In this hilarious and heart-warming collection of essays, the bestselling author reflects on a life spent exploring the British countryside on foot.From the splendor of the Pennines and the Lake District to the drama of the Dorset coast; from the canals of the Midlands to wildest Scotland, this book is an attempt to explain a passion for walking and the delights it can bring.Culled from Stuart Maconie’s monthly column in Country Walking, it’s full of the beautiful places, magical moments and wonderful characters he has encountered on his travels. It discusses such intrepid adventures as taking on the famous “Wainwright” fells of the Lake District, walking Hadrian’s Wall with colleague Mark Radcliffe, and why the most important things to carry in a rucksack are a transistor radio and a small bottle of red wine.Praise for Stuart Maconie“Maconie makes a jovial, self-deprecating narrator. Sharp and funny.” —The Guardian“He is as funny as Bryson and as wise as Orwell.” —The Observer“Stuart Maconie is the best thing to come out of Wigan since the A58 to Bolton.” —Peter Kay“An heir to Alan Bennett . . . stirring and rather wonderful.” —The Sunday Times Read more

Exploring some of the most extraordinary moments from the history of endurance sports, this unique sports book shows how mental strength allows some athletes to perform at a level way beyond their physical limits – to will their body to do what was previously thought biologically impossible. Revealing habits and tactics you can use to cultivate your own mental strength, this unique book describes a new 'psychobiological' model of endurance performance connecting the mind, body and brain. Compelling accounts from triathlon, cycling, running, rowing and swimming are viewed through the lens of this model shedding new light on what science has to say about mental fortitude in sports. Drawing on cutting-edge scientific research it suggests concrete tactics for cultivating mental strength, whilst providing thrilling accounts of some of the most inspiring and astonishing feats in sporting history, such as Sammy Wanjiru who, in 2010 entered the Boston Marathon suffering from injuries to his knee and his lower back, a stomach virus that prevented him from training and a lifestyle that meant he spent more time in nightclubs than on the track. He shouldn’t have even been able to finish the race, and at times he seemed as if he literally had nothing left to give, yet in an epic battle he crossed the finishing line first. How did he manage it? Find out in this sports book like no other and prepare for your own test of endurance! Featured athletes include: Sammy Wanjiru, Jenny Barringer, Greg LeMond, Willie Stewart, Cadel Evans, Joseph Sullivan, Paula Newby-Fraser, Ryan Vail, Thomas Voeckler, Ned Overend, Steve Prefontaine. Read more

'The good news for those who loved THE ACCIDENTAL FOOTBALLER: this new book is even better. There were times as I read Pat Nevin's account of his years running - or, trying to run - Motherwell, I had to remind myself to breathe. It's a thrilling read - funny, nerve-wracking, precise and very, very human' - Roddy DoyleSo, you fell into football by accident. You've played for Chelsea, Everton and your country at an international level. But what happens when you discover you're in so deep that football has taken over your whole life?In his brilliant new memoir, Pat Nevin takes us on a journey to the less glamorous side of football. From Tranmere to Kilmarnock, he plays some of the best football he's ever played. Then, in an unprecedented twist of fate, finds himself both player and Chief Executive of Scottish First Division club Motherwell.What follows is an entertaining and revealing tale of the side of football that you rarely see as Pat tries to keep the lid on simmering tensions between owner and the manager; travels in Lear jets one moment, but has to sell off half the team, the next. So much is madness, like being the manager's boss, and his player at the same time; or discovering that the ground's goalposts are higher on one side than on the other!And with impossible challenges at every corner, such as learning that their son is autistic, and the club hurtling towards administration, Pat strives to walk the impossible line between player, parent and boss.FOOTBALL AND HOW TO SURVIVE IT is a real one-off, uncovering the sport in all its complex, confusing and calamitous glory. Once you've read it, you may never look at the game in the same way again. Read more

This abbreviated version of 75 Search and Rescue Stories contains 22 of the 88 chapters and 55 of 150 photos in the full version. Entropy is a law of nature, the one predicting that "things fall apart." Spend enough time outdoors and it will eventually happen to you. When it does, who will pick up the pieces? Who will glue them back together? Professional search and rescue volunteers leave work, home, and their cozy beds to rescue people on the worst day of their lives. They buy their own gear, pay their own gas, and ask nothing more than to make a contribution to the lives of strangers who they'll probably never meet again. These detailed first-hand stories, intimately told by 12-year SAR veteran and university writing instructor Shaun Roundy, capture the essence of how it feels to be in the middle of a rescue with one of the world's best and busiest volunteer teams - from both the victims' and rescuers' perspectives. Read more

