Steve Jamison – författare

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 All-American honors at Purdue, to his historic record-setting UCLA dynasty, John Wooden is a towering figure in 20th-century sports, and his experience and wisdom an American treasure. In My Personal Best, Coach Wooden tells how he did it and the lessons he learned on his remarkable journey.

Pairing never-before-seen photos from Coach Wooden''s private collection with his personal stories and affirmations, this book encompasses the dramatic arc of Wooden''s larger-than-life achievements and experiences. As he did in his perpetual bestseller Wooden, Coach offers a wealth of biographical details, personal reflections, and a lifetime of lessons. His millions of fans will cherish this definitive pictorial history of a living sports legend.

"John Wooden is a living legend because he practiced what he preached--the code of ethics which created America''s strength."--Phil Jackson, head coach, Los Angeles Lakers

"Most of what I know, what''s made me a smart man, has come from John Wooden."--Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer

"A man of John Wooden''s accomplishments and integrity would stand out in any era, but now, almost three decades after he coached his last game, he is in some ways an even more striking figure."--Bob Costas

“Each member of your teamhas the potential for personalgreatness; the leader’s job isto help them achieve it.”—JOHN WOODEN

Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Successpresents a unique opportunity to study underthe man ESPN hails as “the greatest coach ofthe 20th century.” Practicing character-basedleadership before the term was invented, JohnWooden consistently led his legendary teamsto victory and has since taught countless businessleaders his fundamentals for achievingand sustaining success.

Now, using this hands-on book based on theacclaimed John Wooden Leadership Course©,you can “interact” with Coach to learn andapply his philosophy of world-class leadership.This unique tutorial introduces you tohis core fundamentals of success as a leaderand reinforces them with examples, exercises,quizzes, and quotations. You’ll learn how to

Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Successdrives home Mr. Wooden’s trademark 12 Lessonsin Leadership and his famous Pyramidof Success.

When you base your leadership style and substanceon Coach’s straightforward attitudes,values, and principles, you’ll lead your teamand business to success the Wooden way.

“Each member of your teamhas the potential for personalgreatness; the leader’s job isto help them achieve it.”—JOHN WOODEN

Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Successpresents a unique opportunity to study underthe man ESPN hails as “the greatest coach ofthe 20th century.” Practicing character-basedleadership before the term was invented, JohnWooden consistently led his legendary teamsto victory and has since taught countless businessleaders his fundamentals for achievingand sustaining success.

Now, using this hands-on book based on theacclaimed John Wooden Leadership Course©,you can “interact” with Coach to learn andapply his philosophy of world-class leadership.This unique tutorial introduces you tohis core fundamentals of success as a leaderand reinforces them with examples, exercises,quizzes, and quotations. You’ll learn how to

Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Successdrives home Mr. Wooden’s trademark 12 Lessonsin Leadership and his famous Pyramidof Success.

When you base your leadership style and substanceon Coach’s straightforward attitudes,values, and principles, you’ll lead your teamand business to success the Wooden way.

The Essential Wooden--more leadership lessons from the Wooden playbook

The Essential Wooden is the ultimate collectionof Wooden’s opinions and observationson achieving exceptional leadership in anyorganization, with 200 invaluable lessons forinspiring championship performance.

Coach Wooden offers his hard-wonwisdom on building an organization thatperforms at its full potential under pressure,from preparing and training the team toinstilling personal drive and dedication. Hetakes his famous Pyramid of Success to thenext level, filling the entire book with hisstraight-shooting personality and keen insighton human nature.

Wooden shares rarely seen preseason lettersto his players, revealing how he instilledproductive attitudes and winning ways. Healso includes previously unpublished analysesfrom former players and managers, includingBill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

From Wooden’s earliest days as a leaderthrough his legendary UCLA dynasty, TheEssential Wooden distills a lifetime of learninginto the leadership playbook for the twenty-firstcentury.

The Wisdom of Wooden is John Wooden’s final book, completed just weeks before his passing in June 2010. In it he shares his most treasured memories and never-before-seen photographs as he looks back on an extraordinary life on and off the court.

Hailed by many as the greatest coach in the history of American sports, John Wooden is as famous for his personal philosophy as he is for his career achievements. He inspired, guided, and motivated generations of fans with his bestselling books on leadership, values, family, and the true meaning of success.

Coach Wooden wrote his final book, The Wisdom of Wooden: My Century On and Off the Court, in the last months before his death. Filled with his most treasured memories and more than 100 photographs, many never-before seen, it captures a life spent teaching, guiding, and serving others. Starting with his father’s now-famous 7 Point Creed—including “Make Each Day Your Masterpiece,” “Help Others,” and “Be True to Yourself,”—Coach Wooden affirms the principles to true success that helped him become an All American at Purdue University, a winning coach at Indiana State University, and an iconic sports figure at UCLA.

Yet anyone who knows John Wooden knows his record on the court was only part of the story. In The Wisdom of Wooden the legendary coach offers readers a rare glimpse not just behind the scenes but inside the man; not just on the court but in the huddles; not just his maxims but his poems, those he wrote and those he loved; not just the people he inspired, but the family, friends, and fans who inspired him; not just the lessons he taught but the lessons he learned; not just what was on his mind but what was in his heart.

Ultimately it was the life he lived that served as a model for his greatest lesson of all: a deep commitment to family, friends, and faith—the bedrock values of the man we all called, “Coach.”

Praise for John Wooden

“The Wisdom of Wooden has given me the life that I have . . . Thanks, Coach, for your faith and patience.”—Bill Walton

“The Wisdom of Wooden is a lifetime of Coach Wooden’s ideas on how to live life without sacrificing your moral principles. His life is a prime example of how this can be done--one that we can all learn from.”—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“John Wooden sets an example for all of us by constantly striving to be the best in every aspect of his life. Throughout my life, I have found inspiration and direction in the Bible. Today, I also find inspiration and direction in the words of John Wooden.”—Tom Coughlin, Head Coach, New York Giants

“One hundred years—what an amazing life. But here’s what''s even more amazing about John Wooden and the timeless verities his life has embodied. One hundred years from now they will still be talking about his accomplishments and his approach.”—Bob Costas

"There has never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach."--Sports Illustrated