Wooden

Rating:
Summary: "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."
Review: John Wooden, former UCLA Basketball coach, came together with Steve Jamison to compile a book based on John Wooden's philosophies. This book, "A Lifetime of Reflections and Observations On and Off the Court" appeals to everybody. If you're a fan of basketball, play basketball, or are a father or mother, son or daughter, John Wooden gives his advice to everybody. Most people will think that this book is only about basketball, not at all. If you're looking for answers for any kind of problem you are facing, I'm sure John Wooden will have some affect on you.

John Wooden is an 88 year old who was a former UCLA basketball coach, leading the Bruins to 10 championships in 12 years. He grew up in a small town and has lived a simple and basic life. In the book, he talks about success as a person, personal goals, acting towards others, behaviour, discipline, parenting, leadership, adversity, and numerous other topics - of course including basketball.

This book has made me a better person and a better basketball player. It has taught me that I can learn from experience, not things that I can learn before-hand. It has taught me how to constantly improve and how to always work harder. To be industrious and enthusiastic in everything I do! With that said, I'll leave you with a quote from John Wooden that has helped me improve in school, on the court, or whenever I'm working; "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."

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: 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: A book not of Basketball but of Life
Review: Coach John Wooden's new book is a keeper. I would recommend placing it on your desk at work and living every day by a new phrase or paragraph because each tactful sentence is well placed and full of purpose. He discusses from his childhood to his marriage how he used a few little philosophies sewn into his daily life by his parents and his own eagerness for learning. He is a man who is at his own peace of mind who knows clearly who he is and what his purpose is, and with this book you too can learn your peace of mind and your purpose in life. The book is excellent to live by or just pick and choose sections to live by from day to day. I recommend any persons infatuated with sports or just infatuated with anything beside themselves, because that's not the key to being successful in a sport or business or any career or objective. Through points he's lived by, intriguing questions, some of his own favorite poetry, and some life history, John Wooden can turn a life around if one would live by his principles.

Rating:
Summary: Wooden : A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and O
Review: I found a new life for myself through exercising and applying some of the philosophies of John Wooden as they are revealed in his book. As an AAU coach for Lower Bucks Baskerball Group in Bucks County Pennsylvania, I wanted to teach my kids how to become successful. I read the entire book and found myself learning how to become successful in my own life: work, marriage, friendship, coaching. I wish I could spend a weekend with coach Wooden so I could learn more. The book changed my life. It's all true, to become successful, you must start with a solid foundation. As a Certified Oracle Database Administrator, I have become more proficient in my professional life as a result of applying the concepts built into JohnW's Pyramid of Success. If ever you wished to aspire to begin anew in life, learn from this man. I've found true peace of mind in knowing that I did the best I could in becoming the best I possibly could become. Having the oppourtunity to work with youngsters is a great oppourtunity to help develop their future. I'm teaching these kids what John Wooden taught his UCLA players during the championship years. It's a great experience knowing that they will benefit from his teaching. I was a very successful athlete when I was young, but I never appreciated what it took to reach the pinnacle of my own personal success. What I found was I had been doing the type of things as covered with in this book all along. The hard part is trying to teach kids how to become successful. You would generally say, you have to work hard. Well, John Wooden knew you had to like to work hard, but also, share your successes with your friends, of which, you remain loyal too and cooperate with. I could go on and on. I've found myself preaching the success terminology to everyone that aspires to become successful. I have three very young children. My son Robert is two years old and he can dribble a basketball while watching the trash truck drive by in front of the house. He's amazing, just like his father, only better. I hope coach Wooden knows that I'm going teach my son everything I possibly can, just like JohnW's father did for the great coach. I'm preparing for my coaching future now by adhereing to many of the great teachings and revelations contained within the pages. Each year I coach, my teams will begin with the Cornerstones of the Foundation of the Pyramid, which leads to success. Then I'll teach them the "Give and Go" and "Pick and Roll" while I teach them about Loyalty and Self-Control, the relationships between Initiative and Alertness and Determination, how to achieve Poise and Confidence, how to have faith and patience, how to reach competitive greatness and ultimately, being successful in life.

Rating:
Summary: Wisdom from a master teacher
Review: Listen to anyone who speaks about him, or read anything that anyone writes about him, and you will instantly know that John Wooden is truly a national treasure. This book of Wooden's wisdom and life philosophies is definitely on my short list of the best books of all time about character and leadership.

This book is a collection of the simple and direct beliefs and observations of John Wooden, arguably the best (college) basketball coach of all time. Interestingly, very little of what Wooden wants to teach is about basketball. His quick stories, short vignettes, and detailed memories focus on life and relationships with others.

Coach Wooden is a gentle man with the courage and discipline to live his life according to his deepest held ideals, values, and principles. Despite his teams' unbelievable success (10 NCAA national basketball championships in 12 years (including 7 in a row!), 88 consecutive victories, and 38 straight NCAA tournament victories), and his own fame (many coach-of-the-year honors, "Sports Illustrated's" sportsman of the year, a lifetime winning percentage of over 80%, and the first man to be elected to college basketball's hall of fame as both a player (3-time All-American at Purdue) and coach), he resisted the public pressures and temptations to stay true to himself and his beliefs.

Coach Wooden defines success as the "peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." The book finishes with 30 pages devoted to Wooden's legendary "Pyramid of Success" and another 5 pages of his favorite sayings - 35 priceless pages in a priceless book.

At a time when America is re-defining and searching for true heroes to lead us forward from our darkest days, this book is a beacon of hope and guidance and should serve as a blueprint for making heroes of us all.

Rating:
Summary: "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."
Review: John Wooden, former UCLA Basketball coach, came together with Steve Jamison to compile a book based on John Wooden's philosophies. This book, "A Lifetime of Reflections and Observations On and Off the Court" appeals to everybody. If you're a fan of basketball, play basketball, or are a father or mother, son or daughter, John Wooden gives his advice to everybody. Most people will think that this book is only about basketball, not at all. If you're looking for answers for any kind of problem you are facing, I'm sure John Wooden will have some affect on you.

John Wooden is an 88 year old who was a former UCLA basketball coach, leading the Bruins to 10 championships in 12 years. He grew up in a small town and has lived a simple and basic life. In the book, he talks about success as a person, personal goals, acting towards others, behaviour, discipline, parenting, leadership, adversity, and numerous other topics - of course including basketball.

This book has made me a better person and a better basketball player. It has taught me that I can learn from experience, not things that I can learn before-hand. It has taught me how to constantly improve and how to always work harder. To be industrious and enthusiastic in everything I do! With that said, I'll leave you with a quote from John Wooden that has helped me improve in school, on the court, or whenever I'm working; "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."

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: 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: "Coaching Bible"
Review: Fantastic Book. This book should be required reading in all college coaching classes and youth sports coaches. This book gets to the basis of what "the true purpose" of sports are all about.