Shot Ready

by Stephen Curry

An upcoming book to be published by Penguin Random House.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Biography, Audiobook, Basketball, Memoir

432 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Belinda Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shot Ready by Stephen Curry, narrated by the phenomenal JD Jackson with a powerful preface read by Curry himself, is an absolute must-listen. What makes this audiobook stand out is how deeply it emphasizes discipline—not just in the big moments, but in the smallest details that often get overlooked. Curry shares the importance of going back to fundamentals, building consistency through repetition, and staying locked in on the things you can control. His perspective is both humbling and motivating, reminding us that greatness isn’t about shortcuts—it’s about mastering the basics and showing up every single day. Whether you’re an athlete or striving for excellence in any area of life, Shot Ready delivers wisdom and inspiration that will stick with you long after listening.

[Krissy Anthonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book gave me chills. I felt like I was on the journey with Steph. The pictures were an added bonus. Wish he talked more about Steve Kerr only because I’m interested in their relationship.

[Colten Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shot Ready is a book that touches on exactly what the title advertises; when preparation meets opportunity, and we see that through the stories of Steph Curry’s legendary career.

Not only is Steph Curry a genius on the basketball court but also shows tremendous skill in storytelling that holds valuable lessons. This book was just another example of the greatness that Stephen Curry displays on the court. Phenomenal

[LB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this more than I thought I would. Some spiritual elements, some practical leadership tips, and lots of discussion about grit and passion for our careers.

[Keish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh you better believe I’m off to shoot some hoops after reading this one …

[Mekenna Passner]

super interesting but wish Steph read more than just the prologue- the other guy sounded like AI it was kind of weird

[Mateo Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased Shot Ready expecting an autobiography about Curry’s life, and while this book offered a few insightful, unknown to the public stories, it was more of an artistic work in its collection of pictures, motivational quotes, and life advice from Curry himself. With that being said, I was not disappointed in the product– I think there is a great amount of useful advice that could be applicable to much more than just basketball. As one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Curry has remained extremely humble, grateful, and passionate about his craft, and even a glimpse into his mindset is worth reading about.

My favorite thing about this book is that Curry wrote about his feelings very vulnerably, which was surprising to see considering his confident public persona. It was refreshing to see that even the greatest shooter ever deals with emotions such as insecurity, embarrassment, and nervousness in high pressure situations, which humanized him in a major way. He endures all of this and is still able to be extraordinary both physically and mentally, demonstrating how effective his methods and perspectives on life can be.

[jacob powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love how the book is organized into having a part for the rookie, the leader, and the veteran. in a sense, i suppose we are a rookie, leader, and veteran all at once, just in different areas of life. i will most definitely be reading or listening to this again in a year or two. even as someone who knows nothing of basketball or Curry, this short memoir had lots of valuable thoughts and ideas that found their way into my notebook!

[pickle stlouis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read sports columnist Marcus Thompson's biography about Curry (Golden) and really enjoyed it. I thought it was well done, an enjoyable read, and Thompson's lengthy history of covering the Warriors (2004-present) definitely helped him provide a comprehensive overview of Curry's story and the circumstances surrounding his emergence as one of the greatest shooters of all time.

Even with all the Curry narratives (including Golden) already saturating the media, Shot Ready still manages to add something new to the market. It seems like Curry is mindful about what has already been well-established in the public eye/well-covered by the media (For example, his college experiences at Davidson and the overall trajectory of his career). Rather than playing it safe and just playing into what's already been revealed about him or just summarizing his achievements, he digs a little deeper to reveal personal insights and wisdom that are applicable to more than just basketball. This book says more about him as a person than a player, which is exactly what I wanted to see.

Overall, Curry's personal touch and how he details the experiences and lessons that shape his perspective both on and off the court are major strengths.

A minor note: I don't love how some of the pictures were arranged so a body or a graphic gets split in half by the spine of the book, but I appreciate the general creative direction that was taken with this book.

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guys. I read this book TWICE (well, skimmed the second time) because I thought I missed something.

Curry is one of my literal beacons because we have the same eye condition and watching him stay in play has been HUGE for my sense of hope through the same surgery he had and beyond

I loved what he has here since you can apply his lessons to any sport or any facet of life but he really seriously didn't even mention the KC journey once?? He talked a lot about his ankles and hand injury but not one mention of his eyes?

