Task #1: Read a book about sports.

[Cliff]

I am thinking of reading Summerland by Michael Chabon. Sounds interesting, like a mix between baseball and fantasy.

[Maya]

I've just started Forward: A Memoir for this task

[Tiffany]

Yair wrote: "I'm gonna go with the Art of Fielding. Since the plot mostly revolves around the sport. And even Amazon has it listed as a book about a sport."


You will not be disappointed. I'm reading it now and just in love with it. I never thought I'd enjoy it like I am. :)

[Cheryl]

Julia wrote: "Anyone have any good recommendations for someone who has zero interest in sports?"

If you have any interest in romance, pick a sports romance. Mine centers on hockey.

[Jane]

Cheryl wrote: "Julia wrote: "Anyone have any good recommendations for someone who has zero interest in sports?"

My best friend who is a baseball fan(atic) insisted I read Shoeless Joe. The movie "Field of Dreams" is based on this book. It was wonderful, and not just for baseball fans (I am a spectator -- the book delightfully explains the difference).

[Barb]

Julia wrote: "Anyone have any good recommendations for someone who has zero interest in sports?"
Take a look at The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics It is incredibly well written and although its all about the sport of rowing, I was totally caught up in the biography of the main character. I would never have chosen it if not recommended by my local librarian. So glad I read it!

[Ellyn]

I love my Premier League, so for this I'm planning on reading Game Changer: How the English Premier League came to dominate the world, but I've been a horse racing fan since I was a little kid and The Sport of Kings is certainly a tempting thought.

[Viv]

I just finished Eat Sweat Play: How Sport Can Change Our Lives and found it really inspiring - you can read my review here. I would say, though, that it is a very British book and a lot of the cultural and sporting references might be lost on others.

[quietprofanity]

Non-sports person here. I considered doing Summerland or something on Lou Gehrig, because my uncle died of ALS, but in the end I decided I wanted to stretch the category and read Stardance by Spider and Jeanne Robinson more. (I reviewed it here.)

[Mary Lou]

If you have any interest in romance, pick a sports romance. Mine centers on hockey.

Ha! I was scrolling through the message board to see if sports romance seemed to be fair game for this. I just finished Samantha Wayland's Fair Play and then realized I might be able to count it.

[Teresa]

I'm also not into sports. I'll read a children's biography about a pivotal sports figure.

[Julia]

I am one of those people who is typically unmoved by sports, but I heard a great interview with the author about this book.Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin. (I've also read and enjoyed his book from a few years ago The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights.)

[Elyse]

I'll be reading this: I Got This: To Gold and Beyond

[Elyse]

Shawn wrote: "I know the "rules" aren't strict but is the intent for this to be non-fiction?"

I don't think it matters.

[Elyse]

Krista wrote: "For those who, like myself, are not big sports fans, remember it's just "sports". It doesn't have to be about the main ones like football, baseball, basketball etc.

My son's class learned all abo..."

No End in Sight sounds fascinating!

[Elyse]

Melissa wrote: "What about fictional sports like quidditch through the ages?"

haha yes! Wonderful!

[Elyse]

Kaitlin wrote: "I would love to find a good non-fiction (either memoir or journalistic) book about the equestrian world to meet this challenge. Any suggestions?"

Horse Heaven

[Christy]

I'm thinking of reading Winterdance by Gary Paulsen for this, which is about the Iditarod. I figure that sportsy enough, right?

[Elyse]

Christy wrote: "I'm thinking of reading Winterdance by Gary Paulsen for this, which is about the Iditarod. I figure that sportsy enough, right?"

Absolutely!

[Sonia]

I'm thinking of reading The Lonely End of the Rink for this one.

[Ashley]

Elaine wrote: "I'm thinking either Quidditch Through The Ages or The Flip Side. Has anyone read either?"

Quidditch Through the Ages - GENIUS! I haven't read it yet but think this would make an excellent choice regardless!

[Lisa]

I ended up reading Running Like a Girl. I'm not a fan of sports but I used to run so I thought this might work for me. It was an okay read. It did get me thinking about running again.

[Jeremy]

I was thinking about reading The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman. Has anyone read it? I hear it's really good.

[Tracy]

Erin wrote: "I was worried about this one because I'm not into sports, but the challenge was to read harder. I read You Will Know Me and I highly recommend if someone else is interested in a sus..."

I just finished this and I second the recommendation! I don't care for sports either but I thought it was well done.

[Jamie]

Michelle wrote: "As a Tennessee Vol and someone who idolizes Pat Summitt, I'm excited to have something to push me to cross [book:Sum It Up: 1,098 Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective..."

I am totally with you Michelle! Go Vols and Lady Vols!

[Murray]

I read This Love is Not for Cowards in a few days, it was amazing. Life in the most murderous city in the world, and football (soccer). Really delved into the relationship between the team and the city.

[Suzanne]

My first thought was to read The World of Cycling According to G, but since I read 4.5 pro cycling memoirs last year, I thought I'd branch out to read about a sport I don't follow: soccer. Forward: A Memoir

[Julia]

Are there any books about Title IX and its impact?

