Books written over the years — long-form stories exploring risk, technology, crime, and the edges of human behavior.
The Underdog: How I Survived the World's Most Outlandish Competitions
SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
The Underdog follows Joshua Davis, a scrawny data entry clerk determined to become the provider his wife dreams of — starting with something as simple as a bathtub. Instead of playing it safe, he throws himself into some of the world’s strangest and most grueling competitions. From armwrestling championships in Poland to bullfighting in Spain and retrorunning in Italy, his quest spirals into a wild two-year adventure. What begins as a practical mission becomes a hilarious, daring exploration of ambition, love, and pushing the American dream to absurd extremes.
Entrenched: The Best of Joshua Davis
JUNE 29, 2011
Over the past decade, Joshua Davis has written some of the most engrossing non-fiction published. From a minute by minute account of what it takes to save a sinking ship to the hunt for genetically modified cocaine in the Colombia rainforest, Davis has travelled the world tracking down extraordinary stories for publications like Wired and GQ. This collection represents the best of the best, transporting readers to Jerusalem, Shanghai, Antwerp, Iraq and elsewhere as Davis takes us on 13 unforgettable journeys.
With an introduction by Brian Lam, of Gizmodo and Wired.
Spare Parts
DECEMBER 2, 2014
Spare Parts — now a major motion picture — tells the true story of four undocumented Mexican American students who proved they were among the most talented and patriotic young men in the country, even as the country tried to deport them.
In 2004, Oscar, Cristian, Luis, and Lorenzo — guided by two dedicated teachers — entered a national underwater robotics competition against elite college teams, including MIT. With less than $1,000 and a robot built from scavenged parts, the underfunded Phoenix high schoolers defied every expectation and won. Their victory became the beginning of a larger journey marked by deportation battles, college graduations, military service, and inspiration for the DREAMers movement.
The Uncertainty Principle
JUNE 3, 2025
An epic story of self-discovery, love, and adventure from New York Times bestselling author Joshua Davis and his son Kal Kini-Davis, this novel follows seventeen-year-old Mia after her parents move the family onto a battered sailboat in the Caribbean. Feeling stranded and cut off from the world, she becomes determined to build a solar-powered satellite phone to reconnect with her best friend — even as isolation begins to unravel her. When two teens enter her life, friendship and romance complicate her escape plan, forcing Mia to decide who she is and what kind of future she truly wants.
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Joshua Davis
jd@joshuadavis.net
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