I'm sad. Even if his case was caught early like he's still got to deal with it and the crosslink procedure was terrifying. I guess he can put whatever he wants in his book but it just feels like anyone following him for this reason got dismissed :/

[Ioan-Calin Biris · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Back court” insights streight from the OG of 3 points in NBA. I wish he dedicated more time for writing about the different teams setup and about all the other team mates, but maybe he will do it in the next book.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read because Steph is a likable guy and this is a a short book. That being said, it is VERY geared towards basketball players. If you’re not a fan of the game, this might not be the memoir for you.

[Kamya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Condition yourself to be relentless.
It was really nice getting some insight (and visuals) into Steph's outlook and process of how he navigates life - all the successes and setbacks - and how he got to where he is.
Its new year's eve '25 and you bet I'm going into 2026 Shot Ready.
Okay I'm gonna go rewatch 'Underrated' now.

[Lucas Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look at Curry man. So inspirational.

[Kyle Donohue · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Shot Ready, Stephen Curry proves that greatness isn’t born in the spotlight—it’s forged in the quiet, unseen hours long before the world is watching. Framed around the powerful metaphor of being “shot ready,” Curry’s book is a blueprint for preparation: doing the work ahead of time so that when opportunity arrives, you’re not just hoping—you’re ready.

What elevates Shot Ready beyond a typical sports memoir is its holistic view of success. Curry shows that excellence isn’t only about perfecting your shot. It’s about cultivating mindset, joy, discipline, creativity, and human connection. Through personal stories and more than a hundred behind-the-scenes photographs, he reveals the real journey: the injuries, doubts, early mornings, and relentless self-belief that shaped him.

Curry doesn’t shy away from setbacks—he embraces them as vital teachers. Each challenge becomes part of the preparation, deepening resilience and sharpening purpose. The visuals throughout the book amplify this truth, offering intimate glimpses of the moments that shaped him far beyond the arena lights.

Ultimately, Shot Ready is an invitation. Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, parent, or creator, Curry challenges you to adopt a mindset of readiness—one that applies to every area of life. The message is clear: your purpose doesn’t stop at the highlight reel. What you do afterward—how you grow, connect, and give back—is what defines a truly meaningful legacy.

Inspirational, grounded, and visually rich, Shot Ready is Stephen Curry at his most thoughtful and generous, reminding us that preparation is more powerful than perfection—and that readiness is a choice we make every day.

Rating: 4/5

Success may not always look the way you expect, but it’s attainable for all of us when the rigor of our preparation and the depth of our belief meet the urgency of the moment. That’s what it means to be shot ready.

But the work carried me through. I fell in love with the grind. You have to. With the sacrifices that it takes to be great, you have to find joy in the work you do when no one else is around. I hate when coaches or trainers on the internet talk about “the unseen hours” that go into being successful, because it makes that sort of preparation sound mysterious and secretive. But when I talk about “the grind,” I’m simply describing the most important hours in any pursuit, the ones we invest in ourselves. I do this work in the gym in isolation—there’s no defense, no live action—but, even alone, I practice with a shot-ready mentality, training as if the stakes are high and the clock is low, so that I can rehearse finding balance in the midst of great intensity.

Being shot ready requires practice, training, and repetition, but it rewards that work with an unmatchable feeling of transcendence. My peak experience of joy is when I can lose myself in the poetry and rhythm of a fast-paced game—when there’s no time to think, and there are nine other guys flying around me, but I have the ball in my hands and somehow know exactly where it is going to go. This joy is only possible because of what I do in this gym, the hours I invest in practice and watching film. And then when the moment of truth arrives, I can let go. It is the ultimate freedom.

When my own children face challenges, I let them stay in that space of discomfort for a little bit. I want them to feel it in their bodies. It’s important for them to understand—on that deep level—that sometimes things don’t go your way and that I can’t control it for them, either. So I ask them to take stock of the things that are under their control: their words, actions, behavior, attitude. Their effort. In other words, not controlling the discomfort, but controlling how they respond to it. That is what ultimately defines us.

I was—through the losses and doubts, the times on the bench or in rehab—where I needed to be. Life has put you somewhere you need to be. It’s up to you to be ready to take your shot.

If you are stuck at a certain level and can’t quite break through to the next one, look at your fundamentals. Are you grounded in power? What habits have you developed that create a chain reaction of compensating actions? Slow down to examine what you’re doing, starting from the smallest variable—whatever your equivalent of the fifth metatarsal is—because being disciplined about small details, and taking joy in the work of getting them right until they’re second nature, is how you build consistent success.

Consistency is sometimes more powerful than technical perfection. Whether it’s from two feet or twenty feet, your shot position should always look exactly the same.

