Wooden

A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court
by John Wooden | McGraw Hill © 1997 · 201 pages

John Wooden. He’s arguably the greatest coach EVER and this book is essentially one Big Idea after another. Wooden is all about the fundamentals and in this Note we’ll explore a few of my favorite Big Ideas on his old-school wisdom—from the fact that full effort = full success to the importance of becoming a realistic optimist.


“Happiness is in many things. It’s in love. It’s in sharing. But most of all, it’s in being at peace with yourself knowing that you are making the effort, the full effort, to do what is right.”

~ John Wooden from Wooden

John Wooden’s awesome.

According to ESPN, he’s the greatest coach of the 20th century and some would say he’s the greatest coach *ever.* A super humble, inspired man, Wooden led his UCLA basketball team (Go Bruins!! :) to 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, including an 88-game winning streak.

As a coach, he was all about the *process* of becoming a better and better player (and human being) rather than an obsessive focus on the *outcome* of winning. As an author he shares this grounded, super practical old-school wisdom in a wonderful way.

This book is a great collection of his Big Ideas. I underlined nearly all of it and I’m excited to share some of my favorite gems!

Unlock this PhilosophersNote

Create your account to get more wisdom in less time. Personal development made simple so you can flourish in energy, work, and love. Today.

Sign Up Today

About the author

Authors

John Wooden

Coach and Teacher