Pickleball Is Life: The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Obsession

by Erin McHugh, Jackie Besteman (Illustrator)

The ultimate keepsake for every pickleball fan—from a dink shot to the kitchen, everything a pickleballer needs to know in this fully illustrated guide to the world’s greatest recreational sport, packed with lots of joy, good humor, and even a little bit of wisdom.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. Easy to learn, but impossible to master, it’s no wonder that nearly 5 million people nationwide have picked up their paddles and taken to the court. But people aren’t just dabbling in this up-and-coming activity, they are  obsessed; some hit the court as many as five, six, even seven times a week. As Vanity Fair put it, pickleball has “won over everyone, from Leonardo DiCaprio to your grandparents.”

Pickleball Is Life is the first book of its kind celebrating the weird and wonderful world of pickleball. It will take readers on a journey from the sport’s quirky origins to its modern-day cult following. Along the way, visual info graphs and illustrations will share even more pickleball knowledge, including etiquette tips, a DIY court, obscure rules, and pointers for (good-natured) trash talk. Also included are interviews with members of the three founding families from Bainbridge Island who are still very much involved in the sport and its growth.

People of all ages, athletic abilities, and backgrounds have fallen in love with pickleball. Sure, it’s a good workout, but it’s also a cheerful way to interact with others—something folks crave now more than ever. So, whether they’re uninitiated or obsessed, this book will help readers find even more to love about the world’s greatest sport.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

152 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways. I was so thrilled to have won this this book, (this is truly an obsession in my neighborhood.) I wanted to give this to my mom so she would want to join in on the fun. I think this book has done trick, YES!!!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started learning pickleball this year, and I have loved it. I thought I would be better at it because I also play tennis, racquetball, and squash. But nope - not so good at all. I couldn't even keep up with the scoring. My serve was awful. My returns were ok, but because I didn't really get the gist of it as quickly as I thought I would, I was also a terrible partner. I wish I'd read this book before I ever picked signed up for a slot! But you know what? Yeah, there was a fair bit of competitiveness, but it was surely a lot of fun to play, nonetheless.

The book lays out all the rules, outlines the origins, and charts its growth and popularity. It's a relatively inexpensive game, which is super nice. Makes it a pretty egalitarian game. A pair of racquets and balls can be bought as a set for under $15 in the US, and there are public courts in parks too. Like any other game, you could end up going all out and spending a lot of money on the more technically advanced racquets, I guess. But I am not sure it's all that necessary. Maybe I'll change my mind after I get better at the game.

Great intro book for anyone interested in the sport. Lightweight reading, just like the game itself.

[Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute and funny. If you want to know more about the sport, enjoy reading about it!

[Penny Toay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pickle ball is a sport that my middle school students play frequently in PE. Rarely do people get a chance to read about how a pair of dads came together to make up a game because their kids were bored, and those living kids share how it happened and how it evolved. The book is a quick, light read that describes all things pickle ball from invention, to competitive game play tournaments, to equipment evolution.

[Kate The Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

A special thanks to publishers Harvest and Author Erin McHugh for my ARC of “Pickelball is Life” for an unbiased, honest review.
5-Stars for the entertaining, knowledgeable writing style and another 5-stars for the super fun, colorful, hilarious design style for Author Erin McHugh’s “Pickelball is Life”!! This book is filled with history (the Author actually tracked down the original bored kid who developed pickelball), the rules to play and how they developed, recipes (yep, not a typo), pickelball types of people (which one are YOU?), playing terms with easy to understand definitions, and so much more in very vibrant, slick pages that no matter what your age is, you’ll be drawn into reading this fabulous book. I like the book is small enough even as a hardback to fit into your purse (and definitely your gym bag) so you can reference the book when playing and have questions (or heated disagreements!). This would be a GREAT holiday gift or birthday gift on it’s own, but especially for someone who needs a little more exercise (uh, all of us!!!). Dead Dink that!!

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had insightful discussion on rules and other pickleball tips, but came off snarky with a scattered layout. Cute illustrations though.

[riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute illustrations, lots of contradictory info that made the author come across as a bit insincere. at one point they say why play music if you want to listen to friends, though at another instance claims it is rude to talk during pickleball matches...

kind of made me realize why some people don't like pickleballers lol

though i could use a cornichon martini stat!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, entertaining, and comprehensive overview of pickleball. Thanks @Brittany for sending it to me!

I would definitely recommend it to any pickleball fan and it would make a cute coffee table book.

It made me excited to get out on the court later this year!

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free through Goodreads First Read.

I really liked how this book explains how pickleball was started and the rules to play the game. The humor throughout the book kept it entertaining and fun to read.

[Kathy]

Very cute book! Recommend for all current and future Pickleball addicts!

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pickleball is life.
Really good information
For those addicted.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun!

[Deborah Rosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Kelsey Baller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just needed something to break up the books I was currently reading. Easy read to understand the basics of pickleball. Made me smile and the graphics were fun and colorful!

[JG (Introverted Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband thinks we might enjoy learning pickleball together so, being me, I headed to the library to find a book to get an idea what he was getting me into.

I'm not an athlete. I've never really played any racquet sport. My husband tried to teach me to play tennis several years ago but I think we tried that in the early spring and I am most definitely of the belief that winter is only good for staying inside where it's warm. Tennis quickly fell by the wayside.

So I don't have much of baseline knowledge to work with here. I found the brief section about the rules confusing. I think they'll make more sense once I'm actually on a court. The history of the birth of the game was cute, with interviews with a couple of the people whose dads invented it. The rest was a little off-putting, to be honest. Are people truly this obsessed with pickleball? There's a section of inspirational quotes where the word pickleball has been inserted where life originally was. There's a section about cocktails with pickles. There's a section about trash talking. It's all a bit much and doesn't leave me excited to try my hand at the game.

The illustrations by Jackie Besteman are cute and I suspect that true pickleballers will find it to be a fun little gift book to browse through but beginners should hope for a different option at their libraries.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun easy book to read. Whether you play pickleball or not it's a humorous look into the sport. Erin McHugh has a great style of writing that pares everything down to the basics. I would recommend this to any beginning pickleball player as she makes the rules and everything about the game so easy to understand. But long time players will enjoy it too. She gives just enough history of the sport and the technical side of the materials needed to play without getting too into it. It's clear to see she enjoys the sport herself and wants to share her feelings about the fun of it with everyone. She even adds "pickle" recipes, profiles the different characters that play the game and teaches you how to "talk smack". She covers the common courtesies of playing the game as well as what to expect from others you play against. I think she did a wonderful job at covering all you need to know in one quick little tome. Kudos Erin!

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through GoodReads First Read program.

I had never even heard of Pickleball prior to seeing this book. I entered the contest in hopes of winning it so I could learn about it.

This is a short little colorful book that sets out what appears to be an obsession with the sport of Pickleball. Pickleball appears to be a combination of Ping Pong, Badminton, and Tennis. You will learn about how the sport was invented in the 1960s and how it spread around the world. You will also learn the rules for both singles and doubles play. You will also learn about the equipment, the language, the snacks and drinks involved, and the etiquette of the game.

I wish the author would have listed some sources for those who have never even seen a match to watch it. I will try Youtube and see if I can learn more.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to William Morrow Books for the giveaway.

This book was a funny yet informative read. I remember playing pickle ball in high school here in Washington state. I don't remember if we were taught any of the game's background but I was surprised none the less to read that this sport was created not far from where I live. As I read I do recall some of the rules that we were taught but I don't think my P.E. teachers at the time taught us all of them/were super strict about them because man there are a lot. Some seem really ridiculous but I'm sure it makes for an interesting game. I haven't played since high school but I'll definitely be recommending this to locals or anyone that remembers playing this in school as well. Made me a bit nostalgic while also teaching me more about something from my past.

Happy reading!

[Aubree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly saw this book on the library’s new release shelf so I checked it out. My husband and I have played occasionally and we always have questions about the rules. I hoped this book could clear up those questions and it did. It’s a cute little book with bright colors and great design- easy to read in a day and then keep as a reference. It outlined the history of pickleball, the rules, etiquette, and all sorts of other stuff surrounding the culture of the sport. I enjoyed the lighthearted tone that somehow simultaneously conveyed the author’s true love of pickleball and was also a little tongue in cheek. I’m excited to get back out on the court and play again!