Next, I’ll remind them of the need to move when they get the ball. “If I get the ball, I’m either catching and shooting, catching and ripping, or catching and giving it up,” I say. “If you hold the ball for longer than a second, that’s a grenade. It blows up and you’re done.” The message is: Don’t think, do. Make a choice. Act. You don’t reach your potential when you’re frozen in place.

Playing sports teaches you some hard lessons about perseverance and confidence—and one of those lessons is that success usually has a lot of failure wrapped up in it. So there’s no point in being afraid to try because you’re afraid to fail—we only truly fail when we shrink away from challenges to stay in a comfort zone.

Feelings are important, but data is something you can measure. What stat can you track in your own life to make yourself accountable for your own progress?

Be open to the unexpected. Things will happen to you, and sometimes you won’t see that they’re happening for you.

Cutting his hands close to his eyes, he told me you’ve got to have tunnel vision early in your career, because even if your team’s not built for success, you have to find a way for you to get better. Worry about what you are doing on a daily basis. Build the right habits that are gonna set you up for success down the road, so that when opportunities present themselves for the team, you’re ready to walk in and meet that moment.

You’ve got to block out all the noise and distractions that come with losing. Just focus on getting better.

I knew this. You know this. But every now and again we need a little more motivation. He provided that in the moment, and now I hand it to you. If you’re a rookie on a team, or waiting on an investor, or working with a team that isn’t quite gelling, make the time productive. Figure out the player you want to be so that when the opportunity comes, you will be ready to lead.

You may not be ready for the invitation to level up when it comes, but there’s this phrase my friend and security guard Yusef Wright gave me that I have grown to like: When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. The teacher won’t necessarily change who you are or your approach to what you’re doing, but they help you have a new perception of yourself. Or they simply tell you, It’s time.

Life has an interesting way of revealing what you need to do by putting you in the place you need to be. I didn’t realize it at the time, but even through my injuries I was learning to lead—not through my voice, which I hadn’t really found yet, but by example. Every day I kept showing up to get better. That consistency—visible to my teammates, but also to the coaches, the fans, and even the media—created a sense of trust, which is the bedrock of leadership.

“Call my bluff,” Coach said. When someone vouches for you like that, the pressure to prove them right is a powerful motivator, stronger even than the need to prove someone else wrong. We were determined to back him up.

Each year has a different narrative, and I’ve come to appreciate all of them. We didn’t lose; we got beat, and it was a fight. That’s the lesson of that year for me: When you get beat, make sure it’s a fight.

As you evolve, be open to teammates and partners doing the same.

You work to be prepared, and nerves are the crucial test of the preparation. Even more than an opponent, you first have to respond to your nerves. How do you respond? If you’re doubting yourself, it’s very possible you did not prepare enough.

You become who you think you are. Be the best in your mind and don’t apologize for it.

In moments of failure, you have to acknowledge whatever happened so there can be room for growth.

When I come home, I’m Dad, and what children want is for you to match the energy they give you.

Coach Kerr made an observation that night: In that game alone, our team and the Knicks made 82 attempts at three-pointers. It showed how much the league had changed since I started. He often reminds me that he had the best three-point percentage in history, but he always jokes that it’s because he was shooting wide-open shots—two or three a game—versus me trying to shoot 12 threes a game with everyone out to stop me. I was proud to be part of a tradition. But I also took pride in changing the game.

If you pay attention to those things, you realize how much your voice and your presence can carry even if you’re not out there playing. Notice all the little nuances of connecting with your teammates. It’s about making sure that everybody, from the star player down to the fifteenth guy, feels valuable and important to the process of winning.

Take your opportunity to be of service. My advice is to start by making a difference in your immediate community, with a specific and clear impact in mind. Then develop a strategy around that goal.

I’m writing this to you at 3:40 p.m. on a Friday. I’ll play at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and about two hours ago I started the process to get ready for the game. In my head. From 4:30 to 7:30 it will be strictly kids and family and dinner. Then after their bedtime routines, from 8:30 to 10:00 I have time carved out for body work. Then it’s a nightcap with my wife and sleep.

Understand that the next generation will test your leadership. Daily. They are going through all these experiences for the first time, some you encountered and learned through, and some that are completely foreign to you. In the way that the generation before me was able to disappear in the off-season with no camera phones or reports on how their private training sessions were going, the generation after mine faces different pressures. Remember the patience and grace you needed on the come-up. Offer it to others now.

