Customer Reviews

Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance

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Recently retired Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy delivers an outstanding follow-up to his bestseller Quiet Strength in his new book, Uncommon. The name of the book is derived from a quote by former University of Minnesota coach Cal Stoll, who said:

"Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man. I'm looking for uncommon people."

Dungy first heard these words as a freshman on Stoll's football team almost three decades ago, and they have stayed with him ever since. The only difference is that it is now Dungy summoning men to an uncommon life of significance.

The book does not differ much from Quiet Strength, as it is written in a casual tone similar to most sports figure's memoirs. It is, however, less autobiographical, leaning more toward an advisory manual on how to live life. It is divided into seven parts, each dealing with important issues that men deal with in their lives, such as family, friends, career, and relationship with Christ. It is sprinkled with stories from Dungy's personal life which illustrate the themes of each chapter. Perhaps most refreshing is the coach's tone. He is never condescending or preachy, adamently proclaiming that his way is the best way. Reading this book is almost like talking to a big brother who is handing out advice because he's been there.

For those who are weary of self-help books, have no fear. Dungy's focus is on service to God, family, and fellow man. There are no get-rich quick schemes in this book, or promises of blessings. This is just Tony Dungy trying to instruct men how to be better husbands, fathers, and human beings. He doesn't claim to have all the answers; he's just willing to share what he's been through.

It's a quick, easy read, and there's enough football mixed in to keep most guys interested. There's a Q & A with Tony Dungy in the back, giving his opinion on more direct questions. My only knock on this book is the goofy picture of Dungy on the back cover. But it's definitely worth the money. Tony Dungy scores again.

Tony Dungy, best selling author of Quiet Strength, has penned another Super Bowl quality book in Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance. The two books cover similar terrain: how to win in life. However, Dungy's latest work focuses especially on how young men can pursue and achieve a life of significance and success.

Dungy is eminently qualified to write such a book, given his lifetime of leadership coaching not only athletes in sports, but men in the proverbial game of life. Additionally, his own drive for success, not simply defined by wins and loses, but by other-centered relationships, is Dungy's ultimate qualification for writing Uncommon.

Dungy begins by defining success, not from the world's perspective, but from his Christian worldview. He then notes how uncommon true success and significance are, outlines many of the reasons, and prescribes practical pathways: attitudes, ambitions, and allegiances.

What Rick Warren achieved with Purpose Driven Life, Tony Dungy has accomplished with Uncommon. Both books are user-friendly, easy-reads, without being dumbed-down or simplistic. And both books, while maintaining a Judea-Christian ethic, are not preachy.

Though focused somewhat on young males, Uncommon is for every person pursuing a life of meaning, a path of purpose, and the road toward significance. Learn from an uncommon man the uncommon art of leaving a lasting legacy.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.

Taking one's life beyond success in business, the author describes how to be a person of significance and how to make our life truly meaningful.

He reflects on lessons he learned from his parents, his mentors and career and his faith. He provides fresh insight into becoming significant, someone who matters.

A particular focus of the book is what it means to be a man of significance in a culture that is offering young men few positive role models. I personally think this is an excellent thing and much needed.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

Tony Dungy, head coach for the Indianapolis Colts, can't help but speak from his faith. It saturates his life, his work and his personal history. Anyone who knows anything about this man knows he's a Christian believer.

His first and previous book, "Quiet Strength," was autobiographical, with a little help from co-author Nathan Whitaker. So it focused on his upbringing in Detroit, the powerful influence of his parents and family, how he came to professional football, his faith, and all of the career triumphs and tragedies that led to the Colts winning the Super Bowl.

"Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance" is also autobiographical, but only in the sense that it distills how this man lives his life, or strives to. There is much to admire here -- would that we all strive to live our lives like this man has, and teach our sons and daughters to do the same.

He says at least three things in this book I found especially insightful, regardless of one's faith or lack of it.

First, what you do is less important than how you do it. The "how" ultimately has much more influence and impact than the "what."

Second, the opposite of courage is not cowardice. The opposite of courage is conformity. I had to think about that for a while but he's got it exactly right.

Third, don't let the bad things that happen to you define who you are as a person. Instead, what defines you as a person is how you respond to the bad things, and the good things, too, for that matter.

In "Uncommon," Tony Dungy says obvious things -- treat people well; love and honor your wife; teach and be there for your children; see successes and failures for what they are; character matters. That they sound surprising or "preachy" says a lot more about us and our culture than it does about the author.

Retired Colts head coach Tony Dungy has scored once again. I've read most of his books, and I really enjoyed Uncommon. I'm a bit older than who I think his target audience is, but it never hurts to read positive thoughts. I think young men and women will greatly enjoy and take away a new spirit as they look at life and what is ahead of them. Tony Dungy has been working with young men in and out of sports for decades. I think he is a true hero and I highly recommend this book to younger men and women just starting out on that interesting road we call "life."

