Best New Sports & Outdoor Books
Get game-day ready with this summer's most anticipated new books across the sports and outdoor recreation genres. Celebrate the grit, strategy and triumphs of championship-winning athletes, and uncover the secret behind their success. Sports writing brings you face-to-face with legendary figures and incredible underdogs ranging from Rocky Nelson to Lionel Messi.
Our in-house editorial team gathers up each month to select the best picks for your reading style. Like sports nerds arguing over stats, we review presales numbers, librarian recommendations and behind-the-scenes buzz to select championship-level reads that will make you feel like a Game Day Hero.
August 2026 New Book Releases
Aligned: The Data-Driven Guide to Performance, Recovery, and Human Potential
by PhD Holmes
From the Global Head of Human Performance at WHOOP, a data-powered guide to human potential, revealing that recovery is the hidden driver of peak performance
We often equate peak performance with relentless effort: early mornings, intense workouts and unwavering discipline. But what if the true catalyst for excellence lies not in exertion, but in restoration? Pulling from one of the world's largest physiological datasets and more than two decades of experience operating in high-stakes, high-stress environments, Holmes makes a compelling case: your downtime is your competitive advantage.
Dr. Kristen Holmes, psychophysiologist and Global Head of Human Performance at WHOOP, challenges conventional wisdom by revealing that recovery is not a luxury; it's a necessity. She demonstrates that aligning with our body's natural rhythms is the key to unlocking sustained vitality and presence, and bridges the gap between cutting-edge science and practical application. You'll discover how to:
- Align with your biological rhythms: Learn how circadian alignment affects hormonal health, cognitive function, sleep quality, and emotional well-being, and how to synchronize your daily routines and live with more joy and energy.
- Decode the science of recovery: Understand why recovery isn't a luxury but a necessity, and how metrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and sleep consistency are critical indicators of resilience and readiness.
- Translate data into action: Transform complex biometric data into daily rituals that reinforce your desired identity and support continuous growth.
- Shape your emotional resilience: Explore Dr. Holmes's innovative frameworks--HEAL (Heart, Energy, Autonomy, Love), TEAM (Time, Expectations, Attachments, Memory), and PEAC (Purpose, Efficacy, Autonomy, Connection)--each offering a unique lens to understand and shape your internal narratives and overall well-being.
Whether you're an elite athlete, a corporate leader, or someone seeking deeper meaning in your life, Aligned serves as a field guide to living at full capacity, in tune with both body and mind.
Another Life: Discovering the Healing Power of Purpose on My Long Journey from Player to Preacher
by Darryl Strawberry - Jerome Preisler
A record-breaking MLB star turned minister shares the wisdom he gained from overcoming hardships and reminds us that it's never too late to find a new life through love, generosity, compassion and personal growth.
With four World Series rings, baseball legend Darryl Strawberry is one of the greatest hitters in the long history of the New York Mets, with a home-run record that held for 37 years. But Darryl's success on the baseball field came hand-in-hand with personal challenges that included substance abuse, divorces, cancer, and jail time.
Two decades ago, he overcame the demons brought on by his childhood traumas and found true redemption and restoration. Today, as an ordained Minister of the Gospel, his purpose and passion is helping others transform their lives.
Another Life takes readers on the road with Darryl as he travels around the country with his son Jordan, preaching 270 days a year at motivational conferences and churches, and in schools, prisons, and hospitals. Strawberry's life experiences show us that we all can heal what's broken and hurting on the inside, and that our physical health is as important as our emotional and spiritual health.
In these pages, he reflects on the invaluable lessons he's learned--and the deep-rooted values and principles he's gained--through hard experience, the powerful living examples of his mother Ruby and wife Tracy, and his eventual acceptance of Christ's unconditional love.
Everyone knows Darryl Strawberry as the home-run king. Another Life shares Darryl's true legacy as a minister, father, and a believer in restoration, redemption, and starting over.
Because of a Dog: How an Enchanted Italian Village Mended a Broken Heart
by Matthew Sigman
One dog's love. One man's journey.
