How to Build a Champion: A Companion Reading List (67 books)

This is a reading list curated to accompany my debut novel, How to Build a Champion. (Pub. April 9th 2026.)

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1	Roald Dahl Collection: 8 Book Box Set (includes Matilda, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, George's Marvelous Medicine, James and the Giant Peach, The Twits, The BFG by Roald Dahl 4.54 avg rating — 186 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Swallows and Amazons (Swallows and Amazons, #1) by Arthur Ransome 4.02 avg rating — 32,830 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	My Family and Other Animals (Corfu Trilogy, #1) by Gerald Durrell 4.16 avg rating — 64,037 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Wonder (Wonder, #1) by R.J. Palacio 4.36 avg rating — 1,199,897 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Anastasia Krupnik Stories by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Politics for Beginners by Alex Frith 4.44 avg rating — 462 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	What is Humanism? How do you live without a god? And Other Big Questions for Kids by Michael Rosen 4.33 avg rating — 76 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True by Richard Dawkins (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 27,434 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Forgotten Women: The Leaders by Zing Tsjeng 3.93 avg rating — 254 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina by Michaela DePrince 4.25 avg rating — 5,689 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 15,262 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Diversify by June Sarpong 3.83 avg rating — 464 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	I Was Born for This (I Was Born for This, #1) by Alice Oseman (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 50,858 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 1,016,802 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Paper Towns by John Green (Goodreads Author) 3.70 avg rating — 1,496,281 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Eat Up!: Food, Appetite and Eating What You Want by Ruby Tandoh (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 3,835 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Flavour: Eat What You Love by Ruby Tandoh (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 125 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon – An Entertaining and Inspiring Collection of Style, Wit, and Lavishly Illustrated Fashion by Iris Apfel 4.26 avg rating — 1,562 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	West with the Night by Beryl Markham 4.15 avg rating — 41,159 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,990,661 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The People: The Rise and Fall of the Working Class, 1910-2010 by Selina Todd 4.17 avg rating — 470 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 63,728 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Going All City: Struggle and Survival in LA's Graffiti Subculture by Stefano Bloch (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 135 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead by Cecile Richards 4.30 avg rating — 3,816 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times by Howard Zinn 4.35 avg rating — 3,715 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Little Big Things: A Young Man's Belief That Every Day Can Be a Good Day by Henry Fraser 4.38 avg rating — 3,887 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are by Jack Kornfield (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 1,092 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris 3.90 avg rating — 51,381 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	How the World Works by Noam Chomsky 4.13 avg rating — 5,332 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky by Noam Chomsky 4.41 avg rating — 9,614 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens 4.13 avg rating — 12,868 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Interviews with History and Conversations with Power by Oriana Fallaci 4.42 avg rating — 268 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Diplomatic Pursuits by Joseph von Westphalen 3.84 avg rating — 38 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	A Field Guide to Lies: Critical Thinking in the Information Age by Daniel J. Levitin 3.76 avg rating — 4,726 ratings score: 67, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Drugs Without the Hot Air: Minimizing the Harms of Legal and Illegal Drugs by David J. Nutt 4.43 avg rating — 2,148 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Propaganda Blitz: How the Corporate Media Distort Reality by David Edwards (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 183 ratings score: 65, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan 4.03 avg rating — 19,626 ratings score: 64, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life by Robert B. Reich 3.99 avg rating — 1,954 ratings score: 63, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Sex & Lovers: A Practical Guide by Ann-Marlene Henning (2014-09-25) by Ann-Marlene Henning 4.10 avg rating — 105 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 80,920 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Who Are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave Their Homes? and Other Big Questions by Michael Rosen 4.41 avg rating — 32 ratings score: 60, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Thinking In Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows 4.18 avg rating — 22,641 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Chasing Chaos: My Decade In and Out of Humanitarian Aid by Jessica Alexander (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 3,110 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 226,931 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Blood of the Lamb by Peter De Vries 4.04 avg rating — 1,499 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The World's Religions by Huston Smith 4.04 avg rating — 14,257 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion by Alain de Botton (Goodreads Author) 3.66 avg rating — 11,885 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Welcome to the Universe: An Astrophysical Tour by Neil deGrasse Tyson (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 3,329 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 208,427 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 120,885 ratings score: 51, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Gratitude by Oliver Sacks 4.17 avg rating — 24,553 ratings score: 50, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Compassionate Mind by Paul A. Gilbert 4.03 avg rating — 1,620 ratings score: 49, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Cat by Colette 3.46 avg rating — 2,025 ratings score: 48, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Authority and the Individual by Bertrand Russell 3.89 avg rating — 985 ratings score: 47, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell 4.02 avg rating — 16,190 ratings score: 46, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects by Bertrand Russell really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 22,437 ratings score: 45, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black by Cookie Mueller 4.39 avg rating — 6,453 ratings score: 44, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The New Peoplemaking by Virginia Satir 4.15 avg rating — 734 ratings score: 43, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy by Carl R. Rogers 4.16 avg rating — 18,703 ratings score: 42, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices by Thich Nhat Hanh 4.09 avg rating — 3,791 ratings score: 41, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Lartigue: Life in Color by Martine D'Astier 4.53 avg rating — 51 ratings score: 40, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Name Above The Title by Frank Capra 4.22 avg rating — 615 ratings score: 39, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	I Shock Myself: The Autobiography of Beatrice Wood by Beatrice Wood 4.18 avg rating — 263 ratings score: 38, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Dialogues With Marcel Duchamp by Pierre Cabanne 4.27 avg rating — 739 ratings score: 37, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	World Outside the Window: Selected Essays by Kenneth Rexroth by Kenneth Rexroth 4.22 avg rating — 32 ratings score: 36, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem by Daniel R. Day 4.40 avg rating — 1,996 ratings score: 35, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Surf Is Where You Find It by Gerry Lopez 4.28 avg rating — 1,113 ratings score: 34, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars