Sports & Recreation Audiobooks

The Wonder Boy: Luka Doncic and the Curse of Greatness

ESPN's Tim MacMahon examines the pressure of building around a prodigy in the NBA, through the prism of the Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic. THE WONDER BOY chronicles Doncic's journey from the most hyped European teen prospect in basketball history to a generational NBA star -- and all the madness that ensues as the Mavericks attempt to avoid blowing the golden opportunity of having a young, perennial MVP candidate as the franchise centerpiece. The book digs behind the scenes of the drama and dysfunction in Dallas during the early years of Doncic's career, when owner Mark Cuban's front office focused as much on internal power struggles as actually improving the basketball team. And it covers the new regime's effort to earn Doncic's loyalty, which requires putting the ruthless competitor in position to win. Readers will learn never-before-reported details about the blockbuster deal for Kristaps Porzingis that blew up in the Mavs' faces, the divorces with coach Rick Carlisle and GM Donnie Nelson, the series of mistakes that led to Jalen Brunson leaving after a run to the Western Conference finals, the new pairing with mercurial Kyrie Irving, roster moves that could have been made and much more. As the clock ticks on the Mavs' search for a co-star, THE WONDER BOY dives into how the Mavericks have handled a dilemma every NBA team would love to have.

Tim Macmahon (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Biggar Picture: My Life in Rugby

'When I reflect on it all, I can say without any doubt that I gave it everything.' Dan Biggar has never fitted the mould. Throughout his long and decorated career, he has had to confront the critics, to silence the cynics. His playing style has been described as brash, aggressive and forthright, and it has earned him a reputation he has never been able to shake. But to anyone who knows him off the pitch, he is one of the most grounded ambassadors the game could ask for. Honest and self-critical, The Biggar Picture sheds some light on this contradiction, and for the first time, Dan offers a rare insight into his personal and professional life. He talks candidly of his place within rugby, from the Premiership through to the Lions, and of the power dynamics found within Wales' most historically successful squad. He also opens the changing room doors on some of rugby's most compelling episodes and explores his relationships with past team mates, coaches and managers, from Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards to Alun Wyn Jones and Wayne Pivac. The Biggar Picture looks back over Dan's fifteen years at the very pinnacle of test rugby and in turn creates a portrait of a man who has taken in the joy, the graft and despair to become one of the sport's most compelling figures - and Wales' most capped fly-half.

Dan Biggar (Author), Dan Biggar (Narrator)

Audiobook

Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm

From one of the most outspoken and respected NBA athletes comes a groundbreaking and remarkable memoir chronicling a very public struggle with depression, in the hopes that other young men will not suffer alone. 'As men, and especially Black men, we don't talk about our mental health enough. We struggle to admit when things aren't okay, even when it's obvious to everybody around us. I've seen how toxic that can become. I've experienced it myself, keeping everything under wraps until your head and heart are full of fire and rage." DeMar DeRozan, six-time NBA All-Star, has been called a "basketball savant" (ESPN) and "the best closer in the NBA" (GQ)-but when he went public with his depression, it sparked a conversation that reached far beyond the court. By breaking the stigma of speaking out, he added a new, seldom-heard voice to the mental health dialogue: a successful Black male athlete, openly naming his pain and advocating for others to do the same. Now it's time to tell the full story. Born and raised in Compton, DeRozan was no stranger to hardship-living in poverty, losing friends to gang violence. In worn-out school gyms and community centers, fueled by hunger and a desire to prove himself, he started to rise, but doubts followed. In Above the Noise, DeRozan opens up about his proudest triumphs and the times he felt so weighed down he couldn't get out of bed. He reflects on what it took to make a name for himself in a new country after getting drafted by the Toronto Raptors, the pressure of playing with veteran athletes as a twenty-year-old rookie, and the pain of losing role models. From a scared, angry kid to a confident father of five, DeRozan traces his journey to basketball stardom and the forces that honed him into the player-and the slowly healing person-he is today. It will encourage anyone who has ever felt alone in their struggles and inspire a new generation of young people to rise above the noise and speak their truth.

