Project REDs Book List
Looking to dive deeper into topics surrounding REDs, female athlete health, mindset, hormones, recovery, or performance, without falling asleep halfway through?
We’ve pulled together a list of our favourite books that should leave you feeling informed, empowered, and maybe even a little fired up. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or just curious human, there’s something in here for you. Expect a mix of personal stories, science-backed advice, mindset tips, and “wait… why did no one ever teach me this?!” moments.
Appropriate for All
Everyone’s included in these reads. Performance, recovery, and health aren’t gender or age-specific!
Peak Performance – Stulberg & Magness
A smart guide to sustainable success in sport and life with mental skills and recovery tips galore.
Finding Your Sweet Spot – Rebecca McConville
A practical handbook for athletes navigating REDs, helping them restore balance between performance, health, and mindset. Though this book focuses on female athletes, its insights around REDs and fueling are relevant to everyone.
The Long Win – Cath Bishop
Cath Bishop draws on her experiences as an Olympic rower and helps us all rethink what success really means in sport. Great for coaches, parents, and athletes who care about long-term wellbeing.
Best for Supporters
Books that help coaches, parents, and others support athletes beyond just performance.
Good for a Girl– Lauren Fleshman
A powerful memoir that explores the inequalities faced by female athletes, drawing from Lauren’s own journey as a former professional distance runner, U.S. national champion, and now a leading voice for gender equity in sport. With raw honesty, she exposes the systemic flaws in sport and advocates for a healthier, more supportive model for girls and women in athletics.
The Long Win – Cath Bishop
So good we've listed it twice. This book refreshingly redefines success beyond medals and rankings, advocating for a more meaningful, values-driven approach rooted in clarity, learning, and connection. Drawing on her experience as an Olympic rower and diplomat, Bishop challenges the “win-at-all-costs” mindset in sport, business, and education.
The Female Body Bible – Ross, Moffat & Smith
A crash course in everything you should’ve been taught about female athlete health. A comprehensive guide that empowers women (and those who support them) to understand and embrace their bodies at every life stage.
Finding Your Sweet Spot – Rebecca McConville
A practical guide providing insights into how underfueling affects various bodily functions and offers practical strategies to achieve optimal energy balance for enhanced performance and overall well-being. Again, so useful we've listed it twice.
Top Picks for Teens
Relatable, real, and empowering reads for younger athletes.
Girls Running – Fairchild & Carey
Like a pep talk from a wise big sister. Full of practical tips and reassurance.
Running in Silence – Rachel Steil
A raw and honest story about disordered eating in sport. Hopeful and relatable.
Roar – Dr. Stacy Sims
Written for individuals with female physiology, including teens, adult women, perimenopausal and menopausal athletes. Perfect for teen athletes ready to understand their bodies and train smarter.
Science-Backed & Period-Related
Perfect for individuals with female physiology who want clear, no-fluff guidance.
No Period, Now What? – Rinaldi, Buckler & Waddell
The ultimate recovery guide for hypothalamic amenorrhea (missing periods). Super supportive, evidence-based, and actionable recommendations.
Roar – Dr. Stacy Sims
It’s famous for the tagline “Women are not small men” and dives deep into how training, nutrition, recovery, and performance should be adapted based on female-specific physiology.
Period Repair Manual – Lara Briden
An essential read for anyone who wants to understand how periods actually work.
How the Pill Changes Everything – Dr. Sarah Hill
A fascinating look at how hormonal birth control affects your brain and body.