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Sometimes there’s nothing like a good book to get you feeling motivated and inspired. This is especially true when it comes to exercise. Reading a great sports or fitness book can be just the thing to lift our spirits and push us to work harder for our goals.
So today we thought we’d share 20 books all about fitness, sports, and (of course) swimming. We hope you find these titles as enjoyable and inspiring as we do!
Please note that none of the links below are affiliated. We haven’t been paid to advertise the titles listed here, and we don’t receive any money from sales generated through the provided links.
No Limits: The Will to Succeed — Michael Phelps and Alan Abrahamson
Michael Phelps is regarded as one of the greatest swimmers ever, and is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals to his name. No Limits is Phelp’s inspiring account of his preparation for the 2008 Olympics and beyond. It’s a motivating advocation of striving for your goals the good old fashioned way: with hard work and determination.
Gold in the Water: The True Story of Ordinary Men and Their Extraordinary Dream of Olympic Glory — P. H. Mullen
This book follows a group of budding California-Based Olympians, chronicling their journey to compete in the 2000 Olympic games. Gold in the Water centres around four swimmers and their coach, and shines a light on the highs and lows of the swimming life. A must read for competitive swimmers!
This Is Me: The Autoopbiography — Ian Thorpe
Much like Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe is swimmer of legend. His achievements (11 World Championship titles; 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals; 22 world records; and 5 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze Olympic medals) are nothing short of extraordinary. This Is Me focusses more on Thorpe’s 2012 comeback as opposed to his early career. But it’s an honest account of the life and struggles (especially those outside the pool) of a world class athlete.
Age Is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life — Dara Torres
This one’s for anyone who thinks they’re too old. It’s a story of stepping up to the challenge, despite your age and the age of your competitors, and following your dreams. It sends a wonderful and inspiring message for us to continue competing and staying active in older age.
Swimming in Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer — Lynne Cox
You don’t need to be a swimmer to be inspired by this story of unfaltering motivation. By the age of 16, Lynne Cox had broken all records for swimming the English Channel. She then went on to become the first person to swim the Strait of Magellan — and that hardly scratches the surface of her achievements. This is the story of a passionate, determined, and daring individual, and one that should strike a chord with all readers.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen — Christopher McDougall
In short, Born to Run is the story of a journalist who sets out to Mexico to discover how Tarahumara Indians can run hundreds of miles without needing rest or injury. But it goes much deeper than that. It’s a fascinating journey into the heart and science of long-distance running.
Non-runners, don’t be skeptical. You don’t need to enter ultra marathons to benefit from these pages. There’s something here for everyone — but who knows, it might just inspire you to dust off those old running shoes!
The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised — Arnold Schwarzenegger (Author), Bill Dobbins
Known as “the bible of bodybuilding” and written by one of the most famous bodybuilders of all time. Not much more needs to be said about this one, except that it’s an invaluable resource for weight trainers of all levels and abilities.
It’s true that this book will naturally appeal more to bodybuilders. But it’s worth noting that it does go into detail about aerobic training for fat loss too, which may be beneficial for exercisers with different goals.
Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? — Alex Hutchinson
A pop science book all about the science behind exercise. Simplistic, informative, and presented in a Q&A style, Which Come First dispels lots of fitness myths, and calls on reliable scientific evidence to provide information, insight, and advice on all things exercise.
MEN’S HEALTH Power Training: Performance-Based Conditioning for Total body Strength — CSCS Robert dos Remedios MA
Men’s Health is an online fitness juggernaut, and this volume is a brilliant resource for gym enthusiasts. It explores lots of different exercises, detailing how to perform them and their benefits. You’ll also find nutritional information and training session examples.
There’s a strong focus here on building functional strength, as well. Which makes it perfect reading for everyone, from pro athletes to furniture lifters!
Unstoppable: My Life So Far — Maria Sharapova
An honest and inspirational account of Sharapova’s rise to international tennis stardom. It documents everything from her humble Siberian roots to her first Wimbledon win, and everything in-between and beyond.
For tennis players, athletes, fitness enthusiasts, or anyone who simply enjoys an interesting life story, Unstoppable is an absolute must read.
The Boy on the Shed — Paul Ferris
Winner of the The Telegraph Sports Book Awards Autobiography of the Year 2019, The Boy on the Shed tells the story of Newcastle United’s youngest ever first-teamer, Paul Ferris.
Dealing with his entire life, both on and off the pitch, this autobiography tells the story of a unique and interesting life, warts and all.
They Don’t Teach This — Eniola Aluko
Eniola Aluko has achieved some incredible things in her life. First class honours law degree, 102 appearances for England women’s national football team, UN Women UK ambassador to name but a few.
The book deals with themes of dual nationality and identity, race and institutional prejudice, success, failure and faith, and aims to inspire confidence in a new generation of women.
Think Like A Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable — Darrin Donnelly
This is an excellent book for anyone with an interest in (but not necessarily an understanding of) sports psychology.
The core message of the book is wrapped inside a fable, and is designed to build the reader’s self-confidence and mental resilience. Great for anyone with lofty goals!
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable — Tim S. Grover
Tim Grover has worked with some of the world’s greatest athletes, including Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant, and shares his thoughts on how to achieve mental and physical dominance.
This is a book designed to show you what it takes to reach your goals and achieve your dreams.
The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive — Jim Afremow
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their mental performance. In a nutshell, it’s a mind training book with the goal of boosting your athletic potential beyond the realm of the purely physical.
Providing a window into the minds of champions, and offering science-backed tips and techniques, Jim Afremow’s book is there to help you excel to new heights.
The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation — Michael Matthews
A book that does exactly what it says on the tin. If you’ve ever found yourself frozen on the sofa with indecision, straining over whether or not to get up and go to the gym, then consider giving this one a read.
It’s the perfect companion for anyone who, from time to time, needs a firm push in the right direction, just to keep themselves on track.
100 No-Equipment Workouts — Neila Ray
Neila Ray, who is involved with Darebee (an amazing free online workout database), has authored a very practical book, filled to the brim with great workouts that can be performed pretty much anywhere.
Another book that delivers exactly what the title promises, this is an excellent option for those who are less worried about theory and personal stories and more interested in bare bones workouts.
The One-Minute Workout – Martin Gibala
In this book Martin Gibala, one of the world’s leading HIIT (high-intensity interval training) researchers, shows us that getting fit and strong doesn’t necessarily require hours of daily commitment. Instead, Gibala offers strategies for achieving our fitness goals in much smaller time intervals. This one’s essential reading for fitness buffs on a tight schedule.
Ready To Run: Unlocking Your Potential To Run Naturally – Kelly Starrett
Whether you’re a longtime runner or complete beginner, this book is an essential companion. Starrett focuses on helping runners avoid and navigate obstacles common to the sport. Notably, you’ll find guidance on how to stay injury free through proper conditioning.
Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery – Christie Aschwanden
What’s special about this book is that it approaches fitness from the other side of the treadmill. Focussing on the science of sports recovery, Christie Aschwanden shows us how to best utilise our time outside of the gym. From “ice baths and cryogenic freezing chambers to the science behind Usain Bolt’s love of chicken nuggets”, this book demonstrates the importance of recovery, and why it might be one of the most essential elements of an effective fitness regime.
Off the page and into the gym
All these books left you feeling motivated to push your exercise routines to the next level? Then take a look these 8 exercises for lower body strength. Or try 15 Plyometric Exercises To Turbo-Boost Your Workouts.