Superwomen: 100 Women-100 Sports

Combining sweeping photographic spreads with first-person reflections, this book pays tribute to the female sports figures--both current competitors and silver-haired veterans--who have risen to the top of their game. Buren, a portrait photographer for Sports Illustrated, offers 100 varied, sensitive photographs of athletes--some poised for action, some in repose, some with a look of steely resolve. Each athlete's own words accompany her image, as she recounts the obstacles, the inspirations and the milestones along the way to success. The athletes aren't always deeply eloquent about their sports--and anyway, there isn't much space for eloquence in a volume dedicated to portraits--but their passion is palpable. From adventure racing to polo to snowboarding to wrestling, women athletes have made their mark, Buren demonstrates. An inspirational book, especially for young girls, it offers poignant memories (as in Billie Jean King's foreword) and powerful advice.