The best tennis books

Who picked these books? Meet our 35 experts.

35 authors created a book list connected to tennis, and here are their favorite tennis books.
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Game Changers

By Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome (illustrator),

Book cover of Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams

Jennifer Merz Author Of Steadfast: Frances Perkins, Champion of Workers' Rights

From the list on strong inspiring women.

Who am I?

As a picture-book writer and illustrator as well as a mother and teacher, the most important goal I can think of is fueling a child’s imagination with possibilities by providing true stories of trailblazing women. My reviews highlight remarkable women in the arts, government, sports, social work, and history. I hope you enjoy these books!

Jennifer's book list on strong inspiring women

Discover why each book is one of Jennifer's favorite books.

Why did Jennifer love this book?

Many people know of the Williams sisters, titans in the world of professional tennis. But do you know of their struggles to gain their top-rated spots in the sport? This book highlights Venus’ and Serena’s challenges to overcome racism, poverty, and neighborhood violence to take their places as women admired for their determination, courage, and sisterly love besides their excellence in worldwide championships. Masterful collage illustrations draw readers into this story like a riveting tennis match. Sports fan or not, you will love this book!

Game Changers

By Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Game Changers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An ALA Notable Book

"Every page is splashed with vibrant color and eye-catching patterns, and the figures of the women themselves are full of energy, speed, and tension." -Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Venus and Serena Williams are two of the greatest tennis players of all time. Some say they're two of the greatest athletes of all time. Before they were world famous, they were little girls with big dreams.

Venus and Serena Williams. Two peas in a pod. Best friends. Sisters.

Six days a week they awoke before the sun came up to practice their serves and returns, to learn…


End of Day

By Jewel E Ann, Maxann Dobson (editor),

Book cover of End of Day

Isabel Jolie Author Of Better to See You

From the list on gripping romantic suspense loaded with heart.

Who am I?

As an avid romance reader, I read all romance subgenres, but hold a deep appreciation for romantic suspense. By its nature, romantic suspense novels require multiple plot lines, and a host of characters must come to life, both villains and heroes. The story may be dark, but the light always perseveres. Of the fourteen romance novels I’ve published, nine are romantic suspense. A practical person by nature, I spent decades in the business world before venturing into creative writing. I have an MBA from New York University and a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Isabel's book list on gripping romantic suspense loaded with heart

Discover why each book is one of Isabel's favorite books.

Why did Isabel love this book?

This book kept me up so late into the night I bombed a tennis match the next day.

This book, and really, the entire series, is fantastic. It’s dark, edgy, and scary at times, but the romance stays with you.

I read this book years ago, and still remember the twins Jessica and Jude Day, and Jessica’s psychologist Dr. Luke Jones. This story opens with a twist right at the get-go, sucking you in, and it doesn’t let you go until the very end.

It’s so good, I even recommended it to my husband to read…and he doesn’t typically read romance.

End of Day

By Jewel E Ann, Maxann Dobson (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked End of Day as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jewel E. Ann comes a sexy romantic-suspense that will leave you utterly breathless.

It’s never too soon to take your next breath.

Behind tinted windows a few yards from mourning family and friends, Jessica and Jude Day witness their parents’ funeral—and their own. Stripped of the only life they’ve ever known, the Days say goodbye to San Francisco forever.

Six months and two new identities later, the thirty-year-old misfits with elite self-defense skills and penchants for alcohol, sex, and trouble arrive like an earthquake to Peaceful Woods, a retirement community in…


Court on Canvas

By Ann Sumner (editor),

Book cover of Court on Canvas: Tennis in Art

Elizabeth Wilson Author Of Love Game: A History of Tennis, from Victorian Pastime to Global Phenomenon

From the list on the most beautiful and fascinating game of tennis.

Who am I?

I'm an art, performance, and music junkie. I love spectacle. My writing career began with articles in the political underground press of the 1970s and I've always seen art and entertainment as ‘political’ in their messages and in the emotions they incite. Tennis for me is part of a cultural spectrum embracing fashion, city and recreational life, film and artistic counter cultures, all creating a world of excitement and passion, so my writing on tennis is part of a wider project: to try to answer the questions of why these performances are so much more than ‘just’ entertainment, why they give passion and meaning to life, and why they are inspirational.

Elizabeth's book list on the most beautiful and fascinating game of tennis

Discover why each book is one of Elizabeth's favorite books.

Why did Elizabeth love this book?