Demar Derozan (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tiger, Tiger

Brought to you by Penguin. How did Tiger Woods become the greatest of all time? And how did he fall so spectacularly? Tiger Woods is unrivalled as an athlete. He made the ultimate commitment to his chosen sport - and transformed it. Before the age of twenty-five, he rose to phenomenon status: twice named 'Sportsman of the Year' by Sports Illustrated, champion of more than thirty professional tournaments and the youngest player to win all four Grand Slam tournaments. Tiger, Tiger taps into the transformative moments of Woods's life, revealing in vivid, dramatic scenes what he saw and felt on the course and in his inner life - from his only 'perfect' shot to his missed first putt at the 1995 Masters through his recent comeback tours. Through a compelling series of original interviews, passionate golfer James Patterson and golf reporter Peter de Jonge get inside the impossible mystery of a global star. PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON 'Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW 'A writer with an unusual skill at thriller plotting' GUARDIAN 'The master storyteller of our times' HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON ©2023 James Patterson (P)2023 Penguin Audio

James Patterson (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Beautiful Dream: A Memoir

Out of the Toronto suburb of Brampton comes an irresistible story of trials, perseverance, the limelight of international soccer, and-above all-heart. Despite debuting on Canada's senior national soccer team 20 years ago, scarce is known of Atiba Hutchinson. We've watched him win Canadian Men's Player of the Year six times; celebrated his club team championships; and mourned his injuries. We've lamented the state of Canadian soccer and cursed the lost potential-and years. Yet, we know little about Atiba's personal life, or how he rose from suburban (and not soccer-crazy) Brampton to becoming Canada's most-capped national men's team player, often described as the country's greatest athlete you haven't heard about. For the first time, Atiba is ready to share the extraordinary story of his ascent to the heights of professional soccer, nationally and internationally, and what he believes makes a true champion. The Beautiful Dream is an intimate account of Atiba's awe-inspiring career, from his humble beginnings to playing across Europe; the crushing disappointment of failing national team competitions in the 2010s that nearly lead to his resignation from the national program; all the way to his triumphant arrival in Qatar to face off against 31 other nations at the world's most pre-eminent soccer competition. He has strived to better not only his own game but the landscape of Canadian soccer for over two decades, culminating in Canada's first trip to the FIFA World Cup since 1986. Yet, as the reflective midfielder shows, this isn't just his story: The Beautiful Dream is the story of countless Canadians, who strive and scrape for a seemingly unreachable dream-until their fingertips finally graze the surface. It's a lesson about the unyielding belief required when taking the long road to success. Atiba's journey mirrors the progression of Canadian soccer, and the story of Canada itself: dreams that may begin as outsized but as we work towards them, our world changes with us. Atiba's journey of hope, belief, and resilience connects the country's modest soccer past to a bold, exciting future in the game. It's a story that transcends the pitch, exploring what it means to be a kid who dares to dream of achieving the impossible, and the man who perseveres to get there.

Atiba Hutchinson (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Out of the Darkness: The Magic and Mystery of Aaron Rodgers

Four-time New York Times bestselling sportswriter Ian O’Connor takes on four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, delivering the definitive biography of the legendary yet mysterious quarterback who has astonished, befuddled, yet always captivated fans of America’s #1 sport. Aaron Rodgers is regarded by some as the most talented player to ever hold the most important job in American team sports—quarterback. He also stands among the most mysterious and polarizing figures in the modern-day national pastime that is pro football. From his controversial Covid stance to his methods of spiritual awakening to his estrangement from his family to his high-profile romances to his devastating Achilles injury a mere four plays into his New York Jets career, Rodgers has long dominated the NFL’s news cycle. At thirty-nine, in search of a challenge that would rejuvenate him, Rodgers divorced the iconic Green Bay Packers of Vince Lombardi fame for the Jets, who haven’t appeared in a Super Bowl since Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon. The trade made Rodgers the biggest story in the biggest league in the biggest market. By far. That story only got bigger when Rodgers shockingly went down on the night of 9/11, in front of a packed house that roared for him when he took the field carrying an American flag, and in front of the biggest Monday Night Football audience in ESPN history—peaking at more than 25 million viewers. As Rodgers launches his comeback and his bid to lead the Jets to a championship, acclaimed sports biographer Ian O’Connor uses hundreds of original interviews to pull back the curtain and answer the most penetrating questions about perhaps the country’s most famous and most enigmatic athlete. Just like he did in his previous works on Bill Belichick, Mike Krzyzewski, Derek Jeter, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, O’Connor reveals all sides of an all-time great and delivers a portrait of a complex man and four-time NFL MVP that will forever shape the way football fans view him.

Ian O'connor (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wild Wisdom: Primal Skills to Survive in Nature

Survive anything nature throws your way with these survival tips and wilderness philosophy from renowned outdoorsman and now beloved TikTok star Donny Dust. Donny Dust is a US Marine Corps veteran who now owns and operates Colorado's premier survival and wilderness self-reliance school. He's amassed two decades worth of primitive living skills everywhere from the jungles of Asia to the mountains of North America. He's appeared on reality TV series like History Channel's Alone and hosted USA Channel's Mud, Sweat & Beards. Now, Donny brings all he's learned to Wild Wisdom. He teaches you how to be more observant to help avoid danger, problem-solve, prioritize finding shelter, and to be flexible and creative when you need the right supplies for a task. He also focuses on essential gear, sheltering, building fire, staying hydrated, food, foraging, and trapping. Beautiful and instructive illustrations throughout make this is must-carry for anyone venturing into nature. Millions of people now follow Donny Dust on TikTok to watch him craft objects from nothing but what he finds in the wilderness. Even the tools he uses to do the crafting are made from scratch, whether it's a saw, chisel, hammer, or cordage. He's made bows, arrows, axes, rope, sandals, backpacks, bowls, swords, and of course, fire—lots of fire—but Wild Wisdom offers so much more. Written by one of the country's foremost experts, it's a book for almost anyone, whether you're a longtime outdoorsperson hoping to hone your skills and deepen your appreciation and understanding of the wilderness, or a newcomer looking to take your first adventures in nature.

