A key concept is the idea that the mental is just as important as the physical when it comes to pushing yourself. Athletes can train their bodies to the extreme, but forgetting to improve mental dexterity may be the reason why other athletes can outperform them.<\/p>\n
Sports psychology books help to gain valuable insight into the minds of athletes, helping you to learn the lessons that they\u2019ve spent years of training on. The way that the psychological and physical can work cohesively is an important skill, and one that serious sportspeople must inevitably discover.<\/p>\n
Read on for our top picks of the best sport psychology books, ready to elevate, motivate, and inspire.<\/p>\n
Best sports psychology books to buy in 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\nMind Games by Annie Vernon<\/strong><\/h3>\n- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>), Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a310.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nWorld champion rower and Olympic silver medallist Annie Vernon draws on her experience of extensive, rigorous training to discover why athletes push themselves to the limit. The former competitive athlete interviews some of the most prominent coaches, athletes and psychologists to unpack the minds of the elite.<\/p>\n
While training is often seen as a highly physical activity,\u00a0Mind Games<\/em> focuses on the mental dexterity that\u2019s required, which can be just as important when pushing past your limits. Like the name of the book suggests, Vernon\u2019s investigation reveals the mind games that athletes must enact to stay at the top of their game.<\/p>\n Latest deals<\/h5> <\/div> Endure by Alex Hutchinson<\/strong><\/h3>\n- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>), Amazon<\/a> (\u00a36.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nDeveloped from a fascination for the extremes of human endurance, Endure<\/em> reveals the ways in which our limits are determined by our minds as much as our bodies.<\/p>\nAlex Hutchinson argues the view that a main element of endurance comes down to how our brain responds to distress signals. These signals can be triggered by fatigue, pain, adverse weather conditions and much more \u2013 and Hutchinson claims that improving our brain\u2019s responses to these triggers is an effective way to endurance train.<\/p>\n
Hutchinson dives into various experiments, brain imagery and sport psychology research, as well as his own experience as an elite distance runner, to substantiate his claims and build a more detailed view of the athlete\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n
Read our full review of Endure here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Latest deals<\/h5> <\/div> Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness<\/strong><\/h3>\n- Buy now<\/strong> from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a314.85<\/a>), Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a319.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nBrad Stulberg and Steve Magness unpack the stories of top performers from a range of fields, from sports to academia to art, to create a more universal understanding of how the brain drives performance.<\/p>\n
The lessons learned can be applied in various aspects of life, but notes on the cognitive and neuropsychological functions of the mind can be particularly useful for athletes.\u00a0Peak Performance<\/em> can work as a guide to improve your approach, with practical applications of the techniques discussed.<\/p>\n Latest deals<\/h5> <\/div> The Champion\u2019s Mind by Jim Afremow<\/strong><\/h3>\n- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a39.65<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nWhat separates certain athletes from others? Why can some outperform others, even in elite competitions?\u00a0The Champion\u2019s Mind<\/em> explains that the key difference is often the mental game that athletes have internalised to sustain long-term excellence.<\/p>\nAlong with insightful explanations, Jim Afremow provides a useful, detailed guide to achieving your best, with sections on \u2018how to get in the zone\u2019 and \u2018how to progress in a sport,\u2019 among many others.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5> <\/div> Endurance Performance in Sport by Carla Meijen<\/strong><\/h3>\n- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a334.99<\/a>), Amazon<\/a> (\u00a332.19<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nIn\u00a0Endurance Performance in Sport,<\/em> Carla Meijen collates research and expertise from across the globe to provide a comprehensive overview of the psychology of endurance performance. It\u2019s a book that dives into the theoretical understanding of sport psychology, as well as going into detail about various techniques and interventions that can improve athletes\u2019 mental endurance.<\/p>\n Latest deals<\/h5> <\/div> The Rise of the Ultra Runners by Adharanand Finn<\/strong><\/h3>\n- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nUltra running is one of the truest endurance tests, exceeding the lengths of marathons to push your body even further.<\/p>\n
The Rise of the Ultra Runners<\/em> tells the story of Adharanand Finn\u2019s journey as he attempts to become an ultra runner himself \u2013 an endeavour that took him to far places like Oman\u2019s deserts and the peaks of the Rockies.<\/p>\nFinn delivers inspirational insight into what can be found at the most extreme boundaries of human performance, considering the psychological and social drivers that compel athletes to keep pushing.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5> <\/div> High Performance by Jack Humphrey & Damian Hughes<\/strong><\/h3>\n- <\/li>\n<\/ul>
