About Book Marks
Recent Reviews
Vicki Valosik
Rave Booklist While the breadth of the material leans toward the academic, a plethora of fascinating facts combined with groundbreaking developments throughout the years will captivate readers curious about a sport that requires skills, stamina, and strength and that deserves respect.
Ben Rothenberg
Rave Booklist Moving ... Using her platform, Osaka has made a mark advocating for mental health and, as Rothenberg shows, along the way learned to be unapologetically herself.
Caster Semenya
Rave Booklist Told with candor, Semenya’s story reminds readers to treat all humans with dignity and that being different does not mean being wrong.
Ashley Brown
Rave Booklist This is a monumental, comprehensive biography that blends Gibson’s remarkable athletic accomplishments with the inspirational story of how she lived through the Jim Crow era and navigated segregation, racism, and gender discrimination, all the while fighting for the integration of sports.
Jody Rosen
Positive Booklist Rosen offers an intriguing and somewhat offbeat exploration of bicycles from the Victorian era to the present. A passionate advocate of bike riding, Rosen combines his personal experiences on a bike with a wide-ranging account of bicycle history that rambles through bicycle innovations and design ... Fascinating stories are found throughout ... This wildly eclectic cornucopia offers a love letter to bicycles and is sure to be savored by their enthusiasts everywhere.
Ben McGrath
Rave Booklist McGrath retraces the remarkable life of this gentle man whose life on the water touched so many. Riverman honors a free-spirited American naturalist and modern-day explorer (a blend of Forrest Gump, Huck Finn, and even Don Quixote) who shucked a conventional lifestyle for complete freedom, at significant personal cost. A masterpiece of narrative nonfiction.
Heather Hansman
Positive Booklist This is both a heartfelt account of what draws her back to the mountains and a deep dive into the ski-bum lifestyle and the current \'ecosystem\' of skiing ... This eloquently written memoir is sure to captivate all variety of skiers.
Bill Plaschke
Rave Booklist Plaschke masterfully captures the passion and suffering of the players, coaches, and athletic director Anne Stearns, all of whom find purpose as a diverse band of brothers and sisters (the kicker in 2018 was a girl), pulling one another and their community together. This is a powerful and inspirational sports story about healing and finding humanity in devastating circumstances. With a movie in the works, expect the book to be popular with readers cheering for a team who gave their all.
J. M. Thompson
Positive Booklist [Thompson] eloquently captures the beauty of communing with nature in details runners will soak up, but the focus of this memoir is about a man who had suffered terribly with depression since childhood, and, in later years, overcame drug and alcohol addiction, but not before attempting suicide ... Although confusing at times, as Thompson jumps back and forth through past remembrances, this is a hopeful story of resilience by a man baring his vulnerability as a trauma survivor and who fought his demons, thanks in part to his experiences as an ultrarunner.
Roger Deakin
Rave Booklist This newly released edition...will introduce Deakin’s masterpiece to a new wave of readers, who will find themselves transported to the rugged British countryside, as the author attempts to swim his way around Britain. His captivating chronicle of that experience offers a sumptuous blend of travel guide and personal memoir ... Deakin also provides a master class in British history on land as well as in the water. A transformative reading experience.
Christopher Clarey
Rave Booklist Few writers could capture the evolution of Roger Federer’s ascent to the top of his sport from his start at age eight with more clarity and vision than New York Times tennis correspondent Clarey. He offers a master class in sportswriting as he presents the case for Greatest of All-Time (GOAT), tracing the growth and influences of the tennis superstar ... Clarey presents a well-researched analysis drawing from more than 20 interviews with Federer over the years, and with key players and influential figures ... A must-read for devoted tennis fans and everyone interested in athletes and the sports world.
Simon Kuper
Positive Booklist ... an insider’s view of FC Barcelona, introducing readers to a \'Who’s Who in the House of Barça\' and pulling back the curtain to reveal what fuels the powerhouse organization ... Kuper vividly captures the unique cultural phenomenon that is FC Barcelona. A must for soccer fans.
