Olympics books that deserve a gold medal: LeBron James, Simone Biles, and more
Let the games begin! This Amazon Editor couldn’t be more excited for the 2024 Summer Olympics XXXIII in Paris, which begin on July 26 with the Opening Ceremony and go through August 11. The heart-pounding drama of intense competition, the awe-inspiring strength and dedication of the athletes, the pride at taking home a medal for your country … there’s nothing better. Except for books that capture those incredible experiences and emotions—just as all the below do.
Centered around the life of Joe Rantz—a farmboy from the Pacific Northwest who was abandoned as a child—and set during the Great Depression, The Boys in the Boat is a character-driven story with a natural crescendo that will have you racing to the finish. In 1936, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team raced its way to the Berlin Olympics for an opportunity to challenge the greatest in the world. How this team, largely composed of rowers from “foggy coastal villages, damp dairy farms, and smoky lumber towns all over the state,” managed to work together and sacrifice toward their goal of defeating Hitler’s feared racers is half the story. The other half is equally fascinating, as Daniel James Brown seamlessly weaves in the story of crew itself. This is fast-paced and emotional nonfiction (recently adapted into a movie directed by George Clooney) about determination, bonds built by teamwork, and what it takes to achieve glory. —Chris Schluep, Former Amazon Editor
Two-time Olympic gold medalist LeBron James will carry America’s flag in the Opening Ceremony. This Best-of-the-Month Biography opens as James boasts to millions on TV that he’s “taking my talents to South Beach,” leaving his beloved hometown team and becoming the “most hated man in all of sports”—a pop culture moment that made headlines and spurred outrage. Jeff Benedict—also the co-author of the best seller Tiger Woods—then walks us back through James’ hardscrabble childhood with a homeless teen mother who was ill-equipped to raise a child on her own. James perseveres against all odds—moving in with a series of coaches who nurture his savant-level athletic skills and building a joyful family among pals who are still his inner circle today. You’ll tremble, weep, pump your fists, and feel your heart grow as James hones his power on and off the court, marries his high school sweetheart, grapples with unfathomable wealth, and builds a legacy that will last long after he hangs up his jersey. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
Tennis icon—and Olympic gold medalist—Andre Agassi really goes there in his memoir, a best-seller called “one of the most passionately anti-sports books ever written by a superstar athlete” ahead of its 2009 release. Indeed, in the book’s pages, he admits: “I play tennis for a living, even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion, and always have.” But he still has plenty to say about the sport—and every facet of his life. Agassi opens up about the abuse he faced at the hands of his father, who was determined to make him a winner; about using crystal meth while feeling emotionally battered, about his rocky, ill-fated marriage to Brooke Shields, which included a tantrum on the set of Friends. This is a dishy, raw, nostalgic romp through the life of a tennis champion who broke the rules on and off the court, ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize-winning J. R. Moehringer—whose name you may recognize as the writer of another dishy, raw book: Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
If you need a little romance to get into the Olympic mood, the Amazon Editors have you covered. Let the Games Begin is set at the fictional 2024 Athens Games—and is full of Olympic hopes, dreams, and romantic desire. I loved the feel of experiencing the Olympic Village through an Olympian’s eyes—the parties and excitement, but also the intensity and sometimes heartbreak. Focused and driven Olivia has a life-long dream to land an internship at (and eventually run) the Olympics, whereas the charming and charismatic Zeke, Great Britain’s track and field star, is striving for his first gold medal. The two initially meet in the Olympic Village, and continue to unexpectedly meet throughout the course of games. Chemistry starts to form at a time when both of their futures are on the line. Parental expectations, the paparazzi, and the overall pressures of success threaten to stop Olivia and Zeke short of their goals and possibly from each other. Let the Games Begin is a guaranteed primer for this year’s games. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
Beautiful and heart-wrenching, this book is as much about Muhammad Ali’s fierce, winning spirit as it is about racism and politics in America. Reading this book is akin to sitting down for an intimate chat with the original G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time). He took the gold in the light heavyweight boxing class in the Rome Olympics in 1960 at just 18 years old. The book spans his childhood in segregated Louisville, his training, his path to Islam, his commitment to justice, and his deep resilience in the face of unimaginable stressors, from bomb threats on his home during controversial fights to his three-year exile from boxing. —Marina Zarya, Former Amazon Contributor