I also recommend a book given to me by one who knows I love American heros. This memoir from an 82 year old WWII Navy vet ties in with the 64th anniversary of our fight for Iwo Jima this coming February 19th. Take a look at Walking Through Fire, An Iwo Jima Survivor's Remembrance

I am not a football fan, but I admire Coach Tony Dungy's leadership, attitude, work ethic, faith, and generousity. He sees the bigger picture, always, and puts the rest into perspective. "We do what we do, no excuses, no explanations." He has helped so many players, coaches, families, children, fathers. His support for ALL PRO DAD is admirable. His book will certainly continue the momentum and progress his previous works have started. Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning LifeYou Can Do It! His books have positively influenced my approach to my own life, family, and career, and I know they will do the same for you. Don't pass on this book. Take the hand off and run with it!

In Tony Dungy's first book, "Quiet Strength", the esteemed NFL Head Coach primarily focused on his journey through life, with personal stories peppered into a basic biography of his football career. Now, don't get me wrong...it was a great read! This second effort, however, feels more like what Dungy perhaps had in mind to begin with...a collection of advice from his years living the Christian life.

Basically, if you are looking for hard-core football stories or X's and O's talk, steer clear of this book at all costs, as instead of taking that approach, Dungy in its place doles out advice about any and all aspects of life, from family to friendship to religion to just plain trying to be a good, respectable person in an often-corrupt world. Though some may argue that the message comes off as preachy, I beg to differ. It is really just Dungy's attempt to share his wisdom with others...one can either take it or leave it (but most of the time you will want to take it!).

Thus, with "Uncommon", Dungy was able to achieve what he likely set out to do in the first place...using his status as an NFL Head Coach to connect with others and help them walk the Christian walk. In that respect, the book truly does live up to its title.

I enjoyed reading UNCOMMON (see also Section 2), written by Tony Dungy
with Nathan Whitaker . . . it's the former football coach's inspiring account of how
you can find the path to significance, particularly if you heed the advice Dungy
was given when he was on the freshman football team at the University of
Minnesota . . . Coach Cal Stoll told him:

* Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man. I'm looking
for uncommon people.

Those words always struck with him, and they became the basis not only
of this book--but also of much of his life as a player, coach, father and husband . . . in
addition, they became the theme of what he wants to share with others; i.e., what
needs to be done to become successful . . . I found this one example
especially on target:

* Our children are watching; there's no doubt about it. If you tell your son that it's
important to treat women well and then don't demonstrate that in your actions toward
your wife, he will get the real message of what you believe. Or when you treat honesty
as an abstract point, and then voluntarily tell the cashier that she gave you too much
change and hand money back to her, your children will see that, too. If they see that
work and status--above your family--are what drive you as a man, then no matter what
you say and how many times you say it, they will learn to value these things as well.

There was much advice that I found relevant not only for me, but perhaps for
many other readers--such as this tidbit:

* I can get a great deal done the day before we're headed out on vacation.



It's a pretty remarkable phenomenon, that ability that we all have to ensure that we get
a week's worth of productivity done ahead of time so that we can leave the office with a
clear desk and a clear conscience. We've got our list of things to work through, and
during the day--check, check, check--we move down the list, crossing things off.

And I very much liked the concluding "Q&A with Coach Dungy," which featured
this advice that I personally need to follow more often:

* When you deal with conflict, either at home or on the job, what do you do to stay focused
on solutions and communication?



The easiest thing to do when there is a difference of opinion is to look at it from my
standpoint--here's what I think, here's why I think that way, and here's what I want to do.
I try to look at why the others feel the way they do. Why are they taking the position they
are taking? By looking at it that way, I try to see the benefits of what they're saying. In the
end, I still might not agree with them, but it opens me up to looking at things in a different
way and lets them feel that their position is being considered. And, above all, I try not
to take things personally.


UNCOMMON is certainly for football fans, but others will benefit from it as well . . . be
forewarned that it often quotes the Bible; however, that's not surprising because
Dungy is a devout evangelical Christian . . . that fact should not defer you from
appreciating the book, even if you are not that particular religion.

Uncommonly good
Simply a Magnificent book. Well done Coach Dungy. I bought this wonderful book for my son's 25th birthday and read it in 2 days before giving it to him. Coach hits ALL the high points about what all this is about.
Strong recommend. Lots of good stories and examples. Excellent use of biblical quotes and examples. Enjoy.

This isn't a football book. This a book written by a guy who just happens to coach football. It's very insightful and full of positive lessons for living life. Tony Dungy really opens up his soul and lets you know with compassion and grace how he thinks living an 'uncommon' life can be done.