Here are 94 books that Money and Soccer fans have personally recommended if you like Money and Soccer. Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Season Ticket: A Baseball Companion

Stephen F. Ross Author Of Fans of the World, Unite!

From my list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent four decades studying the sports business. A lifelong sports fanatic and a trained antitrust lawyer, I originally approached the problem as a straightforward cartel by owners. When consulting for a UK government investigation into sports, I learned how often owners “leave money on the table” because they can’t agree on how to divide things up, and how often league decisions are not responsive to consumer preference. The book is part of a career of analyzing how the structure of sports governance fails to meet the expectations of fans and the general public.

Stephen's book list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business

Stephen F. Ross Why Stephen loves this book

Although the collection of essays by a wonderful journalist is a great read, the key is the chapter Going Green about the innovative investment and community-oriented management of the Oakland Athletics baseball team by the Haas family and the principal owner’s son-in-law, attorney Roy Eisenhardt.

I loved the articulation of why sports are important and how owners should behave, and how front office management should manage.

Our book would be unnecessary if owners were likely like Walter Haas, Jr. and his family.

By Roger Angell ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Season Ticket as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Offering a unique perspective on the ins and out of baseball, the author examines in detail the job of the catcher, pitchers' strategies, and the intricate play of infielders, discussing the best players of the past five seasons and their greatest moments


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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 The League: The Rise and Decline of the NFL

Stephen F. Ross Author Of Fans of the World, Unite!

From my list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent four decades studying the sports business. A lifelong sports fanatic and a trained antitrust lawyer, I originally approached the problem as a straightforward cartel by owners. When consulting for a UK government investigation into sports, I learned how often owners “leave money on the table” because they can’t agree on how to divide things up, and how often league decisions are not responsive to consumer preference. The book is part of a career of analyzing how the structure of sports governance fails to meet the expectations of fans and the general public.

Stephen's book list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business

Stephen F. Ross Why Stephen loves this book

Although now quite old, I still think the wonderful journalistic description of Pete Rozelle’s success in what the author coined as “LeagueThink” to overcome the structural problems in sports identified in my book is a great model.

I knew David Harris by reputation as an anti-Vietnam War activist and singer Joan Baez ex-husband, but I found he pivoted to this topic with excellence.

By David Harris ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The League as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Based on three years of research, extensive interviews, and confidential NFL documents, an investigative report documents the little-known power struggles that have recently reorganized the internal structure and politics of the football business


Book cover of Dealing with Losers

Stephen F. Ross Author Of Fans of the World, Unite!

From my list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent four decades studying the sports business. A lifelong sports fanatic and a trained antitrust lawyer, I originally approached the problem as a straightforward cartel by owners. When consulting for a UK government investigation into sports, I learned how often owners “leave money on the table” because they can’t agree on how to divide things up, and how often league decisions are not responsive to consumer preference. The book is part of a career of analyzing how the structure of sports governance fails to meet the expectations of fans and the general public.

Stephen's book list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business

Stephen F. Ross Why Stephen loves this book

This book has nothing and everything to do with sports.

I loved it because Trebilcock recognizes that the way to innovate in the public interest is to buy off those who can oppose good new ideas.

My book demonstrates how owners selfishly reject proposals harmful to their own interests, and the only way to move forward is to figure out ways to overcome their objection. Trebilcock uses political examples that can be applied to sports.

By Michael J. Trebilcock ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dealing with Losers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whenever governments change policies-tax, expenditure, or regulatory policies, among others-there will typically be losers: people or groups who relied upon and invested in physical, financial, or human capital predicated on, or even deliberately induced by the pre-reform set of policies. The issue of whether and when to mitigate the costs associated with policy changes, either through explicit government compensation, grandfathering, phased or postponed implementation, is ubiquitous across the policy landscape. Much of the existing literature covers government takings, yet compensation for expropriation comprises merely a tiny part of the universe of such strategies. Dealing with Losers: The Political Economy of…


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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 In the Best Interests of Baseball?

Stephen F. Ross Author Of Fans of the World, Unite!

