MOTIVATIONAL SPORTS BOOKS
All books below are rated 4 stars (out of 5) or above. Rather than assign star ratings to each book, we'll only include write ups on books we feel are worth reading.
To purchase any book on Amazon, please click on the book cover.
"Open: An Autobiography" by Andre Agassi: This is one of the best sports books ever written. Agassi's childhood, with a demanding father, is essentially nonexistent. Pushed from an early age to be the "greatest tennis player in the world," this is a fascinating true story that dives into the power of human emotions, belonging, and the yearning of many young kids to be seen. For a bit more about the ghost writer that wrote this, see our post on J.R. Moehringer.
"Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds" by David Goggins: Goggins is an absolute beast, and the obstacles that he overcomes in this book illustrate the superpower of the mind. From losing 100 lbs in 90 days to Navy Seal training to running for 24 hours straight, there aren't many people in the world that have this type of self discipline and "no excuses" type of mindset. As Goggins says, "Don't just talk about it, be about it." If you're looking for a no-nonsense example of what it looks like to master your mind, this book is a must read. I'd say it's arguably the best motivational book for athletes on the market today. For more on Goggins, see our blog post. In addition, Goggins worked with ghost-writer, Adam Skolnick, who has penned several books worth reading. If you enjoyed Can't Hurt Me, also check out One Breath, which is about freediver Nicholas Mevoli.
"Strong" by Kara Goucher: Goucher is tough, confident, feminine, and an incredible runner. In Strong, she shares her own experiences, as well as perspectives from her own sports psychologist, Dr. Stephen Walker. While this is positioned as a top motivational book for women, the book has the potential to help a wider audience with self improvement. Whether you're a competitive runner or training for your first 5k, this book will help improve your mental mindset and feel empowered.
"Where Men Win Glory" by Jon Krakauer: Krakauer has written several books about the outdoors. Some of his latest books, including this one, dive into true stories where the facts weren't always fully revealed to the public. Where Men Win Glory is about fallen soldier, Pat Tillman, who leaves the NFL to serve his country. This is a tremendously powerful book, where the pure intentions of some are marred by the cover ups of the powerful. A must read, and one of my favorite of all time. For more on this book, check out our article, A New Year, A New Truth.
"Relentless" by Tim Grover: This book has become somewhat of a cult classic following its release in 2014. Grover, the legendary trainer most famous for his relationships with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, takes the reader through his philosophies, including how to be a "cleaner." While written from the perspective of trainer to athlete, this book has the potential to change your life, regardless of whether you're an athlete or not.
"Toughness" by Jay Bilas: Bilas, a former Duke basketball star and current ESPN college basketball analyst, writes a book that's meaningful even if you're not a basketball fan. While there are a lot of basketball examples and stories from his own upbringing, the messages in this book can be applied to anyone; advice for people on how to navigate adversity, develop mental stamina, and stay focused on the task at hand. One of the best sports motivational books and motivational basketball book, specifically.
"Getting Undressed" by David Cooks: I spent a lot of time with Cooks in my younger years, and I'm proud to call him a mentor and friend. This is one of those books that will move you. Imagine having a spinal aneurysm at the age of 15 and being told that you're now paralyzed from the waist down. What would you do? How would you respond? Cooks didn't just overcome; he created a life far more impactful. David is also a powerful speaker and hosts a leadership podcast. Learn more about him here.
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"Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink: If you like the David Goggins books, you'll love this one. Willink is a former Navy Seal that has become world famous for his philosophies on leadership, toughness, self development, and mental discipline. He's one of the most sought after motivational speakers, and this book is one of the best motivational books ever written. He also makes a pretty good energy drink!
"Full Out" by Monica Aldama: Aldama has been called "the Bill Belichick" of cheerleading. Full stop. Aldama built one of the most successful cheerleading programs in the country. Her energy was so infectious that Netflix created a documentary series with her in it. If you're looking for something that is both real and inspiring, check this book out.
"The Champion's Mind" by Jim Afremow: Afremow uses his personal experiences as a sports psychologist to write a book with actionable takeaways. There's a lot of research in here that supports Afremow's conclusions about mindset, realistic goal setting, and how to evaluate performance. This is less of a "pump up" book and more of training guide to develop life changing habits.
