One of the joys of used tennis books is the hidden treasures they sometimes carry. Last summer I found a 1983 Wimbledon ticket tucked inside a used Michael Mewshaw book, and now I’ve come across a signed copy of Pam Shriver’s book.
I’ve read most of the books on the list. I consider “A Handful of Summers” to be the best book ever written about tennis. Short Circuit is tremendous as is Hard Courts. And as Megan has said “Terrible Splendor” is one of the great tennis books of all time. I think “Levels of the Game” is overrated.Here are a few others that I’ve liked: Big Bill Tilden by Frank DeFord. Match Play and the Spin of the Ball by Bill Tilden. Arthur Ashe: A Life by Raymond Arsenault. And finally….The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Galloway. I only mention Inner Game because you could not have grown up in the 60’s and 70’s without being aware of people trying to Zen their way to a useful forehand.
I’m also a big fan of “A Handful of Summers,” though I read it probably 30 years ago. There are parts of “Hard Courts” I still think about from time to time, like Andres Gomez strategically leaving some things off the table against Thomas Muster in Rome and saving them for Roland Garros. I don’t think guys do that anymore. The Tilden book by Deford is also fascinating.
Building Champions: Paths to Success in Women's Tennis (2025) by Molly McElwee covers stories of the variety of champions 2000 to 2024: the Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters, Ash Barty, Coco Gauff, et al.
One of the joys of used tennis books is the hidden treasures they sometimes carry. Last summer I found a 1983 Wimbledon ticket tucked inside a used Michael Mewshaw book, and now I’ve come across a signed copy of Pam Shriver’s book.
I’ve read most of the books on the list. I consider “A Handful of Summers” to be the best book ever written about tennis. Short Circuit is tremendous as is Hard Courts. And as Megan has said “Terrible Splendor” is one of the great tennis books of all time. I think “Levels of the Game” is overrated.Here are a few others that I’ve liked: Big Bill Tilden by Frank DeFord. Match Play and the Spin of the Ball by Bill Tilden. Arthur Ashe: A Life by Raymond Arsenault. And finally….The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Galloway. I only mention Inner Game because you could not have grown up in the 60’s and 70’s without being aware of people trying to Zen their way to a useful forehand.
Great piece Ben. Lists are so much fun to debate!
No Terrible Splendor? Also, Essential Tennis is a newish and fantastic instruction book. The most readable.
I’m also a big fan of “A Handful of Summers,” though I read it probably 30 years ago. There are parts of “Hard Courts” I still think about from time to time, like Andres Gomez strategically leaving some things off the table against Thomas Muster in Rome and saving them for Roland Garros. I don’t think guys do that anymore. The Tilden book by Deford is also fascinating.
Building Champions: Paths to Success in Women's Tennis (2025) by Molly McElwee covers stories of the variety of champions 2000 to 2024: the Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters, Ash Barty, Coco Gauff, et al.
https://mollymcelwee.substack.com/