This beautiful book is the catalogue of an art exhibition devoted to paintings and photographs that capture the world of tennis, demonstrating the close link between art and the sport. Indeed, many enthusiasts see tennis as an art in its own right and this book should convince any waverers. The gorgeous coloured and black and white illustrations range from late Victorian genre scenes of tennis as a social event including champagne, strawberries, and flirtation, on through the androgynous twenties and thirties and its development into the modern power game. Accompanying essays trace the game’s wider cultural influence. Here you will find above all the languor and elegance of social tennis and especially the centrality of women to it, from ladies playing in bustles and high heels to the Williams sisters in skin-tight miniskirts.

Court on Canvas

By Ann Sumner (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Court on Canvas as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Court on Canvas: Tennis in Art" celebrates the origins of the game in Birmingham and explores the ways in which tennis has inspired artists from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. The book guides us from the origins of the game as a genteel pastime for the upper classes, through its codification as a sport, to the international high-earning power game of today. It illustrates the changes in fashion associated with the sport and the important role tennis played in the emancipation of women in the early part of the twentieth century. The book contains a survey of images of tennis in…


The Last September

By Elizabeth Bowen,

Book cover of The Last September

Marian O'Shea Wernicke Author Of Out of Ireland

From the list on Ireland and the Irish.

Who am I?

I am a lover of all things Irish because of my heritage, with my maiden name O’Shea. Both of my parents’ grandparents came from Ireland to the United States: the O’Sheas from County Kerry and the Ward and Sullivans from Galway and Bantry. As an English major, I have loved the works of Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and I wrote my Master’s thesis on Ulysses by Joyce. Both of my own novels center around the Irish. I understand their love/hate relationship with the Catholic Church, and I love the stinging wit and lively humor of the people. The Irish are great storytellers!

Marian's book list on Ireland and the Irish

Discover why each book is one of Marian's favorite books.

Why did Marian love this book?

This novel, set in an upper-class Anglo-Irish great house in the 1920s during Ireland’s fight for independence from British rule, broke my heart.

The central character struggles with her attraction to a young revolutionary hiding on the property and her loyalty to her upper-class English upbringing. An atmosphere of smouldering violence pervades the novel, while the characters have tennis parties, love affairs, and engage in family gossip.

Independence, both personal and political, is the theme, yet at what cost?

This is a great movie also!

The Last September

By Elizabeth Bowen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Last September as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Read Elizabeth Bowen's accessible feminist take on the Irish aristocracy

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY VICTORIA GLENDINNING

The Irish troubles rage, but up at the 'Big House', tennis parties, dances and flirtations with the English officers continue, undisturbed by the ambushes, arrests and burning country beyond the gates. Faint vibrations of discord reach the young girl Lois, who is straining for her own freedom, and she will witness the troubles surge closer and reach their irrevocable, inevitable climax.


Book cover of Playing the Moldovans at Tennis

Robin Cherry Author Of Garlic, an Edible Biography: The History, Politics, and Mythology Behind the World's Most Pungent Food--With Over 100 Recipes

From the list on traveling that are also insanely funny.

Who am I?

Robin Cherry is a Cleveland-raised, Hudson Valley-based author of Garlic: An Edible Biography and Catalog: An Illustrated History of Mail Order Shopping. When not zeroing in on the microhistory of unusual things, she writes about food, wine, and travel. Her father’s family hails from Moldova which may explain why two of the five books on this list are about, or include, chapters on, Moldova. The fact that two concern Mongolia is inexplicable as she’s never been there. Her story on visiting Moldova was included in Lonely Planet’s 2016 Travel Anthology. 

Robin's book list on traveling that are also insanely funny

Discover why each book is one of Robin's favorite books.

Why did Robin love this book?

Travel writing can be so serious. “I was a divorced heroin addict so I went on a hike” or “I have a terminal disease; this is my final journey.” This book (and the other books on my list) illuminate foreign places and people with erudition, thoughtfulness, and laughter.

Whenever I’m in London, I visit Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street and ask the sales assistant to recommend a humorous book about the former Soviet Union. Playing the Moldovans at Tennis is one of my favorites.  British comedian Tony Hawk's first book, Round Ireland with a Fridge, saw him hitchhike around the island to win a drunken £100 bet. In this book, Hawks accepts a bet from a friend that he can’t beat the entire Moldovan football team at tennis and the loser has to strip down and sing the Moldovan national anthem on Balham High Road. While his escapades…

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis

By Tony Hawks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Playing the Moldovans at Tennis as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'All I knew about Moldova were the names of eleven men printed on the inside back pages of my newspaper. None of them sounded to me like they were any good at tennis ...'

An eccentric wager finds Tony Hawks, a man who loves an unusual challenge, bound for the little-known Eastern European state of Moldova. His mission: to track down members of the country's football team and persuade them to play him at tennis. The bizarre quest ultimately has little to do with tennis or football, but instead turns into an extraordinary journey involving the Moldovan underworld, gypsies, chronic…


Federer and Me

By William Skidelsky,

Book cover of Federer and Me: A Story of Obsession

Elizabeth Wilson Author Of Love Game: A History of Tennis, from Victorian Pastime to Global Phenomenon

From the list on the most beautiful and fascinating game of tennis.

Who am I?

I'm an art, performance, and music junkie. I love spectacle. My writing career began with articles in the political underground press of the 1970s and I've always seen art and entertainment as ‘political’ in their messages and in the emotions they incite. Tennis for me is part of a cultural spectrum embracing fashion, city and recreational life, film and artistic counter cultures, all creating a world of excitement and passion, so my writing on tennis is part of a wider project: to try to answer the questions of why these performances are so much more than ‘just’ entertainment, why they give passion and meaning to life, and why they are inspirational.

Elizabeth's book list on the most beautiful and fascinating game of tennis

Discover why each book is one of Elizabeth's favorite books.

Why did Elizabeth love this book?

Finally, this is one for the fans, who are so important in sport. The blurb tells us, "For much of the past decade, William Skidelsky has not been able to stop thinking about Roger Federer, the greatest and most graceful player of all time. It’s a devotion that has been all-consuming." An obsession it certainly is and Skidellsky looks at it from all angles: his own emotional problems, the way the game of tennis has developed (not always for the better), and what Federer signifies as a sports and cultural icon. Why fans cared so passionately about Federer and more than about any other player tells us much about our culture of spectacle and consumption and our longing in a secular and cynical world for heroes to capture our imagination and to inspire.

Federer and Me

By William Skidelsky,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Federer and Me as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For much of the past decade, William Skidelsky has not been able to stop thinking about Roger Federer, the greatest and most graceful tennis player of all time. It's a devotion that has been all-consuming.

In Federer and Me, Skidelsky asks what it is about the Swiss star that transfixes him, and countless others. He dissects the wonders of his forehand, reflects on his rivalry with Nadal, revels in his victories and relives his most crushing defeats.

But this is more than just a book about Federer. In charting his obsession, Skidelsky explores the evolution of modern tennis, the role…


Lolita

By Vladimir Nabokov,

Book cover of Lolita

Charles Salzberg Author Of Man on the Run

From the list on reads for valuable lessons as a crime writer.

Who am I?

I was an English major in college and my dream was to write the Great American Novel. My literary heroes were writers like Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Bernard Malamud, Jean Rhys, Margaret Drabble, Truman Capote, and Norman Mailer. They “taught” me how to write. About a dozen years ago, I concentrated on writing crime novels, like Swann’s Last Song and Second Story Man, both of which were nominated for Shamus Awards (Second Story Man won the Beverly Hills Book Award.) I'm a magazine journalist and write nonfiction books, screenplays, plays, and book reviews. I teach writing here in New York City, and I’m on the Board of PrisonWrites and the New York Writers Workshop.

Charles' book list on reads for valuable lessons as a crime writer

Discover why each book is one of Charles' favorite books.

Why did Charles love this book?

Lolita isn’t usually thought of as a crime novel but it is.

Thirty-seven-year-old Humbert Humbert stalks 12-year-old Lolita, then breaks all kinds of laws, moral, ethical, and legal, as he transports her across state lines.

The first time I read Lolita, I was dazzled by Nabokov’s stunning use of language—and remember, English was not his native tongue—word-play, and his ability to create full-blooded characters that leap off the page.

Nabokov pulls off this morally compromised tale with wit and humor, while dealing with the serious topic of pedophilia.

Reading Lolita gave me license to create morally challenged characters like Francis Hoyt, one of the protagonists in my novels.

Nabokov proved you don’t have to like, admire, or even feel a kinship with a character, so long as that character is interesting and compelling enough that readers are fascinated about him or her without being turned off.

Lolita

By Vladimir Nabokov,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Lolita as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of my tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.'

Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged, frustrated college professor. In love with his landlady's twelve-year-old daughter Lolita, he'll do anything to possess her. Unable and unwilling to stop himself, he is prepared to commit any crime to get what he wants.

Is he in love or insane? A silver-tongued poet or a pervert? A tortured soul or a monster? Or is he all…


Lucky Loser

By Yolanda Wallace,

Book cover of Lucky Loser

Rachel Spangler Author Of Thrust

From the list on sporty sapphic romances.

Who am I?

As the author of several sapphic sports romances, I find sports world rife with passion, complexities, and inherent conflict. I’ve had the privilege of working with several professional athletes and Olympians, and I’m always drawn to their drive. Sports, especially high-level sports, function as a pressure cooker to reveal our real personalities for better or for worse. There’s something appealing about studying people who push their minds and bodies to the brink in pursuit of something bigger than themselves. I think in some small way that connects with who as I am a writer and my own drive to always improve.

