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Summary: For anyone who likes basketball or spiritual exploration.
Review: If you like basketball, you'll love Sacred Hoops. If you like spiritual exploration, you'll also love Sacred Hoops. If you are into both of these things, like myself, then this book could have a profound effect on you.I picked it up out of curiosity. Phil Jackson was on his way to another NBA championship, this time with the Lakers, and I wanted to understand how he turned good teams into great ones. I was also interested in his Zen-Christian ideas on life. Sacred Hoops therefore became my introduction to Zen Buddism, and I feel I've benefitted from the wisdom it offers. So for those seeking spiritual growth: if you are constantly inhibited and frustrated by the unending stream of doubts, desires, and fears that appear in your mind, then check this book out, as well as other collections of Zen thought. You'll gain a great perspective and start really being yourself.
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Summary: Moving account of an evolving philosophy
Review: In a time where a win at any cost attitude prevails and there is a loss of spirituality, this is a very moving account of the evolution of a philosophy of life. Phil Jackson spirituality as expressed in this audio clearly serves as an example of how one can live in a competitive environment without losing principles. It is an inspired examination of using different philosophies to transcend the win-lose mind set
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Summary: Sacred Hoops was very refreshing and thought-provoking.
Review: In lieu of the recent NBA lockout and the subsequent retirement of its premier star attraction, Michael Jordan, reading Sacred Hoops, brilliantly written by former Bulls' coach Phil Jackson, provides a very refreshing and thought-provoking look into the money-driven and often soulessness world of professional basketball. The book takes a wonderful look into the mind of Jackson, raised by Pentacostal parents in Montana, who later became enlightened by Zen and Native American principles during his playing career with the New York Knicks and early coaching stints in Albany, N.Y. and Puerto Rico. Jackson's higher wisdom of teamwork - his philosophy of preaching the expression of the power of mindfulness and compassion in action - became a paradigm for his success in guiding the Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s (the paperback edition chronicles through the 1995-96 season). The book also serves as an insightful memoir full of stories about Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc and Dennis Rodman. For devotees of Jordan, Sacred Hoops serves as a nice complement to other books written about him and shows how Jackson instilled in Jordan - and his teammates - the ability to act with a clear mind and stay calmly focused at all times; how he changed the Bulls into a team that served the "we" instead of "me". Sacred Hoops is an inspiring book - one which you won't want to put down.
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Summary: The whole can be greater than the sum of the parts.
Review: In today's me world, an attitude by no means limited to atheletics (witness the runaway salaries of today's CEOs), examples of people who grasp that the most effective path to strength is the one that leads through community are precious and too rare. Mr. Jackson allows us to follow the evolution of the Bulls from a group of very talented individuals into a team in the best sense of the word. There are lessons galore of all shapes and sizes, but the one that I most appreciated is that the pursuit of excellence can be very successful without sacrificing honor, trust and commitment to something outside of ourselves. And make no mistake, Mr. Jackson is a winner of the first order. Sacred Hoops should be mandatory reading for every high school athelete in this country.
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Summary: profound reading experience
Review: Like a sinner seeking salvation in the bible, Jackson's book, Sacred Hoops, helped change my life. His words helped me take control of my life by allowing me to understand who I truly am beneath my skin and within my soul. His vision helped me to see more clearly and if I could, I would thank him for showing me a path I would have never ordinarily traveled.
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Summary: Very enlightening and well written
Review: Most coaching books and "success" books preach formulas where if you do "such and such", you get ahead in life. This book abandons those cliched formulas. Each chapter is a simple anecdote from a period in Jackson's life. As a basketball fan, I found the stories to be very interesting. I bought the book because I am a basketball fan, but I found the spiritual "teachings" in the book to be very down to earth and enlightening. If you're like me and and you've never studied Zen, you might be suprised at how down to earth it is. Jackson proves this by using common, everyday examples of Zen philosophy in action.
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Summary: The best book my husband ever read!
Review: My husband is not an avid reader, and barely has time for anything other work. I purchased this book for him since he is a fan of Phil Jackson's. He read at night, before bed and could not put the book down. He absolutely loved it! He read it within a few days, and craved for more. I never saw him enjoy a book so much. Also, he applied some of Phil's coaching principles to his own business. He recommended the book to his friends. My sister also read the book and did a presentation on it at school (college). She said it was one of the best books she ever read. It took her one day to read since she couldn't put it down either.
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Summary: Phil The Greatest Coach Ever!
Review: Not only does Phil Jackson take you inside the Chicago Bulls, like a passenger, he lets you into his life story here. I read this book about 5 times since buying it. Phil keeps the interest level high. My main criticism about him and the book is that it might talk about Zen a little too much at times. I understand explaining his philosophy, but after awhile it gets redundant.
I came to love Phil Jackson as coach of the Chicago Bulls. I came to feel the opposite about him when he coached the Lakers. I guess it depends on your view of the teams. Now that Jackson no longer coaches the Lakers I can see it wasn't him that I viewed as the enemy so much as the cockiness of his main star Kobe Bryant. I despise Kobe. Much like I despised Larry Bird in his playing days (being a 76ers fan it was natural to feel that way about Bird). I felt different about Bird in his coaching days and came to respect and, well LIKE Coach Larry Bird.
I just bought/pre-ordered 2 more Phil Jackson books: The Last Season: A Team In Search Of It's Soul & More Then A Game. I will write reviews on those books as soon as I recieve and read them.
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Summary: You can train to get in the zone ...
Review: or you can live your life in the Zone. Jackson covers his unending quest for personal and profession excellance, without the ego, in a great memoir and theory book.
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Summary: Being fully present
Review: Phil Jackson finds order in chaos. His concept of being "fully present" is a gem. This book is an easy read (I did it in one sitting) full of nuggets of wisdom. Phil is obviously well read and shares his insight in a thought provoking manner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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