When Matthew Sigman's beloved dog, Augie, died, his world fell apart. His boyfriend broke up with him. His work dried up. Even the ceiling of his West Village apartment collapsed. Heartbroken and adrift, Matthew did the only thing he could--he ran.
An impulsive escape to Europe didn't lead to the cafés of Paris or the islands of Greece. Instead, thanks to a fluke in an Airbnb map, he landed in Quarna, a remote Italian mountain village seemingly hidden from tourists and from time itself. There, amid winding cobblestone streets and alpine silence, Matthew stumbled into an unlikely friendship and madcap adventures with an exuberant innkeeper, Valerio, and discovered the warmth of a community that welcomed him as one of their own.
In Because of a Dog, Matthew traces a journey from profound grief to unexpected renewal, from isolation to connection. With wit, poignancy, and hard-won insight, this memoir is a reminder that sometimes, when all seems lost, it takes a village to mend a broken heart.
The Complete High-Protein Cookbook: Hit Your Protein Goals, Boost Fiber, Love Every Bite
by America's Test Kitchen America's Test Kitchen
Nourish your body and fuel your day with deliciously satisfying high-protein recipes packed with fiber and essential nutrients
200+ dietician-backed recipes, with meal-prep tips and meal plans
Savor fabulous food while hitting your protein goals. These 200+ meals and snacks show just how delicious everyday food can be while maximizing protein and increasing fiber, too. No matter your reason for eating high protein, this book has what you need. Short ingredient lists, streamlined prep, make-ahead tips, ways to customize meals for everyone at the table, meal plans, plus easy ways to turbo-boost protein ensure that this food fits seamlessly into your routine with minimal work--and maximum flavor.
- Pack-and-go breakfasts and lunches: Custardy Denver Egg Bites; cozy Baked Apple-Pecan Oatmeal Bites; zesty Quinoa Taco Salad; and superfresh Seared Tuna Poke Salad.
- Customizable ingredients and bowls: Make mix-and-match components ahead for supersimple meals on demand or to assemble Pomegranate Salmon and Bulgur Bowl, Halal Cart Chicken and Rice Bowl, or Peanut-Sesame Tofu Bowl.
- Fast, delicious dinners: Air-Fryer Spiced Chicken Kebabs with Vegetable-Bulgur Pilaf; One-Pan Sirloin Steak Tips with Charro Beans; and Picadillo-Style Turkey Chili in 45 minutes or less.
- No-need-to-resist snacks and treats: Crispy Parmesan Chicken Nuggets and Spicy BBQ Chickpeas satisfy savory cravings. For a sweet treat, go for Cottage Cheesecake or Lemon-Chia Mug Cake.
- Whole-food focus: Add great flavor with protein boosters like cottage cheese for the fluffiest pancakes, yogurt for supercreamy chicken salad, whole-wheat flour in tender muffins, and nuts and seeds in flavorful crusts for fish or chicken. You don't need protein powders to make these recipes (though we show you how to best use them).
- Flexible tips to meet high-protein goals: Pointers for making and storing meals, meal components, and snacks ensure that healthy options are always on hand. Boost It tips with each recipe tell you how to supercharge protein content.
The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis
by Matthew Futterman
A riveting exposé of professional tennis by revered journalist Matthew Futterman (of The New York Times and The Athletic), The Cruelest Game offers never-before-reported access to the daily routines, mindsets, and personal trials faced by today's major stars and tomorrow's rising newcomers - A Boston Globe and Bloomberg Best Book of the Summer
"Matt Futterman is one of the clearest modern-day journalistic voices in tennis. ... A great read for all sports fans."-- Billie Jean King
Alcaraz, Sinner and Shelton ... Sabalenka, Gauff and Świątek ... Djokovic, Williams and Nadal. The story of modern tennis shines with immense fortune and glamour, as well as unrelenting high stakes like the game has never seen before. Players excel and implode under excruciating pressure, alone on the court for the world to see. With legends like Rafa, Roger and Serena retired and Novak trying to figure out when to go, a new generation of electric stars has burst onto the scene and begun their quest for the secret codes that will allow them to thrive at the top of a brutal game.
