Big Sporting Read - The Reading Agency

The Big Sporting Read is a collaboration between national charity The Reading Agency and BBC Arts, aiming to use the power of sport to inspire readers across the UK – highlighting the links between sporting excellence, reading, health and wellbeing.

The list, which was announced at Hay Festival on the 29 May, has been curated by The Reading Agency together with librarians, booksellers, and an expert advisory panel.

Do you want to get involved in the Big Sporting Read this summer? Download a free digital pack from our shop with toolkits and resources for libraries, bookshops and sporting venues.

Check out the books!

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running bookcover

The Boys In The Boat: An Epic Journey to the Heart of Hitler's Berlin bookcover

Jessica Ennis: Unbelievable - From My Childhood Dreams To Winning Olympic Gold: The life story of Team GB's Olympic Golden Girl bookcover

Our Life on Ice: The Autobiography bookcover

Coming Up for Air: What I Learned from Sport, Fame and Fatherhood bookcover

A Woman's Game: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Women's Football bookcover

Unseen Academicals: (Discworld Novel 37) bookcover

The Hard Parts: A Story of Courage and Triumph bookcover

Western Lane: Shortlisted For The Booker Prize 2023 bookcover

Beryl: In Search of Britain's Greatest Athlete, Beryl Burton bookcover

Coffee First, Then the World: One Woman's Record-Breaking Pedal Around the Planet bookcover

Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women bookcover

A Fan for All Seasons: A Journey Through Life and Sport bookcover

Latest News

4 October 2024

The Big Sporting Read – People’s Choice

With the summer of sport coming to a close we asked you to tell us your Big Sporting Reads and moments of this summer.

24 September 2024

BBC’s 500 Words 2024

500 Words, the UK’s most successful writing competition run by the BBC is back! The competition will be open from Tuesday 26 September to Friday 10 November 2023.