The Game Day Hero Recommendations
Winter Book Releases 2025-2026
Title: These winter reads are perfect for our Game Day Hero reader types who want sports, fitness, outdoor fun, and pure grit. We've found athletes who will inspire you in their motivational nonfiction books this season.
February Books:
Neptune's Fortune: The Billion-Dollar Shipwreck and the Ghosts of the Spanish Empire
by Julian Sancton
The riveting true story of a legendary Spanish galleon that sunk off the coast of Colombia with over $1 billion in gold and silver--and one man's obsessive quest to find it--from the New York Times bestselling author of Madhouse at the End of the Earth
"Splendid . . . Sancton is an expert guide through eighteenth-century European geopolitics [and] modern marine archaeology."--The Wall Street Journal
Roger Dooley wasn't looking for the San José. But an accidental discovery in the dusty stacks of a Spanish archive led him to the story of a lifetime, the tale of a great eighteenth-century treasure ship loaded with riches from the New World and destined for Spain. But that ship, the galleon San José, met a darker fate. It was drawn into a pitched battle with British ships of war off the coast of Cartagena, and when the smoke cleared, the San José and its bounty had disappeared into the ocean, its coordinates lost to time.
Though a diver at heart, Dooley was an unlikely candidate to find the San José. He had little in the way of serious credentials, yet his tenacity and single-minded devotion to finding and excavating the ship powered him across four decades, even as he became a man in exile from the country of his birth. As Dooley jousted with famous treasure hunters and well-funded competitors, he slowly homed in on a patch of sea that might contain a three-hundred-year-old shipwreck--or nothing at all.
Neptune's Fortune is a thrilling adventure, taking readers from great naval battles on the high seas to the sun-soaked shores that nurtured history's most notorious treasure hunters, to the archives that held the secret keys to lost fortune on the ocean floor.
Why Fly: Seeking Awe, Healing, and Our True Selves in the Sky
by Caroline Paul
From the New York Times bestselling author Caroline Paul, a thrilling, gravity-defying book that takes us skyward to explore the art of aeronautics-and the depths of the human heart.
Flying has long represented the beautiful, high-stakes human drive to invent, to explore, to experience. Caroline Paul has known this since becoming a pilot at twenty years old. Now she's in her fifties, and her long-term marriage is dissolving beneath her. She begins to fly a gyrocopter. Isn't it easier to learn a landing than a human heart?
As Paul examines the descent of love through the ascent of flight, she turns her eye to the history, the physics, and the deep impact of flying on others. From the brave Night Witches who flew biplanes against the Nazis, to the ultralight pilots who believe they can save endangered birds by becoming one of the flock, to the many people afraid to step onto a passenger plane, Why Fly examines the ways flight, like love, confounds and yet transforms us. Often we soar. But we also crash land. Still, we want to fly. Why?
All about Allergies: Everything You Need to Know about Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More
by MD Rubin
From viral social media sensation Dr. Zachary Rubin, an in-depth look at both common and surprising allergies, spotlighting patient stories, the history and science behind allergies, common myths, treatment options, and more
Millions of people suffer from various allergic diseases. They're some of the most common but widely misunderstood afflictions today, and Dr. Rubin has made it his mission to pull back the curtain and help everyday people understand their allergies and find ways to feel better.
In All About Allergies, Dr. Rubin explores and explains dozens of allergies and diseases and provides actionable treatment options and information. Sections on the history of allergies, asthma, contact dermatitis, sinusitis, food allergies, anaphylaxis, medication allergies, and more pair with treatment info on medications, immunotherapy, and biologics to equip people with the tools they need to tackle their allergies.
Grounded by expert research and propelled by patient stories, science, history, and, of course, Dr. Rubin's engaging voice, All About Allergies is the ultimate resource for anyone who's ever felt in the dark about their health.
Get Home Safe: A Guide to Self-Defense and Building Our Collective Power
by Rana Abdelhamid
Grounded in her experience as a blackbelt, self-defense instructor, and globally recognized organizer, Rana Abdelhamid offers a bold, urgent roadmap to a safer world.
