Tooj 17 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Not sure if there's many on here that like to read a good sporting book. I'm currently reading this, which takes a different look into Football in Brazil and although it's a bit hard work at some points I'm really enjoying it. So what are people's favourite sporting books? Here's a few of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13915 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I've read a few of those Inverting The Pyramid, Garrincha & Brilliant Orange. Which were all excellent - the latter being the best - in my opinion. I'm going to get myself the updated inverting the Pyramid - which includes a few new things, particularly Pep's Barcelona, which I'm looking forward to but I wish he'd go into a bit more detail regards German football & the 1-3-3-3 sweeper systems etc. I'm currently about half way through David Peace's 'Red or Dead' about Bill Shankly which is a pretty good read and although the prose has been given some stick I think it's more to do with artistic statement & trying to get into the thought pattern of the man himself. Not his best work but worth a read and like most football books there's something to provoke thought and something to make you laugh etc. Obviously his book about Clough was a decent recent, joining the myriad of decent books about Clough, 'Provided you don't kiss me' & 'Nobody Ever Says Thank You' etc. Forza Italia! is a good read by the way - and does the same for Italian football what beautiful orange does for Dutch, though less eloquently. I'm going to have to go through my shelf for some recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 14166 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Read the Garrincha one and Pyramid too. I'll add these to the mix: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 Forgot this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I tend not to read sports books. Not even Moneyball Fever Pitch and Damned United were the only ones I can recall and they're like blonde on blonde. People look at you funny if you haven't read them. The new David Peace one on Shankly is supposed to be awful though isn't it? The British Sport book awards might be a canny reference for ideas though... http://www.britishsportsbookawards.co.uk/the-awards/award-winners/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 36024 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 The Fight by Norman Mailer. None of the pictures are showing up so not sure if anyone has mentioned it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4026 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 In hindsight it was metaphorical arse raping in terms of inspiring admiration but Lance Armstrong's It's not about the bike is/was excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13915 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I tend not to read sports books. Not even Moneyball Fever Pitch and Damned United were the only ones I can recall and they're like blonde on blonde. People look at you funny if you haven't read them. The new David Peace one on Shankly is supposed to be awful though isn't it? The British Sport book awards might be a canny reference for ideas though... http://www.britishsportsbookawards.co.uk/the-awards/award-winners/ 'Read or Dead' is canny thus far - I'm about 400 pages in but I don't think it was supposed to be a pleasant read. It does get quite repetitive in the prose mind. Bill Washed the dishes. Bill rinsed the dish cloth. Bill dried the dishes. Bill Opened the cupboard. Bill put away the dishes. etc etc but for like two pages Generally the football reads quite well & you get a good impression of his character etc, worth a read but you could probably give it a miss if you aren't already a fan of the author. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essembeeofsunderland 811 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 i thought Paul McGrath's book was poor. Roy Kean's is quality. Quinny the drink driver's book is a canny read.Did you know the makems spat on him after a game when he was leaving their ground and whilst he was with his family.He doesn't mention his drink driving so i have. Frank Worthington...One Hump Or Two is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essembeeofsunderland 811 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Maybe i'd starting to believe the hype before i read it.I'm reading Bert Trautmann's book at the moment.He's just said that germans were dying due to a condition called `congelated anus' because of -36 temparatures.I've never knowingly suffered from that but it sounds nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CleeToonFan 1 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 The numbers game-footballing moneyball. Moneyball-moneyballing moneyball. 8 Men Out-1919 World Series and the Black Sox Scandal of losing games for money. La Roja-History of Spanish football. Jackie Milburn A Man of Two Halfs-Awesome book by Jackies son. Ajax, the Dutch, the War- history of Dutch football and Ajax in particular from pre, during and post 2nd world war. Some amazing accounts. Calcio, a history of Italian football-good book about a footballing nation I loathe. Still an enjoyable read, probably be better for someone more interested in Italian football. Bradmans War- great book about the 1948 invincibles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 I've got the Paul Lake book to read as well which is meant to be really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13915 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 But myself the second edition of this yesterday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Quite fancy the Ibrahimovic autobiography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13915 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 It's supposed to be quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted October 26, 2013 Author Share Posted October 26, 2013 I've got it in my ever expanding to read list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 6127 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 The far corner by Harry Pearson is far and away the best football book ever released Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 The far corner by Harry Pearson is far and away the best football book ever released Care to elaborate why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 6127 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Covers North east football at every level and very, very funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Covers North east football at every level and very, very funny. It's an old one that, written in 1993 if I remember rightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howmanheyman 27833 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 This by far the funniest book I've read about football in general and NUFC in particular. Every game from 1979 to 1984 (including pre-season friendlies), has at least one story or comment by fans who were there whether about the game or getting there and is a bullshit-free zone. Lots of cuttings from papers and quotes from people of the time. I couldn't recommend this enough especially to anyone who went to games around then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 I've got a copy of that signed by the author. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howmanheyman 27833 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Mine got lent out and not seen for nearly two years now. I recognise some of the names of those telling their tales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howmanheyman 27833 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Zico Martin got mentioned but there was fuck all about Zanetti so it might not be for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 6127 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 It's an old one that, written in 1993 if I remember rightly. 1995 I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now