Book cover of The Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham

Book description

LA TIMES BESTSELLER • From the award-winning screenwriter and director of cult classic Bull Durham, the extremely entertaining behind-the-scenes story of the making of the film, and an insightful primer on the art and business of moviemaking.

"This book tells you how to make a movie—the whole nine innings of…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked The Church of Baseball as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love books on the making of movies, reading a couple a year. This book is the best I’ve read, period. Not because it talks about a movie that I could quote all day long, but because it explores all the decisions and compromises Shelton made while creating the movie, and that’s something to learn from as a writer.

Knowing what a creator didn’t choose to do is as valuable as knowing what they did so you can consider what you would do in the same situation because that’s all writing really is: making decisions and compromises, large and small.

I tend to read a lot of serious books—histories, biographies, and books on important political and social issues. But sometimes reading should be just fun.

Bull Durham is one of my favorite movies. Baseball, romance, Susan Sarandon. What’s not to like?

I saw the movie with my wife, Peggy, on one of our first nights out after our second child was born. The theater was almost empty, but still, Peggy was embarrassed because I was laughing so hard. Tears in my eyes laughing.

This book by Ron Shelton (who wrote and directed the movie) brings back all the fun of…

If you love The Church of Baseball...

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Want books like The Church of Baseball?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Church of Baseball.

Browse books like The Church of Baseball

Book cover of Cassavetes on Cassavetes
Book cover of Easy Riders Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-And Rock 'n Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Book cover of Musts, Maybes, and Nevers: A Book About The Movies

Share your top 3 reads of 2026!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

164

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like The Church of Baseball, you might also like...

Book cover of The Tao of Poison

The Tao of Poison by Isham Cook,

A poisonous maiden, a Daoist sex cult, and a violent insurgency.

The polyandrous Yan family in China's rural Shaanxi Province takes in two carpenter brothers. When one brother is convicted of murder after killing their neighbor in a dispute, a constable threatens to expose the family's rumored polyandry and extorts…

Book cover of Big Ideas... For Small Businesses: Simple, Practical Tools and Tactics to Help Your Small Business Grow

Big Ideas... For Small Businesses by John Lamerton,

Big Ideas… for Small Businesses is a straight-talking, no-nonsense guide to growing a small business without sacrificing your lifestyle. Written by a former civil servant turned entrepreneur, the book challenges hustle culture and instead champions the idea of an "ambitious lifestyle business" - one that provides freedom and financial stability,…

5 book lists we think you will like!