Abdelhamid wants every woman and survivor of gender-based violence to be able to defend themselves, and every community to build collective safety. What if we didn't accept that it's unsafe to walk home alone as a fact of life, but instead went out and created safe spaces for ourselves?
Through thousands of training sessions, she's seen firsthand the strength we carry in our bodies, no matter our background or circumstance. Her revolutionary framework for finding that strength starts with emotional healing, then teaches physical self-defense and economic safety, and finally equips readers with organizing strategies to fight the systems that enable violence in the first place. A rallying cry and a practical guide, Get Home Safe will leave readers, regardless of strength, identity, or income, knowing they can fight back and reclaim power.
Talking with Bears
by G A Bradshaw
"Extraordinary . . . [this] series of true stories about the authentic nature of bears reveals them as the sensitive and intelligent beings they are." ―Carl Safina, New York Times-bestselling author of Becoming Wild and Beyond Words
Grizzly bears have long been feared as unpredictable and dangerous. But one man, Charlie Russell, was key in breaking down the myths and helping save these magnificent beings from extinction. A naturalist who spent over seventy years living harmoniously among bears in North America and Russia, Russell forged deep friendships with wild grizzlies, raised and reintroduced ten orphaned cubs in the Kamchatkan wilderness, and nannied the young of a wild female grizzly for seven years.
In Talking with Bears, filled with stunning photography, author G. A. Bradshaw chronicles her decade-long work with Russell, exploring his philosophy of Nature and remarkable insights and relationship with bears. By weaving together Russell's experiences and scientific understanding from neuroscience and quantum physics, Bradshaw reveals how we all can learn to thrive in intimate, respectful coexistence with Nature.
"Figuring out how to share the planet with other big and powerful mammals seems one of the crucial tests for human beings in the time ahead. Charlie Russell had some serious insights about how this might be possible." ―Bill McKibben, New York Times-bestselling author of Falter
"At a time of climate crisis and environmental emergency, when the flaws in our relationship with nature now clearly threaten our very existence, this book is a must-read." ―Kevin Van Tighem, author of Bears Without Fear
"[A] beautiful, unique account of two powerful minds . . . coming to grips with an equally powerful one embodied in the great brown and black bears of the Pacific Northwest and of the Russian Far East." ―Jeffrey Masson, author of The Secret World of Farm Animals and When Elephants Weep
"One can't help but come away from reading Talking With Bears feeling inspired and rejuvenated." ―John E. Marriott, wildlife photographer and coauthor of What Bears Teach Us
A Fabulous Thru-Hike: 3,100 Miles on the Continental Divide Trail
by Derick Lugo
New York City native Derick Lugo's life changed in 2012 when he spontaneously decided to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. In the years that followed, he became an advocate for the outdoors and eventually set out on his second thru-hike--this time on the Continental Divide Trail, one of the most challenging long trails in the world.
A Fabulous Thru-Hike: 3,100 Miles on the Continental Divide Trail is the relatable, laugh-out-loud story of Derick Lugo's six-month adventure. From the deserts of New Mexico to the rugged mountains of Montana, Derick confronts heat sickness, vertigo, and self-doubt--all with his trademark optimism. There are plenty of missteps and hard lessons, but also classic moments of trail magic, natural beauty, and deep friendships.
Capturing both the grueling reality and transformative beauty of life on the CDT, Lugo invites readers along for a journey that is both inspiring and entertaining. Whether he's questioning his choices on a sun-scorched ridgeline or finding joy in a package of Oreos, A Fabulous Thru-Hike is a celebration of perseverance, self-discovery, and the courage to keep moving forward.
january Books:
Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America
by Howard Bryant
"I loved this book.... I looked forward to [it] more than any other in a long time, and Howard Bryant exceeded my great expectations. Kings and Pawns is brilliantly conceived and powerfully written." -- David Maraniss, author of Path Lit by Lightning
A path-breaking work of biography of two American giants, Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson, whose lives would forever be altered by the Cold War, and would explosively intersect before its most notorious weapon, the House Un-American Activities Committee -- from one of the best sports and culture writers working today.