In the summer of 1978, twenty-one-year-old Paul Wilson jumps at the chance to join two local icons on a dream surf trip to mainland Mexico, unaware their ultimate destination lies in the heart of drug cartel country. Having no earthly idea of where he’ll get the money to pay his share, and determined to prove his mettle, he does the only thing he can think of: He robs a supermarket. And, if karma didn’t already have enough reason to doom the trip, he soon learns one of his companions is a convicted killer on the run, and the other an unscrupulous cad. Mishap and misfortune rule the days, and mere survival takes precedence over surfing.Original photographs (including pre-kingpin El Chapo), and Wilson’s strong narrative style, combine to make this true story personal—in the tradition of Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, and Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Che" Guevara—except this tale had to wait for the statute of limitations to expire before it could be told.“I adore Wilson's style of writing. It uses snappy humor and dialogue to draw you into the scenes he describes.…it feels like Wilson captured lightning in a bottle! This gets an easy 5 out of 5 stars from me!” – OnlineBookclub.org"So painfully true you wish it was fiction! A laugh-out-loud (to keep from crying) romp about what not to do bridging the gap into adulthood." – Discovery“Could Not Put It Down. Loved it!! Descriptive, heartfelt and funny. So good!” – Wanda B. Weaver“Bad Karma has instantly joined the pantheon of great adventure writing!”– Elizabeth Howard“One of the funniest true stories I've ever read.”– Penny Pennell"Fear and Loathing goes to Mexico"– Neil P. Reid“This book should be a movie!” “…truth is often stranger than fiction.”– Lori"Exhilarating, raw, PURE...A Story we all wish we'd lived through! The style of writing only adds to the epic tale here.” “…an important, succinct and easy read"– Kathleen S. Gray“Inspiring and Authentic Story.”– Audra Krell“Rockin’ good time!”– Donna Ellen“Haven’t read a book this fun in 30 years.”– Tracy Read more

One of the finest mountaineering books. A phenomenal tale of strength and valour.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY JOE SIMPSONIn 1950, no mountain higher than 8,000 meters had ever been climbed. Maurice Herzog and other members of the French Alpine Club resolved to try. This is the enthralling story of the first conquest of Annapurna and the harrowing descent. With breathtaking courage and grit manifest on every page, Annapurna is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told.As well as an introduction by Joe Simpson, this new edition includes 16 pages of photographs, which provide a remarkable visual record of this legendary expedition.The distinguished French mountaineer Maurice Herzog was leader of the 1950 expedition to Annapurna. He was one of the two climbers to reach the summit. Read more

"The Pro Tours' Hottest Coach" (Golf Digest) reveals the secrets that helped Phil Mickelson win the 2010 Masters and can utterly transform every player's game. When a resurgent Phil Mickelson won the Tour Championship in September 2009, he was quick to credit a series of simple putting lessons from veteran golf champion and instructor Dave Stockton. As a top coach, Stockton has taught a long list of pro players-including Annika Sorenstam, Yani Tseng (winner of four LPGA tournaments), Adam Scott (Texas Open champion), Hunter Mahan (Phoenix Open champion), and Morgan Pressel (World Ladies Championship of Japan winner)-the putting strategies that finessed their game.Stockton's breakthrough concept is that every player has their own Signature Stroke, which is unconscious. Good putting comes from the mind, Stockton says, not from a series of stiff mechanical positions. With visualization, the right frame of mind, an efficient pre-putt routine, and connection to the individual internal stroke signature, any player can make far more putts. Putting has always been taught as an offshoot to the full swing, when in reality it is far different- almost a different game. Unconscious Putting will help players get out of the rigid, mechanical, overthinking trap.In Unconscious Putting, Stockton shows how players at every handicap level-from pros to weekend golfers-can putt effortlessly and with confidence by integrating a new mental approach with a few simple physical routines that will keep them locked on target. Readers will also gain invaluable advice on reading greens and equipment. Illustrated throughout and filled with anecdotes about how Stockton's lessons have helped today's leading players, Unconscious Putting is a must-have golf book and a category classic-in-the-making. Read more

