6 books that will get you excited for the Olympics

For the Glory: Olympic Legend Eric Liddell's Journey of Faith and Survival

This book tells the story of Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell, the main character in Chariots of Fire. After his win in the 400-metre sprint at the 1924 Paris Olympics, Liddell became a missionary in China, later interning at a Japanese work camp where he counselled and fed the prisoners.

Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance

In this book, the author of Born to Run discovers ancient techniques for skills like strength and endurance that have been preserved in communities around the world.

Out of the Rough: Inside the Ropes with the World's Greatest Golfers

Golf has returned to the Olympics. Get in the spirit of the game with this new hardcover from Steve Williams, one of the most successful caddies in the biz—best known for his thirteen-year stint with Tiger Woods.

The Games

This history of the Olympics from sportswriter David Goldblatt explores the athletic competition from its invention in 1896 Athens to the present—including the ways that international conflicts have come into play throughout the past century.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

This memoir tells the story of Phil Knight’s start-up, which grossed $8,000 in 1963, its first year, and now has annual sales of more than $30 billion.

The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10—the first time a gymnast had been awarded a perfect score. Now, an open-ended scoring system means that perfect scores no longer exist. Dvora Meyers examines the evolution of gymnastics in recent history and what the future holds.