Sports Audiobooks | Biography & Memoir

Comeback Season: My Unlikely Story of Friendship with the Greatest Living Negro League Baseball Play

"The uplifting, unlikely, and inspirational true story of the friendships formed between Cam Perron—a white, baseball-obsessed teenager from Boston—and hundreds of former professional Negro League players, who were still awaiting the recognition and compensation that they deserved from Major League Baseball more than fifty years after their playing days were over. Featuring the players' fascinating stories and original photographs. Cam Perron always loved history, and from an early age, he had a knack for collecting. But when he was twelve and bought a set of Topps baseball cards featuring several players from the Negro Leagues, something clicked. Cam started writing letters to former Negro League players in 2007, asking for their autographs and a few words about their careers. He got back much more than he expected. The players responded with detailed stories about their glory days on the field, and the racism they faced, including run-ins with the KKK. They explained how they were repeatedly kept out of the major leagues and confined to the historic but lower-paying Negro Leagues, even after Jackie Robinson—who got his start in the Negro Leagues—broke the color barrier. By the time Cam finished middle school, letters had turned into phone calls, and he was spending hours a day talking with the players. In these conversations, many of the players revealed that their careers had been unrecognized over time, and they'd fallen out of touch with their former teammates. So Cam, along with a small group of fellow researchers, organized the first annual Negro League Players Reunion in Birmingham, Alabama in 2010. At the celebratory, week-long event, fifteen-year-old Cam and the players—who were in their 70s, 80s, and 90s—finally met in person. They quickly became family. As Cam and the players returned to the reunion year after year, Cam became deeply involved in a complicated mission to help many players get pension money that they were owed from Major League Baseball. He also worked to get a Negro League museum opened in Birmingham, and stock it with memorabilia. Sports fans—and anyone who enjoys a heartfelt story—will have their eyes opened by this book about unlikely friendships, the power of memories, and just how far a childhood interest can go."

Cam Perron (Author), Aden Hakimi, David Sadzin, Lamarr Gulley, Leon Nixon, Robin Eller (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stronger

"Brought to you by Penguin. To understand how to empower yourself, first of all you have to recognize and accept your vulnerability. In Stronger, Gareth shares how he has managed to deal with the adversity life has thrown at him over the years, from his school years to his most recent difficult announcement that he is living with HIV. Gareth's incredible willingness to expose his deepest emotional frailties as a man and come through even stronger as a result have made him a national hero and a role model for us all. Whether he is confronting the physical challenges of an Iron Man, or the mental resilience needed to be true to who you are, or weighing the medals and trophies he's won alongside the mistakes he's made, Gareth is unwaveringly honest. An inspirational rallying call, Stronger is a vital read for anyone who wants to turn their fear into a strength and to not only survive, but to thrive. © Gareth Thomas 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

Gareth Thomas (Author), Matthew Gravelle (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Arabic] - ميسي القصّة الحقيقيّة للفتى الذي أصبح أسطورة

"هرع العروسان إلى غرفتهما في الفندق فقد طالت مراسم الزفاف واحتفالاته وبإمكانهما الآن التفرغ لما هو أهم بكثير. أقفل الزوج باب الغرفة كي لا يزعجهما أحد، أما الزوجة فأسرعت لتشغيل التلفاز وجلس الإثنان يشاهدان مباراة فريق منتخب الأرجنتين الوطني في بطولة كأس العالم...أصبح هذان الشغوفان فيما بعد والدي ليونيل ميسي الأسطورة الذي خسفت أضواء شهرته عمالقة كرة القدم عبر تاريخها الطويل. ليونيل سليل أسرة إيطالية من جهة أبيه وأمه، كبر وترعرع في بيئة تعشق كرة القدم نساء ورجالا أطفالا وشيوخا. كانت جدته أول من شجعه وآمن بموهبته في اللعب مذ كان في سنته الخامسة طفلا رقيق الجسم يعاني من خلل في هرمونات النمو. أخذته بيدها وفعلت المستحيل بدءا من التوسل وحتى الشجار كي يقبله المدرب المتردد في فريق المدرسة...وفي النهاية أثبت الواقع صحة نبوءتها فصار الفتى الضعيف أعظم لاعب في التاريخ. هذا الكتاب ليس كشفا ببطولات ميسي أو تقريرا عن إنجازاته الكروية. إنه تصوير مذهل وواقعي لحياته الخاصة وللمجتمع الأرجنتيني في الفترة التي سبقت وواكبت ولادته. في الكتاب صور حية لشخصية ليونيل الإنسان، عاداته ومشاعره وأحلامه وإخفاقاته...ماذا يحب أن يقرأ ويأكل وكيف يمضي أوقات فراغه...كيف ينظر هو إلى نفسه وكيف يراه الآخرون، من الأم والخالة والأصدقاء مرورا بالزملاء والمدرسين وانتهاء بالشركات العملاقة من مثل نايكي وأديداس، بيبسي وماكدونالدز، ريبسول وماستر كارد التي كانت ولاتزال تتصارع للفوز بالبطل. رحلة السعي الدؤوب التي بدأها ميسي من أحد الأحياء الفقيرة على الطرف الغربي من المحيط الأطلسي أثمرت أخيرا حين طار إلى الطرف الآخر حيث ينتظره بلهفة عشاق الكرة الإسبانية وفريق برشلونة العملاق ومنذ ذلك الوقت لم يتوقف نجمه عن السطوع."

