To keep our athletic spirits high, we've asked our most obsessive sports friends for their favorite reads to keep your mind on the field or court during the off-season.

THE MECHANICS OF ATHLETICS

Many principles in athletics have remain unchanged for years. Geoff Dyson, the father of coaching in British athletics, details them all in this comprehensive 1962 book.

A WORLD HISTORY OF TRACK & FIELD ATHLETICS

This treasured book by Roberto Quercetani published in 1964 is the first authoritative history of men's track and field athletics, packed with anecdotes and statistical detail.

STRING THEORY

This five-essay collection by David Foster Wallace on the sport of tennis is written with a competitor's insight and a fan's obsessive enthusiasm.

THE FIRST FOUR MINUTES

The story of the greatest athletics feat in history is written by Roger Bannister, the very man who did it. His quest to run the first sub-four-minute mile is beautifully told.

A SEASON ON THE BRINK

This book by John Feinstein chronicles the turbulent 1985-1986 basketball season of the Indiana Hoosiers and their fiery coach Bobby Knight, providing a glimpse into Knight's intense coaching style.

THE BOYS IN THE BOAT

This book by Daniel James Brown depicts an inspirational story of the 1936 U.S. Olympic rowing team and their quest for gold. Nine working-class boys from America showed the world what true grit really meant.