From my list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent four decades studying the sports business. A lifelong sports fanatic and a trained antitrust lawyer, I originally approached the problem as a straightforward cartel by owners. When consulting for a UK government investigation into sports, I learned how often owners “leave money on the table” because they can’t agree on how to divide things up, and how often league decisions are not responsive to consumer preference. The book is part of a career of analyzing how the structure of sports governance fails to meet the expectations of fans and the general public.

Stephen's book list on books to provoke intelligent thought about the sports business

Stephen F. Ross Why Stephen loves this book

Bud Selig was complete personality contrast with other successful sports league commissioners, such as the NBA’s David Stern or the NFL’s Pete Rozelle.

I love how Zimbalist demonstrates how Selig was incredibly successful for HIS league and HIS time by patiently overcoming owner objections to get them to act in the best interests of the entire league. I found it to be a perfect complement in the specific realm of sports to Trebilcock’s general work on overcoming parochial opposition to good initiatives.

By Andrew Zimbalist ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked In the Best Interests of Baseball? as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"The season's best book so far." The Boston Globe Milwaukee Brewers owner Bud Selig faced tremendous opposition when he became acting commissioner of baseball. A longtime critic and observer of Selig, Andrew Zimbalist takes a balanced, insightful look at the governance of baseball before and during Selig's tumultuous reign, revealing how Selig redefined the commissioner's role and shepherded the transformation of baseball into a business. He explores how Selig brought the owners together as partners, analyzes the fairness and effectiveness of revenue sharing, and examines whether the best interests of the sport have been served. In the process, Zimbalist elucidates…


Book cover of The Football Business: Fair Game in the '90s?

Stephen Morrow Author Of The People's Game? Football, Finance and Society

From my list on football as a game, as business, and as community.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up I was fanatical about football - playing, watching, reading and talking about it. I was also a little obsessed with its numbers, and apparently liked to recalculate league tables and goal differences in my head as the results came in on the BBC vidiprinter. Fast forward to University in the 1980s - a time when studying football’s business aspects was not common - I wrote my dissertation on the ‘Capital structure of Scottish football’. A Scottish perspective has remained present in much of my work, and I hope it also allows a little more distance when reflecting on the success and challenges faced by football in England.

Stephen's book list on football as a game, as business, and as community

Stephen Morrow Why Stephen loves this book

David Conn’s book was first released in 1997, just a few years after the inception of the English Premier League.

It was the first critical evaluation of the new business of football, in which he sought to understand what was being lost as the game was transformed into a branch of the entertainment industry, while at the same time accepting the many unarguable benefits that were accompanying that transformation.

Its quality and importance are evidenced by the fact that it has been republished at least five times.

It remains essential reading for anyone who wants to understand more about the opaque world of football finance, governance, and ownership.

By David Conn ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Football Business as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In eight years English football has been transformed. In 1989 clubs were banned from Europe and the Hillsborough disaster exposed football's crumbling grounds. Today football is cleaned up and is also big business. Since the Taylor report forced English clubs to spend #600 million rebuilding their grounds, and since Sky and the BBC put #1 billion into the game, serious businessmen have arrived in football, and have mostly been welcomed because of the money they were "investing" into the "long-term health of the game". This book examines the transformation and asks is it still a game or a business?


Book cover of The Science of Soccer

John Eric Goff Author Of Gold Medal Physics: The Science of Sports

From my list on combine sports and Science.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a boy, I wanted to play baseball professionally. But, alas, talent was not within me, and I became one of the few people in the world who chose physics as a career because something else was too hard. Part of my career as a scientist is learning new things; another part is teaching and, hopefully, imbuing students with a love of science. The sports science books here all taught me a great deal, and I have recommended them to several of my students. Sports can be an excellent vehicle for learning some science, and such learning about a sport one loves can make watching the sport even more fun.

John's book list on combine sports and Science

John Eric Goff Why John loves this book

How could I be a sports physicist and know next to nothing about soccer, the world’s most popular sport? After a student wanted to research soccer physics with me, I knew I had to get up to speed on the beautiful game. Wesson’s book was my choice, and it was a smart choice! From the simple, like the bounce of the ball, to the complex, like the flight of the ball during a free kick, Wesson touches on all the important aspects of soccer.

