Moneyball

by Michael Lewis
Moneyball cover
Good Books rating 4.24
Business and Economics
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £13.99 Hardback • £23.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 629
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2026-02-02
  • ISBN: 9780393057652
  • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
  • Published: 2003-01-01
  • Formats: 35
  • Reviews: 4

Moneyball tells the compelling story of the Oakland Athletics, a Major League Baseball team that defied the odds with a limited budget. By leveraging data analytics and unconventional strategies, the team achieved remarkable success, challenging traditional notions of talent and value in sports. This book is not just about baseball; it's a fascinating exploration of how innovation and smart decision-making can triumph over conventional wisdom. It delves into the personalities, egos, and business aspects of the game, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, science, and entertainment.

Reviews
Thoughts from the Mountaintop · 2023-09-28
insightful 4.20

The book provides a detailed and insightful look into the innovative strategies of baseball. It is praised for its depth and analysis.

This review delves into the detailed analysis provided by Lewis on the transformations in baseball strategies. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the study and the way it contrasts different approaches to the game. They find the book to be insightful and informative, highlighting how it goes beyond the surface-level narrative to explore the broader implications of the new methods. The reviewer enjoys the way Lewis brings the characters and their stories to life, making the technical aspects of the game understandable and engaging.

Quick quotes

    Lewis goes into great detail as to what happened to Beane as a study in contrasts between drafting guys like him and the new way the A's began.

    Underdogs rejoice

    It was not a general interest in American baseball that prompted me to borrow Moneyball by Michael Lewis.

Cannonball Read · 2021-10-31
enjoyable 4.50

The book is enjoyable and fast-paced, focusing on smart people who think outside the box. It is praised for its engaging content.

The reviewer found Moneyball to be a quick and enjoyable read, particularly appreciating the focus on innovative thinkers. They highlight how the book makes complex ideas about baseball accessible and interesting. The reviewer enjoys the narrative style and the way it brings to life the characters and their strategies. They also note that the book is not just about baseball but about the broader implications of thinking differently and challenging conventional wisdom.

Quick quotes

    Smart people who think outside the box are so much fun to read about.

    I read this book really fast, and it was enjoyable to read the whole way.

    It's about math (which isn't my absolute favorite) and baseball (which I'm not all of that interested in, except as a ...

Sarah's Bookshelves · Sarah · 2013-11-27
insightful 4.25

The book is a captivating story of how an underdog team used innovative strategies to compete with wealthier teams. It's a narrative that blends sports, economics, and personal drama seamlessly.

This book is a fascinating exploration of how the Oakland A's, led by Billy Beane, revolutionized baseball by using data analytics to build a winning team on a budget. It's not just about sports; it's about challenging the status quo and finding creative solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems. The author does a great job of making complex economic concepts accessible and entertaining. It's a story that will resonate with anyone who loves a good underdog tale or is interested in the intersection of sports and economics. The characters are vividly brought to life, and the narrative is so engaging that it reads like a novel rather than a non-fiction book. The book also offers valuable insights into the world of professional sports and the role of data in decision-making. It's a testament to the power of innovation and the importance of challenging conventional wisdom.

Quick quotes

    The story of how Billy Beane and his underdog Oakland A's recruited underrated players and won titles ahead of much richer teams.

    It's a multi-faceted book, exploring the life and career of Billy Beane, a former Major League player and General Manager of the Oakland A's team.

    It's a narrative that blends sports, economics, and personal drama seamlessly.

The Guardian · 2011-07-29
entertaining 4.00

The book is a compelling and entertaining true story that highlights a rare sporting triumph for the nerds. It is praised for its engaging narrative.

This review highlights how Moneyball is a captivating true story that makes a complex subject accessible and enjoyable. The reviewer appreciates the engaging narrative and the way it showcases an underdog triumph. They find the book to be a compelling read that sheds light on the innovative strategies used in baseball. The reviewer enjoys the way Lewis brings the characters to life and makes the technical aspects of the game understandable and entertaining.

Quick quotes

    A compulsively told true story about a rare sporting triumph for the nerds.

    Continuing our series on Guardian writers' favourite seasonal books

    Michael Lewis makes a compelling case

Appears in Lists