Read by Michael Jordan
What books does Michael Jordan recommend?
Again and again, the book recommendations of Michael Jordan circle back to the discipline that made him. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, a six-time NBA champion and builder of the Jordan Brand, Jordan has endorsed four titles through book forewords and direct comments, all circling psychology, mindset, and the price of greatness. Two come from his longtime trainer Tim Grover: he calls Winning "essential for those who want to be the best at whatever they do," and his line about Relentless has become legend — "I don't pay you to train me, I pay you not to train anyone else." The list also includes George Mumford's The Mindful Athlete, whom Jordan credits with teaching him "the art of mindfulness. To be still in the midst of chaos."
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
byTim Grover, Shari Wenk
2021240 Pages“Tim Grover was by my side for fifteen years, and knows more than anyone about building winners. This book is essential for those who want to be the best at whatever they do... and are willing to pay the price to get there.”
— Michael Jordan
Source: Book Foreword
byTim Grover, Shari Lesser Wenk
2013256 Pages“I don't pay you to train me, I pay you not to train anyone else.”
— Michael Jordan
Source: Direct endorsement/Interview
The Mindful Athlete
Secrets to Pure Performance
byGeorge Mumford
2015256 Pages“George helped me understand the art of mindfulness. To be still in the midst of chaos.”
— Michael Jordan
Source: Book Foreword
Read by Michael Jordan
byAdam Bradley
2025360 Pages“This is not a book about the game of basketball. Instead, it’s a celebration. A celebration of 40 years of greatness.”
— Michael Jordan
Source: Book Foreword
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Michael Jordan recommend?
Michael Jordan's four recommendations are Tim Grover's Winning and Relentless, George Mumford's The Mindful Athlete, and Adam Bradley's Air Jordan.
What is Michael Jordan's top book recommendation?
Tim Grover's Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness, for which Jordan wrote the foreword, calling it "essential for those who want to be the best at whatever they do... and are willing to pay the price to get there."
Where do Michael Jordan's book recommendations come from?
They come mainly from book forewords he wrote for titles by Tim Grover, George Mumford, and Adam Bradley, along with a direct endorsement of Grover's Relentless.
Why does Michael Jordan recommend The Mindful Athlete?
He credits author George Mumford with a lasting lesson: "George helped me understand the art of mindfulness. To be still in the midst of chaos" — a mental skill Jordan tied to his performance under pressure.
Has Michael Jordan written any books?
Yes. He is credited on For the Love of the Game: My Story (1998) and Driven from Within (2005), both reflecting on his career and the mindset behind it.