A few good reads
I recently published a blog post on how I incorporate ‘education’ in my training. I say ‘education’ because it’s so far removed from my memories of school and education, I don’t want it to put you off. For me, taking time each week to learn something new that I can incorporate into my physical or mental training, or preparation for an event is a joy.
In a follow-up to that post, I wanted to expand the list of recommendations to include more books that I have enjoyed over the last 12 years. Some of these I listened to as audio books and others I have as paperback.
*Disclosure: The links to the recommended books in this post are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase any of the products using these links, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. These are all books I thoroughly enjoyed and all opinions expressed here are my own.
Books to inspire & get you started:
I came across Scott Jurek in the book Born to Run (also included in this list), in my early running days. Jurek’s stories were so far removed from where I was at the time, they transported me to another world.
You don’t need to be a runner to enjoy this story, but you may find yourself heading out the door to find out if you were born to run.
Adharanand Finn spent six months in Kenya and wrote, Running with the Kenyans. From reading this I got months of experience and knowledge that I never had to leave my sofa for.
A very enjoyable insight into the life and mind of Deena Kastor.
I remembered reading this as a kid and I wanted to go back and see how a fisherman who could go 83 days without catching a fish, could go back out on the 84th day. A story of mental strength and resilience.
Reading about Chrissie’s life gave me a real boost. A great read.
One of my favourite running books. I listened to this on Audible while running. Adharanand Finn makes me feel like anything is possible.
Take a look at The Rise of the Ultra Runners on amazon.co.uk
I read this to learn about mental resilience. Crean’s story is extraordinary.
Take a look at An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean: Antarctic Survivor on amazon.co.uk
Books for Training your brain:
A great insight into what makes determination.
Matt Fitzgerald tells several stories of how the psychology of the mind can overcome everything else.
James Clear explains how we are a result of our habits. Reading Atomic Habits made me aware of my bad habits and gave me the tools I needed to alter them.
Doidge describes through fascinating, easy to ready stories how the brain, far from being fixed, has remarkable powers of changing its own structure and compensating for even the most challenging neurological conditions.
Take a look at The Brain that Changes Itself on amazon.co.uk
A fascinating book, it will get you to question how you think and how you are teaching your children to think.
I listened to this on Audible. Very enjoyable, informative and engaging.
Books for your health:
An in-depth look 15 most common causes of death in the US and how to avoid them by what you eat. I enjoyed reading it so much that I bought the audiobook too so I could listen to Michael Gregor read it to me himself.
T. Colin Campbell and his son Thomas M. Campbell, now a physician, shared findings with the world in The China Study, hailed as one of the most important books about diet and health ever written. This book was the catalyst for my plant-based diet.
Academic Sport Psychology books:
As far as Sport Psychology books go this one is easier for general reading
A great read for anyone wanting to study excellence in sport and life.
An in depth Sport Psychology book. Very technical, good for referencing.
Take a look at A Critical Introduction to Sport Psychology on amazon.co.uk
In the 12 years that I have been running, I’ve read hundreds of books on running, diet, psychology and feats of human endeavour. I’m so grateful for the effort behind each and every book, the people who spend months and even years finding out the hows and the whys and the wherefores and then share their experience freely with passion and expertise. After every non-fiction book I read I come away a little bit wiser. The more knowledge you can absorb, the better and more inspired and ready you will be.