لوكا كيولي (Author), عمر رشيد (Narrator)

Audiobook

KG: A to Z: An Uncensored Encyclopedia of Life, Basketball, and Everything in Between

"NATIONAL BESTSELLER A unique, unfiltered memoir from the NBA champion and fifteen-time all-star ahead of his induction into the Hall of Fame. Kevin Garnett was one of the most dominant players the game of basketball has ever seen. He was also one of its most outspoken. Over the course of his illustrious twenty-one-year NBA career, he elevated trash talk to an art form and never shied away from sharing his thoughts on controversial subjects. In KG A to Z, published ahead of Garnett's induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he looks back on his life and career with the same raw candor. Garnett describes the adversity he faced growing up in South Carolina before ultimately relocating to Chicago, where he became one of the top prospects in the nation. He details his headline-making decision to skip college and become the first player in two decades to enter the draft directly from high school, starting a trend that would be followed by future superstars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He shares stories of playing with and against Bryant, James, Michael Jordan, and other NBA greats, and he chronicles his professional ups and downs, including winning a championship with the Boston Celtics. He also speaks his mind on a range of topics beyond basketball, such as fame, family, racism, spirituality, and music. Garnett's draft decision wasn't the only way he'd forever change the game. His ability to play on the perimeter as a big man foreshadowed the winning strategy now universally adopted by the league. He applies this same innovative spirit here, organizing the contents alphabetically as an encyclopedia. If you thought Kevin Garnett was exciting, inspiring, and unfiltered on the court, just wait until you read what he has to say in these pages."

Kevin Garnett (Author), Guy Lockard (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pain Killer: A Memoir of Big League Addiction

"#1 BESTSELLER 'This book is at times startling, yet very real and down to earth . . . I saw [Brantt] in all phases of his life and his career. I consider him a friend and an ally. Pain Killer sends a strong message.' --Darryl Sutter, former NHL player, coach, and GM From the only player to be banned for life from the NHL, a harrowing tale of addiction, and an astonishing path to recovery. Brantt Myhres wasn't around for the birth of his daughter. Myhres had played for seven different NHL teams, and had made millions. But he'd been suspended four times, all for drug use, and he had partied his way out of the league. By the time his daughter was born, he was penniless, sleeping on a friend's couch. He'd just been released from police custody. He had a choice between sticking around for the birth, or showing up for league-mandated rehab. He went to rehab. For the fifth time. This is his story, in his own words, of how he fought his way out of minor hockey into the big league, but never left behind the ghosts of a bleak and troubled childhood. He tells the story of discovering booze as a way of handling the anxiety of fighting, and of the thrill of cocaine. In the raw language of the locker room, he tells of how substance abuse poisoned the love he had in his life and sabotaged a great career. Full of stories of week-long benders, stripper-filled hot tubs, motorcycle crashes, and barroom brawls, Pain Killer is at its most powerful when Myhres acknowledges how he let himself down, and betrayed those who trusted him. Again and again, he fools the executives and doctors who gave him a second chance, then a third, then a fourth, and with each betrayal, he spirals further downward. But finally, on the eve of his daughter's birth, when all the money was gone, every bridge burnt, and every opportunity squandered, he was given a last chance. And this time, it worked. It worked so well, that not only has he been around for his daughter for the past eleven years, in 2015 he was signed by the LA Kings as a 'sober coach': a guy who'd been there, a guy who could recognize and help solve problems before they ruined lives and made headlines (as the Kings had seen happen three times that season). Not only did Myhres save himself, he saved others. Unpolished, unpretentious, and unflinching, Myhres tells it like it is, acknowledging every mistake, and painting a portrait of an angry, violent, dangerous man caught in the vice of something he couldn't control, and didn't understand. If Brantt Myhres can pull himself together, anyone can. And he does, convincingly, and inspiringly."

