Essential Reading for Every Parent

In today's modern society, many parents tend to shield their kids from hardships and difficulties. However, if you truly desire your children to learn how to face adversity bravely and work effectively with others, then this book is an absolute must-read. It offers valuable insights and practical wisdom that can help you understand a hard lesson that is often overlooked or avoided by many contemporary parents. By delving into the pages of this book, you will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of teaching your kids essential life skills such as resilience, perseverance, and teamwork. These skills are not only crucial for their personal growth and development but also for their future success in an increasingly competitive world. So, don't miss out on this opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to raise confident, capable, and well-rounded children.

A good short story has the power to captivate readers in a short amount of time. It can transport them to different worlds, introduce them to unique characters, and make them feel a range of emotions.

A well-crafted short story often has a clear and engaging plot that hooks the reader from the beginning and keeps them interested until the end. The characters are usually well-developed, with their own personalities, motives, and conflicts.

In addition, a good short story may also have a deeper theme or message that the author is trying to convey. This could be about love, loss, friendship, or any other aspect of the human experience.

Whether it's a heartwarming tale, a thrilling mystery, or a thought-provoking piece, a good short story has the ability to leave a lasting impression on the reader. It can make them think, feel, and maybe even see the world in a new way.

So, the next time you pick up a short story, take the time to appreciate the artistry and skill that went into creating it. You might just discover a new favorite.

Michael Lewis, so of course it’s good.

This short story about the role of a coach and how life lessons can be learned in any situation is truly a remarkable piece. It serves as a wonderful reminder of just how fortunate we can be to have a positive mentor in our lives.

Coach Fitz, the central character, is a bit brash and abrasive in his coaching style. One might wonder how such a style would fare in the current era, where different approaches are often favored. However, there is no doubt that his players have a deep love and respect for him.

This affection and the bond they share count for far more than any win or loss on the scoreboard ever could. It shows that a coach's impact goes beyond the results of the games and can have a profound and lasting influence on the lives of his players.

The story beautifully captures the essence of the coach-player relationship and the valuable lessons that can be imparted in the process.

I came across Michael Lewis's Podcast on his high school baseball coach (\\"Against the Rules\\", Season 2, Episode 2), and then I read this book.

It's a rather small book that delves into the transformation of the role for coaches from the author's high school days to the present.

In a sense, I can identify with a great deal of what he presents in the book, especially since I have two boys who engage in competitive sports.

Nevertheless, as a mother, I firmly believe that the essence of playing sports is to have fun. Why be so tough on the kids?

There are some interesting quotes in the book. For instance, \\"Some unwritten rule in male adolescence dictates that the lower your parents' tax bracket, the sooner you acquire facial hair.\\" It makes me wonder where the author came up with this observation! LOL.

This book offers some thought-provoking perspectives on the world of sports coaching and the experiences of athletes, which I found quite engaging.

A little book with a powerful lesson (especially for helicopter parents): Back off!

Michael Lewis, the best-selling author of Moneyball, now delves into a biographical account. In Coach, he shares the story of the "terrifying Coach Fitz", who is adored by his former players but vilified by the current parents.

I suspect many people have had a Fitz in their lives, the kind of hard-driving individual who brings out the best in you, both as a player and a person. Why? Because they understand that "The only glory to be had [is] in the quality of the struggle." (83) Lewis presents these words, which, against the backdrop of parents who want him fired, encapsulate Fitz's struggle:

I knew there must be people who never reconciled themselves to Fitz--who still didn't understand what he was trying to do for them--but they were hard to find. The collective response of Fitz's former players could be fairly summarized in a sentence: Fitz changed my life.

Lewis chronicles the cost of that change, not only for the coach but also for the players.

Here are a few of my favorite lines:

Life as he led it, and expected us to lead it, had less to do with trophies than with sacrifice, in the name of some larger purpose: baseball. (45)

You were always doing what money could buy instead of what duty demanded. (49)

He will never be a tough competitor. He doesn't know how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.\\" Lou Piniella (54)

The theme of a \\"Fitz talk\\": What It Means To Be A Man. What it means to be a man was that you struggled against your natural instinct to run away from adversity. You battled. (77)

He was teaching us something far more important [than baseball]: how to cope with the two greatest enemies of a well-lived life, fear and failure. (82)

The only glory to be had would be in the quality of the struggle. (83)

Coach is a delightful and sad tale of a different breed of coach. He wants to get inside his players to make them better at sport, but more importantly, at life. The sad side of this delightful tale is that too many parents sacrifice that maturity on the altar of self-esteem, comfort, and the hope of elusive glory.

Coaches and parents, read this book. For the sake of your players and children, read this book.

This quick read was truly incredible.

Anyone who is involved in coaching or teaching young people nowadays should definitely pick this up and breeze through it just as I did today.

Of course, Michael Lewis is a legendary author, and this significantly enhances the storytelling aspect. However, the story of his high school baseball coach Fitz represents a dying generation and a level of reverence and respect that legendary coaches once inspired in American youth, which will never be the same again.

Fitz embodies every part of this archetype that we all know and love, from "Remember the Titans" to "Bleachers" to "Hoosiers" to "Any Given Sunday". And I'll fully admit to being a sucker for it every single time.

My favorite quote came from one of the fathers in the minority opinion later in the coach's career. As he was being increasingly criticized by the other private school parents for being too hard on their precious kids or not playing them enough in the games, the dad said: "My goal in life is not for my son to play college ball. Fitz has made my kid a better person, not just a better athlete. He's taught him that if he works at it, anything he wants, it's there for him."

