Top 10 must-read non-fiction sports books: Inspiring stories of champions, legends, and underdogs

Non-fiction sports books are publications with information about specific sports, featuring autobiographies or biographies of famous players or coaches. The books also cover the history of different sports. Many enjoy reading them because authors create characters out of real people. This article highlights the ten best non-fiction sports books you should consider reading.

Many authors published some of the best non-fiction books about football, basketball, cricket, tennis, and hockey in the 19th century. The current century also has fantastic publications worth your time. So, what are some examples of non-fiction books?

What is sports non-fiction?

It refers to literature based on facts. The publications often have stories about the sports industry. If you are a fan of books and sports, you will probably enjoy reading the best sports non-fiction books in 2023.

How do you identify non-fiction books?

While many struggle to differentiate between fiction and non-fiction books, it is easy to tell the difference based on the formats and stories. The best non-fiction new sports books in 2022 and 2023 feature facts, events, and real people, such as biography or history. They also usually have tables of contents, indexes, lists of references, and citations. Some have charts, tables, graphs and other visual communication.

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Best non-fiction sports books in 2023

We have compiled a list of the ten most outstanding non-fiction books, including their authors and release dates. The publications cover various sports featuring famous athletes and iconic teams in history. Enjoy our sports non-fiction books 2023 collection below.

10. Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis

The book, published in 2003, covers the story of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. Led by its general manager Billy Beane, the franchise undergoes restructuring and hopes to assemble a competitive squad despite having a low budget in the MLB. Beane and his players go through ups and downs and eventually win their division title. However, the journey gets more exciting as the season goes on.

9. Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend, and Cultural Heroine by Merlisa Lawrence Corbett

Merlisa Lawrence writes about the legendary tennis star, highlighting her upbringing and remarkable career. She also explores Serena Williams' influence on cultural, social, and political issues. The 23-time Grand Slam champion is the greatest female tennis player ever. The book got released in February 2020.

8. The Girls: An All-American Town, a Predatory Doctor, and the Untold Story of the Gymnasts Who Brought Him Down by Abigail Pesta

The Girls by journalist Abigail Pesta got published in August 2019. It focuses on one of the biggest scandals in American sports history. Pesta chronicles how Dr Larry Nassar took advantage of young aspiring Olympic gymnasts by harassing them in a small town in Michigan. She anchors her story on 25 testimonies of the survivors as they narrate their devastating experience working with the doctor.

7. Beyond a Boundary by C. L. R. James

Beyond a Boundary is another must-read sports non-fiction publication for those who understand cricket. James explains the sport's role in his family while growing up in Trinidad. The masterpiece, published in 1963, tells the story of the author's boyhood in the West Indies and the issues of class, race and politics surrounding cricket. James explains the interconnection between sport and politics during the colonial period.

6. Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston by Howard Bryant

Veteran sports journalist Howard Bryant examines the impact of racism in Boston with a case study of the Red Sox baseball team. In the book, published in 2002, Bryant explains Jackie Robinson's tryout, the first Red Sox's black player, and how his career unfolded. The writer also captures the experience of Pumpsie Green and Mo Vaughn, other black players in the team.

5. Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano

Eduardo Galeano died in 2015, but his publication, Soccer in Sun and Shadow, remains one of the best soccer books ever. The Uruguayan takes us to the sport's origin, rules, fans, and goals that express the game's beauty. He emphasizes South America and the World Cup with English commentary on Europe while focusing on legendary players like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Johan Cruyff.

4. Under the Lights and in the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer by Gwendolyn Oxenham

Oxenham takes us through the challenges women faced in soccer in their journey to becoming professionals. The writer played for Santos FC women's soccer team and narrated their heart-wrenching experience, like hitchhiking, sharing their field with a horse, and taking hand-me-down uniforms from the men's team.

Some were homeless, while others had to learn in refugee camps to achieve their dreams. The book got published in 2017.

3. Basketball (and Other Things): A Collection of Questions Asked, Answered, Illustrated. By Shea Serrano

The 2017 publication features some of the best basketball players in the NBA, like Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Wilt Chamberlain, and Magic Johnson. It presents readers with crucial questions on basketball history, hilarious debates, arguments, and answers.

The book, published in October 2017, has 33 chapters with different basketball questions. The start of each chapter has a full-page illustration of an iconic jersey of a player who wore the chapter's number.

2. The Sweetest Thing: A Boxer's Memoir by Mischa Merz

Merz, a journalist and amateur boxer, narrates her journey travelling across the United States while competing in women's boxing tournaments. Mischa sheds insight on the subculture and the gender perspective of the sport. She also meets her idols like Lucia Rijker of Million Dollar Baby film and some women's boxing pioneers and champions.

1. Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy

Dungy's masterpiece is one of the best non-fiction football books worth your time. Tony is the first African American to coach a football team. First published in 2007, the book takes us through his life, coaching experiences and challenges he faced during his management career. Dungy spent 13 seasons as a coach in the NFL. His story has inspired many people to pursue their dreams.

The best non-fiction sports books in 2021 and today are available in several stores. You can also purchase shop them online to get soft copies. Some of their authors even won awards for their outstanding masterpieces about sports.

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