THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS The Science of Underdogs, the Value of Rivalry, and What We Can Learn from the T-Shirt Cannon

The authors peel back the layers of science underlying so many aspects of sports, using various analyses and data. Narrator Keith Szarabajka describes the action, so to speak, in a comfortable tone. When someone is quoted, he shifts into a generic imitation, which fits the bill here, separating the authors’ words from the well-placed quotes from athletes. What’s covered is a myriad of topics: how emotional decisions are made, whether quarterbacks really are the best-looking players on a team, sexual mores and sports, and why crowds go crazy over the ever-popular T-shirt cannon. It’s a good listen for anyone who wants to delve into the scientific and psychological side of sports beyond the diagrams of Xs and Os. M.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2016]