I went into the game on the 14th needing two to break Ray Allen’s career three-point record of 2,973. How crazy is it that it was at the Garden? The Mecca of basketball history and where it all began for me. I tied the record with a three-pointer before the two-minute mark. Then Draymond passed down low to Andrew Wiggins. I went back to the three-point line. Wiggs passed to me, and the rest is history.

[Jeff Wait · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a glorified coffee table book. It's like 60% pictures. 35% inspirational platitudes. 5% cool stories about Monta Ellis.

[Richard Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid view into Steph’s mindset when it comes to the game and achieving his goals. He is nothing but laser focused on achieving his goals to the point of obsession and we can all really learn from his example as well as the other players he has mentioned in the book. His mindset not only applies to the game but life as well. I did give 3 stars because I do find it hard sometimes to follow along with the dense details of history he tries to add with the lessons he is sharing.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to learn from his excellence.

[Dalius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trumpai ir aiškiai, kodėl jis yra toks kietas

[Sarah Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not being a basketball fan, I was interested in reading this book because I was in the same class as Stephen Curry at Davidson College. This was an interesting inside look into some of the methods behind his tremendous success, including the mental and physical work he has done to get him to the point in his career that he is in today. While he doesn't get particularly personal or detailed, I loved getting more insight and behind the scenes details on his experiences.

I listened to the audiobook version of this. I loved that Steph narrates the opening himself but was so disappointed that most of the book was not narrated by him personally! The narrator did a fine job, but his voice sounded almost nothing like Steph's and memoirs are one of the few times where I feel like it adds SO much to be read in the author's own voice. I wish he could have taken the time to narrate the whole book himself! I also think in many ways you are at a huge disadvantage listening to this on audio because the physical book has over 100 photos. I would love to get my hands on a copy sometime for the full experience.

Would have loved even more from this book! While he references his family including his siblings, parents, wife, and kids, I would have loved more personal details about his family as well as career highlights.

[Erinn Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: Although not an avid follower of the NBA, you’d have to be living under a rock not to know who Steph Curry is. This was a great book to get a little insight into how Curry mastered his art!

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of basketball in particular, only know of Curry from news including his philanthropy and his adorable kids. But this sounded like an interesting book (thought the cover picture was cool, too), even though I had no idea what to expect. A memoir, a self-help, an analysis of what makes him a great player? Who knows?

Divided into three parts reflecting his career from the very beginnings of him as a kid and not being allowed to stay up late to finish watching his dad's games to being part of a championship-winning team, this is how we get to Stephen Curry. While not exceptionally personal (we don't get a play by play of his youth and family, for example), Curry does reveal a lot of himself as he talks about his game, what motivates him, his teammates, why/how he and his team became such formidable players, what helped him overcome roadblocks and adversity, etc.

It definitely wasn't what I expected (I didn't know what to expect!), but it was an interesting look at a player. You might think it'd be all bravado and how awesome he is, but while Curry does seem to know, it is also not without a lot of the vulnerabilities and insecurities that any of us can feel. And to be honest, this was quite refreshing! In many ways this book was not for me (again, I know little about basketball, etc.), but there were definitely parts that I did feel resonated, which was perhaps the point. Maybe Curry successfully applied many of the things he talks about to basketball, but a lot of it can very easily apply off the court, too.

I think if you're a fan, you enjoy basketball, you're an athlete looking for inspiration, you'd like to read a positive book by a sports player, etc. this would be a great book. Even for casual fans who don't care about basketball might also find stuff in here that would also apply. A good gift or purchase for the right person, but perhaps best a library borrow if you're merely curious.

Borrowed from the library and that was definitely the best for me.

[Sarah - Lifeofabookqueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shot Ready
Thank you PRH Audio for the #gifted alc!

𝙷𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠? (𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎)

🗓️ Out Now
🎧JD Jackson (forward read by Stephen Curry)
Expect 👉🏼 part memoir and part basketball advice

Let me preface this by saying, I don’t know Steph Curry. Not anymore. I knew him as a kid, when we attended the same school. I cannot get you game tickets 😆

But it’s wild to read a book about places and people you know. I had so much fun with his younger years. I laughed out loud at memories and even picked up on a minor error that made it to publication because I was there. So that was really fun.

It’s more than just his story though. It’s also incredibly motivating, even as someone who can’t play basketball well to save her life, he had a lot of incredible antidotes that could be applied to all kinds of sports and life in general.

It was exactly the book I needed. I don’t read memoirs often, but in the wake of recent horrific events, I needed something different to listen to on my runs.

