From '1984' to the Bible: Which books have NFL players hooked this summer?
Key takeaways
- Given to him by Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, "Chop Wood Carry Water" is a motivational fable about a young boy who trains in Japan to be a samurai archer.
- In every chapter, the boy's sensei teaches him a lesson, one being about a renowned homebuilder in Tokyo who is famous for his work.
- The Seahawks' defensive linemen are far from the only players with books on their summer reading lists.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The break between minicamp and training camp is some of the last focused time players have to read. ESPNSarah Barshop Jul 3, 2026, 06:00 AM ETClose Sarah Barshop covers the Los Angeles Rams for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Green Bay Packers for ESPN Milwaukee. She then moved to Houston to cover the Texans. She came to ESPN after working as a writer and editor for Sports Illustrated.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Last offseason, Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams took on all 1,000-plus pages of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel "War and Peace." He has a much quicker read this summer.
Given to him by Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, "Chop Wood Carry Water" is a motivational fable about a young boy who trains in Japan to be a samurai archer. The book's prevailing theme is about mastering a process and not fixating on end goals, something Seattle coach Mike Macdonald often preaches to his team.
In every chapter, the boy's sensei teaches him a lesson, one being about a renowned homebuilder in Tokyo who is famous for his work. At the behest of the homebuilder's boss, he reluctantly agrees to put off retirement for one last build. He's told that it's a special home for a special client. But with his heart not in it, the builder cuts corners -- only to learn once he's finished that he was building his own home: It was a retirement gift from his company.