Rachel's book list on sporty sapphic romances

Discover why each book is one of Rachel's favorite books.

Why did Rachel love this book?

I love Yolanda Wallace, and I love tennis, so this one was an easy pick up for me. My son is an avid tennis player, which makes me a tennis mom. I know the ups and downs of tennis players, and I personally find it the most mentally grueling sport of them all since you are out there on your own with no one to help pick you up when you’re down. I think the setting is rife with angst, and Yolanda Wallace is such a beautifully descriptive writer. She never misses an opportunity to paint a real picture with her words. 

Lucky Loser

By Yolanda Wallace,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Lucky Loser as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the high stakes world of women’s tennis, love means nothing. Or at least that’s how Sinjin Smythe sees it. Then she begins to fall for her friend and former doubles partner Laure Fortescue. Having had her heart broken by one player, Sinjin isn’t willing to have it happen again. The talented but oft-injured Brit enters Wimbledon fighting her feelings—and struggling to resurrect her career.

Laure Fortescue has fame, fortune, and a ranking inside the top ten. She has everything she ever wanted. Everything except Sinjin Smythe. As a rule, Laure doesn’t date other players. A rule she would gladly…


Flow

By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,

Book cover of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Gloria Mark Author Of Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity

From the list on attention and why it is the ultimate currency.

Who am I?

In 2000, I entered the University of California, Irvine as an assistant professor. Suddenly faced with multiple research projects, courses, committees, grant-writing, and student mentoring, I found myself switching screens and tasks like crazy. But I was also glued to my computer. I began to wonder if this was normal? Trained as a psychologist, I decided to study empirically what was happening to our attention. I began research over two decades on attention and discovered how our attention spans have shrunk over time (to a mere average of 47 seconds). Fast forward, I've continued to study our relationships with our technology, uncovering different types of attention and busting myths associated with focus and productivity. 

Gloria's book list on attention and why it is the ultimate currency

Discover why each book is one of Gloria's favorite books.

Why did Gloria love this book?

I started out my career path as an artist, and when creating art, I regularly got into a state of what is known as flow. Hours would pass before I realized that it was already deep into night and I should be at home.

We think we know what flow is but Csikszentmihalyi tells us what it really is—a combination of the right amount of challenge and skill. Flow describes a state when one experiences the ultimate form of creativity—when a person is so immersed in an experience that time doesn’t matter.

Learning why people pursue experiences that can get them into flow is fascinating. Few psychologists have presented such optimistic views of people as Csikszentmihalyi.

Flow

By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Flow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“Csikszentmihalyi arrives at an insight that many of us can intuitively grasp, despite our insistent (and culturally supported) denial of this truth. That is, it is not what happens to us that determines our happiness, but the manner in which we make sense of that reality. . . . The manner in which Csikszentmihalyi integrates research on consciousness, personal psychology and spirituality is illuminating.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review

The bestselling classic that holds the key to unlocking meaning, creativity, peak performance, and true happiness.

Legendary psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an…


Unstoppable

By Dan Freedman,

Book cover of Unstoppable

F.J. Campbell Author Of No Number Nine

From the list on fiction with sporty characters.

Who am I?

I was born in England but have also lived in Germany and Switzerland. I’m not – and never have been – an elite sportsperson, but I'm fascinated by the sporting world and in particular, how young people who are into sports cope with the pressures of growing up and dealing with the successes and failures of sports. I love playing sports and watching it, in particular the Olympics and Paralympics, because of the drama, the tension, the soaring highs of winning, and the miserable lows of losing. The books that I've chosen hooked me in and kept me turning their pages because they’re gripping stories with irresistible (sporty) characters in inspiring settings.

F.J.'s book list on fiction with sporty characters

Discover why each book is one of F.J.'s favorite books.

Why did F.J. love this book?

I would recommend Unstoppable to children (boys and girls) aged about 10 – 14 years old. Roxy and Kaine are twins – she plays tennis, he plays football, and they have a troubled home life. I remember that being a teenager is difficult enough, with all the confusion, uncertainty, and pressure it brings, but in this book you also throw in elite sport, knife crime, ambitious parents, and sibling rivalry. It’s the kind of book you might give to your son or daughter and you wouldn’t see them again until they’ve finished it. Should be called Unputdownable.

Unstoppable

By Dan Freedman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Unstoppable as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Fourteen-year-old twins, Roxy and Kaine, have only one thing in common.
They HATE each other.

Kaine is loud, brash and brilliant at football.
Roxy is heading for tennis superstardom.

When tragedy strikes, their worlds are ripped apart.

Can they come together before it's too late?


