The Best Sports & Outdoor Books 2025

1. Everything® Series: The Everything Knots Book : Step-By-Step Instructions for Tying Any Knot (Paperback)

Simple instructions on how to tie over 100 useful and decorative knots A well-tied knot is at once a practical tool and a work of art. With names like \"hangman's noose\" and \"wagoneer's hitch,\" knots have a rich history of usefulness and an aesthetic appeal all their own. From the boat to the backyard, The Everything Knots Book provides simple instructions on how to tie knots for any situation. Written by Randy Penn, a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers, this handy guide walks readers through the basics and offers myriad suggestions for creative uses of these knots. Mr. Penn shows readers how to: Choose the right rope and knot for the job Tie knots safely and securely Create decorative knots for clothing and accessories Practice knot-tying through games and exercises Packed with easy-to-follow instructions and clear illustrations, The Everything Knots Book makes learning this useful skill fun and easy.

Simple instructions on how to tie over 100 useful and decorative knots A well-tied knot is at once a practical tool and a work of art. With names like "hangman's noose" and "wagoneer's hitch," knots have a rich history of usefulness and an aesthetic appeal all their own. From the boat to the backyard, The Everything Knots Book provides simple instructions on how to tie knots for any situation. Written by Randy Penn, a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers, this handy guide walks readers through the basics and offers myriad suggestions for creative uses of these knots. Mr. Penn shows readers how to: Choose the right rope and knot for the job Tie knots safely and securely Create decorative knots for clothing and accessories Practice knot-tying through games and exercises Packed with easy-to-follow instructions and clear illustrations, The Everything Knots Book makes learning this useful skill fun and easy.

2. Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed: A Comprehensive Guide to the World's Hottest Martial Arts Discipline, (Paperback)

An introduction to jiu-jitsu from one of its most dominant stars Thanks to the dominance of its practitioners at Ultimate Fighting Championships and other mixed martial arts tournaments, jiu-jitsu has become one of the most popular forms of martial arts in the United States. This fighting technique features ground fighting and submission moves that bewilder even the most ferocious opponents. In Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed, expert Eddie Bravo teaches you the moves that he used to defeat legendary Royler Gracie--a member of the reigning family of jiujitsu--the victory that made him one of the sport's most feared competitors. Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed features: Detailed instruction on stance, kicks, punches, takedowns, and submissions Step-by-step photos of basic and advanced moves modeled by \"Fear Factor\" host and former \"NewsRadio\" star Joe Rogan Various theories and strategies behind training and competing

Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed: A Comprehensive Guide to the World's Hottest Martial Arts Discipline, (Paperback) Author: McGraw-Hill Companies ISBN: 9780071448116 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2005-09-01 Page Count: 216

3. October 1964, (Paperback)

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * THE BEST SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR "October 1964 should be a hit with old-time baseball fans, who'll relish the opportunity to relive that year's to-die-for World Series, when the dynastic but aging New York Yankees squared off against the upstart St. Louis Cardinals. It should be a hit with younger students of the game, who'll eat up the vivid portrayals of legends like Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris of the Yankees and Bob Gibson and Lou Brock of the Cardinals. Most of all, however, David Halberstam's new book should be a hit with anyone interested in understanding the important interplay between sports and society." --The Boston Globe "Compelling...1964 is a chronicle of the end of a great dynasty and of a game, like the country, on the cusp of enormous change." --Newsweek "Halberstam's latest gives us the feeling of actually being there--in another time, in the locker rooms and in the minds of baseball legends. His time and effort researching the book result in a fluency with his topic and a fluidity of writing that make the reading almost effortless....Absorbing." --San Francisco Chronicle "Wonderful...Memorable...Halberstam describes the final game of the 1964 series accurately and so dramatically, I almost thought I had forgotten the ending." --The Washington Post Book World "Superb reporting...Incisive analysis...You know from the start that Halberstam is going to focus on a large human canvas...One of the many joys of this book is the humanity with which Halberstam explores the characters as well as the talents of the players, coaches and managers. These are not demigods of summer but flawed, believable human beings who on occasion can rise to peaks of heroism." --Chicago Sun-Times

October 1964, (Paperback) Author: Random House Publishing Group ISBN: 9780449983676 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 1995-04-11 Page Count: 416

4. 101 Poems to Get You Through the Day (and Night) (Hardcover) by Daisy Goodwin

9780060529123. New condition. Hard cover. Language: English. Pages: 138. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 138 p. If the daily (and nightly) grind has ground readers down, these poems, which address the routine and extraordinary crises that 24 hours often deliver, will lift them up again--or at least provide good company.

101 Poems to Get You Through the Day (and Night)

5. Black Dog of Fate (Paperback) by Peter Balakian

9780767902540. New condition. Trade paperback. Language: English. Pages: 289. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 289 p. Contains: Illustrations. A prize-winning poet explores the Armenian past that haunted his family's American identity--dark secrets marked by the Turkish government's extermination of more than a million Armenians in 1915.

9780767902540. New condition. Trade paperback. Language: English. Pages: 289. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 289 p. Contains: Illustrations. A prize-winning poet explores the Armenian past that haunted his family's American identity--dark secrets marked by the Turkish government's extermination of more than a million Armenians in 1915.