[Mia Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pickleball Is Life is an enthusiastic, lighthearted guide that will resonate with hardcore pickleball fans. Writer Glen Axelrod outlines pickleball basics while diving deep into strategy, gear, lifestyle, and the stories of famous players. His infectious passion for the sport is evident throughout this fun read that provides both an accessible entry point for newcomers and next-level tips for established players. Pickleball devotees will enjoy Axelrod's inside jokes and over-the-top pickleball obsession in this ode to the rapidly growing sport.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

As a very new pickleball player who only plays a few times every summer, I saw this book and was intrigued by people's obsession over this sport. This book is a very small cute book which is written with clear passion. I love how the book covers all avenues of pickleball in a very entertaining and colorful way. I couldn't give it 5 stars though because I did assume it would have more of the rules listed in the book as many references were hard to understand without fully understanding the rules and lingo.

I won this as a goodreads giveaway

[Mary Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I attend an exercise class that shares a large space with a group of happy, noisy pickleball players. I was curious and appreciated having this book to figure out what they were doing. (The book is now being passed around the pickleball group.So far all good reviews.)It's clearly written, well illustrated and has the same sense of joy that the pickleballers themselves bring to their game. If you are wondering what these folks are doing and why they enjoy it so much this book is a big help.

[Leahbeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would have been better if I needed more of pickleball primer. If you know the game and the rules, it’s not much use.

The author says in the intro that she wrote the book in a few weeks while she recovered from a broken hand and couldn’t play pickleball…and that timeline shows. Did I need a list of “celebrities” who play pickleball? What about some made up that other famous people didn’t actually say about pickleball? And make them both take up two pages — total dreck.

[Reneta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for me, a beginner pickleball-er. The book is easy to read, succinctly states all the rules, the vocabulary and etiquette that all pickleball folks need to know. And at the end are recipes for post-play cocktails and snacks. After all, this is your new social event of the day! Thanks for a great book. I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway and recommend this book to all those who embark into the pickleball world.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little guide to the sporting craze sweeping the nation. Never played but the last few summers in Florida, saw more and more people really get into it. Last summer, it was crazy around the pickleball courts. Once the domain of retirees who played before 10 a.m., the courts were full-up at all times of the day. A lot of rules even I wasn't familiar with. I suppose at some point I will play it, but for now, amusing to read about in this little book format.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very in-depth and knowledgeable overview of the sport of Pickleball, I appreciated the history behind how the sport was invented and first hand accounts told by the children who are now adults. Personally I have played pickleball a handful of times so my goodness I learned ALOT. While it was very in-depth it felt at moments like I was reading a textbook. I highly recommend this book to those who are curious about the sport or have been playing for a while. Lots of great info.

[Kait Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a light and enjoyable read, especially if you’re new to the sport. I’ve just started playing pickleball, and this explains the history, lingo, and rules in a playful way.

The colorful illustrations, pickle recipes, and nods to how social the game really is made it feel like a conversation with a friend, not an instructional manual. It’s the kind of book you’d leave out on an end table as a conversation-starter, given how popular pickleball has become these days.

[Teena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I really expected it to be funnier than it actually is.

I do think it's well-written and informative, but more serious than I thought it would be. It's colorful and a quick read, but seems to be reaching for content.

However, I now know a lot about pickleball and I didn't before, so there's that.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pickleball is the game of the moment. Everyone seems to be playing this game. This book is a good introduction to the game. It contains the history, rules and etiquette of playing America's new pastime. This is a fun read with great graphics to enhance the text.

Thank you to #goodreads, #ErinMcHugh, #Harvest, and #WilliamMorrow for a copy of this book.

[Teagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It includes every term, scoring method, serve, etiquette rule, and idea (glow in the dark pickleball!) you could ever think of. I loved the easy reading format, the fun colors and pictures, the short and brief ways of presenting the text, and the suggestions for how to dress based on your personality! Super fun. Thank you!