Billie Jean King
Rave Booklist King recounts her remarkable journey from growing up in a Long Beach, California, working-class family in the 1940s to becoming a professional athlete and entrepreneur and learning to live as her authentic self. Tennis fans will devour the detailed backstories to her historic run ... All In is a must-read about an authentic American hero, and one of the twentieth century’s most consequential figures in the fight for gender equality and human rights.
Adin Dobkin
Positive Booklist This is an evocatively written homage to the 1919 Tour, during which the scars of war on the landscape were visible to the competitors. The well-described cast of characters ranges from formidable race organizer Henri Desgrange, editor in chief of l’Auto, through the racers themselves ... Dobkin...captures the drama ... This inspirational sports story demonstrates the power of a race to unite a country suffering from the wounds of war and is immersed in wartime historical detail. Cycling fans will get more than an account of the race in this volume, which will also appeal to readers interested in WWI.
Gerald Marzorati
Positive Booklist With just enough backstory and supportive interviews, he effectively incorporates relevant history of Williams’ previous Grand Slam tournaments while also examining her roles in challenging cultural norms and fighting for gender equality. Marzorati has an easy-to-read style and reveals the complexity of Williams’ life, not just as an athlete, but also as a celebrity. Williams may be nearing the end of her professional tennis career, but there’s no doubt she will continue to be a force for change and inspiration.
Daniel Barbarisi
Positive Booklist Journalist Barbarisi spent several years researching and writing this mesmerizing account of a modern-day treasure hunt, which reveals a whole subculture of Indiana Jones types willing to travel across the country and invest life savings in the search for something special ... Armchair adventurers will be riveted right up to the suspenseful conclusion.
Kate Fagan
Positive Booklist Sports journalist Fagan, Chris’ daughter, explores her father-daughter relationship after he was diagnosed with ALS ... Sure to appeal to sports fans and LGBTQ readers navigating family relationships, as well as to families coping with ALS.
Mark Synnott
Positive Booklist Synnott, weaves back and forth between the early climbing pioneers’ experiences and his 2019 expedition, harrowing in its own right. A gifted storyteller, he proves firsthand the irresistible lure and perilous dangers of climbing Mount Everest.
Patrick Dean
Positive Booklist Readers interested in mountaineers of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries will recognize names like Mallory and Hillary, but this work brings to light another name worthy of attention: Hudson Stuck ... Stuck’s life story is equally as fascinating as his mountaineering accomplishments ... Author Dean, executive director of the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance, also captures the rich history of Texas and Alaska during an era that inspired Jack London and the Yukon Gold Rush. This well-researched account belongs in most mountaineering collections.
Megan Rapinoe
Rave Booklist ... uplifting ... As much as sports fans will enjoy career anecdotes, it’s her refreshingly frank details of self-discovery as a lesbian that will prove equally inspirational and sure to help break down stereotypes ... A compelling testimony for equality in sports with a resounding message of hope.
Sasha Abramsky
Rave Booklist Abramsky...masterfully captures the life of this little-known sportswoman ... In an eloquently written narrative, spiced with vivid descriptions of the Victorian era and the early twentieth century, he shines a light on Dod’s athletic triumphs as well as her family dynamics, her years as a British Red Cross nurse during WWI, and her accomplishments as a singer and pianist ... This fine biography makes a significant contribution to sports history and women’s studies and should go a long way to bringing Dod’s inspirational story to a new audience.
Bonnie Tsui
Rave Booklist ... eloquent ... A lifelong swimmer, Tsui deftly moves from one topic to another, weaving in her personal experiences ... Fascinating highlights ... This fascinating look at the positive impact swimming has had on our lives throughout history might leave most readers eager to get back in the water as soon as possible.
Noé Álvarez
Rave Booklist ... eloquently written ... This is a powerful American coming-of-age story about a Mexican American who seeks to embrace his heritage while forging his own path forward. Certain to make a lasting impression on readers across generations and backgrounds, all of whom will be inspired by the young Álvarez.
Deborah Riley Draper
Positive Booklist This is an easy-to-read book, including historical photos, that shines a welcome light on lesser-known Olympians, all of them Black sports heroes who paved the way for future civil-rights gains. Certain to have broad appeal for track-and-field fans as well as readers interested in the history of African Americans in sports.
John Barr
Positive Booklist ... a must-read exposé that provides an in-depth look into the time line of events and the numerous adults who should have prevented these crimes ... While the Nassar story is difficult to relive, the authors do a masterful job bringing into context the decades-long abuse. This serves as a tribute to the courageous young women who confronted their predator and exposed a corrupt system, and it also provides a stark reminder to believe victims, no matter what the cost.
Christopher McDougall
Positive Booklist McDougall’s account of how Sherman defied the odds to compete in the race is both inspiring and humorous, a testament to the depth of the animal-human connection.
Adam Rippon
Rave Booklist Rippon’s personal story is as moving as the account of his success on the ice: he was the first openly gay American man to qualify for the Winter Olympics, and the poise he demonstrated in dealing with his haters—to whom he dedicates this book —will prove inspirational for other young athletes. This is a no-holds-barred, coming-of age sports memoir. Rippon may have started his career as an underdog, but he prevailed, thanks to his resilience, laser-focused work ethic, and acerbic sense of humor.
Janet Messineo
Rave Booklist Each anecdote will lure readers into the world of East Coast fishing and Martha’s Vineyard culture, making this a must-read for fishers, both hard-core devotees and recreational participants, as well as anyone interested in learning about the sport. An inspirational memoir of one woman’s self-discovery while pursuing the elusive catch.
Jorge Zepeda Patterson, trans by Achy Obejas
Positive Booklist It’s a bit of a stretch for a professional racer like Moreau to compete for 23 days covering 2,000 miles at the top level while expending energy on the investigation (and spending nights with his lover, Fiona Crowley, a mechanic and International Cycling Union, but the fast pace and numerous plot twists will keep readers in suspense until the end, when the cyclists cross the finish line at the Champs-Élysées.
Matthew Futterman
Positive Booklist Futterman does a masterful job ... Readers eager for a compelling underdog sports story are sure to enjoy this account, as many will see themselves in the band of \'misfits\' Futterman profiles, young rebels who formed the infamous San Diego–based running club, the Jamul Toads. Futterman, an experienced marathoner, includes brief excerpts about his own running experiences, further showing his passion for the sport. Keflezighi’s memoir, 26 Marathons (2019), and Kastor’s Let Your Mind Run (2018) make great read-alikes for this reverent tribute to a beloved coach.
Katie Arnold
Rave Booklist Beautifully written ... The memoir is strongest when Arnold weaves back and forth from her childhood years in Virginia to her visits with her father during his terminal illness, to her home life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Arnold masterfully captures the vulnerability of wading through grief with each step she takes toward self-discovery. This remarkable memoir will undoubtedly resonate with runners but equally so with children of divorce, new mothers, and those who have suffered the loss of a parent. An eloquent tribute to the complexity and vibrancy of a parent-child relationship.
Rowan Ricardo Phillips
Positive Booklist \"Written in lyrical prose with occasional references to visual arts... Phillips’ account is refreshingly analytical and observant of various nuances and tactics of the game, which he sees as a contest of “deception and surprise ... Seasoned tennis players and avid fans will enjoy reliving this year in the sport from the perspective of an astute observer.\
Peter Sagal
Rave Booklist With exceptional wit and self-deprecating humor, he shares experiences ... Both recreational runners and competitors will undoubtedly identify with his observations and anecdotes about what draws people to the sport. His reflections on dealing with divorce and charting new beginnings will also engage readers in similar situations. Sagal is a compelling writer, and his story may well rouse some to get off the couch, lace up their sneakers, and get running.
Casey Legler
Rave Booklist This is a heart-wrenching, coming-of-age memoir by a talented athlete who is street-smart, lonely, and painfully broken ... A poetically written account by a resilient rebel who skillfully captures what it is like to feel the world through her skin.
Maria Sharapova
Rave Booklist The narrative thoroughly chronicles her family’s struggles and occasional strokes of luck, her experiences with multiple coaches, and the epic matches that have defined her career, including winning Wimbledon at age 17 against rival Serena Williams. Unstoppable is an inspiring memoir about coming-of-age within the elite tennis community and a tribute to the unconditional support from families and coaches who make success possible. Sure to satisfy longtime fans of women’s tennis.