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For the Book Jocks: Underrated Sports Biographies Worth Your Time

We won’t believe you when you say you’re not a reader—you just haven’t found the right book. Here are a few sports biographies to try out.

Anyone who has ever said the phrase, “I’m not a reader” has just not yet found the right book to read. But lucky for you, we’ve got a few recommendations for some great sports biographies.

Sports biographies are some of the best kinds of books you can pick up. They’re motivational, inspiring, and of course, they let us into the lives of some of the world’s best athletes.

While there are many to choose from, here are a few underrated picks that we think are worth your time.

King of the World: Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an American Hero

As one of the greatest athletes of all time, there have been many books written about Muhammad Ali. But, in King of the World, David Remnick offers a unique (and in our opinion underrated) perspective of Ali’s life.

Like the many other Ali biographies out there, King of the World takes you through the heavyweight boxer’s journey to becoming “The Greatest”. Plus, he does so from literally all angles.

Remnick dives deep into some of Ali’s greatest rivals, like Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. He writes about the effect that the media had on the heavyweight’s career and the perception around him. And he’ll even take you through the stories of the mobsters and other groups that influenced his life.

With all the rich detail in King of the World, reading it is an empathetic experience with one of the most prolific fighters the world has ever seen in the ring.

No Limits: The Will to Succeed

Michael Phelps is the most successful Olympian of all time, with 28 Olympic medals. The Olympics is only every four years. So, even the most gifted of athletes would need more than talent to reach such a record.

In No Limits, Phelps tells us himself how he did it. He spills the details of his career-defining events, from his first Olympics in Sydney, all the way to his iconic eight-medal Beijing run. And reading about every record he’s ever broken (there are so many) in his own words makes his well-known story just that much more special.

But, the best part about this book is finding out how talent didn’t get him there—it was his focus and dedication.

The Unknown Kimi Raikkonen

If you’re Formula 1 fan, you know that Kimi Raikkonen is widely known for being one of the most private drivers on track. Literally nicknamed “The Iceman”, he presents himself a lot more closed off than most other world champions in any sport.

But that’s what makes The Unknown Kimi Raikkonen such a treat. The 2007 F1 World Champion grants author Kari Hotakainen the access to Raikkonen’s personal life that we’ve been craving his entire career.

And this book reveals all Hotakainen discovered. From behind-the-scenes looks into F1 Grand Prix to the private life of Kimi off the track, this one has it all. Plus, you need to see the never-previously-seen photos included in this book.

These are some of our favorite sports biographies. Which one is your favorite?