Anyone can read the book, and for those of us who yearn for the mathematical details, Wesson’s last chapter does not disappoint.

By John Wesson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Science of Soccer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Updated and revised throughout, this new edition of The Science of Soccer applies scientific analysis to football, giving us the answers to questions like "what's the chance of a team that wins the Premiership also winning the Cup? Can you predict how many goals will be scored? What's the best height for footballers? Is the team that wins the league the best team?"

Starting with a qualitative description of the basic physics that relate to the ball and its bounce, the author then moves through kicks and throws, to a simple account of the more complex physics of a ball…


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Book cover of The Duke's Christmas Redemption

The Duke's Christmas Redemption by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke who has rejected love, a Lady who dreams of a love match, an arranged marriage, a house full of secrets, a most unneighborly neighbor, a plot to destroy reputations, an unexpected love that redeems it all.

Lady Charlotte Wyndham, given in an arranged marriage to a man she…

Book cover of Circus Maximus: The Economical Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup

Bonnie Tiell, Ed.D Author Of Governance in Sport

From my list on power structures and politics in sports.

Why am I passionate about this?

My passion for power and leadership in global sports began with leading a study abroad program at the 2004 Athens Olympics, sparking a tradition of involvement in every Summer Games since. In 2011, I gained unique insight into global sports politics as a featured speaker at the World Olympians Association Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The event included a high-stakes Presidential election, with intense political maneuvering and Olympians delivering 60-second appeals in a "Minute to Win It" style presentation. Beyond the Olympics, my interest has been enriched by trips to Thailand (four), China, and Bahrain to lead workshops for hundreds of national sports federation administrators. This fascination with global sport leadership continues to inspire me.

Bonnie's book list on power structures and politics in sports

Bonnie Tiell, Ed.D Why Bonnie loves this book

Zimbalist has a masterful way of story-telling, and Circus Maximus is his best book to date. Yes, his 2015 book exposes two of the most powerful authorities governing international sports, the IOC and FIFA, but it is such a wonderful read. I found this book full of data and facts that build compelling arguments and challenged my conventional wisdom about the leaders and organizations involved in producing the Olympics and World Cup.

I began viewing the IOC and FIFA from a different lens after reading this thorough and insightful book about the economic realities, politics, and dark side of hosting mega sporting events. Not much has changed from the 2010s to the modern day.

By Andrew Zimbalist ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Circus Maximus as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The numbers are staggering: China spent $40 billion to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and Russia spent $50 billion for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Brazil's total expenditures are thought to have been as much as $20 billion for the World Cup this summer and Qatar, which will be the site of the 2022 World Cup, is estimating that it will spend $200 billion. How did we get here? And is it worth it? Those are among the questions noted sports economist Andrew Zimbalist answers in Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the…


Book cover of Baller Boys

Abena Eyeson Author Of Looking Up

From my list on stories about the Black child in Britain.

Why am I passionate about this?

Ghanaian-born, I came to Britain aged twelve with my family and was always a lover of stories.  Now a PhD-educated mum of three, it niggled that there weren’t many novels with a Black child as the protagonist, especially a Black British one. As a creative who’d acted and performed poetry in the past, I set out to write a story about a Black child in Britain overcoming challenges.  Inspired by anecdotes of children remaining with relatives in their home country as their parents moved to Britain to make a life before sending for them, I was interested in writing a story about such a child after they arrived in Britain.

Abena's book list on stories about the Black child in Britain

Abena Eyeson Why Abena loves this book

This is a novel about two Black British boys, eight-year-old Frankie and Shay, who are football-mad best friends, excited to be taking part in the football trials for All Cultures United, the best football team for miles, in the summer holidays. What I love about this novel is its depiction of loving family life; the realistic, believable portrayal of the boys by the writer; the exuberant love the boys have for football and seeing them go for their dreams. You don’t have to be into football to enjoy the book. A fun read.

By Venessa Taylor ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Baller Boys as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Shay and Frankie are best friends and football crazy! They eat, sleep and breathe football (even when they're at school!). They dream about playing football, love a kick-about in the park, watch all the big games on TV... all that's missing in their lives is the chance to play for a real football team.

