Rating: 
Summary: Read Second Wind Instead
Review: I was severely disappointed by this book.First off, I am a huge admirer of Russell, on and off the court. I have loved his writing in the past, his book "Second Wind" is probably my all-time favorite. I admire his courage, his humor, his stubbornness. I still think he was the best NBA color commentator ever!!! But this book is awful. Part of it is the whole genre, that successful sports figures and organizations can teach executives and companies the secrets of success. There is only so much you can say on the subject, and it has been said too many times and often by people who should keep their mouths shut. Just off the top of my head, Mike Jarvis who was fired mid-season by St. John's University is an example of that. That said, there are four other drawbacks with the book. First off, it is incredibly repetitious. His 11 points can be easily condensed into 4 or 5. Midway into the book, I felt it would make a decent magazine article but it was stretched out terribly. How many times do we have to hear about how he and KC Jones were such students of the game. By harping on the lessons learned on the Celtics, Bill goes against much of what he has said in the past. I have heard him many times state that winning and losing has nothing to do with character, it has everything to do with who has the better players. If you can reconcile that with the premise of this book, you have me. Another issue is his plugging of the National Mentoring organization. I agree with the virtues of mentoring, but the whole plugging seemed like Russell trying to justify to himself the reason for writing the book. Finally, I firmly believe that you are as good as your record says you are. Russell often says that winning is the only measure. But away from the Celtics, Russell was not much of a winner. He was involved with the Sonics for a few years and had a brief period of success with them. But after a period of subsequent failure, he left by mutual agreement. He was bored and sick of the job and they weren't asking him to stay. He subsequently took a coaching job with the Kings that was even more disastrous. So if Russell has all the lessons of success from his Celtic days, then why couldn't he repeat them outside of Auerbachland? If you were to look for ex-players who have repeated their stardom off the court, you can look at Jerry West or Bill Sharman. The book is not a complete loss. To those unfamiliar with Russell and the Celtics, there is some good information. Plus Russell makes some interesting comparisons between Wilt's style and his own. But overall, the book is a disappointment to me.
Rating: 
Summary: How to Have the Brilliant Eye and Mind of a Great Innovator
Review: Mr. Russell and Mr. Falkner have combined to create a fascinating series of insights into the elements that turned Mr. Russell's competitive intelligence and zeal into a winning approach to basketball wherever Mr. Russell played or coached. Basically, the idea is to play your own role in such a way that the performance of the team versus its competition will be elevated. The book contains many riveting basketball and personal examples from Mr. Russell's life. There are also a number of business examples to help you apply these lessons to your own situation. Although the book advertises 11 rules, these are supplemented by three subrules for each rule. So, in total, you get 44 rules. Although it's more than you will easily be able to remember, it will certainly round out your understanding of the mental, emotional, and physical processes involved in building the successful habit of winning. I thought that the book was the best example of sports thinking applied to business that I have seen. I was a Lakers fan when I first moved to Boston in 1964. Naturally, I went to the Boston Garden to see the Celtics play. That was a transformational experience, because television and radio did not really capture what the team did. Never before or since have I seen basketball like I saw in those glory days. My admiration for the Celtics and Mr. Russell knew no bounds. Anyone who has been a fan or an admirer of the Celtics will find this book to be essential reading. You will get many new perspectives on what you saw during those 11 world championshps in 13 years. Mr. Russell deserves respect for an unequaled sports record. He was named the 20th century's greatest team player by Sports Illustrated. HBO called him the greatest winner in the 20th century. What many will forget is that he also had a very successful coaching career. He led the Celtics to two world championships as a player-coach (with no assistants!). He also built up the Seattle franchise into a world champion as general manager and coach. What many never knew about are all of the individual examples of his integrity. For example, after divorcing he raised his daughter by himself. Let me rephrase Mr. Russell's 11 rules to make them clearer to a business person: (1) Commitment is essential to success, and commitment has to be based on insatiable curiosity that emotionally rewards the person. In other words, pursue an area of business that endlessly fascinates you. (2) Apply your ego to the success of your team and your business, rather than to your individual success. (3) Become the best and most active listener you can be. Act on what you learn. (4) Be tough about demanding what needs to be done, but be considerate of people as you do this. (5) Cast a long shadow with your ideas and standards, so that you influence the right result even when you cannot be present. (6) Seek perfection and encourage it in others, bolstered by joy in what you are doing. (7) Encourage trust, truthfulness, and mutual reliance. (8) Immediately take control of the action to move forward constructively, regardless of what happens to your organization. (9) Use your imagination to design new and better ways to enhance performance. (10) Lead by establishing and reinforcing discipline, as much delegation as possible, and cooperative participation in decision-making. But don't forget to lead when it counts. (11) Always be looking for the win, even when it seems impossible. The book's final section emphasizes how to apply these principles of Celtics' Pride to your own organization. I found the examples employed for rules 1, 2, 5-9, and 11 to be extremely helpful in understanding how to make a business better, even though they were usually basketball examples. I recommend the chapter on Everyone Can Win as the best articulation I have ever seen of why focus on winning can make the difference. Even if you are not a basketball fan, you should read this book. If you do not know the professional game, some of the examples won't work for you, but most of the message will. After you finish this book, I suggest that you give it to those you work with, and follow up with a discussion of what the lessons are for your work. Be a winner . . . always!
Rating:
Summary: A Clarification of "Winner"
Review: Other reviewers have correctly praised Russell for his achievements in competitive basketball throughtout his school, collegiate and professional years. Fair enough. What I most admire in this book is his clarification of what a "winner" is. Long ago, Jack Dempsey said that "champions get up when they can't." Russell has essentially the same attitude toward "winners" and thereby extends the definition to include people who are not "celebrities" but who demonstrate exceptional courage, decency, and integrity...especially amidst adversity. They are the appropriate role models for young people. By their example, they reveal themselves to be values-driven leaders. The "rules" Russell affirms are the same rules by which he has defined himself both on and off the basketball court. They are worthy of our consideration.
Rating:
Summary: I'm not a sports fan but now I'm a Bill Russell fan!
Review: What a great and inspirational book!!
I bought this for my father for Father's Day and ended up keeping it for myself. I'm not a huge sports fan and as a woman the only thing I knew about Russell was that my Dad worshipped him when I was growing up. This is one of the best self-improvement books I've read recently. He really understands team work. I've already used his advice at work and I'm seeing results. Russell has a great sense of humor! My husband enjoyed Russell Rules too.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: you can Never say enough about the Legacy of Bill Russell.The Man has words of Wisdom&He sheds Light on it.this Book brings you into His Views&what got Him to His Destiny.a must read from a Man who Proved on&off the court He was a Winner&one step ahead of the curve.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: you can Never say enough about the Legacy of Bill Russell.The Man has words of Wisdom&He sheds Light on it.this Book brings you into His Views&what got Him to His Destiny.a must read from a Man who Proved on&off the court He was a Winner&one step ahead of the curve.
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