The Tennis Partner

By Abraham Verghese,

Book cover of The Tennis Partner

Sung J. Woo Author Of Love Love

From the list on tennis that may or may not feature pornography.

Who am I?

I became a tennis fan in the mid-2000’s, when Roger Federer reigned supreme. But here’s the thing – I wasn’t a huge fan of his. In fact, I found him boring, because he’d win just about every match. But then came this young Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who wore sleeveless shirts and capri pants and resembled a pirate – and I’ve been hooked ever since. I play the game to the best of my ability, which isn’t much; I’ve been told by my opponents that I’m quite annoying, in that I often manage to turn surefire winners into yet another rally. Porn-wise, no expertise whatsoever, outside of researching it for my second novel!

Sung's book list on tennis that may or may not feature pornography

Discover why each book is one of Sung's favorite books.

Why did Sung love this book?

Let me just come right out and say it: this is a sad book. It’s a tragedy – like The Great Gatsby, Abraham plays the role of the narrator Nick Carraway while David Smith, an Australian doctor, becomes his unfortunate Jay Gatsby. The man is troubled (substance addiction), but what brings the two men born generations apart is the game of, you guessed it, tennis. (Sorry to disappoint, but not porn – though there is some sexual compulsion, so maybe a tiny bit?) What is most impressive about this work is Abraham’s restraint. There’s some high drama here, but he keeps it all in sensible, practical check, which is why it all feels so very real.

The Tennis Partner

By Abraham Verghese,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Tennis Partner as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In January 1994, Abraham Verghese, an indian doctor in a Texan teaching hospital, was called to the morgue to identify the body of his close friend, student and tennis partner David Smith. David had killed himself because he could not deal with his addiction to intravenously injected cocaine. This book is Verghese's tribute to his dead friend; it is also an attempt to understand and explain drug addiction. Being both doctor and friend, Verghese offers us a unique insight into addiction, describing with clinical detachment the horrific physical symptoms of abuse, revealing how the stress of the medical profession leads…


Extraordinary Golf

By Fred Shoemaker, Pete Shoemaker,

Book cover of Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible

Jayne Storey Author Of Connected Golf: Bridging the Gap between Practice and Performance

From the list on mind-body golf.

Who am I?

I’ve been fascinated by the link between golf and the Eastern arts since I heard the great Jack Nicklaus say that golf is played with the feet. This immediately struck a chord with me as my background spans over thirty years of Tai Chi training and I have understood from this art that all movement comes from the ground upwards. The early training of Nicklaus in fact echoes that of the ancient warriors who understood the link between intention and action, which is a very different approach to the modern way of over-thinking technique. The simplicity of flow cancels out the need to separate the golf swing into individual positions. 

Jayne's book list on mind-body golf

Discover why each book is one of Jayne's favorite books.

Why did Jayne love this book?

This is a breakthrough book that allows golfers the opportunity to step away from all the mental and technical thinking and into something simpler that can help release a golfer’s inner talents and abilities. The now-famous ‘club-throwing exercise’ is Shoemaker’s answer to Tim Gallwey’s ‘bounce-hit’ exercise in tennis which helps take the emphasis off trying to get technique right and instead allows the body to move in a way that is natural and therefore repeatable, even under pressure. So many of my students have benefited from the drills and exercises and the whole mindset of this book which details the possibilities inherent every time you set up to the ball. 

Extraordinary Golf

By Fred Shoemaker, Pete Shoemaker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Extraordinary Golf as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Most golfers approach the tee with a complex mental package: worries and judgments about their swing, the other person's swing, the course, the weather, looking good, looking bad. They think about what's wrong instead of what's possible, and this is what Extraordinary Golf teaches: the art of the possible. Drawing on his experience teaching both amateurs and professionals for more than fifteen years, in his clinics around the country, in his Golf in the Kingdom seminars at the Esalen Institute, and at his own School for Extraordinary Golf in California, Shoemaker shows how extraordinary golf can be coached, learned, and…


Infinite Jest

By David Foster Wallace,

Book cover of Infinite Jest

Keri Blakinger Author Of Corrections in Ink: A Memoir

From the list on to read in prison.

Who am I?

Now, I’m a journalist who covers prisons—but a decade ago I was in prison myself. I’d landed there on a heroin charge after years of struggling with addiction as I bumbled my way through college. Behind bars, I read voraciously, almost as if making up for all the assignments I’d left half-done during my drug years. As I slowly learned to rebuild and reinvent myself, I also learned about recovery and hope, and the reality of our nation’s carceral system really is. Hopefully, these books might help you learn those things, too.

Keri's book list on to read in prison

Discover why each book is one of Keri's favorite books.

Why did Keri love this book?

One of the best criteria for a book to read in prison is length. Sometimes it’s hard to get more books quickly, and since some facilities have limits on how many books you can have at one time, the longer the better. At 1,079 pages, David Foster Wallace certainly delivers on that front. In the free world, that might seem like a bit of a slog but the book is also funny and has some nuggets of wisdom about addiction and recovery that resonated with me when I read it a decade ago during a brief stint in solitary confinement.

Infinite Jest

By David Foster Wallace,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Infinite Jest as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A writer of virtuostic talents who can seemingly do anything' New York Times

'Wallace is a superb comedian of culture . . . his exuberance and intellectual impishness are a delight' James Wood, Guardian

'He induces the kind of laughter which, when read in bed with a sleeping partner, wakes said sleeping partner up . . . He's damn good' Nicholas Lezard, Guardian

'One of the best books about addiction and recovery to appear in recent memory' Sunday Times

Somewhere in the not-so-distant future the residents of Ennet House, a Boston halfway house for recovering addicts, and students at the…


The Cliff House

By Chris Brookmyre,

Book cover of The Cliff House

A.A. Chaudhuri Author Of The Final Party

From the list on whodunnit thriller set in idyllic locations.

Who am I?

I love writing about the dark side of human nature, and the devastating secrets and resentments that can simmer beneath the surface between friends before reaching boiling point in the most dramatic and sinister way.  It’s a theme pivotal to my latest thriller, which sees friends reuniting in a beautiful yet isolated location for the seemingly perfect celebration, but where things go horribly wrong. I enjoy exploring this topic through multiple characters, all with their own dubious backstories that stir suspicion in readers’ minds and keeps them guessing, while the settings I use play a key role in enhancing that sense of unease and tension conducive to the classic whodunnit.

A.A.'s book list on whodunnit thriller set in idyllic locations

Discover why each book is one of A.A.'s favorite books.

Why did A.A. love this book?

This addictive page-turner revolves around an extravagant hen party where bride-to-be Jen rents a luxury getaway on a private island.

The fact that the helicopter which brought the guests to the island won't be back for 72 hours ramps up the sense of impending doom and claustrophobia, this further enhanced when the wifi is cut off. I devoured the varied and well-rounded cast of characters, each with their own complex backstories, secrets, and agendas giving them a motive to kill.

When one of the guests disappears, they receive a message telling them that unless someone confesses her terrible secret to the others, their missing friend will be killed. This was such a clever idea and had me itching to know who in the group the message was aimed at.

The Cliff House

By Chris Brookmyre,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Cliff House as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Chris Brookmyre is a genius, every new book of his is a cause for celebration' --- RICHARD OSMAN

'Keeps you guessing until the very end - after an avalanche of revelations and twists' --- THE TIMES, BOOK OF THE MONTH

One hen weekend, seven secrets... but only one worth killing for

Jen's hen party is going to be out of control...

She's rented a luxury getaway on its own private island. The helicopter won't be back for seventy-two hours. They are alone. They think.

As well as Jen, there's the pop diva and the estranged ex-bandmate, the tennis pro and…


Jackie Wins Them All

By Fabian E. Ferguson, Alisa Aryutova (illustrator),

Book cover of Jackie Wins Them All

Claire Annette Noland Author Of Evie's Field Day: More Than One Way to Win

From the list on help children develop good sportsmanship.

Who am I?

As a children’s librarian, teacher, and parent, I know that children have big feelings. I write heart-filled books that speak to the issues that they deal with while navigating new experiences. I was inspired to write Evie’s Field Day because of the frustrations most children deal with when they lose. I hope that my book will encourage children to enjoy the process of playing sports and games with others and the rewards of being a friend and a good sport.

Claire's book list on help children develop good sportsmanship

Discover why each book is one of Claire's favorite books.

Why did Claire love this book?

Talented Jackie seems to be good at everything from tennis to chess. She expects to win the race and is shocked when another girl passes her. Jackie isn’t used to losing and the hurt it causes. After acknowledging her disappointment, Jackie reaches out and congratulates her competitor.

This upbeat story features athletes of color who exemplify good sportsmanship and remind readers that “things won’t always work out – you can’t win them all. Work hard, give your best, and do all you can do.” It shows children how to graciously accept defeat.

Jackie Wins Them All

By Fabian E. Ferguson, Alisa Aryutova (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jackie Wins Them All as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whether Jackie wins or loses, she is still amazing. This book helps guardians and parents open up the discussion with kids on how to win and lose gracefully.

Jackie Wins Them All?is an unforgettable coming-of-age picture book for children. It tells the story of a gifted sixth grader, Jackie J. Spade, who has a knack for winning everything she's tried her hand at. Science fairs, spelling bees, swimming, and skating, and just about anything you can imagine!

But Jackie is about to take on her biggest challenge, the big city track meet! Will she win the trophy or will she…


String Theory

By David Foster Wallace,

Book cover of String Theory: David Foster Wallace on Tennis: A Library of America Special Publication

Sung J. Woo Author Of Love Love

From the list on tennis that may or may not feature pornography.

Who am I?

I became a tennis fan in the mid-2000’s, when Roger Federer reigned supreme. But here’s the thing – I wasn’t a huge fan of his. In fact, I found him boring, because he’d win just about every match. But then came this young Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who wore sleeveless shirts and capri pants and resembled a pirate – and I’ve been hooked ever since. I play the game to the best of my ability, which isn’t much; I’ve been told by my opponents that I’m quite annoying, in that I often manage to turn surefire winners into yet another rally. Porn-wise, no expertise whatsoever, outside of researching it for my second novel!

Sung's book list on tennis that may or may not feature pornography

Discover why each book is one of Sung's favorite books.

Why did Sung love this book?

If there’s a writer who could have written about tennis and pornography and made it work way better than yours truly, it is David Foster Wallace. But David did not waste his time on this planet (suicide in his 46th year) on idle silliness – no, he wrote essays like “Federer as a Religious Experience” for The New York Times, which is the fifth and final essay in his collection of his tennis nonfiction. Ranked nationally as a junior, David possessed intimate knowledge of the sport, and the first essay, “Derivative Sport in Tornado Alley,” indeed features a tornado that rips through team practice, but believe it or not, that natural disaster is not as frightening as the drudgery of tennis drills that he must master.

String Theory

By David Foster Wallace,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked String Theory as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An instant classic of American sportswriting—the tennis essays of David Foster Wallace, “the best mind of his generation” (A. O. Scott) and “the best tennis-writer of all time” (New York Times)
 
Gathered for the first time in a deluxe collector's edition, here are David Foster Wallace's legendary writings on tennis, five tour-de-force pieces written with a competitor's insight and a fan's obsessive enthusiasm. Wallace brings his dazzling literary magic to the game he loved as he celebrates the other-worldly genius of Roger Federer; offers a wickedly witty disection of Tracy Austin's memoir; considers the artistry of Michael Joyce, a supremely…


Winning the Loser's Game

By Charles Ellis,

Book cover of Winning the Loser's Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing

John M. Jennings Author Of The Uncertainty Solution: How to Invest with Confidence in the Face of the Unknown

From the list on novices to learn about investing.

Who am I?

I’ve long been fascinated by money and wealth and people’s relationship to them. I started my career as an estate planning attorney and then broadened my expertise to investing. I know that investing can seem scary due to the complexity of the financial markets and the overwhelming amount of investment products and strategies. But successful investing doesn’t have to be hard or scary. With the proper guidance, anyone can embark on a strategy of creating wealth through investing. Reading the right book is a good first step in the right direction.

John's book list on novices to learn about investing

Discover why each book is one of John's favorite books.

Why did John love this book?

This is one of the first books I read after becoming a wealth manager, and it had a huge influence on how I view the investment world. 

The title refers to the difference between amateur tennis – a loser’s game – where the winner is the player who makes the least mistakes and professional tennis – a winner’s game – where the winner is the player who makes the best shots.

Ellis argues that most investors are like amateur tennis players, playing a loser’s game where winning means limiting mistakes. Thus, for most investors, the best strategy is to avoid making money-losing mistakes and focus on strategies that improve the odds of winning: adopting a long-term, low-cost, and diversified investment approach.

Winning the Loser's Game

By Charles Ellis,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Winning the Loser's Game as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The definitive guide to long-term investing success-fully updated to address the realities of today's markets

Technology, information overload, and increasing market dominance by expert investors and computers make it harder than ever to produce investing results that overcome operating costs and fees. Winning the Loser's Game reveals everything you need to know to reduce costs, fees, and taxes, and focus on long-term policies that are right for you.

Candid, short, and super easy to read, Winning the Loser's Game walks you through the process of developing and implementing a powerful investing strategy that generates solid profits year after year. In…


The Singles Game

By Lauren Weisberger,

Book cover of The Singles Game

Stacy Juba Author Of Fooling Around With Cinderella

From the list on chick lit to bring a smile to your face.

Who am I?

I’m the author of the Storybook Valley chick-lit series, which includes Fooling Around With Cinderella and Prancing Around With Sleeping Beauty. I love reading and writing lighthearted novels about young women finding their Prince Charming—and also themselves. Setting is also important to me as a writer. To create my Storybook Valley novels I spied on Cinderellas at amusement parks and discreetly watched employees head off into off-limits areas. I watched hours of YouTube interviews with former Disney World princesses, behind-the-scenes videos with other amusement park employees, and listened to podcast interviews with managers of theme parks. All the novels I chose had well-developed settings that were an integral part of the book.  

