Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life
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Book Reviews of Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life
Book Review: What's Here is Good, There's Just Too Little of It
Summary: 2 Stars
One does wonder why Mr. Lewis allowed a great article to be transformed into a razor thin volume, augmented with a few pictures. Hopefully his superb article on the California recall election in 2003 won't be packaged as a hardcover in the near future. Then again, pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger will surely move many copies.
The profile of Coach Fitz feels rather incomplete, relying almost solely on the author's own memory and its conflict with the current win-at-all-costs mentality of today's parents. If there is a real story to be had here it is the increasing social acceptability of parents as hyper-advocates for their children in school, sports, and pretty much any artistic or creative endeavor. That is a subject that deserves book-length treatment (and not just a hardcover pamphlet, either).
Assuming that readers of "Moneyball" haven't yet done so, they would do well to pick up "Liar's Poker" instead of this book.
Book Review: Moneybook
Summary: 1 Stars
This "book" is nothing more than a repackaged article first published, to much deserved acclaim, by The New York Times Magazine. The only "new" things you get is a pretty nice cover.
Michael, did you just do it for the money?
Michael Lewis is one of our best authors, but this is nothing more than a pretty lame attempt at cashing in for Father's Day. Save your money. Find the story of Coach Fitz on-line (or through a news search engine), and read it all for free.
Book Review: Just the NYT Magazine Piece
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is just a word-for-word repackaging of Lewis' NYT Magazine piece. It is a wonderful story with important themes, but I wanted more than a hardcover version of a magazine article.
Michael, please tell us how Coach Fitz is doing today!
Book Review: For Parents, Athletes and Coaches...(In That Order!)
Summary: 4 Stars
Having previously read Moneyball, I was keenly interested in Michael Lewis' tribute to his high school baseball coach. He did not disappoint. It is a brief, almost essay-like book that gives us snapshots of his coach and himself that reveal worlds about life, coaches, athletes, parents and rising to meet the challenge.
He contrasts very effectively the experience he had with the experience of present-day players, and sets the coach and his ways in graphic relief against both. His admiration for his coach comes through the telling of the story, and not through a simple list of his accomplishments.
The book does give important lessons on the game of life, thus fulfilling the promise of its' title.
One of the book's strengths is also a weakness. It is too brief! This will make it more easily accessible for many, but this reader was left wishing for more...but isn't that the grand goal of most good authors? Michael Lewis has given us another gem.
Highly recommended for athletes, coaches, and especially parents of athletes! Read, enjoy, learn...
Book Review: I had a high school basketball coach just like Coach Fitz
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are a parent and are wondering if you're kids are going to grow up to be happy, but aren't sure if you're doing the right things for them, read this book. Coach Fitz is much in the same vein as Herb Brooks, the legendary Minnesota Hockey Coach - if you've seen the movice Miracle - I've lived through a wind sprint marathon myself when I played High School basketball. I can tell you unequivocally that this type of insistent compassion is rare but absolutely essential for people to learn to deal with pain. I have seen this type of leadership in the organization where I work as well, and can tell you it makes all the difference in how well an organization performs.