The best Sports Encyclopedias books: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Comes with experience. It's probably the most complex team sport there is, with games being more chess matches than anything.

You can accelerate your learning by reading books like Take Your Eye off the Ball if you're really invested in learning more, but even something like getting into the Madden games can help a lot. Plenty of online resources as well for concepts and formations and whatnot.

While you'll learn plenty just by watching, without a bit of background on the fundamentals, a lot of stuff is gonna be lost on the average viewer.

This is why statistics are so easy to lie with. No one puts the basic effort into understanding what they mean.

Plenty of teams have overcome low odds. There's plenty of variance in sports and the weaknesses of 538s model for direct-game prediction is well known (for ex: the fact CARMELO measures players instead of teams as a unit, that it uses data from the regular season despite large post-season statistical gaps, etc).

The later into the playoffs the more accurate it will get. But it's still a small amount of data but despite all of that it's still one of the best we've got.

FWIW, if you care, 538's creator wrote a good book about bayesian statistics and prediction modelling: https://www.amazon.com/Signal-Noise-Many-Predictions-Fail-but/dp/0143125087/

Yeah, very easy. But eventually you’ll learn to stop watching the puck and just watch the game. Watching a play develop instead of who’s swatting at the puck that moment.

A good book to check out if you’re new to the sport is Take Your Eye Off The Puck by Greg Wyshynski.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203

Your claims are actually proven by statistical analysis. IIRC this is mentioned in the book The Numbers Game. Soccer is the most unpredictable sport where underdogs have the best chance at an upset, compared to other sports.

But I'd also make the claim that while futebol may be the most popular sport in Brazil, it's not by any means the only one they're good at. Brazil is also excellent in basketball and volleyball (and I think also handball). Idk, it's not like Brazil doesn't have other sports programs. Soccer is obviously the most popular, but not the only one worth mentioning.

In addition to the previously-mentioned Youtube and Madden, I'll recommend a book, Take Your Eye Off the Ball. It's excellent at explaining the general responsibilities of every player on the field, and what teams look for when drafting them.

I was in your exact same position and I read this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Inverting-Pyramid-History-Soccer-Tactics/dp/1568587384

Now I have a good understanding and know the history the kids don't which has lead to great conversations!

I sat and read it during soccer practices and before games, so it's all tied in with fond memories. I enjoy the sport much more having read it and that reflects on my kids and their coaches.

I think the only way it could be a mistake is if A: you realize later you don't enjoy trying to get good at pool and B: the amount of money you spent really stings.

For me, trying to get good and diving deeper into pool was really enjoyable. It's fun to just hit balls around but it's really fun being GOOD at the game, and knowing that if you have a random room full of people you can probably beat all of them.

Your choice of table is great. Not only is Diamond a popular standard for tournaments, it's cheaper (brand new) than the other big name brand, Brunswick. But it's just as good, many would argue better. It's got more methods built in to level it, making it easier to set up for flawless play.

The pockets are tighter than the average Brunswick and certainly tighter than a Valley, and when I was still learning, I thought Diamonds were scary. But over time I realized they're not THAT much tighter than a typical pool room Brunswick, and you mostly just need to adjust to the lively rails.

I think you'll enjoy it. I dunno where your skill is at but spend a few bucks on the 99 Critical Shots and practice the shots on your new table. Be a good way to get used to it and learn something.

Avoid trying to copy someone else's swing and get the lessons.

For now, pick up Ben Hogan's Five Lessons book then read it cover to cover twice. Once through and then a second time trying to do it step by step. It's not long, but it boils down the basic moves really, really well.

Next read Golf is Not a Game of Perfect for the mental side of the game. It helped a lot to learn at least a bit about the mental side of things.

If you're new to football then I couldn't recommend this book more. Once you get a basics for the rules and general flow of the game, this will take your knowledge of schemes and ability to see the on-field strategic battle in real-time to an entirely new level. Even longtime NFL fans should read it if they haven't as everyone can still learn more.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696

Greg Wyshynski's new book "Take Your Eye Off the Puck: How to Watch Hockey By Knowing Where to Look") will probably be helpful. I can't say for sure because I just started reading it last night and am only a handful of pages in.

Take Your Eye Off The Ball is pretty much the go to literature on this.

YouTube is a good resource. Lots of people breaking down gameplay there, but a lot of it is usually about specific players and good individual techniques.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696

I thought this book was good for learning scheme. I read it after it was recommended on here a few years back. Good stuff imo.

Keep your eye off the ball NFL edition is good

Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look https://www.amazon.com/dp/1629371696/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i.vWAbRA5EMJN

Also the art of smart football

The Art of Smart Football https://www.amazon.com/dp/069244825X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qawWAb8X0RP9W

If you are looking for a book, "Take your eyes off the ball" was a nice read ! lots of details on each side of the ball, but very accessible also.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696

The Dangerous Book For Boys

And then the things they will need to work on all the projects. (Most others have mentioned most of the tools)

Included stuff.....

