Customer Reviews

The Wisdom of Wooden: My Century On and Off the Court

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John Wooden and Steve Jamison have produced a final gift of excellence from one of America's greatest teachers. The mythical basketball coach whose name was synonymous with excellence lived his life by a simple yet profound mantra from his father, Joshua: "Make each day your masterpiece." This book is a testament to the core values handed down from Coach Wooden's father and shared with his own children and hundreds of student-athletes.

Unique Look and Feel

The book is constructed in the shape of an old-fashioned family photo album. The distinctive rectangular dimensions were a good choice for an equally unique man. I liked the compelling contrast between the cover image of Coach Wooden with a basketball and quotes from two of his prized pupils, Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, on the back. There are no page numbers to further reinforce the photo album ambiance, and the predominant font size is larger than usual. Key quotes were shown in a maroon hue. Perhaps as a reminder that Mr. Wooden was a former English teacher.

Vivid Pictures Paint a Life Story

I grew up watching the fabled UCLA Bruins from afar on television. Flipping through the pages brought back wonderful childhood memories of the impeccably-dressed coach with his precise teams that performed like a Swiss watch. Coach Wooden and Mr. Jamison provide the reader with a wide variety of images. From his early days of coaching, to pictures of his extended family, to handwritten diagrams of plays, to the many highs and extremely rare lows, the life of John Wooden is documented in significant detail. My favorite image was Coach Wooden and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar holding hands as the former student assists his teacher walk on the court.

A Few Memorable Quotes

"Coaching is just another word for teaching; you may have a whistle, but you're still a teacher."

"The bond between teacher and student is a sacred trust. I treated that bond with the utmost respect."

"When you leave the arena, a bystander shouldn't be able to tell by your demeanor whether you won or lost."

"Trophies are not success... Success is measured by the quality of effort you put forth to do your best."

"Basketball is of little importance compared to the rest of the life that we live."

A new colleague told me that this would make an excellent coffee table book. I agree, and my coffee table just took a leap in quality. But if you put this wonderful book on your coffee table, please be sure that it sits at the top of your offerings. The example, life and wisdom of Coach John Wooden deserve no less.

Please Note:

I was contacted by a McGraw-Hill representative and requested to provide a review. This is an objective review and I am not obliged to provide a positive one.

This charming book celebrates the extraordinary life of coach John Wooden and shares the principles that guided him throughout his career. Contents include the 7 point creed and the two sets of threes from Wooden's father, Wooden's own Pyramid of Success, the Pyramid of Success modified for children, and his Sportsmanship pledge for youngsters. You don't have to be a sports fan to benefit from the collected wisdom and quotes in here. His words are simple, powerful, and sane. Buy this book and read it together with your children, your parents, or your grandparents.

Coffee table book using photos from Mr. Wooden's personal collection to tell about his life and explain his philosophy.

Mr. Wooden's final book shows his love for his family, former players included. Family, faith, and friends are ranked in that order by him.

Two photos of his father Joshua as a young man are unforgettable--his father was a physical and moral powerhouse on the order of Abraham Lincoln. "When he spoke, I listened," Mr. Wooden says twice, including at the close of the book.

I would have too.

Like everything I have read about or by John Wooden, this book left me with a feeling of great respect for him, not only as a coach, but as a human. I collect quotes, and I recorded several new ones from this book. The Wisdom of Wooden does a particularly good job of drawing in the reader through beautiful photos and a conversational tone, so that it feels she/he is having a personal dialogue with Coach Wooden. It is a quick and easy read and would make a great conversation starter as a coffee table book. The Wisdom of Wooden would be an excellent gift for a graduate or someone starting a new job, as well as for sports fans and quote collectors.

Although this is not his first Wooden book it seems like this is his favorite-My dad absolutely loved this book! I thought this would be a nice "coffee table" type of book for him but instead he quotes it often to his high school girls basketball team when they are in need of some inspiration.

A great tribute to one of the best human beings that has ever lived. The values John Wooden lived by and taught to his players during his career are in short supply in today's world. We should make this book required reading for every young person in America. We would all be the better for it!

Can't just have one or some of Woodens's books. He is a teacher and there are life lessons in all Wooden did. This is a book that's style is easy to read but many visuals. Follow what he says and learn. A great summary/

A great way to remember a great man. Open any page for
a memory or a memorable and inspiring quotation.

I thought it was great. It encompasses all of Coach Wooden's thoughts and beliefs combined with his life story. I plan on putting it out for my students to read.

I have become a real fan of John Wooden and his great wisdom!!I am very glad that we have his books through which he can share his wisdom with us. I am giving these books to my grandson and some young friends so that they, too, can learn to be a man like Coach John Wooden. He has put his ideas down so simply that anyone can learn from them. His life can continue to change and mold young people for years to come.