Why people recommend it
The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons is a massive, highly detailed cultural and historical exploration of the National Basketball Association, blending deep statistical analysis with personal anecdotes and narrative rankings. On multiple episodes of the Monday Morning Podcast, host Bill Burr frequently referenced insights gleaned from reading Simmons' work. Specifically, Burr discussed learning about the concept known as the disease of more—originally coined by coach Pat Riley—which explains how the internal egos and ambitions of players can undermine a successful sports team's chemistry. Burr also credited the book for introducing him to a powerful historical speech from the storied Celtics and Lakers rivalry that he would not have discovered otherwise. Furthermore, Burr commended the sheer depth of research embedded in the text, noting that Simmons thoroughly examined the history of the sport with unmatched dedication. Across these podcast episodes, the book is praised not merely as a sports compendium, but as an engaging masterclass on group dynamics, human psychology, and the delicate art of sustaining collective success.
Who recommended it
- Bill Burr Discussed
Bill Burr — 1 mention
“I you know who's read all of those [ __ ] books at least the basketball ones was Bill Simmons when I read his book on the history of basketball Jesus Christ that guy would be like it's like in Rick Roby's in Erik fern Stan's book”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 2
“You know, Pat Riley, the disease of more, that I learned through the Bill Simmons book.”
“It's so hard to keep the group together, which is why one of my favorite speeches ever, which I had never heard, I didn't know how, I didn't hear about it watching the Celtics Lakers rivalry, I didn't hear about it until I read Bill Simmons' book on basketball.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“...because you know according to them they're one championship behind us which you know we all know through Bill Simmons book then not that too”