Libraries of Leaders: On The Bookshelves Of Top Women Athletes
Find out what three leading women athletes read and recommend.
The life of a top athlete can be incredibly stressful. Living out of suitcases, staying away from family for extended periods, taxing training schedules, and coping with inevitable injuries and defeat is a difficult cocktail to get used to. Being able to do just that is what separates the good from the great. This week, we look at what three top women athletes read and recommend and why.
1. Mithali Raj
Mithali is the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team and the country’s most prolific run-getter. She has been playing international cricket for a staggering 17 years and has been a brand ambassador of the game. Surprisingly, she was a reluctant cricketer in her younger days. Her first love is Bharatanatyam. The Padma and Arjuna awardee shared some of her favourite books with BloombergQuint.
1. The Tournament by Matthew Reilly
The book features a young Elizabeth Tudor, the future queen of England, who accompanies her tutor to a chess tournament in Ottoman Turkey. Mithali says she drew many life lessons from the book after her late coach explained parts of it to her.
To be bold, to appear naive when, in truth, one is alert. The best of all is to know that all decisions have consequences ..this book reminds me of the training days with my late coach.Mithali Raj, Captain, Indian Women’s Cricket Team
2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The story follows the journey of an Andalusian shepherd boy. Believing a fortune teller’s interpretation of his recurrent dream to be prophetic, he travels to Egypt to discover its meaning. It is full of vivid characters and subtle philosophical references. Mithali says the book taught her the wisdom of listening to her heart in turbulent times.
3. The Dalai Lama’s Cat by David Michie
The central theme of the book is the journey to contentment – an insider’s view of the day-to-day life of the Dalai Lama – narrated by a gorgeous Himalayan cat, who is adopted off the streets of New Delhi by the spiritual leader and becomes his constant companion.
I enjoyed the human and animal characters and how the writer has beautifully explained the main concepts of Buddhism like compassion and respect for all living beings.Mithali Raj, Captain, Indian Women’s Cricket Team
2. Venus Williams
In 2002, Venus Williams became the first African-American woman to bag the number one spot in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings in the Open Era – post 1968, when professionals were allowed to participate in Grand Slams. The 36-year-old is currently ranked sixth, despite been diagnosed in 2011 with a rare autoimmune disorder, causing fatigue and joint pains. Here are some of the Olympic gold medalist’s favourite books, according to her official website.
1. The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
This is the story of a boy – a hero in a magical world – abused and ill-treated by his foster family. The triumph of good over evil is a predominant theme of the series. On her website, Serena says fantasy is one of her favourite genres and it’s no surprise that this hugely popular series is on her list.
2. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
The backdrop of this science fiction/fantasy novel is two earth-like planets plagued by overpopulation and global warming. The contrasting approaches the inhabitants of the planets take, result in a war, and six alien children undertake a space odyssey to Planet Earth.
I am way more into fantasy than science fiction, but I liked I am Number Four. I liked the sequel too, which is called The Power of Six. (They have a lot of fantasy elements in them.) As usual, the book is much better than the movie.Venus Williams, World No 6 in Women’s Tennis Singles
3. The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull
Yes, you guessed it right – this is yet another fantasy series. Venus was introduced to Fablehaven by her equally famous sibling Serena. The series chronicles the challenges faced by two children who open up a Pandora’s box in a hidden sanctuary for mystical creatures created to protect them from extinction.
3. Laila Ali
Laila Ali, the eighth child of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, ended her boxing career in 2007 with a perfect 24 wins and zero losses record, which included 21 knockouts. Laila is a former world super middleweight and light heavyweight champion, and a well-known television personality in the United States . Here is a look at some of her favourite books and recommendations.
1. Letters To A Young Queen: Redefining Their Throne by Jay Barnett
This book is a collection of letters and poems highlighting the strife and triumphs of young women. “It is a wonderful book to share with the young girls in your life,” Laila says on her official Facebook page.
2.The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L Frank Baum
Laila, in a poll by the National Education Association, rates this as her favourite children’s book. First published in 1900, the book details the journey of a young girl and her dog—after being transported to a magical land by a tornado—to meet a wizard named Oz in order to get back to her home. She strikes up friendships with a cowardly lion, a tin woodman, and a scarecrow, who join her in her journey to the city to petition the magnificent wizard.
3. The Color Purple By Alice Walker
This book centres around the life of women of colour and the challenges they face due to their social status. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and the National Book Award for fiction in 1983.