Looking for a book to pick up this summer? Here's what these athletes are reading
Memorial Day is behind us, which means summer is (un)officially here. Which also means you’ll need to stock up on your summer reading selections for all of those forthcoming beach trips. Luckily, we’ve curated some suggestions for you: We asked athletes across sports, from Dwyane Wade to Kirk Cousins to Craig Breslow, to tell us what they’re reading (or what they want to read) and why they recommend it. From the rom-com recommended by Wade's wife, to Michael Vick’s inspirational choice, to the Dr. Seuss book David Johnson is reading his son, there’s certainly no shortage of options for your summer shelf.
DwyaneWade, G, Bulls:
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
"My wife read this and recommended it to me. I am a romantic comedy guy and I love books that have stories that come alive and feel like you are watching a movie. It’s a great story about how you can find love in an unexpected way at a time when you least expect it.” [Preorder now: amazon.com, $9.40]
Chris Archer, P, Rays:
Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
"It was cool for Agassi to open up about his insecurities. Being a world-class athlete, most people think that they’re always the most confident person and it’s not always the case, so I think it can help people in all walks of life overcome their insecurities and their confidence issues."[Buy now: amazon.com, $8.71]
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim Grover
"You get some insight from Michael Jordan's trainer to learn the type of competitor he was. It can motivate anybody in any facet of life." [Buy now, amazon.com, $9.52]
Craig Breslow, reliever, Twins:
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
"I've found it to be a fascinating look into the way we make decisions, the biases we face, and the processes that guide intuition. I've been able to make some applications to pitching, recognizing the roles of talent and luck in performance." [Buy now: amazon.com, $8.95]
Andrew Miller, reliever, Indians:
In The Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides
"This is a great story about exploration, a shipwreck, abandonment and survival. What the sailors went through to survive and escape the Arctic is just incredible." [Buy now: amazon.com, $7.17]
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, F, U.S. hockey:
Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists by Thomas W. Myers
"This pick is because I want to learn more about the function of the fascial system in the body and myfascial therapy." [Buy now: amazon.com, $55.52]
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
"The Undoing Project came recommended and is about human behavior. Both this and Anatomy Trains pertain to what I do day-to-day within hockey and as a a strength coach. I always try to keep up on reading to expand my knowledge as a coach and athlete.” [Buy now: amazon.com, $15.10]
Monique Lamoureux-Morando, defender,U.S. hockey:
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will To Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
"It's about women empowering women and how we as people and females have our own unconscious biases in the work place. It explains why more women should be having leadership roles in the work place." [Buy now: amazon.com, $9.90]
Shannon Doyle, defender, Connecticut Whale (NWHL):
Win at Losing: How our Biggest Setbacks Can Lead to Our Greatest Gains by Sam Weinman
"This is all about learning from mistakes and adversity." [Buy now, amazon.com, $17]
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
"This book grabs you quickly and doesn't let you go until you read the last page." [Buy now, amazon.com, $8.69]
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto
"Dumbing Us Down focuses on the way the public education system was set up in America and even more generally, the Western world." [Buy now, amazon.com, $16.44]
A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
"This is a simply wonderful, fun and light read for anyone looking to pick up a book this summer. It made me cry a few times!" [Buy now, amazon.com, $8.92]
Husain Abdullah, former Chiefs S:
Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart by Hamza Yusuf
“We clown, we troll, we meme, we cast all of life’s problems on others, but we never look inside ourselves first. This is a book I frequently turn to in order to check myself and I believe anyone who reads it can find benefit regardless of religious beliefs.” [Buy now: amazon.com, $19.42]
Pete Carroll, head coach, Seahawks:
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
"This book is filled with valuable and life-altering lessons, such as ‘Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done.’ The ‘Way of the Essentialist’ is the way to go." [Buy now, amazon.com, $14.83]
Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders:
The Solomon Secret: Financial Wisdom from King Solomon, History's Wealthiest Man by Bruce Fleet
“King Solomon was the richest man who ever lived and also the wisest. The book offers many parables to explain how his teachings from long ago are still applicable today when it comes to making good investments.” [Buy now, amazon.com, $13.93]
Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins:
Winning by Jack Welch
"I have read many business & leadership books, but the principles in this one stood out to me. Whether leading a Fortune 500 company like Jack Welch or an NFL football team, people need to be managed well in order to 'win'. Candor, differentiation, and the 'generosity gene' were just a few of the principles I picked up from reading this book. Check it out!" [Buy now: amazon.com, $15.62]
David Johnson, RB, Cardinals:
Fox In Socks: Dr. Seuss's Book of Tongue Tanglers by Dr. Seuss
"Reading this book to my son is crazy. It's all random tongue twisters that are really hard to say. That's about all the time I have for reading this summer while we're taking care of him." [Buy now: amazon.com, $4.80]
Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Patriots:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
"Dan Brown must have heard about my love of reading during the Super Bowl run last year. I received a signed copy of The Da Vinci Code from him during the off-season, which blew me away. I am really looking forward to reading that next." [Buy now: amazon.com, $6.34]
Michael Vick, former NFL QB:
A Hand To Guide Me by Denzel Washington
"I'm an avid reader, I try to read as much as I can. I just bought a book the other day. When I was looking for books, I look for an inspiring personal story. I always like to stay inspired and motivated. I think people, whether they are in a successful stage or not, good or bad, have inspiring stories. And it's Denzel, so I wanted to see what he had to offer." [Buy now: amazon.com, $10.99]
Ashley Caldwell, Olympic Skier:
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out by Richard P. Feynman
"I actually already started The Pleasure of Finding Things Out. Richard Feynman worked on the Manhattan Project and tells incredible stories of how differently he learns and thinks about the world. It makes me question how I approach training and life generally." [Buy now, amazon.com, $10.23]
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
"Because who doesn't like a beautifully written classic?" [Buy now, amazon.com, $10.36]
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
"I've heard great things about this book and I've never gotten around to reading it. I guess it brings up a lot of new scientific ideas and how humans will deal with the ethical dilemmas they might create." [Buy now, amazon.com, $6.95]
