"Rules to Reading"
Inspired by TJ Sanders
- There are no rules 🙅🏼♂️
- You don’t have to finish every book you start (skimming is allowed) 🏁
- You can have more than one book on the go at once (I actually encourage this - especially different genres) 📚
- The book’s value isn’t physical, it is experiential (aka - give them a way, highlight or draw in them if it feels right, live with it) 💡
- You don’t have to memorize everything. 💭
- There is no award for finishing a book fast. 🏎️
What the Pros are Reading
recommended By cody kessel
The Way of the Champion and/or Thinking Body, Dancing Mind By Jerry Lynch
"Honestly anything from Jerry Lynch... But Stefan Hübner was the first to share with me some of these ideas with me and they have guided key chapters of my career and helped prepare me for the biggest moments. Timeless principles and wisdom for athletes and teams at all levels."
recommended By Lauren Carlini
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life... And Maybe the World By William H. McRaven
"It’s written by Admiral McRaven and I absolutely loved this book just because it didn’t talk about these massive shifts in leadership or how you go about things. It’s the little details and the power of the small things that can truly make the difference in the end. It’s a quick and easy read and easily adaptable for your day-to-day life."
Recommended by Ben Josephson
Legacy By James Kerr
"This book and the chapter on mantras and anchors has been foundational to our team culture. They are the winningest sport franchise is in the entire world so they must know what theyre talking about."
Recommended by Anna dunn
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough conversations. Whole Hearts. By Brené Brown
“Dare to Lead highlights the value of leadership grounded in vulnerability. It teaches that vulnerability is not a weakness but a powerful strength essential for building genuine connections. True leaders are willing to embrace discomfort in pursuit of personal growth and integrity.”
Recommended by Brodie Hofer
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
"The Power of Now is an interesting take on who we really are. You learn that you are not your thoughts and that you can ultimately control all of your thoughts. I think it’s excellent for anyone enjoys books around personal improvement and want to challenge the way they handle their thoughts."
Recommended by TJ Sanders
Incognito by David Eagleman
"The book that sparked my interest in reading. It opened my mind to the concept that the way we perceive things is not always complete accurate. Showing that our thoughts, decisions, and actions are less of our choice and more of an unconscious process. I purchased and read this book one summer when I was on the Jr. national team. Up until that time I have never considered myself a reader. I also had never looked at things this way. I assumed I was always in control. This book blew my young mind."
Recommended by TJ Sanders
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
"This book shifted the way I viewed leadership. I always assumed (unconsciously) that leaders must do things right. I also went into reading this book with the assumption that military leaders would hold true to that thought. That they would be even more entrenched in those beliefs. They must be right. There is no room for falling short. This book takes a completely different approach. It recognizes that when we fall short, it is crucial to expose that as quickly as possible so that we can move the group forward. Taking responsibility is where the magic happens, not delusion."
Recommended by TJ Sanders
The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
"Similar to incognito, these books were paradigm shifters. My assumption of how the world and my body worked was challenged, aggressively, by all of these authors. I started to recognize and relate my own physiological battles as something more than playing a lot of volleyball. That there was a lot more that was going on."
Recommended by Nick Delbianco
Range by David Epstein
"A fun read that challenges the popular beliefs about what it takes to be great."
Recommended by Stephen Maar
The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
"The art of learning inspires you to dive deeper into the fundamental building blocks of skill development. It unveils what it "feels like" in an optimal perfromance setting, something that even the most self reflective have a tough time putting words to."
Recommended by Jackson Howe
Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson
"You can't be disturbed by anything. There's good and evil in all of us but you must accept life on life's terms. You have to be willing to accept the ups and downs, the good and the bad. That's what makes life so beautiful."
Recommended by Brett Walsh
Tools of Titans by Tim Ferris
"It’s a big book, not a typical read, but I’m recommending it because it had a big impact on me a number of years ago, and can be a jumping off point for tons of other good reads and paths to go down. The book is a collection of interviews with really high performers in all sorts of fields, in a real bite sized and easy to consume format. It’s full of wisdom, personal routines they follow, wellbeing, diet and exercise regiments, as well as other book recommendations, many of which I have read and gotten lots out of. I find it full of very actionable ideas, and just inspiring people in general."