Donny Dust (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

How to Win the Premier League: The Inside Story of Football’s Data Revolution

Ian Graham (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Movement for Every Body: An Inclusive Fitness Guide for Better Movement--Build mind-body awareness,

With humor, empathy, and expertise, a Black, femme, disabled, and neurodivergent physical therapist retraces their journey through a weaponized fitness culture, sharing an alternative path to honor all bodies and needs. An inclusive, full-color guide to improving mobility, building strength, and increasing flexibility for every body and any size, shape, and ability Here's an idea: exercise should be enjoyable-not punishing, elitist, or overly competitive. Nor should gym work cause us harm or bring us shame. Part exercise manual and part workbook, Movement for Every Body celebrates this approach and champions an inclusive movement practice for anyone who doesn't fit the 'typical' fitness mold and doesn't wish to- who refuses burdensome narratives that tell them they're broken and need to be fixed, cured, or mended to be whole. With journaling and reflective prompts and activities; helpful tips covering accommodations, mobility aids, and self-advocacy strategies; and highly adaptable exercise demonstrations reflecting a broad range of body types, physical abilities, and mobility aids, Movement for Every Body provides the instruction and validation needed to redefine our approaches, goals, and pleasures around exercise and ability.

Marcia Dernie (Author), A'rese Emokpae, Tba (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Price: What it Takes to Win in College Football’s Era of Chaos

Armen Keteyian, John Talty (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Born to Fight: How a Street Fighter Living on the Edge Became 'Gamebred' and Found Success

In this inspiring rags-to-riches memoir, UFC star Jorge "Gamebred" Masvidal reveals how he went from a poor son of immigrants on the streets of Florida to one of the most successful athletes in the world, and how you can use the same principles to achieve success in your life. When an older bully pushed the smaller Jorge Masvidal to the ground in second grade and tried to steal his bike, something snapped inside him. A "skinny kid with a big head," Jorge grew up in a tough Miami neighborhood, raised by a single mom while his Cuban refugee father was in and out of jail. Jorge reacted in the only way he knew how: a flurry of punches and kicks fueled by red-hot rage that sent the bully to the ground. Over the years, Jorge "Gamebred" Masvidal channeled rage into discipline and used his fists to go from feared street scrapper to one of the world's greatest professional fighters. But his influence isn't limited to the cage. Jorge channels his discipline and work ethic in every endeavor, getting involved in politics, social causes, and business. Now, in Born to Fight, Jorge brings his inspiring story to life and proves that every person has the capacity to reach their full potential and achieve the American Dream.

Jorge Masvidal (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Playing Ball: Life Lessons from My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond

NFL football star Vernon Davis delves into his astonishing career, from winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016 with the Denver Broncos to reinventing himself as an actor and producer, and recalls the hard-won lessons—including that infamous press conference—that paved his path to success. In October 2008, after a San Francisco loss to Seattle, Vernon Davis was put on blast by Coach Mike Singletary in a fiery speech criticizing his “me-myself-and-I attitude”. It proved to be the turning point in Davis’s career, and the inspiration for him to change his mindset, his playing, and his life. At the time, Davis was a young, talented player who had been drafted by the 49ers in 2006 at number six, one of the highest draft positions for a tight end in NFL history. He played ten years for the team, which included a 2013 Super Bowl loss to the Baltimore Ravens in a 34-31 heartbreaker, where he recorded six catches for 104 yards. Winning a Super Bowl in 2016 with Peyton Manning, Davis landed a crucial downfield block and sprung teammate C.L. Anderson for a key 34-yard run that helped the Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers 24-10. Davis retired in 2019 after a final four years playing pro for his hometown team in Washington. He’s now deeply involved in his new passion: acting and producing feature films. Here he rewinds the tape to reflect on his career and competitive spirit—and the insights about teamwork, leadership, and responsibility that came in the aftermath of Coach Singletary’s press conference, spurring him to transform his life for the better. Weaving personal reflections with frank, real-world advice, Playing Ball is not just one athlete’s memoir but an eye-opening exploration of what winning—on the field and beyond—really means.

Vernon Davis (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook