Book Review - "Coach Wooden"

When Coach (John) Wooden graduated from eighth grade, his father, Joshua Hugh Wooden gave him a gift that he has carried with him throughout his life since then, a card with seven life principles written on them. This card with these principles are the backbone of the book "Coach Wooden" written by Pat Williams with Jim Denney.

The seven principles are:
1. Be true to yourself.
2. Help others.
3. Make each day your masterpiece.
4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
5. Make friendship a fine art.
6. Build a shelter against a rainy day by the life you live.
7. Pray for guidance and counsel, and give thanks for your blessings each day.

These principles are not only what made Coach Wooden successful professionally, but also personally in his every day life as well! These are great principles for each and everyone of us to consider and really make a part of our lives. There is a chapter devoted to each chapter and it is an enjoyable read as the principle is discussed at great length, but there is so much personal content interwoven into the book as well. One quote of Coach Wooden's that really stood out to me while reading this book is in regards to the third principle: Make each day your masterpiece. Coach Wooden shares, "When I was teaching basketball, I urged my players to try their hardest to improve on that very day, to make that practice a masterpiece...It begins by trying to make each day count and knowing you can never make up for a lost day." While that is true with sports, it is a great reminder to not take any day or moment that we are given for granted.

“Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”