Stacy's book list on chick lit to bring a smile to your face

Discover why each book is one of Stacy's favorite books.

Why did Stacy love this book?

This book captivated me as it centered on a unique subject matter—professional women’s tennis. I played varsity tennis in high school, so have always enjoyed the sport, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel about pro tennis. It was fun reading about America’s sweetheart, Charlotte “Charlie” Silver, and how fame impacts her life. The book felt like an inside look at what it’s really like to be on the pro circuit with some entertaining romantic twists. The tennis aspects seemed authentic, as if the author had done her research. Since I’m a former journalist, authenticity and research are important to me when reading or writing a novel.

The Singles Game

By Lauren Weisberger,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Singles Game as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and When Life Gives You Lululemons comes a dishy tell-all about a beautiful tennis prodigy who, after changing coaches, suddenly makes headlines on and off the court.

How far would you go to reach the top?

When America’s sweetheart, Charlotte “Charlie” Silver, makes a pact with the devil, the infamously brutal coach Todd Feltner, Good Girl Charlie is banished. After all, no one ever wins big by playing nice. Charlie finds herself catapulted into a world of celebrity stylists, private parties, charity events on mega-yachts, and secret dates…


Rhyme & Rhythm

By Sarah J. Donovan,

Book cover of Rhyme & Rhythm: Poems for Student Athletes

Kristin Bartley Lenz Author Of The Art of Holding on and Letting Go

From the list on teen sports (and so much more).

Who am I?

I wasn’t a sporty teen, but I discovered rock climbing in my twenties and that later inspired my first novel, The Art of Holding On and Letting Go. I’m also a social worker, and even though my main character Cara is a competitive climber and the book features gripping (ha!) rock climbing scenes, the story is about much more – love and loss, finding home, the transformative power of nature. Sports and athleticism (or lack thereof) are something we can all relate to. What a great starting point for exploring our multi-faceted lives.

Kristin's book list on teen sports (and so much more)

Discover why each book is one of Kristin's favorite books.

Why did Kristin love this book?

This anthology is full of heart and features a wide field of sports and experiences and identities. The poems are a mix of serious, moving, and funny moments, but most of all they’re relatable and accessible. I’ve read many of the poems several times, making new discoveries with each read, and other poems beg to be read aloud in a spoken word performance. This is a great collection for teens to enjoy by themselves, or for teachers to share in the classroom. It might even inspire you to write your own sports poem.

Rhyme & Rhythm

By Sarah J. Donovan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Rhyme & Rhythm as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What is it like to be a student athlete? Basketballer, runner, swimmer, cyclist, gymnast, pitcher, wrestler, football, tennis or lacrosse player? And what is it like to balance school, practice, work, family life, love, and all that competing? What is it like for the heart, the mind, and the body? What is it like for the spirit?

Rhyme & Rhythm: Poems for Student Athletes captures through exquisite and heart-felt poetry the lives, pains, sufferings, revelations, grit, and triumphs of the student athlete. On the track, on the diamond, on the court, on the street, in the home, in the ring,…


Forever...

By Judy Blume,

Book cover of Forever...

Cate Carlyle Author Of When You're With Me, I'm Smiling

From the list on YA romance but great for gals old enough to drink.

Who am I?

I am a librarian and have published several short stories, and a couple of young adult novels, including a teen romance. But back in the day, when I was a quiet bookish teen who lived in used books stores and libraries, I would devour Judy Blume books like potato chips! To this day, I am still a sucker for a great romance no matter the age of the characters, whether they are in high school or teaching high school. Throw in a tropical beach or a wealthy architect slumming it on Nantucket and I’m all in. (Nora Roberts is the Queen of All Romance; I will challenge you to a duel on that fact!)

Cate's book list on YA romance but great for gals old enough to drink

Discover why each book is one of Cate's favorite books.

Why did Cate love this book?

Written in 1975, Forever is still going strong. The love story of 18-year-old Katherine and her boyfriend Michael and their first introduction to sex is real and intense. In the aftermath, separated by distance, Katherine struggles to come to terms with the fact that she is also attracted to Theo her tennis instructor, and that being her first physical partner does not necessarily make Michael her “forever.” A true mature coming-of-age romance.

Forever...

By Judy Blume,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Forever... as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Do you remember the first time?

Forever is still the bravest, freshest, fruitiest and most honest account of first love, first sex and first heartbreak ever written for teens. It was a book ahead of its time - and remains, after forty years in print, a teenage bestseller from the award-winning Judy Blume.

With a contemporary cover, Forever is a teen classic ripe for a new generation of readers.