This reminds me of Carlin Lynch, Dean Smith, Skip Karam, John Wooden, Herb Brooks, or whoever comes to mind as we think about that last generation of old coaches that we held in such high regard.

This is a very good short book that covers a wide range of important topics.

It delves into the significance of being part of a team, highlighting the importance of making commitments and working together towards a common goal.

Moreover, it also touches upon the role of being a parent and the valuable lessons that can be learned from it.

What makes this book truly unique is its exploration of how some brilliant coaches use unconventional methods to teach us at a young age.

These teachings can have a profound impact on our lives and help us grow into better individuals.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of whether you have an interest in baseball or not.

It offers valuable insights and lessons that are applicable to various aspects of life.

So, pick up this book and embark on a journey of self-discovery and learning.

You won't be disappointed.

It was as if this baseball coach had reached inside me, found a rusty switch marked: 'turn on before attempting use' - and flipped it.”

― Michael Lewis, Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life

I recently had lunch with an old friend of mine and her sister. Their father was one of those iconic baseball/football coaches in Oregon who recently had a celebration on his 50th year of coaching (or something close). This is a guy who, by the accounts of his daughters, was extremely tough. He would yell at the boys, drill them hard. If he felt they weren't leaving everything on the field, if they weren't giving it their best, he would make sure they were the last team on the bus. The lights would be shut off, the field abandoned, before he would quietly escort his boys to the bus for the long, quiet, dark, shame-filled ride home. The funny thing was, these adults now, many in their forties, who were celebrating this man, talked about this event, this time, this season as the BEST in their lives. It is truly amazing the ability a good coach, a strong mentor, an inspired leader can have on boys of a certain age.

It has been years now, but I also remember meeting John Wooden once at a business meeting in LA. One of those meetings where they bring out inspired speakers, etc., to motivate the sales force. Wooden was great, no doubt, but I was more fascinated by the crowd of men (my peers) who stood in awe of this man. It is amazing to see how even adults can reverence the idea and ideal of a great coach.

Coach is more of a tribute/essay/paean than a book. It is a relic. It is a reflection on Billy "Fitz" Fitzgerald, one of those influential and transformative men who through their character, courage and strength affect a large number of boys. Lewis recalls his memories of Coach Fitz and details the way both parents and children have changed (at least in the milieu of New Orleans and the Isidore Newman School). At heart, it is a nostalgia tour of a great man and how lessons about adversity, strength, practice, resolve, respect and focus taught the right way to the right children can help children conquer both fear and failure on the road to adulthood.

Kind of a little gem.

I firmly believe that this initially emerged as a magazine article, but now it is published in the form of a book. It is an extremely quick read, typically taking only 20 - 30 minutes.

However, while teaching executives about leadership style and grit this week, this book proved to be very useful. Michael Lewis recounts his experience of being coached by a baseball coach who had high demands for his students both on the field and in life. The coach was adored by Lewis's classmates and others of his generation.

Nevertheless, when it came to raising money to refurbish the school gym and name it after the coach, the parents of current players objected. The coach was no longer beloved; instead, he was seen as being too demanding and too harsh in his treatment of the boys.

The book laments this disconnect and mourns the loss of an era in which boys could be pushed by a coach (or teacher or parent or scout leader, etc.) to excel and, in the process, develop the skills, capabilities, and resilience to become good men. It makes one reflect on how times have changed and how the perception of what is acceptable in coaching and guiding has evolved.

INSPIRING.

What price sissification? This is a thought-provoking question that Michael Lewis' "COACH: Lessons on the Game of Life" begs. The book hints at the tremendous loss that occurs when self-respect is no longer something to be earned through hard work and effort, but rather becomes a facetious, meaningless, spoon-fed entitlement.

The message of the coach in the book is not simply about winning, but about much more profound values such as self-respect, sacrifice, courage, and endurance. These are essential qualities that every individual should strive to develop in order to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.

This book comes highly recommended for parents. Please show your love for your kids by reading or listening to "COACH." It has the potential to open your eyes and help you understand the importance of instilling these values in your children from an early age.

The MP3 audio book edition is only 57 minutes long, making it a quick and easy read or listen. So, don't hesitate, pick up a copy today and start learning the valuable lessons that "COACH" has to offer.

This description is concise yet powerful. It manages to convey a positive sentiment in just a few words.

The brevity of "very short, but great" makes it impactful. It implies that something doesn't need to be long or elaborate to be excellent.

It could refer to a wide range of things, such as a short story that packs a powerful punch, a concise speech that leaves a lasting impression, or a brief moment that brings great joy.

The use of the smiley face at the end adds a touch of warmth and enthusiasm. It shows that the person making the description is not only impressed but also happy about what they are referring to.

Overall, this simple statement is a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life come in small packages.

Essentially, this is a concise reflection on a coach from the author's adolescence.

Lewis writes with his characteristic introspection and incorporates some additional personal nuances.

As a coach myself, I sense that there is definitely some room for reflection on the issues, challenges, setbacks, and triumphs that Coach Fitz encounters in Lewis' book.

The subtitle of "Lessons on the Game of Life" is fitting, and I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.

It made me think about my own coaching journey and how I can apply the lessons learned from Coach Fitz's story.

Perhaps there are times when I, too, have faced similar difficulties or had to make tough decisions.

By reflecting on Coach Fitz's experiences, I can gain a new perspective and potentially improve my coaching methods.

Overall, this book offers valuable insights into the world of coaching and the impact a coach can have on a person's life.

I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in coaching or personal growth.