Matthew Futterman, whose dynamic insider reporting has placed him at the center of the tennis world, now takes us inside this rarified sport as it has never been seen. From private practice courts to the tunnels beneath the major tournament stadiums, from training academies to faraway war-torn hometowns, Futterman sits us down with the stars whose relentless drive leads them to battle against a game of millimeters, and explains the off-court tensions that can both lift and destroy them. With unmatched access to the top players and coaches, and their unique psyches and personalities, The Cruelest Game is a breathtaking account of what it takes to succeed, the price that is paid, and the insatiable competitive spirit that propels the rarest of athletes to greatness.
Duct Tape and Determination: A True Story of Turning Devastation Into Grit
by Jacky Hunt-Broersma - Cindy Kuzma - Mirna Valerio
"Duct Tape and Determination is the unexpected story of Jacky Hunt-Broersma, who is forced to find courage and determination, inviting the reader to do as she does: Just keep going. A truly inspiring read for striving under any passion or craft." – DEENA KASTOR, Olympic medalist and New York Times bestselling author of Let Your Mind Run
Struggle. Overcome. Inspire.
For Jacky Hunt-Broersma, a cancer diagnosis in her mid-twenties brought a life-changing challenge: a below-the-knee amputation. Navigating her new reality, Jacky first kept her difference hidden as she learned to walk and do daily activities using a prosthesis. Years later, inspired by her husband's passion for races, Jacky started to run and hasn't stopped since. Two decades after losing her leg, she ran 104 marathons in 104 consecutive days, setting a world record.
Duct Tape and Determination is more than a running memoir; it's a story of turning pain into purpose. With honesty and humor, Jacky shares the highs and lows of her journey: the blisters and breakdowns, the finish lines and triumphs, and the duct tape fixes that kept her moving forward.
Her story proves that persistence, positivity, and grit can take you farther than you ever imagined, wherever it is you're hoping your life will take you.
"Jacky Hunt-Broersma pulls you in from the very first mile, taking you from cancer patient to internationally recognized runner with heart and humor. Her story is a powerful reminder how life-changing simply putting one foot in front of the other can be." – Dimity McDowell, cohost of Another Mother Runner and author of The 27th Mile: How to Smooth the Rough Transition Out of Your Running Years
A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving: Lessons on Love, Care, and Survival: A Memoir
by Virginia Eubanks
Someone you love, maybe the person you love most in the world, is drowning. Should you jump in the water? Will you be able to bring both of you back to shore?
One night, Virginia Eubanks received the kind of news we all fear. Her beloved partner had been brutally beaten, just steps from their home.
She jumped in the water.
Eubanks dove into the responsibilities of caregiving. In the weeks, months and years that followed, she and her partner, J., struggled to stay afloat as they faced wave upon wave of setbacks: police disinterest, suspended health insurance, inadequate medical care, lost income, lost friends, endless paperwork, and for J., a serious case of post-traumatic stress disorder. Then, a second case. Eubanks herself developed what is known as collateral PTSD, a condition common among caregivers but rarely discussed.
She scanned the horizon for help.
A reporter and an activist, Eubanks turned to reliable sources for guidance: scientists, therapists, trauma theorists, social movements. But it wasn't until she happened on an old lifesaving manual that she found advice that actually helped. Inspired by its lessons, she signed up for instruction in wilderness first aid, kayak self-rescue, Winter Survival 101, map and compass navigation, bushwhacking, and lifeguarding. She went out in search of other people's stories and interviewed experts, everyone from neuroscientists to forest rangers. She gathered skills and knowledge that made her feel strong, competent, better prepared for the challenges ahead.
Disarmingly funny and quietly wise, A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving is the story -- heart-wrenching and all too relatable -- of how one woman tried to rescue her beloved and learned that she would also have to rescue herself. Built from both loss and connection, it is a moving, hopeful love story about two people caught in their own kind of wilderness, trying not just to survive but to truly care for each other. It asks that we reconsider the ways in which we tend to our loved ones and ourselves, and remember the communities of care that sustain us. It reminds us: no one survives the wilderness alone.
