The Reason We Play
American Sports Figures and What Inspires Them
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:15th Oct '21
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
An inspirational look at a diverse group of popular sports figures and how they found success in sports and life.
More than just a collection of biographical portraits of famous athletes, this book also inspires middle school and high school students through the athletes’ stories of their favorite books, what motivates them, and what obstacles they have overcome.
An inspirational look at a diverse group of popular American sports figures and how they found success in sports and life.
Young athletes all dream of what they might become. They might see themselves as a soccer player racing through defenses at the World Cup, as a hockey player scoring the winning goal in the Stanley Cup Final, or as a figure skater in the Winter Olympics. But to get there takes hard work, dedication, and passion.
In The Reason We Play: American Sports Figures and What Inspires Them, Marc Bona profiles some of the nation’s top athletes and sports personalities from the past several decades to reveal what it takes to make it in the world of professional sports. Along with fascinating accounts of the sports figures’ lives and careers, Bona includes, in their own words, what motivated them, what obstacles they overcame, and even what books they loved to read when they were young.
Featuring athletes such as soccer icon Kristine Lilly, basketball star Victor Oladipo, and softball phenom Cat Osterman, The Reason We Play has something for everyone. From football to rodeo, baseball to racing, the front office to coaching, the subjects all share a common trait of excellence on and off the field.
Bona personally corresponded with and/or interviewed each subject to gather his material. Each profile includes an illustration of the luminary, a biographical synopsis, some quoted "words of wisdom" from the subject, and a brief list of the person's favorite books. Bona does a fine job of highlighting the hard work that these people have put into achieving their ultimate accomplishments. Because the book is aimed at young adults, in the course of his narrative, Bona deftly offers textual elucidation...about people (e.g., Nelson Mandela), places (e.g., China's Forbidden City), and concepts (e.g., stigma) with which readers may not be familiar. These athlete profiles would make good introductions to the distinguished careers of people who are not now typically prominent in the news. Because some of Bona's subjects have published autobiographies, engaging with this book could encourage additional reading. Recommended. General readers. * Choice Reviews *
Marc Bona goes beyond the performances and careers of iconic figures in sports to uncover the person and their purpose in The Reason We Play. Written with revealing detail and expertly researched, Marc brings sporting greats into focus with a storyteller's touch that highlights why they inspire us -- then and now. -- Selena Roberts, award-winning sportswriter and bestselling author of A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez
Marc Bona is a detailed and thoughtful reporter and writer and all of his experience is on display in this book. The array of athletes, personalities and power brokers presents a kaleidoscope of the sports world that any fan will both learn from and enjoy. -- Brian Windhorst, reporter, ESPN, and author of LeBron, Inc.: The Making of a Billion-Dollar Athlete
This nonfiction title is more than a collection of athletes’ biographies: it also inspires the reader with in-depth stories, obstacles, and motivations of each story. * Litchfield Independent Review *
ISBN: 9781538140932
Dimensions: 238mm x 161mm x 16mm
Weight: 404g
186 pages