Gymnast Aly Raisman captured hearts and minds as she swept up medals at the 2012 Olympics in London (winning gold for team and floor, and bronze for balance beam), and the 2016 games in Rio De Janeiro (gold in the team event). One year later, the athlete bravely went public with horrifying allegations of sexual abuse by the former Olympic team physician, Larry Nassar, which contributed to his conviction. Raisman, who started her sport when just 18 months old, wrote a picture book to teach and empower her youngest readers about consent and bodily autonomy. An important message, at any age. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
Adam Rippon has many accolades to hang his hat on: From being the first openly gay US male athlete to win a medal in a Winter Olympics, to winning season 26 of Dancing with the Stars, the decorated figure skater and self-professed “America’s Sweetheart” would seem to have it all. But this wasn’t always the case. Rippon's memoir, Beautiful on the Outside, traces his humble beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the long, arduous road from struggling (and starving) athlete to being voted one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people. Rippon's sense of humor has served him well throughout, something on full display in this entertaining and inspiring read. —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
Abby Wambach is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in women’s soccer and FIFA Cup Champion. Who better to talk about her memoir than her own wife, Glennon Doyle? As Doyle shared in our Celebrity Picks feature: “Abby’s already one of our country’s favorite heroes and we didn’t even know the half of it. Forward is the story of all that Abby overcame off the field, and her honesty about her pain is surprising, refreshing, and inspiring. Abby is my favorite kind of hero: flawed, unashamed—and she uses her pain to serve others. Forward will transform Abby’s fans from believers in her to believers in themselves.” And if you're curious about what the 2024 women's soccer team is reading, here are their recommendations. —Marina Zarya, Former Amazon Contributor
Simone Biles is the most talented gymnast in history, and one of the greatest athletes alive. No pressure or anything! As excitement mounts about watching her gravity-defying moves, we recommend reading her deeply personal 2016 memoir, which is also suitable for teens. Biles describes her childhood spent in foster care, overcoming personal and athletic challenges, her journey to earning seven Olympic medals (and counting)—and also reveals behind-the-scenes details of high-stakes gymnastics competitions while sprinkling in quotes by people who inspired her (which range from Mother Teresa to The Cheetah Girls). As former Amazon contributor Marina Zarya has said, “This book reads just like a conversation with the then-19-year-old Biles: light, fun, and simultaneously profound.” —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
Billie Jean King’s strength, energy, and personality shine on every page of her autobiography that opens with her love of sports at a young age. But the world of sports did not love female athletes back, as King learned time and time again, first watching boys on the club tennis teams get free lodging and per diems while girls had to raise money to travel to matches, and later seeing the massive pay disparities between the top female tennis players and the top male players. But King’s drive knocked down not only the barriers in front of herself but those before other athletes, even as she wrestled with her sexuality. King was the captain of the Olympic gold-medal-winning 1996 and 2000 U.S. women’s tennis teams, and her keen appreciation of her own coaches and what they taught her is among the many highlights of this deeply personal story of an athlete who dreamed big, trained hard, and went far. —Adrian Liang, Former Amazon Editor
In her revelatory memoir, Olympian Caster Semenya writes: “It is my hope that by finally telling my truth I inspire others to be unafraid, to love and accept themselves. May this story contribute to a more tolerant world for us all.” And without a doubt, this is what she accomplishes in revealing the heady highs of running fast, and the gutting lows of being challenged—and taken to court—for her body. After winning the Berlin World Championships in 2009, Caster quickly became a lightning rod for discussions about how gender plays out in sports and what it means to be a female athlete. With grit and determination, Semenya, throughout her life, has pursued what she loves. An inspirational read. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Looking for even more books about or by Olympians? Check out these Editors’ Picks:
- Grace, Gold, and Glory My Leap of Faith by Gabrielle Douglas with Michelle Burford
- Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out by Gracie Gold
- Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor and Michelle Hamilton
- Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Women's Olympic Team by Elise Hooper
- The Games: A Global History of the Olympics by David Goldblatt
