Wooden

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: It's a return to some old-fashioned American principles and values that spell success. Coach Wooden is a master of life

Rating:
Summary: Wooden- The Wizard does it again!
Review: I bought this book while visiting the UCLA campus to attend a mens' basketball game. I received "Practical Modern Basketball" from my high school coach as a gift when I began my teaching and coaching career in 1976. This became my coaching bible for years to come. When I saw this new book, Wooden, I bought it without hesitation, thinking that John Wooden's "Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court" was as much a mystery as it was curiosity relative to my appreciation and utilization of the words of wisdom provided in the book I received as a gift in 1976.

My career in public education has allowed me to seriously reflect on my life as it pertains to personal gratification of preparing for unknown opportunities and being able to rationalize with poise and confidence. I attribute many successes in my life to the Wooden philosophy that I followed in my early years of my career. Wooden's, reflections, is an outstanding assessment of what a man of Mr. Wooden's character achieved through hard work, dedication to his own philosophy, and the love for life and people. I have recommended this book to personnel within my organization,to coaches and friends. It is also a great asset for parents who need direction in how to raise their children, basing all dialoge and communication on respect. I truly respect the real value of this book as an asset to my future and my family and my responsibities as Assistant Superintendent of Schools!

Thanks, Eddie Booth, Winnemucca, NV

Rating:
Summary: Simply a Great Lesson from a Great man!
Review: This book is a must read for every parent, teacher, and coach. AND it should be a must read for every high school student and athlete. This should be at the top of every high school English teacher's required reading list for their students. It would certainly provide far more benefit than some of the "classics" they are now required to read. If more kids read this book at an early age, it would help them understand many values in life that unfortunately many don't discover until much later in life, if at all. Mr. Wooden writes in such an easy to understand and concise manner that kids will find it very easy but yet very powerful reading. It wasn't written specifically for kids, but they can certainly benefit the most before they get too set in their ways.

Rating:
Summary: Wisdom and guidance from a great man
Review: This short, easy to read, throughouly accessible volume is but a brief distillation and synthesis of over 50 years of teaching, coaching and life long learning. Mr. John Wooden is so much more than an extremely successful basketball coach. He is a philosopher, mentor and fellow traveller. This brief collection offers a treasure trove of daily inspirational messages and guidance for all people who long to achieve ultimate success in any walk of life.

Wooden teaches many lessons, but two that stand out are:

1) Love is not a feeling, but rather a full-time job. (Wooden doesn't say this blatantly. This is the message that rings through every sentence.)

2) Ultimately winning is not measured in scores or trophies but rather personal satisfaction in committing to task with all of one's abilities.

A must read for all.

Rating:
Summary: A PYRAMID OF SUCCESS
Review: John was truly a team player no matter what his tasks was. He taught many to understand others, but also understand actions in every different situation.Wooden shares his personal philosophy on family, achievement, success, and excellence on every aspect of life. John shares his teachings to others and guides them with wisdom far beyond sports. This book written by John Wooden himself with Steve Jamison will pull you in, as you read a lifetime of observations and refelctions on and off the court, and how great his success was at U.C.L.A as a basket ball coach.
I mostly enjoyed the man's passion for being a better person in life, but also teaching others. He was a man of integrity with great knowledge and wisdom, he created success. What I like most about the book is that in a way to read about John, it is also a learning experience, because you are still learning about his teachings. I most respect on how John took lessons taught as a child from his parents and continued to take them with him in life. I also like how he had a pyramid of success faith and patience were at the top. He was a man of his word, but also the "word," that being the bible.
I do not dislike anything about this book, because there are many different teachings to value. It makes you want to learn more from life everday and how you can make your work that much better. His benevolence is proudly displayed in all aspects of life, but most importantly he also learned from his players as he coached them everday. This shows that not everyone is here to teach, but many are here to listen. As Wooden did so, he lived his life with wisdom, success, and leading to your capabilities

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable Wisdom
Review: This is the kind of book I'll go back to again and again. I got it after finding out about Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" from his website ... I think what I got out of it mostly was the value of being as prepared as possible (for whatever's coming up, short and long-term), and of being industrious... but the latter is a lesson *I* need to learn right now, and others might pick up something else... their particular weakness right now.

So I would recommend it as a valuable "life manual," right alongside books like 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Power of Positive Thinking, and Think and Grow Rich.

Rating:
Summary: Read this book slowly - there's a lot to think about here.
Review: In my business reading this year, I find myself "flying through" the standard business fare, finding the important points and moving on. Very many business books are written that way. Although "Wooden" is not a business book, I expect a lot of the business crowd will be attracted to the book - John Wooden is mentioned in so many other books about leadership and teamwork. When I began reading this book - dare I say treasure - I realized that my brain began recalibrating to a much slower reading speed, because the content is so fresh, so pithy, and so engaging. I felt as though I was sitting in a room with this great man, listening to him talk about life and basketball. I sensed his delicate and understated humor, his love of poetry, his clarity of priorities and purpose, and found myself wrapped up in the text. This is a book that you will want to read slowly, and read again from time to time.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for any time of sports fan
Review: I read this book in no time. It constantly brought up different points about Coach Woodens upbringing, work ethic and what he taught the kids at UCLA. The book shows how he was more concerned about bringing the best out of every player instead of the final score. This truly is a great book for any type of person who has in interest in sports. The book is well written and covers all aspects of Coach Woodens life. It talks about how he was just as proud of the teams that won the title in 66'-67' as opposed to the streak of 7 in a row he had because of the circumstances they were dealt with. This is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I have ever read
Review: Being a UCLA graduate and passionate basketball fan, I was, and continue to be, intrigued by the mystique surrounding John Wooden. This book is more than just basketball, Teacher Wooden talks about his family upbringing and how that shaped his views on life, as well as his philosophy in teaching and guiding his UCLA teams of the 60's and 70's. The book is an easy read in that Mr. Wooden conveys his thoughts in simple language and in short anecdotes and paragraphs. One can read a little passage every now and then and get value and substance from the book. It does not require you to read for an extended period of time at one sitting to get something out of it. I write this review so that perhaps I can influence at least one person to buy this book. It has changed how I look at things and life in a positive manner. I am now fortunate enough to be able to pass by Mr. Wooden during UCLA home games. I will never forget once he smiled at me. A simple smile that has had a lasting impression on me. This book is highly similar--it is simple but will no doubt leave a lasting impression on you and your life.