All Cultures United is the best club around for miles and all the footie fans want to on their team... including Shay and Frankie. Are they good enough to impress Coach Reece at the AC United trials? Can their friendship survive the competitiveness of football? Will…


Book cover of Football, She Wrote: An Anthology of Women's Writing on the Game

Jon Garland Author Of Racism and Anti-Racism in Football

From my list on parts of football that you havent read.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been a football fan since childhood. I grew up in rural Norfolk, supporting my local club, Norwich City. Even from an early age, though, I realized that it wasn’t just the game itself that fascinated me but also the behavior and passion of the fans. However, as I grew older and became more socially and politically aware, I came to realize that many of society’s deep-rooted problems, such as racism, homophobia, and misogyny, manifested themselves in football and often went unchallenged. Researching them seemed the best way to learn more about them and then challenge them. 

Jon's book list on parts of football that you havent read

Jon Garland Why Jon loves this book

Women’s experiences of football have been under-researched, making this collection of essays all the more significant. The recent explosion in the popularity of women’s football sometimes masks the fact that women have been playing the game for many decades–it’s just that the (male) world has finally caught up with how good they are at it.

This multifaceted book, which contains chapters written solely by women, is a sometimes amusing and often insightful take on the women’s game and women’s involvement in all aspects of football. It’s also written with a warmth that I really like and an intelligence sharper than a defense-splitting Lauren Hemp pass.

By Charlotte Atyeo (editor) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Football, She Wrote as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"A brilliantly entertaining collection showcasing a wealth of women's voices," ALEX SCOTT MBE
FOREWORD BY GABBY LOGAN MBE
Edited by Charlotte Atyeo
Curated by Ian Ridley
From the doyenne of football writing Julie Welch's brilliantly illuminating story of the first women's international match after a 50-year ban to the madcap tale of two black radio rookies in China... From the trials of covering the soap opera that is Newcastle United to the glamour of establishing Real Madrid TV... From the making of the magnificent Emma Hayes to the equally amazing Mums United FC...

FOOTBALL, SHE WROTE is a first: a…


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Book cover of Old Man Country

Old Man Country by Thomas R. Cole,

This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.

In these and other intimate conversations, the book…

Book cover of Winners Never Quit!

Claire Annette Noland Author Of Evie's Field Day: More Than One Way to Win

From my list on help children develop good sportsmanship.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a children’s librarian, teacher, and parent, I know that children have big feelings. I write heart-filled books that speak to the issues that they deal with while navigating new experiences. I was inspired to write Evie’s Field Day because of the frustrations most children deal with when they lose. I hope that my book will encourage children to enjoy the process of playing sports and games with others and the rewards of being a friend and a good sport.

Claire's book list on help children develop good sportsmanship

Claire Annette Noland Why Claire loves this book

Written by soccer superstar, Mia Hamm, this book shows her as a young girl and how she learned to deal with disappointment while learning the sport with her brothers and sisters. She loved being praised when she did well but she became angry and quit when she missed goals. There was a consequence – when she returned to play, she wasn’t welcomed back because “winners never quit.”

There is so much to love about this book as it shows a phenomenal athlete as a girl and the origins of her love of soccer. Also, difficult emotions that children experience are explored (without being preachy) as the young Mia learns a valuable lesson. The illustrations are adorable!

By Mia Hamm , Carol Thompson (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Winners Never Quit! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“An inspiring tale.” —Parents Magazine

Mia Hamm, American soccer champion and bestselling author of Go for the Goal, tells a true-life-inspired story in this picture book.

Winners Never Quit! can help with the emotional side of playing sports—how to deal with a loss without getting angry or quitting, and how to be a good teammate. A strong choice for the young athlete in your family or classroom.

Soccer superstar Mia Hamm knows the value of teamwork and perseverance. She shares this lesson, paired with energetic illustrations by Carol Thompson, in this motivational story.


Book cover of Season Ticket: A Baseball Companion
Book cover of The League: The Rise and Decline of the NFL
Book cover of Dealing with Losers

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