Faster, Higher, Smarter: Bright Ideas That Transformed Sports

Gr 5–8—Shapiro writes in a conversational tone sure to be accessible to students. In his introduction, he claims that science and sports are connected, with innovations in sports made possible by science. The 17 chapters cover a variety of athletic endeavors, including skateboarding, pole vaulting, wheelchair racing, and bungee jumping, as well as important topics like statistics and cheating. This title paints an engaging picture of the science behind sports. Most chapters contain "Why It Works" or "How It Works" sections that describe advanced scientific concepts. The text doesn't steer away from controversial topics, such as steroids and disgraced athletes Lance Armstrong and Oscar Pistorius. The narrative includes many fascinating photographs of historical athletes. While Krynauw and Goldswain's illustrations mostly succeed in their attempts to clarify concepts, they can be cartoonishly goofy. Stock photos appear on the book's cover and throughout, adding to a slightly dated appearance.