Here are 4 books that Black Ball fans have personally recommended if you like Black Ball. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King

Bob Beatty Author Of Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East

From Bob's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Music Obsessive History Geek Historian Interpreter Writer

Bob's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Bob Beatty Why Bob loves this book

There is a reason we hail B.B. King as the King of the Blues. King is a cultural icon of immeasurable influence that extends far beyond the blues. De Vise tracks King's journey in great detail, from his Mississippi sharecropper upbringing, to his rise to fame among Black audiences, to breaking through with white audiences in the late 1960s, and ultimately achieving legendary status. An outstanding read, that gave me new insight into one of the 20th century's greats.

By Daniel de Visé ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked King of the Blues as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The first full and authoritative biography of an American—indeed a world-wide—musical and cultural legend



“No one worked harder than B.B. No one inspired more up-and-coming artists. No one did more to spread the gospel of the blues.”—President Barack Obama



“He is without a doubt the most important artist the blues has ever produced.”—Eric Clapton



Riley “Blues Boy” King (1925-2015) was born into deep poverty in Jim Crow Mississippi. Wrenched away from his sharecropper father, B.B. lost his mother at age ten, leaving him more or less alone. Music became his emancipation from exhausting toil in the fields. Inspired by a…


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Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Book cover of My Effin' Life

Steven A. McKay Author Of The Druid's Prey

From Steven's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author History buff Storyteller Musician Metalhead

Steven's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Steven A. McKay Why Steven loves this book

As a fairly big fan of the band Rush I thought this was an interesting, entertaining, and emotive read. From the highs (literally) of the band's early years, through to the very sad loss of drummer Neil Peart, this gives a good insight into how the albums were created and why they made certain choices (like using more synthesizers, gah!).
I looked forward to reading the book on my Kindle every night, often listening to Rush music while I did so.

By Geddy Lee ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked My Effin' Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The long-awaited memoir, generously illustrated with never-before-seen photos, from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and bestselling author of Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass.

Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll's most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.

Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the…


Book cover of Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments

Peter Golenbock Author Of Whispers of the Gods

From Peter's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Peter's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Peter Golenbock Why Peter loves this book

I know a lot about the history of the game of baseball, and yet Joe took me to exciting games and plays and players I knew nothing about, and he did it in such a clever way that I found myself loving this book. As an author myself, I am rarely surprised by the way a book is written. The way Joe put this book together was just short of genius. His is a rare talent.

By Joe Posnanski ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Why We Love Baseball as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES bestseller

Winner of the CASEY Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year

National Sports Media Association Sports Book of the Year 

An NPR "Book of the Day"

#1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Posnanski is back with a masterful ode to the game: a countdown of 50 of the most memorable moments in baseball’s history, to make you fall in love with the sport all over again.
 
Posnanski writes of major moments that created legends, and of forgotten moments almost lost to time. It's Willie Mays’s catch, Babe Ruth’s called shot, and Kirk Gibson’s limping…


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Book cover of Trusting Her Duke

Trusting Her Duke by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke with rigid opinions, a Lady whose beliefs conflict with his, a long disputed parcel of land, a conniving neighbour, a desperate collaboration, a failure of trust, a love found despite it all.

Alexander Cavendish, Duke of Ravensworth, returned from war to find that his father and brother had…

Book cover of A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers

Adam J. Criblez Author Of Kings of the Garden: The New York Knicks and Their City

From Adam's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Adam's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Adam J. Criblez Why Adam loves this book

Sneaker heads and hoops fans will love this one. So much great content and NYC (mostly) culture!

By Russ Bengtson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The ultimate book for both hoops fans and sneaker obsessives, A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers is an exciting and fascinating look at the sport written with authority and experience by former Complex magazine editor Russ Bengtson.

From primeval Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars to baroque Reebok Pumps and myth-making Air Jordans to super-high-tech Nike Adapt BBs, each chapter breaks down how a specific sneaker defined an era of basketball, transformed the culture, or changed the game.

With full-colour sneaker photographs and sidebars throughout, the book is a kaleidoscopic celebration of the players, styles, and iconic moments that have…


Book cover of King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King
Book cover of My Effin' Life
Book cover of Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments

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