Kings and Pawns is the untold story of sports and fame, Black America and the promise of integration through the Cold War lens of two transformative events. The first occurred July 18, 1949 in Washington, D.C., when a reluctant Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball star who integrated the game and at the time was the most famous Black man in America, appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee to discredit Paul Robeson, the legendary athlete, baritone, and actor -- himself once the most famous Black man in America. The testimony would be a defining moment in Robinson's life and contribute heavily to the destruction of Robeson's iconic reputation in the eyes of America.
Everyday Elixirs: Mocktails, Matchas, and Seasonal Drinks to Inspire Wellness
by Blair Horton
From the holistic nutritionist behind Holistic Rendezvous, Blair Horton, a beautiful wellness-focused collection of 80 seasonal, delicious, and healthful beverage and mocktail recipes.
Whether you're looking for an alternative to an alcoholic beverage or to proactively support your wellness, holistic nutritionist Blair Horton has a tasty drink for you. In each of her 80 mocktail and beverage recipes, she deliciously features seasonal ingredients known to aid and support your health, with benefits that can boost your immunity, reduce inflammation, promote digestion, and more. Blair guides us through the seasons, starting first with foundational herbal, spiced, and floral syrups, before inviting us to find the magic in every sip:
The Cortisol Reset Plan: The Complete Guide to Balancing Your Hormones, Reversing Weight Gain, and Restoring Nervous System Health
by Marina Wright
From nutritionist and health coach Marina Wright, FDNP, a powerful guide to restoring body-mind health with holistic tools to heal our bodies through nervous system work, blood sugar regulation, and nutrient-dense foods.
In this accessible guide, packed with simple day-to-day solutions, Functional nutrition practitioner and health coach Marina Wright (@marinawrightwellness) draws on her experience helping thousands of clients and followers combat weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, aches and pains, by tackling the underlying culprit: chronic stress.
Plant Powered Plus: Activate the Power of Your Gut to Tame Inflammation and Reclaim Your Health
by Will Bulsiewicz
The New York Times bestselling author of Fiber Fueled offers an empowering new program to reclaim your health, fight inflammation, and supercharge your immune system by healing your gut.
We've all heard inflammation is harmful, but what exactly is it, why does it happen, and how can we truly heal it? The answers, it turns out, lie deep within your gut.
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is an award winning gastroenterologist and internationally renowned gut health expert on a mission to improve the gut health of millions. During years of seeing patients, he noticed an undeniable trend: chronic inflammation was on the rise and behind a staggering array of health issues. This includes digestive conditions like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. But there was so much more - allergies, autoimmune diseases, headaches, depression, thyroid and skin problems, menopausal symptoms, metabolic and hormonal issues. These may seem like separate problems, but they share one common root cause: inflammation.
Junglekeeper: What It Takes to Change the World
by Paul Rosolie
Most people assume that the world has been explored and true adventure is dead: This book is one man's rebuttal. Explorer and conservationist Paul Rosolie shares his incredible life in the Amazon rainforest--and what we can learn from the people fighting to protect it.
"On behalf of the forests that I love, thank you, Paul, for writing this book."--Jane Goodall
Deep in the Peruvian jungle, there exists a corner of the world that remains untouched--one teeming with giant anacondas, where the haunting cries of howler monkeys send brightly colored macaws shooting across the canopy. It's an ecosystem of stupendous biodiversity, uncontacted tribes, and adventures that most people don't even dare to dream of.
Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling
by Danny Funt
This jaw-dropping book pulls back the curtain on the alluring yet perilous world of American sports gambling. Built around explosive interviews with the power players of the betting boom at FanDuel, DraftKings, and beyond, it reveals the troubling methods that are being used to bleed gamblers dry.
Everybody Loses is the first major investigation into America's sports gambling industry. Journalist Danny Funt has obtained wild stories and stunning admissions from the people trying to transform our nation of sports fans into a nation of sports gamblers.
