Best Nonfiction Sports Books

They tell stories of tragedy and triumph. Not just wins and losses.

They create characters out of real people that already seemed larger than life. Then they add layers we didn’t know existed, taking sports and games we love and spinning them into something more epic than we could’ve imagined.

There’s the season-with-the-team chronicle. The biography. The tell-all. Even true crime brilliance. What they all have in common is an author at the wheel that spares no one, including themselves.

These are the greatest nonfiction sports books of all time.

Author: Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson

Year published: 1987

Publisher: Pocket Books

What readers think: “If you are going to read one book about the dark side of professional football this is the one. It is the story of Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson and his fall from glory—years spent playing football and the game of life too fast and too hard. It chronicles his one field exploits as an all pro for the Dallas Cowboys and his fall from grace due to use of alcohol and drugs, on and off the field.” — Bill Smith (Goodreads)

Bottom line: Hollywood Henderson was the original trash-talking, NFL bad boy, and when he was good, he was very good, helping lead the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory. When he was bad, it became one of the darkest stories in NFL history, including Henderson admitting he sniffed liquid cocaine out of an inhaler during games. He lays it all out in this book.

Author: Mischa Merz

Year published: 2010

Publisher: Seven Stories Press

What readers think: “I really enjoyed “The Sweetest Thing.” It was a fascinating look into the world of female boxing (and men’s too, in a way) that I knew nothing about. If you are interested in the sport, and hopefully have a little background in boxing, you should pick this up.” — dawnhighhouse (Amazon)

Bottom line: Mischa Merz got wrapped up in the dream of being a semi-professional boxer and traveling the United States, training and fighting in tournaments. Her insights into the women she trains with and boxes against provide a compelling backdrop to her own journey.

Author: Rob Huizenga

Year published: 1994

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

What readers think: “Huizenga’s book allowed me to see what NFL team physicians dealt with in 80s. I think it is brilliant to know the sports medicine perspective in professional sports knowing that every medical decision pulls and pushes on every business decision.”  — Phillip Ting (Goodreads)

Bottom line: Rob Huizenga was the Los Angeles Raiders team doctor for eight years, and reportedly resigned after the team refused to disclose to a player that he had a heart condition. His book, an inside look at what the players go through physically, was a revelation, and partly became the basis for Oliver Stone’s 1999 film “Any Given Sunday.”

Author: Lydia Reeder

Year published: 2017

Publisher: Algonquin Books

What readers think: “There was just enough detail about each of the people involved and the history of the school to enrich the story and not bog it down. The history of women’s basketball in and of itself was fascinating, I just had no idea of any of it at all!” — Ann (Goodreads)

Bottom line: Lydia Reeder’s story is told in a cinematic manner, with Oklahoma Presbyterian women’s basketball coach Sam Babb recruiting a team of mostly farm girls and turning them into a national championship-winning team 40 years ahead of Title IX. In the process, the girls became celebrities in Oklahoma and beyond.