I could easily grab a book on figure skating off my shelf, but if the idea is to challenge myself...

[Bonnie G.]

Julia wrote: "Are there any books about Title IX and its impact?

I could easily grab a book on figure skating off my shelf, but if the idea is to challenge myself..."

A Place on the Team: The Triumph and Tragedy of Title IX is super, but there are a ton of other books on Title iX

[Darryl]

I'm going with John Grisham's Calico Joe. It's a baseball-centric book.

[Chelsea]

Loved Abby Wambach's memoir Forward. And i think it definitely completes the challenge . I found the soccer scenes fascinating!

[Darlene]

For this category I will be reading The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

[Carolyn]

I am reading a book about Mindsets: The New Psychology of Success - How We Can Learn To Fulfill Our Potential. there is a section about sports and the importance of mindset. Can that count?

[Jessica]

@Murra thank you for the recommendation!

[Louise]

Following a successful pre owned book shopping spree I have the boys in the boat and fever pitch by Nick Hornby that should fit this category.

[Yrinsyde]

I've just finished my first review for this challenge: The Curse of Lono.

If sports is not your thing (it isn't mine), I remembered just now that Wodehouse wrote some funny stories about golf.

[Summer Rae]

Forward by Abby Wambach was very palatable, and though I still have no desire to watch soccer, I will look out for her to see what is next.

[Elizabeth]

Wanted to read the book Derby Girl by Shauna Cross, that the movie Whip It was based on... but I couldn't get it and wanted to start my challenge. Found a copy of The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen and went with that. This isn't the place for a complete review type of post, but I chose this book in part because I was looking for a book on an athlete (real or fictional) who had to overcome obstacles after injury. Either an individual who found a way to pursue their passion after injury, or one who found a new way to focus their lives. Anyway, you can link to the GR page of this book for more complete write ups...it's a young adult novel, just in case anyone is looking for that.

[Gabbie]

Danielle wrote: "I'm thinking of going with Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season. I'm not super into sports but reading Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan's take on ..."

I read it when it came out, I am Dominican, you can imagine what that season meant to us! hahahaha there were big screens in parks, and at the local baseball stadiums so the poorer people could also watch the game.

[Gabbie]

I am wondering if Living Out Loud: Sports, Cancer, and the Things Worth Fighting For would count towards a sports novel? He was a NBA broadcaster who passed away recently.

[Tim]

I was listening to the most recent Get Booked podcast and someone asked about a book on basketball, but not on the NBA. Amanda & Jenn discussed some other basektball books, but I thought of this book about college basketball's Patriot League conference - called The Last Amateurs, by John Feinstein. This is the conference that includes Lehigh, Holy Cross, Army, Colgate, Bucknell and more. The athletes really are student-athletes because of the academic requirements. It is a good read that I think everyone could enjoy.

[Bonnie G.]

Tim wrote: "I was listening to the most recent Get Booked podcast and someone asked about a book about basketball, but not on the NBA. Amanda & Jenn discussed some other basektball books, but I thought of this..."

Wonderful suggestion. I love all of John Feinstein's books. I think he makes sports interesting and accessible for all readers. Even me, and I am not a sports fan.

[Elyse]

Do you think Age Is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life would work? Or is it too much of a self-help book?

[Nina]

Gold by Chris Cleave was excellent. It is about 3 Olympic Cyclers. I think I am going to read it again for this and the book I have already read task. Killing two birds with one stone!! Yeah me!!

[Shawn]

I'm not sure what I am reading for this challenge yet but I have a couple fiction recommendations.

If you like golf, The Green.

If you like baseball, Last Days of Summer.

[Jess]

Gabbie wrote: "I am wondering if Living Out Loud: Sports, Cancer, and the Things Worth Fighting For would count towards a sports novel? He was a NBA broadcaster who passed away recently."

I think so! (though it's nonfiction, so not a novel, per se...)

I just finished "Life is Not an Accident" by Jay Williams, which was a memoir of his life in basketball and how it had to change after a motorcycle accident that left him too maimed for a comeback on the court. Not brilliant writing but a quick read that gave me a look into the life of high profile athletes and what happens when the ability to play is taken away. Not the kind of thing I would read usually, so thanks to the Read Harder Challenge for pushing my limits.

[Gabbie]

Thanks Jess! I ended up reading the Jackie Robinson memoir "I never had it made" I have just realized I read a lot of sports related novels, but I have been wanting to read more on Jackie Robinson and went for it. I will add the Sager one to my to read anyways.

[Beth]

I finally read Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream. It was good but certainly not uplifting.

[Yrinsyde]

Oh - I just thought of something. Would Dick Francis books count? He wrote mysteries and thrillers all set around the horse racing industry. I love these books and developed a sort of interest in horses from reading them.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[Teresa]

Yrinsyde, I'd say yes because the author goes deep into the horse racing world and the plots revolve around that culture.