Nike Is a Goddess: The History of Women in Sports

By Mariah Burton Nelson

Book Overview

Recent years have seen a huge explosion in the popularity and commercial viability of women's sports - with new professional leagues for women to play in, new magazines to cover them, and recognition for female athletes that is overtaking that of men. Nike Is a Goddess tells the dramatic story of the rise of women's sports over the last century in a series of original narratives focusing on the great female athletes whose success has changed the game and paved the way for the women and girls of today. From historic boundary breakers like Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Althea Gibson to modern-day superstars like Tara Lipinski, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Rebecca Lobo, from Gertrude Ederle's historic swim across the English Channel to Billie Jean King's victory over Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes, Nike Is a Goddess tells the inspiring stories of women opening up an arena that had been closed to them. Written by top female sportswriters from such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Conde Nast Sports for Women, Women's Sports and Fitness, The Miami Herald, and Sports Illustrated, Nike Is a Goddess pays tribute to the athletes who led the way and serves as inspiration to those who will come after.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0871137615
• ISBN13: 9780871137616
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

This book reminds women of just how much they have achieved.

I was so impressed with this book that I plan to include it in a graduate-level college course about women's sports.

A remarkable book about remarkable women !

A MUST for all young women of today -truly inspirational. A comprehensive and significant book.

long overdue!!

In "Nike" you will find amazing tales of female athletes past and present, and the obstacles they met and overcame along the way. Finally you can read about some of the great pioneers of women's sports, and those who are superstars today. A great gift for your girlfriend or wife (she'll think you are up-to-date on women's issues), boyfriend or husband(he can learn that women have contributed so much more to sports than the pom-pom on the sideline), son (he'll learn to respect girl athletes, and play with them), or daughter (she'll know she's not alone in her quest for athletic excellence)- they can all get something great out of this long overdue contribution to the history of women in sport.

Insightful. A must for any female athlete.

An amazing compilation and portrayal of some of the world's ground-breaking athletes.

amazing stories of truly heroic women

I got a chance to read the sneak preview of this book and thought is was great! I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's a sports fan or an athlete. It also makes a great gift for the coffee table and interesting conversation starter.