Losers: Dispatches from the Other Side of the Scoreboard

“It's easy to do anything in victory. It’s in defeat that a man reveals himself.” —Floyd Patterson

Twenty-two notable writers—including Bob Sullivan, Abby Ellin, Mike Pesca, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Louisa Hall, and Gay Talese—examine the untold stories of the losers, and in doing so reveal something raw and significant about what it means to be human

The locker rooms of winning teams are crowded with coaches, family, and fans. Reporters flock to the athletes, brimming with victory and celeb...