If you are anything like me, you have used this quarantine period to try and get better- break down film, watch online clinics, go back through old notes, etc. It has also inspired me to read more than I usually do. I tried to balance my Covid-19 reading list so that I wasn’t just reading all basketball, or all leadership, or all biographies. Here are just a few of my favorites from the lockdown. Each book on my COVID-19 reading list has definitely given me new ideas and helped make me better. I urge you to check them out if you already have not. 

SHOE DOG 

Co-founder Phil Knight shares the story of Nike’s early days as a feisty start-up into one of the world’s biggest companies. Before reading this, I thought I had known much of the Nike story- Knight, Bowerman, the waffle shoe…but there was so much more. There were so many opportunities for Nike to fail before becoming big, but through determination, resourcefulness, and luck, Knight turned his basement operation into the big sports brand in the world. 

BRING THE NOISE:THE JURGEN KLOPP STORY 

Bio about Liverpool’s eccentric coach, Jurgen Klopp. It shares his journey from kid in Germany through his playing career and eventual highly successful coaching career. It gives great insight to his unique way of operating. Jurgen has managed to win at every level he has coached at regardless of resources. 

PEP CONFIDENTIAL: THE INSIDE STORY OF PEP GUARDIOLA’S FIRST SEASON AT BAYERN MUNICH 

Author Marti Perarnau was given amazing access inside the locker room and behind the scenes of one of soccer’s elite teams, Bayern Munich, and one of the greatest coaches, Pep Guardiola. He follows Pep and the team during his first season at Bayern Munich. 

PEP GUARDIOLA: THE EVOLUTION 

This book is the follow-up to “Pep Confidential: The Inside Story Of Pep Guardiola’s First Season At Bayern Munich.” After having extraordinary access to Pep and the team at Bayern Munich for 3 seasons, Perarnau chronicles Guardiola’s time at Bayern and his move to Manchester City. However, the book is much more than a detailed timeline at Bayern. It dives deep into Guardiola’s philosophy that has shaped modern football. 

JURGEN KLOPP: THE BIOGRAPHY 

The story of Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp. If you are a Liverpool fan, it is a must read. 

THE BARCELONA WAY: HOW TO CREATE A WINNING TEAM 

Deep dive into one of the most successful football clubs in the world, FC Barcelona. Damian Hughes looks at what makes the club so successful and different from other clubs. He gives us the key principles that Barcelona employed under the direction of Pep Guardiola that lead to winning 14 out of a possible 19 trophies in a 4 year span. 

ELEVEN RINGS 

If you enjoyed “The Last Dance” documentary on The 90’s Chocago Bulls, then you will love this book. Phil Jackson chronicles his life and experiences from a boy growing up in South Dakota to World Championship coach of the Bulls and Lakers. He shares how his experiences shaped his philosophy and how he used that to fuel some of the greatest teams and individual players to greatness. 

UNSCRIPTED: THE UNPREDICTABLE MOMENTS THAT MAKE LIFE EXTRAORDINARY 

Autobiography of sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson. This is the story of his life off-screen. He details his relationship with his famed sports broadcaster father, battling cancer, and raising six children- including adopting a special needs child from Romania. The guy has been through some stuff. This is a must read. 

THE MAKING OF A MIRACLE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE 1980 GOLD MEDAL–WINNING U.S. OLYMPIC HOCKEY TEAM 

Easy to read book about the 1980 USA Winter Olympic Hockey Team and its captain Mike Eruzione. Eruzione recounts his hockey career- from junior hockey to college to captaining Team USA to victory over the Soviets and the gold medal.