Brantt Myhres (Author), Brantt Myhres, Michael Landsberg (Narrator)

Audiobook

Shook: An Earthquake, a Legendary Mountain Guide, and Everest's Deadliest Day

"Dave Hahn, a local of Taos, New Mexico, is a legendary figure in mountaineering. Elite members of the climbing community have likened him to the Michael Jordan, Cal Ripkin, or Michael Phelps of the climbing world. The 2015 expedition he would lead came just one short year after the notorious Khumbu Icefall avalanche claimed the lives of sixteen Sherpas. Dave and his team—Sherpa sirdar Chhering Dorjee, assistant guide JJ Justman, base-camp manager Mark Tucker, and the eight clients who had trained for the privilege to attempt to summit with Dave Hahn—spent weeks honing the techniques that would help keep them alive through the Icefall and the Death Zone. None of this could have prepared them for the earthquake that shook Everest and all of their lives on the morning of April 25, 2015. Shook tells their story of resilience, nerve, and survival on the deadliest day on Everest."

Jennifer Hull (Author), Adam Verner (Narrator)

Audiobook

42 Today: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy

"Explores Jackie Robinson's compelling and complicated legacy Before the United States Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public schools, and before Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, Jackie Robinson walked onto the diamond on April 15, 1947, as first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making history as the first African American to integrate Major League Baseball in the twentieth century. Today a national icon, Robinson was a complicated man who navigated an even more complicated world that both celebrated and despised him. Many are familiar with Robinson as a baseball hero. Few, however, know of the inner turmoil that came with his historic status. Featuring piercing essays from a range of distinguished sportswriters, cultural critics, and scholars, this book explores Robinson's perspectives and legacies on civil rights, sports, faith, youth, and nonviolence, while providing rare glimpses into the struggles and strength of one of the nation's most athletically gifted and politically significant citizens. Featuring a foreword by celebrated directors and producers Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, this volume recasts Jackie Robinson’s legacy and establishes how he set a precedent for future civil rights activism, from Black Lives Matter to Colin Kaepernick."

Michael G. Long (Author), Mirron Willis (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Ultimate Road Trip: All 89 Games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ultimate Leafs Fan

""If you like hockey and travel, you'll love this book." - Rick Vaive, Leafs captain and three-time 50-goal scorer The Ultimate Leafs Fan attended every Toronto Maple Leafs contest of the 2018-19 NHL season and in this lively account makes it his mission to figure out what makes fans bleed blue Through 89 games, from October to April, Mike Wilson, a retired Bay Street trader, traveled to 31 rinks to document stories of Leafs love. Mike took every conceivable mode of transport, stayed in team hotels and on the couches of family and friends, then went into the cheap seats, private suites, the streets, sports bars, hotel lobbies, and many other unique locations where Leafs Nation gets together, to gather tales both hilarious and heart-wrenching. Media personalities, former players, and NHL celebrities gave Wilson their thoughts on what fuels the Leafs passion. With a foreword from club president Brendan Shanahan and colourful souvenir photos, The Ultimate Road Trip allows fans to vicariously experience the journey of a lifetime, and explores the passion of the sign-waving, fully costumed diehards who fill arenas from Alberta to Anaheim."

Lance Hornby, Mike Wilson (Author), Brian Mcfarlane, John Derringer (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - Travesía interminable

"El 3 de agosto de 2017, Antonio Argüelles nadó 35 kilómetros de Irlanda del Norte a Escocia. Cuando llegó a la orilla escocesa después de pasar casi 14 horas en aguas gélidas con tan sólo traje de baño, gorra y goggles, se convirtió en la séptima persona en conquistar los Siete Mares, un logro acuático equiparable a las Siete Cumbres del alpinismo. Su hazaña fue noticia internacional, en parte porque, a los 58 años, se convirtió en el atleta de mayor edad en completar el reto. Pese a las advertencias de otros y sus propias dudas, soportó mares tempestuosos, cientos de horas en el agua, medusas venenosas y muchos otros peligros para alcanzar su sueño. Pero ningún logro es un incidente aislado y ésta no es la excepción. Por eso, Travesía interminable no sólo relata las apasionantes aventuras de Antonio en el agua; también cuenta la historia de un niño hiperactivo y con sobrepeso que descubriría la natación, perseguiría un sueño olímpico, asistiría a la Universidad de Stanford y, más tarde, se adentraría en el mundo enredoso de la política mexicana. En el camino llevaría Speedo a México, organizaría los primeros triatlones en su país y viviría en carne propia las secuelas de un infame asesinato político. Ésta es una historia de riesgo, temor, confianza, fracasos y pérdidas; muestra cómo la capacidad de adaptarse, concentrar esfuerzos y controlar la mente permitió a Antonio superar cada revés que buscaba derribarlo dentro y fuera del agua."