Pardon My Book: Ten Years of the Best (and Worst) in Sports from Pardon My Take
by Big Cat - PFT Commenter
In celebration of its tenth anniversary, the long-awaited, definitive, authorized -- and occasionally accurate -- guide to the #1 sports podcast, Pardon My Take.
It's finally here! Pardon My Book is packed with ten years of crazy content from the wildest, most irreverent sports podcast of all time. Written and curated by Big Cat and PFT with the help of the PMT crew, this entertaining yearbook takes fans behind the scenes of the show, covering topics as honorable and as stupid as:
- The origin story of Pardon My Take and the most pivotal 30 hours in human history
- How Grit Week started, what grit actually means, and what happens when you spend way too many hours trapped in an RV with your best friends
- The Rules and 4 Keys to Making a successful podcast that are in no way complete and total luck
- The funniest guests who embraced our chaos (Blake Bortles, Coach O, Jerry O'Connell, Ryan Whitney, the Long brothers, and many others)
- Testimonials from reporting legends and loyal fans of the show, including Joe Buck, Scott Van Pelt, Chris Berman, Mike Florio, and Adam Schefter
- Original contributions from the entire PMT universe, including PFT's definitive ranking of the greatest fullbacks of all time, Big Cat's 10 Rules to Gambling, Hank on golf, Zac on icecream (yes, one word), and, naturally, a deeply serious Mount Rushmore of Best Italian American Athletes
- "Extracurriculars," a collection of stories, disasters, arguments, rankings, and side quests that didn't fit anywhere else in the book
And much, much more!
July 2026 New Book Releases
The Country Road Murders: A Thriller
by James Patterson - Mike Lupica
After a shocking accident, Silas Tucker's legendary football career is suddenly over in this action-packed sports thriller powered by loyalty, competition, and family.
Humbled, but never defeated, he returns to his backwoods hometown, Cross Rivers, North Carolina, where his father was murdered.
He goes back to what's left of his family and their small, struggling farm. He reunites with his best friend in the world--Taylor McCarter Webb, who is now married.
Then Silas is pulled into a deadly battle with the Southern Mafia who control drugs, trafficking and murder.
As the suspense crescendos, Silas follows one rule for survival: you don't ride these country roads alone, or in the dead of night.
Why Hulk Hogan Matters
by David Shoemaker
A fitting tribute to the most popular and provocative professional wrestler of all time.
Step into the ring as David Shoemaker wrestles with the legacy of the iconic Hulk Hogan. Why Hulk Hogan Matters traces the explosive heat and heel turns of how Hulk Hogan became a true cultural phenomenon.
Whether you're a lifelong Hulkamanic or fascinated by the Hulk's truly unique, larger-than-life celebrity, Why Hulk Hogan Matters is the ultimate homage to a legend of the ring.
David Shoemaker has been writing about wrestling since 2009. He is the host of the podcast The Masked Man Show With Kaz and the author of The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling.
Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love for the Wild (Original)
by Heather Hansman
The inspiring, untold story of three incredible women who spearheaded recreation, conservation and resilience in America's most beloved landscapes, for readers of Pam Houston and David Grann
Throughout the 20th century Georgie White, Anne LaBastille, and Dolores LaChapelle did more to inspire our love of the great outdoors than just about anyone.
- Georgie devoted her life to the Grand Canyon, kickstarting the river running craze in the 40s and igniting the recreation industry
- Anne, a wilderness guide and bestselling author, protected endangered species and predicted the impacts of climate change from her isolated, off-grid cabin in the Adirondacks.
- And deep powder skier Dolores developed an environmental philosophy that shaped everything from the radical environmental movement of the '70s to modern conservation ethics.
Now, for the first time, outdoor journalist and bestselling author of Powder Days Heather Hansman goes deep into multiple rugged American landscapes to bring three fascinating lives to the forefront of the outdoor movement, affirming their rightful place in the larger story of an evolving American wild.
Iceland Annie: The Evolution of a Crossfit Games Legend
by Annie Thorisdottir - Christine Bald
An inspiring memoir by CrossFit legend Annie Thorisdottir, the first woman to win the CrossFit Games twice.
In 2011, Annie Thorisdottir earned the title "Fittest Woman on Earth" after winning the CrossFit Games in only her third year as a competitor. In 2012, she did it again, becoming the first woman to ever win the Games twice, solidifying herself amongst the CrossFit greats.
Iceland Annie is the story of how she got there, and everything that happened after. From bursting onto the CrossFit scene at the 2009 Games and famously hitting her first-ever muscle-up mid-competition, to becoming a two-time champion and mentor to athletes like Katrin Davidsdottir, to surviving the traumatic birth of her daughter and the battle with postpartum depression--culminating in a stunning 2021 comeback, when she placed third at the Games less than a year after giving birth.
Now, for the first time ever, Annie shares the intimate details of her career, delving into her mental resilience, determination, and the struggles and triumphs she's faced as a top-level competitor over three separate decades.
Honolulu Blues: How Loving a Losing Team Created a Winning Man
by Joel Walkowski
A comedic play-by-play of historic gridiron failure marked by stunning almost wins and saw-it-coming losses that positions Detroit Lions lore as the backdrop for exploring themes of generational trauma, addiction, mental illness, and death
The city of Detroit and its football team have been a punchline since the 1960s--the Same Old Lions seem to have losing baked into their DNA.
Joel Walkowski is a poor kid from the Midwest, cut from the same cloth as his loveable, eccentric father, Banjo Bob, who pushes forward down the field amidst his autism, alcoholism, and severe childhood trauma. They see each other most clearly on Sundays, coming together as the twelfth man on the sidelines of a team whose history looks a lot like theirs--seasons full of promise upended by a penchant for falling short.
In Honolulu Blues Joel intertwines the fate of two losers--the Detroit Lions and himself--to explore the broader impact a city's football team can have on its residents, proving that you can overcome anything if you can learn to love what disappoints you.
Born and raised to be an addict, Joel is hooked on Adderall by seven and hops on the fast track to a life of alcoholism, homelessness, and--worst of all--a career in stand-up comedy. He holds his head high because he, like his family and their beloved team, is supposed to lose.
Learning from the Lions what his father couldn't teach him, Joel charts his journey to sobriety while caring for his dying father, coming to terms with the fact that there's a difference between failing and never having been set up for success.
Honolulu Blues proves the Lions story is the story of being human--carving your own path out of the ruts of the past and accepting that you don't have to win to be worth rooting for.
Bloodlines: A Story of Horses, Family, and Obsession
by Liza J Nicholas
Bloodlines: A Story of Horses, Family, and Obsession is a love story -- of a mother's love for her husband and a father's love for horses. Combining memoir and social history with a journey into the world of horses, Liza J. Nicholas reveals how a parent's passions can determine the destiny of an entire family.
In the darkest days of the Depression, and still in high school, Nicholas's father, Chuck, escaped his fate on a failing Iowa farm and joined a local horse trainer on the nationwide county fair circuit. From the moment he fell in with the strutting strangers who passed through town at fair time, his life trajectory was set. He was ensorcelled by the thoroughbred, the most royal of equines. And even as he and his wife had children of their own, the menagerie of grooms, jockeys, trainers, and gamblers who made up the world of horse racing became his true family.
Set in western Montana, the Nebraska Sandhills, rural Iowa, and beyond, Bloodlines tells the story of how one man's passions ripple through generations. It is the story of a family who followed their father across the country in search of the fastest horse, the best deal, the promise of a payday.
Padel for Dummies
by Austin Edwards
An easy-to-follow guide to one of the fastest growing racquet sports in the world
Interested in learning a fun "new" racquet sport that's great exercise, incredibly social, and known for being "easy to learn but hard to master?" Why not try padel?
In Padel For Dummies, lifelong racquet sports lover turned padel evangelist/journalist, Austin Edwards, explains everything you need to know to get started playing the game. You'll learn all about the unique court dimensions and specifications, the equipment that players use, the rules of play, common terms, and basic playing strategies.
The author walks you through useful techniques to improve your practices, drills you can use to develop your skills, and even tips on finding courts and clubs in your community so you can meet new friends to play with.
Inside the book:
- Discover why padel is "the world's fastest growing sport"
- Learn how padel is similar to - and different from - other popular racquet sports like tennis, pickleball, and squash
- Get up to speed on all of padel's unique rules and uncover key strategies for winning
- Unlock expert advice, tips, and drills to improve your game
- Start truly living "the padel life" by traveling for tournaments, joining leagues, watching the pros, and possibly building your very own court!
Perfect for people of all ages who want to try out a popular and fast-growing racquet sport that's fun, fast, and healthy, Padel For Dummies is an easy-to-read guide packed with the info, resources, and advice you need to get started with padel in no time.
June Sports Books & Nonfiction Picks
Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess
by Ben Mezrich
"The best black-and-white drama this side of Chess on Broadway." - Vanity Fair
From the bestselling author of The Accidental Billionaires and Bringing Down the House comes the cinematic true story about the biggest scandal in modern chess. In September 2022, the unthinkable happened: 19-year-old American chess prodigy Hans Niemann defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen in a stunning face-to-face match.
Within days, Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating -- a bombshell allegation that rocked the chess world. As the scandal spiraled, Chess.com, the dominant force in online chess, launched a high-stakes investigation igniting a global media firestorm.
But Checkmate is about more than a cheating scandal. It's the story of a teenager willing to risk everything to rise to the top; a reclusive genius suddenly fighting to protect his legacy; and a centuries-old game transforming into a billion-dollar industry fueled by streaming, sponsorships and Silicon Valley power players.
With exclusive access to the central figures, Ben Mezrich takes readers deep inside the weird, wild and cutthroat world of competitive chess, where genius meets ambition and every move could be your last.
Crossroads: A Memoir in Baseball and Life
by Dusty Baker
Legendary baseball player and manager Dusty Baker reflects on his extraordinary career, which is filled with invaluable lessons on perseverance, leadership and living life meaningfully on the field and off.
Dusty Baker walked with baseball legends and became one himself. After he signed with the Braves in 1968 at the age of 19 against his father's wishes, no less than the great Hank Aaron promised to take Baker under his wing. Mentored by Aaron, Orlando Cepeda and Willie Mays, Baker became a premier hitter, helping take the Dodgers to a World Series victory in 1981. He would bookend this with another championship in 2022, this time as a manager, helping guide and redeem a Houston Astros team humbled by a cheating scandal.
Respected by generations across the game, Baker has come to embody the spirit of the sport--and yet, to discuss his baseball career is only to scratch the surface of a remarkable life. Crossroads will bring readers into the mind of one of baseball's mavericks: a curious, inquisitive thinker whose deep interest in the worlds of music, wine, and the simpler joys of life charts a journey of success, struggle, faith, and perseverance. Baker's memoir is filled with hard-earned wisdom and a love for life so plentiful, it seems to radiate from every sentence.
A true American original, counting among his friends presidents and dignitaries, bluesmen and artists, Baker weaves a spell of life at the crossroads, where fate turns on our decisions and the unexpected answers that sometimes seek us out when we least expect it.
The Messi Effect: How the Global Legend Changed the Future of American Soccer
by Paul Tenorio
In The Messi Effect, Paul Tenorio, national soccer writer for The Athletic, draws on coveted insider access to bring readers behind the ropes and into the inner sanctum and chronicle the last act of Lionel Messi.
In The Messi Effect, Paul Tenorio, national soccer writer for The Athletic, who has spent more than a decade breaking news and providing critical insight into the power and politics of the sport, draws on his numerous high-ranking sources inside Inter Miami, American soccer, and overseas to bring readers behind the scenes and chronicle the last act of Lionel Messi.
The Messi Effect takes you inside the locker room as Messi's arrival turned a last-place team into a global phenomenon, and into the Major League Soccer boardroom as league owners debated how to leverage Messi's arrival to shape the future of the league and sport in America. From his cinematic debut goal to his first trophy with Miami and across two more transformative seasons, Messi's impact was immediate and enormous. His pink No. 10 shirt became the world's best-selling jersey, MLS stadiums sold out in city after city, and Inter Miami's valuation soared past $1 billion.
This is a book about one man's legacy in a rapidly growing and changing game. It's a story about the business of sport and how a player can be both athlete and economic engine. It's an inside look at how the business of MLS evolved historically and in real time after the legend's arrival. And it's the story of how a GOAT rides off into the sunset, the choices he makes, and the aftereffects of his greatness for future generations
No Dumb Questions: And All of Our Dumbest Answers
by Jason Kelce - Travis Kelce
Brothers, Super Bowl Champions, and now, published authors. That's right, authors. Look, we're as surprised as you.
New Heights hosts Jason and Travis Kelce attempt to tackle some of life's dumbest questions from the 92%ers. Join us on this discovery of knowledge as we cover topics like sports, relationships, parenting, gorilla fights and many more quandaries that man has pondered since he first gazed upon the stars.
- FOOTBALL: Why don't players squirt their own water?
- CUISINE: Do you pour the cereal first or the milk?
- SCIENCE: If you could make one of your body parts detachable, which would you choose?
When you think philosophy, you'll probably think of names like Socrates, Plato or Aristotle. But none of those men have won a single Super Bowl, so what do they know? No Dumb Questions is a collection of Jason and Travis's wisest, funniest and most electric debates that could only come from the collected wisdom of a combined 27 seasons in the NFL.
Over/Under: An Unexpected History of Sports Betting
by David Bockino
Named one of the most anticipated nonfiction books of 2026 by The New York Times Book Review
The definitive, colorful history of American sports betting that challenges the dialogue around one of our country's fastest growing (and most controversial) industries.
Taking readers on a rollicking journey through the history of American sports betting, Over/Under proposes a fascinating and unexpected theory: What if sports betting isn't just a result of the multibillion-dollar American sports industry, but rather the primary reason for it? An essential catalyst for nearly 200 years of sports fandom and obsession?
The narrative starts in mid-19th century New York City, as a new sport called baseball lures bettors out of shadowy gambling halls and into the fresh air. The story then heads to Churchill Downs and Augusta National Golf Club where sports betting dresses up in fancy outfits, to Chicago and Minneapolis where sports betting meets the Mafia and gets some structure, and to Las Vegas and the Caribbean where sports betting makes some people very rich.
Along the way, the story rolls out a cast of colorful characters: hustlers, wise guys, moguls, opportunists, grifters, touts. A parade of personalities, year after year, all trying to make a quick buck. Because isn't that the whole point?
Written for those eager to explore the history of a recently-legalized industry -- one that's been described both as a financial bonanza and an impending disaster -- Over/Under is poised to become the definitive history of a controversial industry in the midst of incredible, yet uncertain, growth.
Speed: How It Explains the World
by Vaclav Smil
A data-driven, scientific account of our need for speed, exploring a wide range of topics including evolution, transportation and technology
In a world obsessed with efficiency, perhaps nothing is valued as highly as being fast. Some of our greatest achievements include building planes that break the sound barrier and creating computers that process data at the touch of a button. With signature clarity, Smil offers accessible explanations of every major speed category, from wind erosion to hunting cheetahs, from Boeing 747s to America's war time industrial mobilization to the speed of global energy decarbonization.
But as Smil argues in this paradigm-shifting book, speed isn't just a metric to optimize. In Speed, Smil expands on our traditional, human-centric understanding of speed to explore phenomena of space and time, evolution and human achievement. What was the speed of planet formation? Of the development of different life forms? What happened in the collision of humans and the limits of natural speed, and what has emerged from our incessant desire to push those boundaries?