"Throw Like A Girl" by Jennie Finch: This book was written in 2011, but it's as relevant today as it was then. Jennie Finch was a remarkable athlete, winning 60 games as a pitcher at the University of Arizona and leading Team USA to a gold medal in 2004. She brought a renewed enthusiasm to US softball and did so with an infectious energy. This is an excellent book for female athletes about the power of what can be accomplished when you shoot for the stars. We also included this book in our article, 4 of the Best Sports Books For Your Teen Daughter.
"Do Hard Things" by Steve Magness: Magness is a sports performance scientist who works with professional athletes and shares a load of information and research on how to listen to your body and transcend discomfort. This is a book that is best read slowly because there's a lot in here. I'd recommend this one for coaches and parents of athletes.
"How Bad Do You Want It?" by Matt Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald takes you into some incredible races, from running to triathlon to cycling. I loved some of these anecdotes:
*The only way to improve performance is by altering how you perceive effort.
*Choking under pressure is a form of self-consciousness.
*Your attitude in daily life is the same one you bring to sports.
*There's no such thing as going as fast as you can—only going faster than before.
It's inspirational and a great read for athletes as they approach an off-season.
*The only way to improve performance is by altering how you perceive effort.
*Choking under pressure is a form of self-consciousness.
*Your attitude in daily life is the same one you bring to sports.
*There's no such thing as going as fast as you can—only going faster than before.
It's inspirational and a great read for athletes as they approach an off-season.
"Endure" by Cameron Hanes: If you're a fan of the Goggins' books, you'll enjoy this one. Hanes is a bowhunter and ultramarathoner; someone whose belief has taken him in directions that even he, himself, probably wouldn't have anticipated at a younger age. Cam's Keep Hammering Collective podcast is fun to listen to, and you can learn more here. While this falls in the motivational sports books category, Hanes does a nice job making this relatable whether you're an active athlete or not.
"Choosing To Run" by Des Linden: Des wins the Boston Marathon in 2018, becoming the first American woman to win in 33 years. I like books like this because they get into the mindset, the training, and life of a real champion. Even on the day she won Boston, Des wasn't in peak form and the weather was poor. She still found a way to success. If you like motivational athlete books straight from the source or are looking for an inspirational sports book, check this book out.
"Make Your Bed" by Admiral William H. McRaven: McRaven's speech about making your bed has gone viral (and for good reason). This book is all about doing simple things that will add discipline to your life. McRaven talks about doing what you're supposed to do, doing it well, and doing it with pride. This is a great gift for young people that may see simple tasks as insignificant, and a great reminder to all of us that feeling satisfied starts with yourself. I was inspired reading this because it's easy to dwell on what I don't have instead of taking full advantage of what I do.
"Win Forever" by Pete Carroll: Carroll's certainly carved his own path in football. From USC to the Seattle Seahawks, he's done it his way, with a unique personality and enthusiasm. I liked this book because you don't have to be a football fan to enjoy it. Instead, Carroll offers several legendary quotes and ideas on how to motivate, lead, and overcome failure.
"Finding Ultra" by Rich Roll: This story almost seems too good to be true: a man is about to turn 40, is terribly out of shape, and wants to change his life. This probably applies to millions of people across the globe. The difference, though, is that Roll almost flips a switch overnight, changing his diet, mindset, and vision for his life. Roll loses weight, develops mental toughness, and not only starts to look like a different person but competes in the 320 mile Ultraman challenge! If you're middle age and want to change your routine, read this book.
"Unbreakable" by Jay Glazer: Many of us see Jay on Fox Sports and think, this guy has it all together. I always give credit to people who reveal their true selves, because the reality is that everyone has things that they struggle with. Glazer writes this book as if he's talking to you as a teammate on the journey, which is refreshing. He talks about "living in the gray," which is how anxiety and depression present themselves to him and how he's worked to overcome them. An open and honest book that leverages Jay's vulnerability to help you succeed.
"Stay Sane in an Insane World" by Greg Harden: Harden is legendary among professional athletes, notably Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, and Charles Woodson. As a peak performance coach, Harden worked at the University of Michigan for more than 30 years and shares from the heart his experiences that have helped thousands of athletes play better, be more self aware, and block out the noise around them.
"Never Settle" by Marty Smith: Smith is one of those guys where I say, "Man, he's living the dream." Reporting for ESPN, I see him across the SEC, interviewing coaches, and bringing meaningful stories to the public. This book is both heartfelt and funny, and at it's core, a testament to a man that knows who he is and gets the most out of every day. Some biographies and autobiographies are littered with PR; this book is about as genuine as you get.
