L. Jon Wertheim, Sam Sommers Books
L. Jon Wertheim is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and an author known for his works on sports and psychology.
Known for: This Is Your Brain on Sports: The Science of Underdogs, the Value of Rivalry, and What We Can Learn from the T-Shirt Cannon
Books by L. Jon Wertheim, Sam Sommers
This Is Your Brain on Sports: The Science of Underdogs, the Value of Rivalry, and What We Can Learn from the T-Shirt Cannon
This book explores the psychological and neuroscientific principles behind sports behavior, revealing how competition, fandom, and athletic performance reflect deeper aspects of human nature. Through engaging stories and scientific insights, the authors explain why people root for underdogs, how rivalries shape motivation, and what sports can teach us about decision-making and social dynamics.
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The Underdog Effect
There is something almost universally endearing about an underdog. We cannot help ourselves—we cheer for the team that’s expected to lose, root for the player who defies the odds, and find joy in Cinderella stories. This peculiar bias isn’t a failure of logic; it’s a window into empathy. When we roo...
From This Is Your Brain on Sports: The Science of Underdogs, the Value of Rivalry, and What We Can Learn from the T-Shirt Cannon
Rivalry and Motivation
Few forces in life are as potent as rivalry. Whether it’s Yankees–Red Sox or Federer–Nadal, rivalries ignite energy that transforms ordinary contests into psychological battlegrounds. Research shows that competition against familiar adversaries triggers heightened focus, effort, and emotional invest...
From This Is Your Brain on Sports: The Science of Underdogs, the Value of Rivalry, and What We Can Learn from the T-Shirt Cannon
About L. Jon Wertheim, Sam Sommers
L. Jon Wertheim is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and an author known for his works on sports and psychology. Sam Sommers is a social psychologist and professor at Tufts University, specializing in human behavior and decision-making.
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L. Jon Wertheim is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and an author known for his works on sports and psychology.
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