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM DISNEY STARRING DAISY RIDLEY.The exhilarating true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel, and inspire a new era for women in sportsBy age twenty, at the height of the Jazz Age, Trudy Ederle was the most accomplished swimmer in the world. She’d won Olympic gold and set a host of world records. But the greatest challenge remained: the English Channel. Only a few swimmers, none of them women, had ever made the treacherous twenty-one mile crossing. Trudy’s failed first attempt seemed to confirm what many naysayers believed: No woman could possibly accomplish such a thing.In 1926, Ederle proved them wrong. As her German immigrant parents cheered her, and her sister and fellow swimmer Meg helped fashion both her scandalous two-piece swimsuit and leak-proof goggles, Trudy was determined to succeed. “England or drown is my motto,” she said, plunging into the frigid Channel for her second attempt at the crossing. Fourteen hours later, two hours faster than any man, and after weathering a gale and waves that approached six-feet, she stepped onto Kingsdowne Beach as the most famous woman in the world.Based on years of archival research that unearthed Ederle’s memory from obscurity, Young Woman and the Sea brings to life the real Trudy Ederle, the challenges that came with her fame, and the historic mark her achievement made for all women athletes who followed.  Read more

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A world-class runner and four-time Olympian shares the life lessons he’s learned from each of the twenty-six marathons he’s run in his storied career. “An athlete whose wisdom and lessons aren’t just for runners.”—The Washington PostWhen Meb Keflezighi—the first person in history to win both the Boston and New York City marathons as well as an Olympic marathon medal—ran his final marathon in New York City on November 5, 2017, it marked the end of an extraordinary distance-running career. Meb's last marathon was also his twenty-sixth, and each of those marathons has come with its own unique challenges, rewards, and outcomes. In 26 Marathons, Meb takes readers on those legendary races, along every hill, bend, and unexpected turn of events that made each marathon an exceptional learning experience, and a fascinating story.26 Marathons offers the wisdom Meb has gleaned about life, family, identity, and faith in addition to tips about running, training, and nutrition. He shows runners of all levels how to apply the lessons he's learned to their own running and lives. Equal parts inspiration and practical advice, 26 Marathons provides an inside look at the life and success of one of the greatest runners living today.Praise for 26 Marathons“26 Marathons is a swift read, guaranteed to be popular with student athletes plus hard-core and recreational runners, who will undoubtedly agree that Meb is an American treasure and running ambassador who never fails to inspire.”—Booklist (starred review)“26 Marathons gives great insight about the ups and downs in marathon running and how to cope with them. As Meb shows, dealing with these marathon experiences help us become better in our lives.”—Eliud Kipchoge, Marathon World Record Holder and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist“Meb’s 26 Marathons is like opening a treasure chest full of inspiring stories that give behind-the-scenes glimpse into the mental and physical joys and obstacles that elite-level racing can bring. His advice on training, overcoming injuries, and adversity is for everyone. It’s pure gold!”—Shalane Flanagan, 2017 TCS NYC Marathon Champion Read more

'Paris, 4 July 2003: My first Tour de France. I had never seen a bike race. I had only vaguely heard of Lance Armstrong. I had no idea what I was doing there. Yet, that day I was broadcasting live on television. I fumbled my way through a few platitudes, before summing up with the words, "...Dave Millar just missing out on the Yellow Jumper." Yes, the Yellow Jumper.'Follow Ned Boulting's (occasionally excruciating) experiences covering the world's most famous cycling race. His story offers an insider's view of what really goes on behind the scenes of the Tour. From up-close-and-personal encounters with Lance Armstrong to bewildered mishaps with the local cuisine, Ned's been there, done that and got the crumpled-looking t-shirt. Eight Tours on from Ned's humbling debut, he has grown to respect, mock, adore and crave the race in equal measure. What's more, he has even started to understand it. Includes How Cav Won the Green Jersey: Short Dispatches from the 2011 Tour de France Read more

Boca-River, Red Star-Partizan, Lazio-Roma, Celtic-Rangers, England-Scotland,Racing Club-Velez, Hamburg-St.Pauli, Glentoran-Linfield, Feyenoord-Ajax,Ireland-Northern Ireland, Inter-Milan, Genoa-Sampdoria,Real Madrid-Barcelona, Sporting-Benfica, Birmingham-Villa. A journey through some big football rivalries that simply mean more than a game to a lot of people.Think of your local school rivalry as a kid and times it by a million,to get some of the raw passion of these games.Bigotry,pyro,tifo and mayhem accompany most of them. Being struck by baguettes in Madrid,blocks of ice in Buenos Aires and covered in beer in Rotterdam.This is a story of chasing match tickets, hitchhiking, cancelled games and relying on cheap flights and plenty of booze.It’s all here and more. * Number 1 Amazon/Kindle/Football April 2019 Read more

