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9th out of 34 books
—
6 voters
My Personal Best: Life Lessons from an All-American Journey
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
For John Wooden's millions of fans--a heartfelt and revealing self-portrait about the people and events that shaped his life
Sports Illustrated declared: "There has never been a finer coach in American sports than John Wooden. Nor a finer man." ESPN selected him as the "Greatest Coach of the 20th Century." From his birth on an Indiana tenant farm, to
...moreHardcover, 208 pages
Published
April 23rd 2004
by McGraw-Hill Companies
(first published April 9th 2004)
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May 13, 2012
Brad Sherry
added it
First Checkpoint: #2
The main character of this book is John Wooden, one of the greatest college basketball coaches to ever live. This book, My Personal Best, written by John Wooden with Steve Jamison, is a memoir of John’s life. As a result, the book goes in chronological order according to John’s life. So, at the beginning of the book, John is just a kid growing up on his Indiana farm, telling us about the people around him. I’m sure his views have changed since he was a boy, but I’m not so sur...more
The main character of this book is John Wooden, one of the greatest college basketball coaches to ever live. This book, My Personal Best, written by John Wooden with Steve Jamison, is a memoir of John’s life. As a result, the book goes in chronological order according to John’s life. So, at the beginning of the book, John is just a kid growing up on his Indiana farm, telling us about the people around him. I’m sure his views have changed since he was a boy, but I’m not so sur...more
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If I could give this book more stars, I would! I bought this book for John for Fathers' Day after seeing a vignette on ESPN after John Wooden's recent passing. I knew it would be the kind of thing that John would like. The book sat on the back of our toilet, so I picked it up and read it over the course of a few days. THis is a remarkable little book. Truly wise and inspiring! I know very little about basketball, but the principles he used to guide his team and his own life are universal and tim...more
This is a fantastic autobiography by perhaps the greatest basketball (and maybe any sport) coach ever. It outlines the important people and events in his life, and the significant life lessons that he learned from each. While it is a great book for college basketball fans, I think the lessons that Wooden emphasizes are important for people from all walks of life.
Wooden was a man of immense character and integrity! His book is inspirational and easy to read, with plenty of interesting photographs. I don't love watching basketball but I still enjoyed the descriptions of the earlier era of the sport. This is a must-read for any pre-teen or teen sports oriented boy or girl!!
I loved this book. I would recommend reading this book before Mind Gym and combining their principles. Its all about doing the best you can do and feeling satisfied with your efforts. You don't need a trophy to know you did your personal best.
I loved this book. I would recommend reading this book before Mind Gym and combining their principles. Its all about doing the best you can do and feeling satisfied with your efforts. You don't need a trophy to know you did your personal best.
This was a well written book and a quick read. I liked how John Wooden told his life story and intermingled it with things when and how he learned lifes lessons. He was an amazing coach but more important he is a great man.
Straight forward autobiography about John Wooden former coach of the UCLA Bruins basketball team. Recommended to me by Barb's brother. Although he was a legend, the book ain't so much so.
I just finished this book and I already want to read it again. I know there is so much that I missed the first time through. I highly recommend this book.
Inspiring. Good values put in a very un-preachy way. Held my interest because of personal stories of players that are well known.
Such an uplifting read. I got alot out of this book that I want to share with my kids as they get older.
May 16, 2012
Jim
added it
Every book by Coach Wooden is full of wisdom and a code of ethics to live by.
One of the best biographies. Not phenomenal writing but powerful principles.
What an inspirational book! I think this should be a must-read in all schools.
This should be required reading for all young people.
You're better off reading 'They Call Me Coach.'
Amazing! Greatest coach of all time & all sports!
Amazing and inspiring
Sep 24, 2010
Denise Caudell
added it
Excellent Read. Very profound.
Amazing.
I wish this book had gone into a little more detail about his life but it was a great book. I loved all the mottos he lived his life by. Very inspirational! One of my favorite quotes is, "The best way to improve your team is to improve yourself."
Nov 09, 2009
Jenn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
sports fan
Recommended to Jenn by:
I think Becky Fellows
He had a great philosophy about life and coaching basketball. He was more concerned with his players being good people and offering up their "personal best" and good team members than winning games. He had many sound and solid words to live by and it is no wonder he became one of the best coaches ever.
I love his qoute:
Talent is God-given: be humble
Fame is man-given: be thankful
Conceit is self-given: be careful
I love his qoute:
Talent is God-given: be humble
Fame is man-given: be thankful
Conceit is self-given: be careful
My mom gave this to me for my birthday in 2006. I read it in two nights. You have to have a ton of respect for this man and what he accomplished. He knew what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it.
Few people knew it took him many years to win his first NCAA tournament. His perserverence and meticulus attention to detail makes you wonder what you can do to improve your systems and processes.
Few people knew it took him many years to win his first NCAA tournament. His perserverence and meticulus attention to detail makes you wonder what you can do to improve your systems and processes.
Solid book about leadership. I used it to help my AVID students think about leadership and found that I learned just as much. Wooden has such great advice for success and tells his story well. This isn't a long text, but you get a good look at how Wooden became such a success.
Jun 24, 2008
Carrie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Bruins, sports fans, people who like to be inspired
Shelves:
non-fiction-memoirs,
books-i-own
Learning about Coach Wooden's life was an eye opening experience. I have the utmost respect for the choices he's made and way he has lived his life. The chapter on meeting his wife, Nell, is truly touching.
I got this book for Chad but I can't believe how much I enjoyed it. It was interesting and entertaining from start to finish. SO!!!! Many good life lessons to live by!
A must read for any aspiring coach; his approach clearly worked well in basketball and can be applied to many other coaching/mentoring environments.
What an amazing coach and man. He was raised with such great values and he passed those on to all those he encountered.
Wooden could have made an even better living by just writing books had he not been such an accomplished coach.
I think we need more heroes like John Wooden. Great man with lots of great words of wisdom.
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John Robert Wooden is a retired American basketball coach. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (class of 1961) and as a coach (class of 1973). He was the first person ever enshrined in both categories; only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. His 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12 year period while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college bas...more
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