6. Hockey Tough (Paperback) by Saul Miller

No hockey player can reach his full potential without mastering the mental side of the sport. Hockey Tough provides players and coaches proven methods for mastering the mental side of the game. Author Saul Miller shares the psychological training and emotional management techniques he has successfully taught individual hockey players and teams for over 20 years. Throughout the book, NHL stars such as Mark Messier, Pavel Bure, Chris Pronger, and Markus Naslund offer insights and tips on a variety of topics related to achieving a winning mind-set for the sport. These players explain how to focus and score, how to deal with personality conflicts on and off the ice, and how to bounce back with confidence after a subpar performance. Miller, one of North America's most prolific and sought-after sport psychology consultants in hockey, presents mental exercises and assignments to help players -develop a winning attitude on and off the ice, -stay focused to execute skills and tactics, -maintain the mental stamina required in this physically demanding sport, -overcome emotional fatigue and physical aches and pains to perform at the highest level throughout the season, -manage their anger to avoid costly penalties in crucial game situations, and -develop the discipline and tenacity to force and capitalize on opponents' mistakes. Miller presents many other topics of interest, such as the intangibles that coaches and scouts look for in players and what it takes to make it to the top level of competition. Motivation, teamwork, leadership, and poise are essential factors to successful performance. Hockey Tough will strengthen each of these areas and help players achieve a mind-set to excel on the ice.

Hockey Tough (Paperback)

7. Coaching Girls' Soccer : From the How-To's of the Game to Practical Real-World Advice--Your Definitive Guide to Successfully Coaching Girls (Paperback)

Coach Girls for Success on and off the Field Girls rule! Coaching girls' soccer is a challenge and also a wonderful experience. Witness a game-winning penalty kick or a goalie who saves an almost unstoppable ball, and you can't help but be inspired. The effort, pride, and enjoyment on the players' faces are great rewards for parents and often the signs of a good coach--the type of coach you want to be. So how can you get there? Perfect for coaches of girls up to age 13, Coaching Girls' Soccer includes everything you need to be an outstanding coach and mentor to your team. Whether you are a seasoned coach looking to fine-tune your skills or a rookie eager to take the field running, you'll discover techniques for success that are tailored specifically to the needs of girls, including: -Drills and strategies for coaches new to the world of coaching soccer -Tips on what girls want and need from their soccer experience -Practical suggestions on how to motivate in a positive and encouraging way -Advice for helping girls deal with their changing bodies -And much more! Now you can be a coaching winner and help bring out the best in your players, both on the soccer field and in the game of life.

Coach Girls for Success on and off the Field Girls rule! Coaching girls' soccer is a challenge and also a wonderful experience. Witness a game-winning penalty kick or a goalie who saves an almost unstoppable ball, and you can't help but be inspired. The effort, pride, and enjoyment on the players' faces are great rewards for parents and often the signs of a good coach—the type of coach you want to be. So how can you get there? Perfect for coaches of girls up to age 13, Coaching Girls' Soccer includes everything you need to be an outstanding coach and mentor to your team. Whether you are a seasoned coach looking to fine-tune your skills or a rookie eager to take the field running, you'll discover techniques for success that are tailored specifically to the needs of girls, including: ·Drills and strategies for coaches new to the world of coaching soccer ·Tips on what girls want and need from their soccer experience ·Practical suggestions on how to motivate in a positive and encouraging way ·Advice for helping girls deal with their changing bodies ·And much more! Now you can be a coaching winner and help bring out the best in your players, both on the soccer field and in the game of life.

8. The Last Ridge: The Epic Story of America's First Mountain Soldiers and the Assault on Hitler's Europe, (Paperback)

When World War II broke out in Europe, the American army had no specialized division of mountain soldiers. But in the winter of 1939-40, after a tiny band of Finnish mountain troops brought the invading Soviet army to its knees, an amateur skier named Charles Minot "Minnie" Dole convinced the United States Army to let him recruit an extraordinary assortment of European expatriates, wealthy ski bums, mountaineers, and thrill-seekers and form them into a unique band of Alpine soldiers. These men endured nearly three years of grueling training in the Colorado Rockies and in the process set new standards for both soldiering and mountaineering. The newly forged 10th Mountain Division finally faced combat in the winter of 1945, in Italy's Apennine Mountains, against the seemingly unbreakable German fortifications north of the Gothic Line. There, they planned and executed what is still regarded as the most daring series of nighttime mountain attacks in U.S. military history, taking Mount Belvedere and the sheer, treacherous face of Riva Ridge to smash the linchpin of the German army's lines. Drawing on unique cooperation from veterans of the 10th Mountain Division and a vast archive of unpublished letters and documents, The Last Ridge is written with enormous warmth, energy, and honesty. This is one of the most captivating stories of World War II, a blend of Band of Brothers and Into Thin Air. It is a story of young men asked to do the impossible, and succeeding.

The Last Ridge: The Epic Story of America's First Mountain Soldiers and the Assault on Hitler's Europe, (Paperback) Author: Random House Trade ISBN: 9780375759512 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2004-11-09 Page Count: 336

9. Squeeze Play, (Paperback)

Inspired by the author's career as a sportswriter for the Washington Post, Squeeze Play tells the story of female reporter A. B. Berkowitz, who is assigned to cover the men of the Washington Senators -- the worst team in major league baseball. Life in the locker room shows her not just the players'...um...assets but also their all-too-human frailties. Love for the game and love for the newspaper business are the stars in this hilarious and heartbreaking novel that \"will have you singing a rousing chorus of 'Take Me Out to the Locker Room'\"(People).

Squeeze Play, (Paperback) Author: Harper Perennial ISBN: 9780060567743 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2003-08-14 Page Count: 400

10. 101 Great Youth Soccer Drills: Skills and Drills for Better Fundamental Play (Other)

101 Great Youth Soccer Drills is an exhaustive collection of the very best drills available, providing a solid foundation for you to build your players' skills. Filled with simple step-by-step instructions and diagrams, plus a sample practice program, this encyclopedia of drills provides you with solid skill-building fundamentals as well as the advanced techniques you need to get your players in top form.

101 Great Youth Soccer Drills: Skills and Drills for Better Fundamental Play (Paperback)