Originally published in 2000 and now available as an ebook. The bestselling autobiography of cricketing legend Ian Botham, includes his first-hand insight into the 1999/2000 winter tour to South Africa.Ian Botham’s bestselling autobiography is an intriguing cocktail of sex and drugs allegations, personal upheavals, confrontations with his peers, and remarkable achievements both on and off the field.From his heroic deeds against the Aussies art Headingly in 1981 through to the dark clouds surrounding the court case with Imran Khan, from battling in the mud for Scunthorpe United FC to walking half the length of the country for Leukaemia Research, it’s all here in this unforgettable story of a truly larger-than-life character.In an extra chapter for this revised edition, Botham digs deep to unravel the reasons behind the sorry state of English cricket, and provides a compulsive insight into the 1999/2000 winter tour to South Africa where England attempt to recover from a traumatic year under the new leadership of Nasser Hussain. Read more

Love him or loathe him, Ricky Ponting is one of the biggest names in cricket, having been at the heart of so many memorable Ashes and Test encounters over the years. Coinciding with the end of Ponting’s spectacular career, ‘At the Close of Play’ is a must-read for all cricket fans.For so long the scourge of English cricket, Ricky Ponting – unarguably one of cricket’s all-time greats – looks back on the story of his remarkable life and career.With his customary honesty and candour, Ponting reflects on a lifetime at the crease – from childhood prodigy to the highs and lows of his extraordinary international career.But beyond the triumphs, scandals and his own private struggle to maintain his later form, this remarkable autobiography will offer rare insights into an elite sporting career with Ricky’s reflections on leadership, captaincy, winning, defeat, competitiveness, teamwork, the greats of the game and the lessons learned at the helm of Australia’s cricket team.This autobiography, of a very private man, and one who the English public loved to hate, will resonate with lovers of cricket as well as anyone who strives to reach the top of their chosen field. Read more

One of golf’s most popular and funny personalities reveals the ups and downs of a life playing the world’s most infuriating sport.‘Even professional golfers hit bad shots. I guess that’s why it holds people like you and I in its grip. Because no matter how bad a day you’ve had out there, you always come back, don’t you? You always want to be better next time’.Professional golfer Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston has played in the world’s biggest tournaments, won big money events, sunk monster putts, and been serenaded by fans from Kazakhstan to St Andrews, booming out his familiar nickname: ‘BEEEEEEEEF!’. On the downside, Beef has also duffed it, thinned it and shanked it like every single person who’s ever played the game. Because no matter who you are, golf can make you look like an idiot…From reflecting on his early years at his local pitch and putt to his stellar career playing against the best of the best on the greatest courses on the planet, Golf is Hard takes you inside the world of professional golf like no book before it, sharing side-splitting and painfully honest stories of life behind the scenes as a tour pro. What is Tiger Woods really like in the locker room? How did it feel to hit one of the worst shots in golf history in front of millions of viewers during The Open? And just how many clubs has Beef broken through fits of rage and frustration during his illustrious career?This is a book for everyone who has ever loved and loathed the game in equal measure but managed to see the funny side. After all, golf is really hard, so you might as well have a laugh about it along the way. Read more

An incredibly entertaining and perceptive look at the most controversial moment in Premier League history.25th January 1995 A cold winter’s evening. Manchester United away against Crystal Palace at a packed-out Selhurst Park. Eric Cantona, United's mercurial talisman, has been man-marked closely all game by Richard Shaw and become increasingly frustrated. In the 48th minute, Cantona’s temper boils over and he kicks out at Shaw. The ref shows him a red card. On his way off the pitch, a Palace fan rushes towards the hoardings to hurl abuse. The Frenchman loses it. He launches into the crowd, aiming a kung-fu kick at the fan’s chest. He is forcibly restrained and then taken off down the tunnel. The football world is stunned. Nothing like this has ever happened before.What followed has entered football folklore: the media furore, the seagulls following the trawler, and the longest domestic ban ever handed to a player; it would end up lasting 250 days. As Manchester United’s campaign stuttered towards a trophy-less conclusion, surrendering the league on the last day of the season and losing the FA Cup final, Cantona withdrew from the public eye. But, behind closed doors, Ferguson was planning the most remarkable of fresh starts for his star player and for a new-look United.250 Days tells the story in brilliant detail of one of the most turbulent times in United’s recent history. Showing Cantona in a new light, and the genius of Ferguson’s man management and vision in close relief, it is an incredibly entertaining and insightful look at the most controversial episode of the Premier League era. Read more

From the unapologetic bad boy of professional golf comes a rip-roaring account of his rollercoaster life and careerFrom his battles with alcoholism and gambling addiction to marital problems (his fourth and current wife is facing money-laundering charges) and a highly publicized breakdown during a nationally televised tournament, John Daly has hit into his share of hazards.Daly’s play-it-as-it-lies approach drives a thrillingly candid memoir of a larger-than-life athlete battling the links, addiction, depression, weight problems, and, perhaps worst of all, divorce lawyers. Taking readers off the fairway and into his million-dollar motorhome for a rollicking ride through his life—a never-ending circuit of booze, golf, country music, and Hooter Girls—Daly reveals how a down home Everyman from Arkansas managed to conquer the greens, dodge the hazards, and finally take control of his life (sort of). Read more

Every sport has its unique, rich, and captivating history.But they also have a dark side. One that they don’t want you to know about.For every story of a local hero becoming an international sporting star, there is also a story of corruption, shame, and suspicion.But where can you hear about these incredible and captivating stories?Right here. Crossing the Line will tell you all about some of the biggest sporting scandals, from match-fixing to cheating, and everything in between.This book will tell of famous stories of cheating in sports, the motivations behind them, and the repercussions.Beyond that, it will shine a light on some of the biggest teams and personalities caught cheating or match-fixing.It will provide you a deeper understanding of events surrounding your favorite sports and offer you a peek at what really occurs behind closed doors.Inside Crossing the Line, discover:Some of the biggest names in sports tarnished by cheating allegations.The largest match-fixing scandals in international sport.The sports impacted most by cheating and match-fixing.Initiatives to try and spot and stop suspicious activities.Grab a copy of Crossing the Line today! Read more

Shirley Muldowney not only broke the gender barrier in the National Hot Rod Association in the 1970s, but she also completely rewrote the record books in Top Fuel Eliminator, drag racing’s quickest and fastest category. She was the first woman to receive a Top Fuel license from the NHRA. Between 1977 and 1982, Muldowney won three NHRA Top Fuel championships—the first female ever to win a title in any professional motorsport. She won the prestigious NHRA US Nationals in 1982 and was recently inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. By the time she retired at the end of the 2003 season, Muldowney had become one of the most recognized and celebrated race car drivers in history.Tales from a Top-Fuel Dragster is an unabashed collection of stories, anecdotes, and opinions in Muldowney’s own unvarnished style of storytelling, laced with her straightforward, take-no-prisoners approach. She has spent her entire lifetime telling it like it is, standing up to the establishment, and refusing to do anything other than in her own way. Politically correct? Hardly. Readers are encouraged to strap themselves in when she shares her many tales. It’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth according to the legendary Shirley Muldowney. Read more

In eleven seasons with the Buffalo Bills, the diminutive 5-foot-9, 175-pound Steve Tasker was a huge contributor as the Bills strung together an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s. Along the way, Tasker earned seven invitations to the Pro Bowl, and during the National Football League’s seventy-fifth anniversary celebration, he was named the greatest special teams player of all time. In this newly revised edition of Tales from the Buffalo Bills Sideline, the football star turned network television analyst takes a behind-the-scenes look at the franchise’s most glorious era. Tasker provides readers with insightful vignettes of colorful Bills personalities such as Marv Levy, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, and Ralph Wilson. Tasker takes the reader inside the helmet of NFL players, describing everything in great detail for the most devoted Bills fans. Read more

A.J. Liebling's classic New Yorker pieces on the "sweet science of bruising" bring vividly to life the boxing world as it once was. The Sweet Science depicts the great events of boxing's American heyday: Sugar Ray Robinson's dramatic comeback, Rocky Marciano's rise to prominence, Joe Louis's unfortunate decline. Liebling never fails to find the human story behind the fight, and he evokes the atmosphere in the arena as distinctly as he does the goings-on in the ring--a combination that prompted Sports Illustrated to name The Sweet Science the best American sports book of all time. Read more