Antonio Argüelles (Author), Antonio Argüelles (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Roger Federer: Ein Porträt von Simon Graf

"Roger Federer ist der Weltstar aus unserer Mitte. Als kleiner Junge verliebte er sich in die gelben Bälle, heute fasziniert er die Massen auf dem ganzen Globus. Nicht nur wegen seiner Virtuosität auf dem Court und seiner Erfolge, sondern auch wegen seiner Persönlichkeit. Dieses Porträt zeigt den Menschen und Sportler in all seinen Facetten. Und obschon er sich in anderen Sphären bewegt, können wir aus seiner Biografie viel mitnehmen. Das Porträt über Roger Federer von Simon Graf aus dem Jahr 2018 war im deutschsprachigen Raum ein Bestseller. Die englische wie die italienische Fassung sind weiterhin sehr gefragt. Nun präsentieren wir auf Deutsch eine aktualisierte, stark erweiterte und etwas luxuriösere Neuausgabe: Sie bietet fünf zusätzliche Kapitel, womit wir bei zwanzig angelangt sind, der aktuellen Anzahl der gewonnenen Grand-Slam-Titel des Racketkünstlers. Der Autor wählte einen anderen Ansatz als bei einer klassischen, chronologisch geordneten Biografie, kreiste Roger Federer in zwanzig Essays ein und erreicht damit eine noch nie dagewesene Vielseitigkeit. Nicht nur der Sportler wird thematisiert, sondern alle Seiten und Rollen Federers. Ein besonderer Leckerbissen der Neuausgabe ist das Interview mit Stanford-Professor und Philosoph Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht über die globale Faszination des Tennisvirtuosen. Zudem schildern namhafte Journalisten aus Paris, London, Hamburg, Buenos Aires und Melbourne ihre Sicht auf den Schweizer. Außerdem bietet der Autor Einblicke ins Familienleben der Federers und zeichnet nach, wieso die kleine Schweiz einen solch guten Nährboden bietet für erfolgreiche Tenniscracks. Das Porträt ist unterhaltsam geschrieben und durchsetzt von Anekdoten."

Simon Graf (Author), Matthias Ernst Holzmann (Narrator)

Audiobook

Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life

"Includes an audiobook-exclusive interview with Darryl! For anyone ready to move their life forward, from tragedy, personal failure, unfair circumstances, or just a sense of being stuck, baseball legend and bestselling author Darryl Strawberry offers transformational practices and the tangible hope that you can enjoy a future filled with power, purpose, and freedom. Darryl Strawberry has seen it all--the highs and lows of an intense career as a Major League Baseball all-star, drug addiction, marriage challenges, prison time, and battles with cancer. With honesty and transparency, Strawberry shares the same foundational principles that transformed his life from the inside out--the power of prayer, cultivating healthy friendships, weathering trials without losing heart, refreshing the way you think, and letting God change your life for good. Ultimately, he'll help you discover and trust the redemptive process of making small, daily decisions to follow God into a life of faith, health, and freedom. Strawberry weaves compelling stories from his own life with those of others he met through his speaking and ministry work across the nation. These uplifting testimonies will inspire you with the reminder that God's power can renew any life, no matter what has happened. With scriptural insights and real-life examples, Strawberry celebrates the miracles God works in us for healing, cleansing, and new beginnings. Strawberry's life story is proof that you can overcome life's adversities one decision, one step at a time. It's time to turn your season around. Reflection questions are available in the audiobook companion PDF download."

Darryl Strawberry (Author), Bobby Daniels, Darryl Strawberry (Narrator)

Audiobook

How to Run a Marathon: The Go-to Guide for Anyone and Everyone

"Ever been tempted to try a marathon? Maybe you’ve just started running, perhaps you’re gaining confidence, or are you already well on your way to conquering the iconic distance? Whatever stage you’re at on your journey, join marathon man Vassos Alexander as he shows us why we shouldn’t be afraid of the big 26.2. Every marathon runner’s journey is different. You might have caught the bug after experiencing that adrenaline rush of completing your first 5k; it might be a desire to finally cross something off your bucket list; or, perhaps it was a bit of an absentminded afterthought while watching TV, crisps in hand, and a niggling voice saying ‘maybe I could do that’ – it was for Vassos, at least. However far along you are in your journey, How to Run A Marathon shows us that absolutely anyone can take those first steps to defeating the distance. In fact, you’ll probably end up enjoying it a lot more than you think. Including inspiring interviews with runners from all walks of life, delightful tales of remarkable marathons all over the world, crucial training and nutrition tips and so much more, Vassos shares all the lessons he’s learnt — from start line to finisher’s medal. Funny, candid and motivating, this book will not only help you succeed in your marathon quest but empower you to complete the distance any way you want. Whether that’s achieving a particular time or simply finishing in one piece, How to Run a Marathon will guide you through."

Vassos Alexander (Author), Richard Trinder, Sarah Ovens (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sports Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir