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A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond
 
 
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A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond [Hardcover]

Craig Robinson (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 20, 2010
The eagerly anticipated inspirational memoir from Michelle Obama's brother, celebrating the extraordinary family members and mentors who have shaped his life

When he stepped into history's spotlight at the National Democratic Convention, Craig Robinson recalls that nothing could have been more gratifying than introducing his sister, Michelle Obama, to millions of Americans. Within minutes, he won the hearts of the nation by sharing highlights of growing up in the modest Robinson household, where the two were raised by devoted parents who taught them the values of education, hard work, and the importance of reaching far beyond what even seemed possible.

Those lessons of character were fundamentals in shaping Craig Robinson's own remarkable journey: from his days playing street basketball on Chicago's Southside, while excelling academically, to admission at Princeton University, where he was later named Ivy League Player of the Year, twice. After playing professionally in Europe, Robinson made an about-face, entering the competitive field of finance. With his MBA from the University of Chicago, his meteoric rise landed him a partnership in a promising new venture. But another dream beckoned and Craig made the unusual decision to forego the trappings of money and status in the business world in order to become a basketball coach. He soon helped transform three struggling teams - as an assistant coach at Northwestern, then as head coach at Brown and now at Oregon State University. In his first season at OSU, he navigated what was declared to be one of the nation's best single season turnarounds.

In A Game of Character, Robinson takes readers behind the scenes to meet his most important influences in his understanding of the winning traits that are part of his playbook for success. Central to his story are his parents, Marian and Fraser, two indefatigable individuals who showed their children how to believe in themselves and live their lives with conviction through love, discipline and respect. With insights into this exemplary family, we relive memories of how Marian sacrificed a career to be a full-time mom, how Fraser got up and went to work every day while confronting the challenges of multiple sclerosis, how Craig and Michelle strengthened their bond as they journeyed out of the Southside to Princeton University and eventually, the national stage.

Heartwarming, inspiring, and even transformational, A Game of Character comes just at the right time in an era of change, reminding readers of our opportunity to work together and embrace the character of our nation, to make a difference in the lives of others and to pave the way for the next generation.

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Customers buy this book with The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates $16.17

A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond + The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"He helped elect a president."
-The New York Times

"Craig's understanding of character and his sound judgment for how to win on any court, clearly learned in the extraordinary household where he grew up, are unsurpassed. The lessons he shares in this book provide a playbook for success that can be applied by anyone. It's been a joy to witness his remarkable journey."
-Bill Carmody, Men's Basketball Coach, Northwestern University

"For many years the role of family historian - the "keeper of the family lore" as Craig puts it - had belonged to his father, my late husband, Fraser Robinson. Without Fraser here to keep those stories alive, they were in danger of becoming lost and Craig was determined not to let them go, but instead to take up his father's mantle of storyteller, motivator, and Philosopher-in-Chief.

Craig has risen to the challenge with A Game of Character, a book that not only pays tribute to his parents (and to all parents, teachers, mentors, and coaches for that matter) but also honors a beautiful brother-sister relationship and all sibling, family, and community relationships."
-Marian Robinson

About the Author

Currently the men's basketball coach at Oregon State University, Craig Robinson played for the Princeton University team under the legendary Pete Carril. He lives in Oregon with his wife and children.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Gotham (April 20, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1592405487
  • ISBN-13: 978-1592405480
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #533,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Center Court with Craig Robinson, April 25, 2010
By 
Gail K. Powers "Abra" (Harbor Country, Mi,N. Naples, FL, Chicago area) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond (Hardcover)
Trauma, desperation, abuse, and a number of other negative factors sell memoirs. In this book you will find none of that. You will also not find much about the famous or celebrated people Craig Robinson knows as there is little name dropping here except for his pride in his family members. This is a book about family values, a strong foundation for future success, and uses basketball as a metaphor for the choices Robinson has made in life.
Why did I like this book? The themes involved here are ones that I believe in as a parent. Obviously, not everyone is as ultimately successful in that area as Fraser and Marian Robinson were, but even a little of their common sense approach and spirituality will result in positives. Robinson wasn't overtly wordy expounding on details of his early life, but the general theme was responsibility and respect. The Robinsons were hands on parents and their kids managed to excel in ways that seem incredible to most people. There was a huge amount of wealth in this family, but it had nothing to do with the material. As for Craig Robinson himself, his story was one of success and staying in the game. A former basketball star, investment banker, and now head coach, his is a remarkable story. While I found his insites and comments about his better known relatives interesting and humanizing, this book stands by itself as it chronicles a life that is somewhat removed from that of presumably most of his readers but easy to relate to.
There wasn't anything I disliked in this book. Robinson was divorced from his first wife who was the mother of his two older children. He was respectful of her and he speaks lovingly of all his children, his current wife, and family. He is seemingly a very positive person and that seems to fit perfectly with his life choice to coach college basketball. It took a lot to follow his destiny and ultimately do what gave him real joy. While I am well aware that a good college coach can make a decent living, investment banking is very lucrative. It took a lot for Robinson to make a choice in favor of coaching and this book reflects that.
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17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great and inspirational life story!, April 21, 2010
This review is from: A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond (Hardcover)
When this book arrived my first thought wasn't about Robinson being the brother-in-law of President Obama, but was more about his wonderfully life affirming personal story. Aside from his star turn at the Democratic National Convention back in 2008 Robinson has largely stayed out of the spotlight, busily keeping busy with his career and life. There were times reading the book I kept forgetting his White House connections as the book isn't really so much about that as the story of his parents, their family, and his life. It's nice to read a truly inspirational story about somebody getting ahead in life through old fashioned determination, getting good grades and working hard and that is certain the story of the Robinson family. In an age where so many people find inspiration in the wrong places (musicians, athletes, actors, etc.) it's nice to see a book that covers people who do move from working class origins to a much better place in life. More importantly Robinson seems like a genuinely nice guy and certainly somebody to emulate and look up to. Don't be surprised if you see him out on the motivational speakers circuit, because this is a story you'll want to hear more about!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring book - Character and Effort Matter, May 26, 2010
By 
This review is from: A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond (Hardcover)
This book is the inspiring story of Michelle Obama's brother who is well known in his own right as a college basketball coach. The values he was raised with needs to be passed on to young people and adults these days. I hope a version comes out for young teen. You can tell from the chapter headings that there is a lot of good advice contained in this fast read:
Part I: The Fundamentals
1. Meet the Home Team
2. Robinson Family Values: Love, Discipline, Respect
3. Know Who You are and Live Your Life with Conviction
4, Be Relentless: You have to Win to Stay on the Court
5. Don't Be Afraid to Be Smart and Cool
6. The Correct Choice May Not Be the Right Choice
Part II: On the Road
7. From the Southside of Chicago to Princeton
8. Learn the Game, Not Just Your Position
9. Luck is Just Another Word for Hard Work
10. Character is Shaped by Choices Made Very Step of the Way
11. Expect the Best but Prepare for the Unexpected.
Part III: A New Season
12. Building a Strong Family is like Building a Strong Team
13. A Strategy for Change Starts with the Belief that You can Win
14. Playing a new Position
15. Be Relentless: You Have to Win to Stay on the Court (Reprise)
Part IV: Full-Court Press
16. What Would Fraser Robinson Say?
17. Harnessing Energy, Seizing Momentum
18. The Character of a Nation

Postgame: We All Have a Window of Opporunity
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