Bookish bet: Boston Public Library hosts The Seattle Public Library’s Booklist after Super Bowl Wager
release date: February 11, 2026
Public libraries typically collaborate rather than compete – except when it came to this year’s Super Bowl. As the result of a bookish bet placed late last week, Boston Public Library paid the price of the Seahawks win this week by hosting a booklist created by The Seattle Public Library, direction at Patriots fans.
Called “Seattle Picks for Patriots Fans,” the 35 titles celebrate Seattle’s cultural and natural riches, sports history and, of course, the joy of winning.
Books include “Inflation,” by political economists Mark Blyth and Nicolö Fraccaroli; “Broken Horses,” by Seattle music superstar Brandi Carlile; “Things That Make White People Uncomfortable,” by former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett; “Comeuppance Served Cold,” a Seattle noir fantasy by Marion Deeds; “Wicked Seattle,” by Teresa Nordheim (“In addition to being wicked good at football, we also have a wicked history,” says the description); and “Loser,” by Clark Humphrey (“try not to take the title personally as you learn about Seattle's robust rock music scene”).
“As soon as the sting of defeat wears off, we encourage Patriots fans to explore books, music, and films that celebrate the Seahawks' home (and a few that poke fun at yours),” notes the booklist’s description.
Boston Public Library congratulated Seattle on its win, shared the booklist link in its Instagram bio, and noted that “though we are divided by football, we are always on the same team in supporting the freedom to read!”
The Seattle Public Library and Boston Public Library are both part of Books Unbanned, providing free e-cards to teens and young adults across the country so they can read what they like from the libraries’ respective digital collections.
In October 2025, the Books Unbanned coalition of six libraries announced it had collectively provided over 51,000 digital library cards to teens and young adults in all 50 states and every U.S. territory, and that more than 1 million e-books have been checked out through Books Unbanned programs.
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