Discover the human side of thirteen exceptional athletes in this "fascinating" anthology that explores the fine line between passion and obsession (Michael Connelly, New York Times–bestselling author of Two Kinds of Truth).

So many strive to achieve the life of a champion athlete. But while victory can be sweet, it inevitably comes with struggle and sacrifice. In this book that follows the rise and fall of thirteen incredible athletes, you'll get inside the mind of the fastest cyclist of his time—a man whose craving for speed was outstripped by a terrible urge toward self-annihilation. You will meet the most accomplished high-school runner in American history, whose long-distance records still astound and who, a few years later, abruptly abandoned his wife and three small children. And, you'll read of the briefly glorious life of the leading scorer in Division I college basketball, one of the inner city's great success stories . . . while it lasted.

Superbly written and deeply insightful, The Agony of Victory follows the paths of ravaged champions in solitary crafts such as cycling and running, bowling and boxing, hiking and golf. These individuals master their sports, driven only by a burning need to prove themselves. Movingly depicted, here are their painful journeys to grace and their eventual realization that no victory brings lasting happiness. In short, here is the human experience, told in seconds and miles, scorecards and records.

"A terrific, powerful read . . . In Friedman's commanding storytelling, the result is hauntingly sublime." —The Seattle Times