Sports Biographies

An intimate account of Alex Honnold's unprecedented, almost unimaginable feat: a 3,000-foot vertical climb up El Capitan in Yosemite, without a rope.

The definitive biography of global superstar and basketball icon Kobe Bryant

Push until it hurts, then push some moreEven by the standards of a sport that requires enormous stamina and capacity for suffering, Jens Voigt is in a class on his own. Beloved by cycling fans for his madcap one-man breakaways as much as his sense of humour and quotable catchphrases, Jens is one of the most popular personalities in cycling.Jens was born near Hamburg, and came up through the East German system before the Wall came down. He got into the national team through the German army, before signing for his first big team. In many ways he is cycling s anti-star; despite arguably spending more time at the front of the Tour de France than any other rider he has only worn the yellow jersey twice as his efforts have always been in the service of others.Jens embodies the best of cycling s qualities loyalty to his team, sacrifice, and devotion to the sport. He says, I m not a head person, I m more of a heart and guts guy. That s how I race. Shut Up Legs is a funny, insightful and entertaining look at the tough realities of professional cycling, told in Jens s trademark irreverent and inimitable style.

'The whole point of a race is to find a winner... I chose to race, so I chose to win.' For 14 years between 1965 and 1978, cyclist Edouard Louis Joseph Merckx simply devoured his rivals, their hopes and their careers. His legacy resides as much in the careers he ruined as the 445 victories - including five Tour de France wins and all the monument races - he amassed in his own right. So dominant had Merckx become by 1973 that he was ordered to stay away from the Tour for the good of the event.Stage 17 of the 1969 Tour de France perfectly illustrates his untouchable brilliance. Already wearing the yellow jersey on the col du Tourmalet, the Tour's most famous peak, Merckx powered clear and rode the last 140 kilometres to the finish-line in jaw-dropping solitude, eight minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.Merckx's era has been called cycling's Golden Age.It was full of memorable characters who, at any other time, would all have gone on to become legends. Yet Merckx's phenomenal career overshadowed them all. How did he achieve such incredible success? And how did his rivals really feel about him? Merckx failed drug tests three times in his career - were they really stitch ups as he claimed? And what of the crash at a track meet in Blois, France that killed Merckx's pacer Fernand Wambst, which Merckx claimed deeply affected him psychologically and physically? Or the attack by a spectator in 1975?Despite his unique achievements, we know little about the Cannibal beyond his victories. This will be the first comprehensive biography of Merckx in English, and will finally expose the truth behind this legendary man.

The Mountains of My Life collects Walter Bonatti's classic writings detailing his exploits on numerous expeditions to different mountains of the world, as well as the real story behind the controversy over the events on K2 that changed his life. Bonatti is one of the greatest mountaineers of all time, and these awe-inspiring writings capture the adventure, audacity and magnitude of his craft.

The inside story of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, a revealing portrait of the man and his methods that have transformed the North London club, now fully revised and updated to the end of his Arsenal career.

The first truly definitive biography of Muhammad Ali, the most iconic and significant sporting figure of the twentieth century

He is a five-time winner of the Tour de France and the only man to have won each of the Grand Tours on more than one occasion. Three decades on from his retirement, Hinault remains the last French winner of the Tour de France.

The incredible story of German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel - the most interesting footballer you've never heard of. A massive bestseller in Germany, this astonishing, fascinating and at times hilarious book relates a football career in which Lutz travelled the world, played for 23 teams on five continents and lived life to the absolute full.

The 1995 Open Champion and legendary wild man of golf recalls the best and worst of his life: his inspirational play on both US and European tours; the demons that afflicted him on the course and his addiction to gambling and drink; and the trashed hotel rooms and spectacular marital problems.

The inspiring story of Dean Karnazes, an internationally recognised endurance athlete who has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits.

The autobiography of Andriy Shevchenko, one of the greatest strikers of the modern era. Ballon D'Or winner. Champions League winner. Serie A winner. Star striker in the legendary AC Milan team of the 2000s, featuring Paolo Maldini, Kaka and Andrea Pirlo - and a prologue on the Russian invasion of his Ukrainian homeland in 2022

The eight-time world champion has been riding two wheels his entire life. In what way has it shaped him, how does it satisfy him? Does the much-vaunted »freedom on two wheels« exist in racing? Or is that too much of a romantic notion in a world where you compete elbow to elbow at 350 km/h?Being Marc Márquez is not a linear biography, because the story of his life, his career, has not been written yet. The man behind the iconic acronym MM93 reveals what matters to him on the racetrack and in life, and what guides him there. In 10 chapters, he allows readers to get an up-close look, much closer than ever before. Marc opens his tinted vizor and allows a peak into the mind and soul of an all-out racer, a tireless fighter and an unapologetically optimistic family guy.In this book, the likeable Spaniard provides an intimate insight into his emotional world and the passion that has formed his personality-and has millions on the edges of their seats every single Sunday: How on earth did he do it this time?

Unbreakable is a gripping masterpiece by the renowned author Ronnie O'Sullivan. Published by Orion Publishing Co in 2023, this book is a must-read for all book lovers. This book, belonging to the genre of autobiographies, gives you an insight into the life of the author himself. Unbreakable is a testament to O'Sullivan's resilience and perseverance, making it an inspiring read. The author's writing style is engaging, making the readers feel as if they are a part of his journey. If you are looking for a book that will inspire you and make you look at life from a different perspective, then Unbreakable by Ronnie O'Sullivan is the one for you. Published by the esteemed Orion Publishing Co, this book is a testament to their commitment to bring quality literature to their readers. So, immerse yourself in this captivating tale of resilience and determination, and let it inspire you to be unbreakable too.

"A meditative love letter to the sport of cycling which explores how the cultivation of a tangible skill can shed new light on age-old questions of selfhood, meaning, and purpose"--

From acclaimed journalist Adam Hay-Nicholls, the very first biography of rising star Charles Leclerc, published to mark the start of the 2023 Formula One season. Few of the drivers on the F1 grid have the racing pedigree of Charles Leclerc. Widely regarded as one of the sport's hottest prospects, he was crowned F3 and then F2 champion in back-to-back seasons before he made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2018. Now firmly established as Ferrari's great hope, following in the footsteps of legends Alberto Ascari, Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher, Leclerc has his eyes set on becoming world champion. Born in Monaco to a family of comparatively modest means, Leclerc remembers playing with toy cars on a friend's balcony as the best drivers in the world whizzed around the Monte Carlo circuit on the streets below. This early experience inspired him to get behind the wheel, encouraged by his father Hervé, and so began his meteoric rise in the sport. Along the way, he lost his father, his godfather and his best friend - all racing drivers - and this gave Leclerc the inner steel to become a winner. Writer Adam Hay-Nicholls, who has spent much of his career in the Formula One paddock, provides the inside track on this rising star, recounting how he has taken the racing world by storm. And as Leclerc's Ferrari is beginning to fire on all cylinders, will he beat his old rival and adversary Max Verstappen to the world title?

Gypsy Queen to the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury's wife Paris reveals the magical highs and epic lows of life with the Heavyweight Boxing World Champion, as she shares their life story and what keeps them strong through the good times - and the bad.

A refreshingly candid and inside look at two-time NBA champion Lamar Odom, who recounts his dizzying fame, hitting rock bottom, and struggling with his demons as he takes the treacherous path of self-discovery to redemption.