The John Wooden Pyramid of Success: The Ultimate Guide to Life, Leadership, Friendship and Love

The second edition is now available for the book and the improvement in spelling, etc. is a welcome relief. It is very rare that I will spend the time reading a book this large with so many spelling errors as the first edition had. However, as a fan of Coach Wooden, I couldn't put it down. As others have indicated, the interviews are compelling and reveal information which is, otherwise, unavailable. Yes, there are recurring themes in the interviews, but they give the reader great insight into Coach Wooden's life and thought processes. The author also took pains to present "both sides" of the case, so some of the interviews are not gushing with praise. Mr. Johnson bravely approaches the most cited "faults" related to Coach Wooden's time at UCLA. Needless to say, the massive weight of evidence shows John Wooden to be almost unassailable. Each section of interviews (family, friends, UCLA players and associates, etc.) gives its own set of insights. Along with THEY CALL ME COACH and Andy Hill's BE QUICK BUT DON'T HURRY, this book is absolutely "must reading" for anyone who is interested in Coach Wooden's life and the principles embodied in his Pyramid of Success. Also interesting is the collection of photographs not found in any other publication (at least none of which I'm aware). The book covers alot of territory, but the reader most likely will not be disappointed. I highly recommend the second edition.

Frankly, I have no idea how many people are both willing and able to read more than 500 pages about a retired basketball coach. So, at the outset, permit me to suggest that the length of this book becomes relevant only if you have no interest in human greatness. Yes, Wooden was probably the greatest basketball coach (if not the greatest coach) who ever lived but, for me, he is infinitely more interesting as a fellow human being, albeit one who possesses exceptional qualities of character. His "Pyramid of Success" is only secondarily a "guide" to success in athletic competition. Its greater value (as his former players unanimously attest) is derived from its relevance to virtually all areas of human experience. Johnson organizes his material within seven chapters:John Wooden's Legendary AchievementsBiography of John WoodenThe Official Pyramid of Success LectureOpening Interview with John WoodenWoodenisms, Maxisms, and PoemsInterviews, Reflections, and CommentsClosing Interviews with John WoodenFor me, the interviews are most interesting. Almost all of the names of those interviewed are unfamiliar to me but throughout their observations, there are recurrent themes: Wooden was kind and thoughtful but a strict disciplinarian, prepared for each practice as well as for each game with meticulous care, was highly competitive, had non-negotiable personal values, was most proud of his role as a teacher, viewed unsportsmanlike conduct with contempt, and never EVER offered an alibi after a rare defeat. Most people do not know that he was an outstanding high school and college player, and, that he toiled in anonymity at U.C.L.A. for many years before his teams began to win national championships. Many years ago while I was head coach of the varsity basketball team at a New England boarding school, I attended a clinic in Boston. Coach Wooden was the featured speaker. After dinner with friends, I returned to my hotel and saw him seated alone in the coffee shop. I approached him, introduced myself, and thanked him for all I learned from his presentation. He invited me to join him and then, for about 30 minutes, asked me about my team, our competition, and what my basic strategies were for offense and defense. I indicated that I was having some problems with the full-court zone press. He used several napkins to diagram a solution to the problems. I thanked him, we shook hands, and I went up to my room. Two weeks later, I received in the mail a handwritten note from him wishing our team well, accompanied by a single sheet on which "The Pyramid of Power" was illustrated. John Wooden was a great human being long before his teams at U.C.L.A. began to win national championships and he remains a great man in the years following his retirement. No doubt age has taken its toll on his body but, as recent television interviews suggest, his mind is as sharp as ever. Also unchanged is his heart, one which is filled with love for basketball, of course, but all also for all

A grand spanking good time