Lauded for his "compelling, fascinating, realistic" (Steven Pinker) portraits of the modern world, Smil knows that we can't, won't, and shouldn't abandon our collective need for speed. But as good devotees of speed's eminence, we must understand it, its value and its cost. Rich in historical and contemporary data, the latest work by Smil is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary guidebook for science readers living in the fast lane.
The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America
by Eric Moskowitz
From Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Eric Moskowitz comes the riveting story of the first true coast-to-coast automobile race in U.S. history, a fast-paced tale of the gritty and determined drivers who braved hostile terrain, mechanical failure, and shockingly, sabotage to take home the gold.
In 1909, America was home to 253 automakers, a landscape of visionaries, schemers and would-be barons of the new century. But when playboy millionaire M. Robert Guggenheim announced an audacious "Ocean to Ocean" contest from New York City to the Seattle World's Fair, only three companies were brassy enough to show up at the starting line: Acme, Ford and Shawmut.
Oddsmakers favored the Acme and Itala, a pricy import also joining the race, while dismissing the pint-sized Ford -- a homely little number called the Model T -- and the long-shot Shawmut, struggling to survive after a factory fire. In fact, many didn't believe any of the cars would reach Seattle at all, as they would need to forge a 4,106-mile course of mountain ranges, mud bogs, washed-out wagon bridges and harrowing canyon trails, long before the era of asphalt highways, seatbelts and service stations.
But Henry Ford was intent on proving that the Model T could go the distance and beat out the muscular luxury cars -- and he didn't plan to leave it to chance. Indeed, a little over three weeks after the race began, a Ford crossed the line hours ahead of the Shawmut.
Except that victory was a fraud. The Hardest, Longest Race is a colorful tale of ambition and subterfuge, but it's also a love letter to America at the turn of the 20th century. As a seeming people's champion, a car for the masses, traverses the vast nation, Moskowitz brings to vivid life the diverse populace and landscape that it would soon transform.
Grill: Easy Grilling, Big Flavor
by Jamie Oliver
TRANSFORM YOUR GRILLING WITH JAMIE OLIVER'S 90 EASY, FLAVOR-PACKED RECIPES--PERFECT FOR OUTDOOR COOKING.
Discover how to grill, smoke and sizzle your way to crowd-pleasing meals with Jamie's ultimate guide to grilling. In this sizzling cookbook, Jamie shares 90 brilliant recipes that show just how exciting, creative and delicious grilling can be. Whether you're cooking on charcoal, gas or over an open flame, Jamie's got you covered, from marinades and rubs to mastering heat, smoke and timing.
Get ready for smoky flavors, bold ingredients and good times with recipes that turn every meal into a feast to remember, whatever the weather, including:
- Romesco Cauliflower
- Herby Eggplant and Zingy Feta Flatbreads
- Grilled Black Pepper Peaches
- Arrabbiata Chicken Drumsticks
- Lemon Steamed Fish and Charred Greens
- Paprika Pulled Pork
- Lamb Moussaka Burgers
- Grilled Green Grain Salad
… and plenty more mouth-watering grilled dishes, sides and sauces to keep your grill game strong all year round.
Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution
by Brooke Barbier
America's founding generation drank a staggering amount of alcohol by today's standards.
It influenced their politics, built and sustained their relationships and drove the economy. Booze was not a small part of colonial society, nor covertly consumed in private spaces -- it was integral to American life. Historians have been reluctant to discuss the influence of alcohol on the founding of the United States, but it's necessary if we want to gain a full picture of the movement. It's time to reveal the drunken side of the American Revolution.
In Cocked and Boozy, two of Benjamin Franklin's 200 terms for drunkenness, public historian Brooke Barbier examines the role that alcohol played in spurring, binding and winning the American Revolution and how it shaped the nascent United States. Every chapter concludes with an 18th century cocktail recipe made for modern tastes, so readers can participate in their own historic tippling.
The intoxicating story begins in 1763 after the end of the French and Indian War and spans until 1800, with the presidential election of Thomas Jefferson. During these nearly four decades, Americans witnessed unprecedented disorder and prodigious growth, and through it all--powering it, in fact--was alcohol. Put simply, drink helped transform British subjects into Americans.
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