My only complaint is that I wish Steph had narrated the whole thing. The narrator was excellent, that’s not my complaint. It’s just that memoirs read by the author hit so much harder in their own voice. (In my opinion)

[Carolyn Compas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 5 🌟 rounded up.

Preface: I’m a Stephen Curry / Warriors fan and a female who loves basketball 🏀 who received a copy of this book during his book tour. I fortunately was in Brooklyn and got to a chance to hear the GOAT 🐐 speak about his thought process around this book, which made me excited to read it.

This is weighty book that is mostly a wonderful collection of beautiful photographs mixed with bite-size anecdotes from various points of Steph’s life. He talks about the emotions of wins and losses, and breaks down his own game and love of the game / players / coaches who challenged him to be better. For those who read Kobe’s book, Mamba Mentality, this is a major step up from that (which I do not recommend unless you love Kobe) because at least this one goes into details of his life that you wouldn’t otherwise get elsewhere.

I only deducted half a star bc it could’ve benefited from better editing for continuity. And not talking about his journey to the Olympic gold medal felt like a missed opportunity. Otherwise, an excellent sports autobiography that I would actually recommend and rate highly. Still recommend reading the two Andre’s (Agassi and Iguodala) as top-tier sports autobiographies for me personally though!

[Kaleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This shouldn’t have taken me this long to get through but reading for school has killed my desire to read for fun. This was so GOOD! Very motivational and tons of good tips for younger athletes to use inside/outside of their sport of choice. The pictures captured moments from his life and career which was awesome to look at. Those of us that are older have been following his dude since his days at Davidson almost 20 years ago. I enjoyed reminiscing about the different moments throughout his career such as his game winning shot in Oklahoma City in 2016 OR his record breaking three pointer in Madison Square Garden in 2021. I’m not sure if there’s anything new with some of the advice that he gave, but hearing this stuff from (arguably) one of the 10 best NBA players that has ever existed??? It was cool to see. More than a standard coffee table book as there’s a good amount of substance in here. Great read!

[Ryan Blanchette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent. Part leadership book, part basketball coach, Part history of Curry and the Warriors. Key comments/takeaways for me:

1:20 in Steph discusses his faith

Part 1: Rookie: Rise into your shot
Training recovery so the recovery is more effective. Steph Curry can get his heart rate down to resting in a 90 second time out. Puts a sandbag on chest after a sprint after a sprint.

Joy will be the differentiator when everyone is committed to excellence. And working hard.

Making practice harder makes life easier

Part 2
For Logo shots the mechanics are exactly the same as if shooting right in the paint. If you’re not shooting right in front of the basket, there is no way you are going to be perfect behind that 3 point line. You add range to your mechanics. It doesn’t work the other way around. Part 2 3:00min

Stop tagging me in your awful 40ft shots “Currie”. I didn’t tell you to take that awful shot.

[Yarnetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Curry is my favorite basketball player, because he is so humble and appreciative of his fan support. I've seen him play 3 times in Charlotte, and to see him signed all those children's fan gear is something special. He's a very humble, honest, funny and talented player, it shows in everything he does. Reading this book gave me a better understanding of the person he is, and his love for his family, but most importantly his life values. This book is a great read; it has a lot of motivational comments not just about basketball, but LIFE!!!! Stephen Curry you are a blessing, and I will continue to watch you play, and now I understand some of your shot choices because you are shot ready!!!!!

[Shu · Rating 4 out of 5]

My eldest daughter (14) asked me to preorder this book a few months ago and devoured it the moment it arrived. She remarked that the writing “sounds just like Stephen Curry talking,” and I initially thought, oh no—another casually written book. However, I grew to appreciate the writing style, plus the varied font size and unconventional page layout.

What truly resonated with me was the book's message that “what can set you apart is joy.” I’ve since passed the book along to my middle child (10), who I’m sure will cling to it for a week and shower me with lots of questions in the process. I only hope that my kids will feel inspired to spend more time practicing basketball!

[Owen Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The value of a player is in the work they are willing to do to get better - and in the patience they can summon to do that work slowly carefully and consistently, before it ever starts to pay them back.”

Great read. Honestly wish it went into more detail about certain moments in his career. Super insightful into sport development at an elite level as well as how to lead once becoming a “vet” which I really related too. Tons of good quotes as well. Only didn’t give it 5 because I want to be more stingy with my 5 stars and so far haven’t found any non-fiction that scratches that itch quite like a banger fantasy book.