Recommended by Kevin Tillie
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***k by Mark Manson
"Well, despite that I am not book guy, I did read one book that I thought was really cool and kind of goes in the way that I approach things in life and how I am as a person.The book is: The subtle Art of not giving a F. I tend to not worry much about things in life and in sport. It might be too much sometimes but I think it helps me handle difficult situations.The book talks about improving our lives and not on our ability to succeed, but on learning to handle failure. It says that by choosing what to care about, we can lead a more content and meaningful life. It shows the importance of accepting and embracing life's difficulties and uncertainties, rather than avoiding or denying them."
Recommended by Lucas Vanberkel
Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. Mcraven
"This book is. compact yet powerful read that deliverrs inspirational life lessons through the lens of military experience. As a professional volleyball player, you know that success on the court isn't just about skill. It's about discipline, persistence, and the little habit that build a champion."
Recommended by Graham Vigrass
Never Finished by David Goggins
"I suggest both Never Finished and Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins. It helped me understand I am nowhere near my potential and how powerful your brain is if you train it. He's an absolute psycho but I think in today's world, people are lacking a lot of resilience which he is not. He's super vulgar, just a heads up."
Recommended by Kofi
Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
"I read Ego is the Enemy when I was on my four year break from volleyball. I think the lessons in the book are part of the reason I was able to come back 4 years later as a more mature player then when I left. It teaches us how to control one's ego and how neccesary it is for growth in all aspects of life."
Recommended by Brie O'Reilly
Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis
"The key to my journey as a volleyball player has been my faith in Jesus and the balance that has brought me as a human. I think everyone is wondering or maybe even hoping that there is more to life than meets the eye. This book was really helpful for me to figure out why I wondered so much, and really introduced me to the Good and Kind Creator who made me."
Recommended by Dr. Abe Avender
Breath by James Nestor
"The value of breath and breathing correctly can make the difference in high quality decision making to peak physical performance and this book nails the how and why its so important. Ultra interesting read with scientific research, evidenced based facts to incredible case studies and mind blowing affects that breath has on our quality of life."
Recommended by Nick Hoag
Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankle
"Pretty heavy book to read especially the first part. But I think it can help anyone that is going through tough times, regardless of how tough those times can be. Great perspective on life. Couple of points from the book that I loved: 1) you can’t always control what is happening but you can control how you respond to it; 2) you can always find purpose in life no matter how difficult the circumstances are; 3) showing love to others you care about can help find their own meaning."
Recommended by Jesse Elser
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
"This book taught me how to be happy and find peace in all kinds of different environments and circumstances. This book is super short and easy to read and looks at Taoism through the lens of Winnie the Pooh."
Recommended by Mathias Elser
Legacy by James Kerr
"This book explores the leadership, culture, and mindset behind the success of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team.
This book is the ultimate 'how to' guide on team culture and performance, breaking down ideas such as humility, accountability, continuous improvement, and a team-first mentality.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes winning."
Recommended by Mathias Elser
Max Potential Playbook by Reid Priddy
"Reid Priddy is one of the greatest volleyball players in the sport’s history. I love this book because it delves into topics such as grit, how to be clutch, creating team culture, effective leadership and learning how to learn from a players perspective. Quality volleyball-specific resources are rare, making this a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their game."
Recommended by Mathias Elser
Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull
"When the first movie you ever make ends up being Toy Story, you must have done something right...
Creativity, Inc. is a deep dive into the story of Pixar and how to foster innovation in any organization. Blending storytelling with leadership lessons, this book changed my perspective on creativity, embracing failure, teamwork and collaboration."
Recommended by Eric Loeppky
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
"This was the initial book that opened me up to how truly powerful the mental side of the game is and how much it can impact performance. I'm so grateful I read it and the path it started me on. Give it a read!"