>The completely revised American Edition includes:

The Greatest Paper Airplane in the World

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Five Knots Every Boy Should Know

Stickball

Slingshots

Fossils

Building a Treehouse*

Making a Bow and Arrow

Fishing (revised with US Fish)

Timers and Tripwires

Baseball's "Most Valuable Players"

Famous Battles-Including Lexington and Concord, The Alamo, and Gettysburg

Spies-Codes and Ciphers

Making a Go-Cart

Navajo Code Talkers' Dictionary

Girls

Cloud Formations

The States of the U.S.

Mountains of the U.S.

Navigation

The Declaration of Independence

Skimming Stones

Making a Periscope

The Ten Commandments

Common US Trees

Timeline of American History

There are some others that amazon suggests if you want to grab a couple

Read! If you’re not sure who will have good foundational material, I think we can all agree The Governor knows a thing or two. Arnold has a “Bodybuilding Encyclopedia” that is for both beginners and advanced lifters, with a huge range of info that even covers nutrition. It’s massive and inexpensive. It can be bought on Amazon.

I wonder how many commenters in this thread are actual bodybuilders in real life? Arnold Schwarzenegger authored a big book that will provide you a lot of actual expert info if you are sincerely interested : “https://www.amazon.com/New-Encyclopedia-Modern-Bodybuilding-Updated/dp/0684857219

> "Take your eye off the ball" is a great book for learning about the game, positions, systems, the draft, training and everything else.

I've heard this said as well but haven't bought it ever -- amazon us link is here...

If you want to gain muscle - stop doing the cardio - and get in the gym and start doing weights. Read this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Encyclopedia-Modern-Bodybuilding-Updated/dp/0684857219/

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It works!

Nobody reads anymore :) ...but the single best way you can spend ~$10 or less to learn is this book: The 99 Critical Shots in Pool.

It shows pretty much all the common shots that come up in various games, plus tips on how to control the cue ball to set up for the next shot, which is important to play pool at a decent level.

You can bring the book and work on the shots 1 by 1, in order or not.

Youtube videos are great, but they tend to deliver info kind of slowly, in a way that forces you to sit still for a long time to cover each concept. The book meanwhile has so much good essential info packed into a single place. It's the closest thing I know of to a 'quickstart guide' for pool.

There a ton of great soccer books and though they are definitely not required reading they are super informative and fun. If I had to recommend one book it would be Inverting the Pyramid

For people new to soccer I recommend focusing on one phase or player. You could have a lot of fun just watching Luka and nothing else.

For Friday, do nothing. Sadly, 48 hours is nowhere near enough time to get a consistent swing. Get a lesson, read this book, and work on the swing thoughts form the pro that you work with over time for the next and future golf trips.

Good luck

Pick up the book Ben Hogan's Five Lessons. It will teach you a lot about building a consistent, repeatable golf swing. Grip, stance/posture, backswing, and downswing. Start with a proper grip and keep building off of that.

Read this book, it's pretty easy to get through quickly and while it won't make you a hockey expert, it will boost your knowledge by leaps and bounds.

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https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203/ref=sr_1_25?keywords=hockey+books&qid=1579380849&sr=8-25

I think the 99 Critical Shots is a great way to learn, even if using a book might sound a bit outdated vs. youtube. It's the closest thing pool has to a quickstart guide. You just bring the book to your pool room and practice the shots 1 by 1.

They start you off with the basics (no english) and then go on to cover how to use follow, draw, and then sidespin.

I have some suggestions on what to learn in the right order as well (which more or less match the book's): https://www.reddit.com/r/billiards/comments/c0gh85/what_should_my_natural_progress_look_like/er5f8nb/

The Real Football Network, Pat Kirwan's site, is offering the updated version on his site

They're running a sale on the bundle packs as well.

Amazon lists it for $13.

Hey, welcome to hockey and the Preds. I really, sincerely recommend snagging this book from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495051686&sr=8-1&keywords=take+your+eye+off+the+puck

It will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the sport.

Also, I really, really like this book: https://www.amazon.com/Nashville-Predators-Justin-B-Bradford/dp/1626198500/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495051743&sr=8-1&keywords=Nashville+Predators+book

This book really helped me.

EDIT: Here's the UK link

You got surprisingly decent fundamentals for just 1 month, can already pocket long shots, and most common cuts. Well, except for that 11 ball, you murdered it set that up and do it a few times :)

At this point you should start on playing position. That's the secret to running out in pool. If you can set up the cue ball so that most of your shots are easy, you can run a whole rack.

There's a great book I always recommend that starts out on the most common position shots. New you should be paying around $10 and used you can get for even cheaper - https://www.amazon.com/99-Critical-Shots-Pool-Everything/dp/0812922417

You can also go through dr dave billiards on youtube, tons of great info there.

Take Your Eye Off the Ball. Covers basic and intermediate football knowledge. For more than that, you'll just have to dig into some All-22 footage.