Sporting stories have the ability to captivate and excite an audience like nothing else, from the surprise of an underdog upset to the thrill of watching a world-class competitor at the peak of their powers. The titles chosen for this list allow you to immerse yourself in the world of legendary athletes and go behind the scenes of classic matches.
1. Behind the Mask | Tyson Fury (Boxing)
Get the personal perspective of a truly unique sporting character and hear the stranger-than-fiction story of Tyson Fury in his own words. As the most unlikely heavyweight boxing champion in history, Fury does not flinch in grappling with the tale of his rise to the top, devastating fall to rock bottom and unbelievable comeback. Jake Wood narrates with skill and empathy, drawing the listener into the highs and the lows, the titles and the training. You will experience the blow-by-blow accounts of his biggest fights, alongside the battles with alcohol, drugs and mental health. With an appeal stretching beyond boxing, the life of the Gypsy King is a truly inspirational tale.
2. How to Be a Footballer | Peter Crouch (Football)
Peter Crouch was not a generic Premier League footballer and this is not a generic football biography. Achieving great success in an unorthodox way, Crouch scored over 100 goals in the Premier League, played 42 times for England and, with his robot-dance celebration, started a craze that was imitated in school playgrounds and Sunday league pitches around the country. How to Be a Footballer won the Telegraph’s 2018 Sports Book of the Year Award and, through his acclaimed podcast, Crouch continues to appeal to football fans across the game. Bringing his unique sense of humour to the narration, Crouch tells the real, unfiltered and hilarious story of football on and off the pitch.
3. My Life and Rugby | Eddie Jones (Rugby)
Eddie Jones has a coaching pedigree that few can match. Reaching the World Cup finals with Australia and England, and steering Japan to the biggest upset in rugby history over South Africa, Jones has been in the middle of some of the sport's most memorable moments. In this autobiography, Jones tells his story in his typical honest and combative style, combining sharp humour with brilliant insights on managing the highs and lows of elite sport. Narrated skilfully by Sam Haft, you’ll experience the compelling journey of one of the most enigmatic characters in world rugby. Released just after England’s loss to South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, this is a raw, uncut take on rugby at its peak.
4. Born to Run | Christopher McDougall (Running)
In this tale of impressive athleticism, author Christopher McDougall recounts stories of the Tarahumara—an all but hidden tribe of indigenous Mexicans who, for centuries, have practiced the seemingly impossible feat of running for hundreds of miles at a time without rest. Travelling to the deadly Copper Canyon in the tribe’s native state of Chihuahua, the author meets the mysterious and solitary Caballo Blanco, an outsider who lives among the tribe, and begins studying the ways of the Tarahumara, hoping to become an ultramarathoner himself. Blending engrossing narratives with scientific research on just how much the human body can achieve, Born to Run is at once a fascinating cultural study, colourful travel memoir and inspiring athletic journal, all brought to life by Fred Sanders’ excellent narration.
5. How to Build a Car | Adrian Newey (F1)
Dive into the fascinating life story of Adrian Newey and his 35-year career in designing cars for Formula One. Join one of Britain’s greatest engineers in his relentless quest for more speed, working with the biggest names in F1, from Nigel Mansell to Damon Hill and Alain Prost to Sebastian Vettel. The thrilling world of elite motorsport is opened up to the listener through Richard Trinder's engaging narration, telling a story that combines humanity and technology in an obsession to find a way of going just a little bit faster. Newey may be one of the less familiar names on this list, but his impact on the sport is unmatched. For the avid Formula One fan and the casual observer alike, strap yourself in for an entertaining and insightful look at life in the fast lane.
6. Moneyball | Michael Lewis (Baseball)
In Moneyball, Michael Lewis takes us on a journey into a baseball revolution. Following the Oakland Athletics team on their quest to win despite a tight budget, Lewis explores the use of advanced analytics in America’s favourite pastime, turning established baseball wisdom upside down. With an appeal that reaches far beyond baseball fans, Moneyball changed the sport by popularising a statistics-first approach, which is now commonplace throughout the game. Scott Brick delivers an engaging narration, bringing out the human side of these remarkable events. Since being adapted into a film starring Brad Pitt, the word 'moneyball' is now used in any sport to refer to the analytical approach pioneered in Oakland. Start listening and find out why this is one of the most influential sports stories of all time.
7. Shoe Dog | Phil Knight
In 1964, fresh out of business school with just a $50 loan from his dad, Phil Knight started a small business selling imported sneakers from the trunk of his car. Today, that small business is worth more than $30 billion and boasts perhaps the most recognisable logo in the world: the Nike swoosh. An absorbing listen for sports and business enthusiasts alike, Shoe Dog is a stirring tale of what it takes to build a global brand, as well as the risks, setbacks and successes that happen along the way. Tony Award-winning actor Norbert Leo Butz provides a dynamic narration that leaves an air of suspense, crafting an engrossing corporate drama that weaves through the many ups and downs of the Nike story.
8. Darkness to Light | Lamar Odom (NBA)
Lamar Odom, renowned for his years playing with the LA Lakers and his connection to the Kardashian clan, relays his personal journey in this raw and revealing autobiography. Chris Palmer provides an immersive narration of Odom’s electrifying career and the darker side of his meteoric rise to fame, delving into difficulties such as drug addiction and life-threatening medical issues. This listen is an excellent choice for Odom fans, but even those with little prior knowledge of his story will find themselves engrossed in the layers of social and cultural commentary on the American sports industry, the phenomenon of fame and how far one can— or should—push oneself under pressure.
9. The Inner Game of Tennis | W. Timothy Gallwey (Tennis)
A true coaching classic that has stood the test of time, The Inner Game of Tennis takes a deep dive into the mental side of performance. For over four decades, athletes and coaches from every major sport have discovered a wealth of riches in Gallwey's exploration of self-doubt, concentration and flow. Selling over a million copies, The Inner Game has been instrumental in the philosophy of business leaders, politicians and actors, reaching far beyond the initial focus of tennis. As you listen, you will learn how to 'get out of your own way', eliminating the mental barriers that cause mistakes and inhibit performance, unlocking your true potential. Dan Woren provides an engaging narration, allowing listeners to tap into the deep well of knowledge found in perhaps the most influential title in this list.
10. The World of Cycling According to G | Geraint Thomas (Cycling)
The winner of the 2018 Tour de France unleashes his insights into the gruelling world of professional cycling. Hilarious anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories give a glimpse into the uncompromising sport that pushes riders to the limits of endurance. Cycling fans who have watched Thomas on the Olympic track or the roads of France will be fascinated with the no-holds-barred account of life in Team Sky, describing the training, tactics and relationships that have brought him to the pinnacle of his sport. Listeners will be swept up into this fast-paced tale, narrated joyfully by Tom Blumberg, as independent determination and team dynamics combine in a riveting cycling story
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