The Fundamentals: 8 Plays for Winning the Games of Business and Life

by Isiah Thomas, Wes Smith

Isiah Thomas has succeeded at every level of his career. Now, in The Fundamentals, Coach Thomas offers the most important life fundamentals he's identified in his own journey; eight principles that will drive you to higher peaks in your life and career. Coach Thomas reveals how you can acquire the focus and commitment it takes to be a champion. The Fundamentals shows you how to be a leader of integrity, courage, and generosity, and how to act based on what you believe in so that you can achieve your life's mission. Through it all, Coach Thomas shares stories from his life on and off the court that illustrate the strategies that allowed him to see beyond his circumstances to his possibilities. Here are hard-earned, field-tested, and easy to grasp fundamentals that will get you off the bench and into the trenches.

Genres: Sports

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Robert]

Pretty similar to many other ghost written "success manuals". I've read way too many of these.

I have to say though that at the time I read it I did enjoy it.

I wonder what I really took away though?

[Tedi31]

In 2005, I began reading Isiah Thomas‘ book as part of my dissertation research and I found Coach Thomas to be a good storyteller capable of blending his experiences in basketball and business.

Among the highlights of his book, Thomas (2001) shares his Indiana University mantra which echoed qualities that every individual could aspire for: “self-development, preparation, concentration, and execution.” Thomas added that these characteristics were incorporated into the coaching drills and programs that he participated in during his time at Indiana University so as to teach “how to (use a skill) “what to (deciding between two or more skills), and when to (knowing the actual moment to use the developed skill)” (Paye, 1996). Thomas (2001) also leaves his readers with this thought, character is usually found in “unconventional places” as opposed to right in front of us.

For more, visit: http://www.hankpym.com

[Welson Chang]

A lot of it is filled with opinions. Some of the major points are inspirational but overall, it could be better. Still, my review is colored after watching him nearly run the New York Knicks into the ground.

[Ryan]

Some good application for leadership. Unity stems from having a common goal.
Sometimes being a leader means stepping back to let others lead.

[Laurie Sepulveda]

Amazing story of triumph and overcoming poverty to become successful.