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>), Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a310.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nWorld champion rower and Olympic silver medallist Annie Vernon draws on her experience of extensive, rigorous training to discover why athletes push themselves to the limit. The former competitive athlete interviews some of the most prominent coaches, athletes and psychologists to unpack the minds of the elite.<\/p>\n
While training is often seen as a highly physical activity,\u00a0Mind Games<\/em> focuses on the mental dexterity that\u2019s required, which can be just as important when pushing past your limits. Like the name of the book suggests, Vernon\u2019s investigation reveals the mind games that athletes must enact to stay at the top of their game.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5>
<\/div>Endure by Alex Hutchinson<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>), Amazon<\/a> (\u00a36.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nDeveloped from a fascination for the extremes of human endurance, Endure<\/em> reveals the ways in which our limits are determined by our minds as much as our bodies.<\/p>\n
Alex Hutchinson argues the view that a main element of endurance comes down to how our brain responds to distress signals. These signals can be triggered by fatigue, pain, adverse weather conditions and much more \u2013 and Hutchinson claims that improving our brain\u2019s responses to these triggers is an effective way to endurance train.<\/p>\n
Hutchinson dives into various experiments, brain imagery and sport psychology research, as well as his own experience as an elite distance runner, to substantiate his claims and build a more detailed view of the athlete\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n
Read our full review of Endure here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5>
<\/div>Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- Buy now<\/strong> from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a314.85<\/a>), Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a319.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nBrad Stulberg and Steve Magness unpack the stories of top performers from a range of fields, from sports to academia to art, to create a more universal understanding of how the brain drives performance.<\/p>\n
The lessons learned can be applied in various aspects of life, but notes on the cognitive and neuropsychological functions of the mind can be particularly useful for athletes.\u00a0Peak Performance<\/em> can work as a guide to improve your approach, with practical applications of the techniques discussed.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5>
<\/div>The Champion\u2019s Mind by Jim Afremow<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a39.65<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nWhat separates certain athletes from others? Why can some outperform others, even in elite competitions?\u00a0The Champion\u2019s Mind<\/em> explains that the key difference is often the mental game that athletes have internalised to sustain long-term excellence.<\/p>\n
Along with insightful explanations, Jim Afremow provides a useful, detailed guide to achieving your best, with sections on \u2018how to get in the zone\u2019 and \u2018how to progress in a sport,\u2019 among many others.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5>
<\/div>Endurance Performance in Sport by Carla Meijen<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a334.99<\/a>), Amazon<\/a> (\u00a332.19<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nIn\u00a0Endurance Performance in Sport,<\/em> Carla Meijen collates research and expertise from across the globe to provide a comprehensive overview of the psychology of endurance performance. It\u2019s a book that dives into the theoretical understanding of sport psychology, as well as going into detail about various techniques and interventions that can improve athletes\u2019 mental endurance.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5>
<\/div>The Rise of the Ultra Runners by Adharanand Finn<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nUltra running is one of the truest endurance tests, exceeding the lengths of marathons to push your body even further.<\/p>\n
The Rise of the Ultra Runners<\/em> tells the story of Adharanand Finn\u2019s journey as he attempts to become an ultra runner himself \u2013 an endeavour that took him to far places like Oman\u2019s deserts and the peaks of the Rockies.<\/p>\n
Finn delivers inspirational insight into what can be found at the most extreme boundaries of human performance, considering the psychological and social drivers that compel athletes to keep pushing.<\/p>\n
Latest deals<\/h5>
<\/div>High Performance by Jack Humphrey & Damian Hughes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- <\/li>\n<\/ul>
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a334.99<\/a>), Amazon<\/a> (\u00a332.19<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a39.65<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
- Buy now<\/strong> from Amazon<\/a> (\u00a314.85<\/a>), Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a319.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
- Buy now\u00a0<\/strong>from Waterstones<\/a> (\u00a39.99<\/a>), Amazon<\/a> (\u00a36.99<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/08\/418989685-mind-games-8b3b2f3.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/08\/418989680-endure-a1b126b.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/08\/418989690-peak-performance-9c44f3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/08\/418989710-the-champion-s-mind-2e5714e.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/08\/Endurance-Performance-in-Sport-29ad338-2.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/08\/418989715-the-rise-of-the-ultra-runners-175d813.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n