like it actually… I thought the style of writing was a little weak. Good story though.
First Encounters with the Ultimate Endurance Event by Kara Douglass Thom" is a must read. This book chronicles the first Ironman race of many top pros and amateurs alike. It is a fun read that tells some of the best early race stories from a number of different points of view. *Cost $11.20 in paperback at http://www.Amazon.com
Hey, the greatest sports book I’ve ever read is The Amateurs by David Halberstam. It’s about a group of rowers and, while rowing may not be your thing, it really tells about what athletes who compete in your “no glory” sports endure. If you train and compete hard, you’ll appreciate it immensely.
Also check out The Immortal Class by Travis Hugh Culley. It’s about being a bike messenger. Way cool.
For fun, Who’s Your Caddy by Rick Reilly.
Leave the “pop” sports books by high profile athletes on the shelves (since most of 'em are written by other people) to find the real meaning of sports…
I didn’t like The Perfect Mile, felt it kind of dragged on at the end.
If the person is more than a casual athlete, Running With the Buffaloes is an interesting read, it follows the Univ of Colorado’s men’s XC team for a season, a little heavy for the casual runner or triathlete, but someone with appreciation for following out a training plan and racing a whole season would enjoy it.
I’ll second The Perfect Mile. Not inspired writing, but a magnificent story. I’m really glad someone got around to writing it and interviewing the protagonists, before they were all just history.
The Worst Journey in the World, by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, is an account of Scott’s polar expedition, it will make running in the snow seem trivially easy…
The Rider - I forgot who the author is, but the book is a fantastic, well-written book about a bicycle race.
Once a Runner by John L. Parker - cult classic
Believe it or not, Lance Armstrong’s War is really good also - its not just a homage to Lance.
Mark Allen’s book on tri way back in the 80’s. I still get a kick out of it.
Bob Roll’s book Bobke II. Anybody who doesn’t love him has no heart.
Tinley’s coffee table book on tri. Great pics and commentary.
Gold in the Water. Nice to see the fish pushed to their limits.
Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman. My bible. He was a great man.
I’m with Jon. The Rider (Tim Krabbe) and Once a Runner (John L Parker) are both inspiring reads for those who appreciate the sports of cycling and running.
I would highly recommend them for the athlete on your list who “has everything.”
Some of these have been metioned, but here’s my list
Gold in the Water
Swimming to Antarctica
Into Thin Air, Eiger Dreams, Into the Wild, Under the Banner of Heaven (all Krakaeur and all excellent)
Advanced Marathoning
Daniel’s Running Formula
“She Wasn’t Soft” - a short story by TC Boyle
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One of my favorite sports books is from the Late 80’s “Drive” which was Larry Bird’s autobiography. I found his work ethic amazing. Any time he would think about leaving the court for the day, then he would say to himself “someone is out there practicing free throws” and then he couldn’t leave until he made 10 perfect swishes in a row, once he did that he would say “someone is working on their ball handling” then he would stay in the gym working on ball handling, etc. I haven’t read that book since I was in high school and I still use that scenario in the book to get me psyched up for a workout. The material is probably dated, but still a good read. I saw it in the Library the other day, maybe I should pick it up again.
More related to triathlon I have to agree with several of the posters who commented about the perfect mile. I loved it. I already knew about Bannister, but I really enjoyed reading about John Landy and Wes Santee. I particularly thought the sections on Landy were my favorite parts of the book.
“Becoming an Ironman”. Great stories of people attempting to finish their first ever Ironman. Very worth reading…
Off To The Races: 25 Years of Cycling Journalism by Samuel Abt. By far and away the best book on cycling I have ever read.
Also, The Brothers K by David James Duncan. Although, baseball is the sport of choice, the writing is excellent.
Dean Wilson
www.anaerobiczone.com
These are mostly mountaineering/adventure books, so feel free to explore.
The loneliness of the Long Distance runner - great.
as for Krakauer- i’d read into the wild, and I also liked under the banner of heaven
If you decide to read Into thin air, I’d also read The Climb written by a guide on that Expedition, Anatoli Boukreev. It tells an entirely different story of those events. Boukreev is a badass, or rather was, he died in a mountaineering accident.
There’s an adventure book series edited by Krakauer which is worth reading (don’t have it in front of me, but worth looking for)
Shackleton’s boat journey by F.A. Worsley. Awesome in the true sense of the word.
Shackleton: The Polar Journeys - by himself.
Undaunted courage if you’re into US history
Have fun-
Josef
Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod, by Gary Paulsen. I picked up this book knowing nothing about the world’s most famous dogsled race. I read it one sitting, entranced.
The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa, by Neil Peart. Yes, that Neil Peart. About ten years ago, he went on an “organized” bicycle tour of West Africa. I am only a lukewarm Rush fan, if that. But Peart writes beautifully here, much more down to earth than his lyrics.
Ben
I would recommend ‘One Day in September’ by Simon Reeve. It’s a book about the 1972 Munich Olympics and the terrorist attack in the Olympic Village. Very inspirational, makes you appreciate competetion and sport in general as the stories of the athletes are told…when you’re not hating the Germans for their ineptitude…
Also, not sure if it’s been suggested, but ‘It’s Not About the Bike’ by Lance Armstrong is also good, and not as depressing as September or ‘Into Thin Air.’ But is there anyone left who hasn’t read that?