December Picks:
Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain: Breaking the Doom Loop to Heal Chronic Physical and Emotional Pain
by Daniel G Amen
One of our leading experts on the brain and #1 New York Times bestselling author explores how chronic physical and emotional pain are both rooted in your brain's wiring, leaving you stuck in the doom loop and how you can break free to heal from the "doom loop" and reclaim a vibrant, pain-free life.
In the United States alone, one in five adults experiences chronic pain. For too long, when a doctor couldn't find the source of frequent pain, the patient was dismissively told "it's all in your head." Today, we know that our somatic responses to trauma, anxiety, and depression create real suffering, and that physical pain can lead to trauma, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Daniel Amen calls this "the doom loop"--the dance between physical and emotional pain. These doom loops interfere with our ability to live our lives. But we can shift the doom loop into a healing loop, and in this vital book, he shows us how.
How Not to Die: Revised and Updated: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
by Michael Greger - Gene Stone
How Not To Die: Revised and Updated is an empowering guide featuring the latest scientific discoveries on nutrition and longevity. Discover the foods, exercise, and lifestyle habits that prevent the fifteen leading causes of disease-related death.
Doctors are good at treating acute illnesses, but bad at preventing chronic disease. The fifteen diseases that lead to the most deaths in America claim the lives of 1.6 million annually. This doesn't have to be the case. For the most part, these diseases and illnesses are preventable. In this revised and updated edition of the bestselling classic, Dr. Michael Greger shares groundbreaking scientific discoveries in nutrition and longevity. With updates from all of the most recent studies, HOW NOT TO DIE is a guide to the methods proven to keep the reaper off our backs, detailing the foods we should eat and the lifestyle changes we can make to live longer.
Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle
by Natan Last
An entertaining and eye-opening look at the history of crossword puzzles, who constructs them, and why crosswords matter as both a reflection of and influence on our culture
"Warning: This book is highly contagious." -Mary Norris, author of Between You & Me
"A gridful of insight and pleasure."--Stefan Fatsis, bestselling author of Word Freak and Unabridged
From Wordle to Spelling Bee, we live in a time of word game mania. Crosswords in particular gained renewed popularity during the COVID-19 lockdown, when games became another kind of refuge. Today, 36 million Americans solve crosswords once a week or more, and nearly 23 million solve them daily. Yet, as longtime New Yorker crossword contributor Natan Last will tell you, the seemingly apolitical puzzle has never been more controversial--or more interesting.
Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Wisdom for Inspiration and Healing from the Heart of Japan
by Hiroko Yoda
A Japanese cultural historian shares a path to joyful living drawn from her nation's unique approach to spirituality and nature, offering a "fascinating" (Wintering author Katherine May) blend of memoir, cultural reporting, and practical guidance for anyone struggling to find balance in our turbulent modern world.
Everyone's in the pursuit of happiness, but few know how to attain it. Millions around the world have turned to Japan for advice on finding their Ikigai, or summoning The Courage to Be Disliked. Japan's spiritual traditions hide in plain sight, forming the basis of so much of what we love about the country's culture. Without Japan's spiritual sustenance, Jiro wouldn't dream of sushi; Hayao Miyazaki's films wouldn't spirit us away; and Marie Kondo wouldn't spark joy.
Super Body: A 3-Week Program to Harness the New Science of Body Composition and Restore Your Youthful Contours
by William Davis
Are you ready to take your health into your own hands? Heal your microbiome and improve your shape and body composition with Dr. William Davis' revolutionary new book.
Forget everything you've been told about dieting (from your doctor, the food industry, dietitians, and wellness influencers). You've been led down the wrong path, which has caused you to believe that calorie restriction, weight-loss drugs such GLP-1 agonists, and bariatric procedures are effective solutions for weight loss. They are NOT, nothing more than Ponzi schemes with upfront benefits, long-term disasters. Conventional weight-loss solutions are effective in the short-term but are plagued by serious problems, including virtually guaranteed weight regain over time. Muscle mass is the critical determinant of weight and provides vigor, youthfulness, and overall health. When we diet, lost muscle is regained as fat, leaving us in worse shape than before.