Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life

Michael Lewis is a superb writer and a very smart guy. In this great little book, he tells the story of how an old school baseball coach at a tony New Orleans prep school literally changed his life. He also tells how, thanks to the attitudes of over privileged modern parents, that kind of impact is much more difficult to achieve today.Lewis, as usual, is both entertaining and on target. All parents of high school athletes should read tis book. It takes takes less than an hour and offers a wealth of insight. It’s lessons are applicable to academics as well as athletics.Highly recommend.

I truly value that Michael Lewis wrote an inspiring impactful story at its proper length.A story that has tremendous value was told and written without any fluff or run on tangents for word count or page fill.Do not value this book by the page, value it by the impact that the words on those pages have.I know that I have and I have reread this book many, many times.We all have that 1 coach that we would do anything for - I know that I have.It just so happens to be that 1 coach that some people don't like just as intensely.There is a reason for that - that coach made you surpass your limits of what you thought was possible - made you feel comfortable with being uncomfortable.Some value that, and some would rather stay within their comfortable limits.It is interesting to note that the coach never changed over time, the only thing that changed was how he was valued.With some valuing "not to loose what they have" over "becoming what they could be."Praise to Michael Lewis for telling a meaningful story at its proper length.It is more powerful than any 600+ page book that I have ever read.

Michael Lewis writes a succinct story of how a coach whom he feared at times molded him into a man who could accomplish things with his life. The message is clear, unless you are willing to sacrifice for the good of all you will never sacrifice for yourself, and sacrifice leads to accomplishment which leads to self esteem

Another brilliant book by Michael Lewis. The story is engaging and the life lesson taught by his coach will stick with you forever.

Best selling author (Moneyball, Liar's Poker, and the New New Thing), Michael Lewis has written a little (90 pages) jewel with "Coach." Lewis reflects on his life at Isidore Newman School and the impact that his baseball coach and teacher, Billy "Fitz" Fitzgerald, had in shaping his life.Fitz entered Lewis's mind at age 12 and has stayed there ever since. Think about that rare teacher or coach that has stayed with you into your adult life; reminisce with Lewis as he rediscovers the attributes of this relationship and its impact on his life.Lewis's catalyst for this book was hearing that a former player was organizing an effort to remodel the old school gym and have it named after Fitz. Current players and their parents were doing all they could to persuade the headmaster to get rid of Fitz, while at the same time, cash was pouring in from former players and their parents.This conflict allows Lewis to contrast a time when Fitz worked tirelessly to give his boys a sense that their lives could be something other than ordinary with a time - today - when values and character are less important. Fitz's effectiveness ended when he could not adapt to the change - the culture of "kids being bestowed with a sense of self-esteem at birth."The system of values he attempted to instill is no longer in alignment the parents nor with the culture. His system is no longer wanted - it is not "in" - and is no longer tolerated. Getting rid of him is the only solution."Coach" transcends the events surrounding Fitz and the gym, revealing the dark side of today's society which has lost its way, one no longer wanting to develop kids for a life filled with honorable values...and meaning.

This book is funny, powerful, and short enough to become monthly reading. I found Lewis's reflections on his old baseball coach to be inspiring. I often find myself recounting the lessons of my coaches when playing with my own son. The takeaways from the book now provide me with the motivation and internal monologue to remind myself that me, and my son's future coaches, are the ones responsible for teaching our sons and daughters to overcome adversity and to achieve their fullest potential.

Too short! Did ML need to remodel his kitchen or something? I guess it's interesting how a great writer can take a pedestrian story about his little league days and turn it into pop literature.

Michael Lewis has combined a healthy curiosity about how organizations behave with an engaging narrative style to produce the eye-opening Liar's Poker, Moneyball and New, New Thing, among other books.In this short portrait of his high-school baseball coach, Lewis merges a study of that individual with an affirmation of the effect of his values on the boys who played on his baseball team at a toney prep school, along with an essay as to why such a manly, hard-core method is pretty much forbidden by the realities of parental pressure today.The book fundamentally expresses gratitude for the author's good fortune to have been at an elite high school in a spartan era. It does not fully explain the basic motivation of the coach, but leaves a melancholy impression that his type of dinosaur is needed now more than ever, just when the system seeks something different.

Nice book. Was finished in about 10 minutes which to me translates as, it flows well. There is nothing 'new' in here and I think more people than not will relate or recognise a Coach Fitz character in their lives - whether they found it a positive, enabling experience or not is a different matter! Might have been good to get more perspective from Lewis' peers on their life coach, otherwise it sounds like a homage to the man, which misses the point.

It touches on many of the same themes as Whiplash on an autobiographical look at the author's old coach. It's a great book to read to give you perspective as to why people are sometimes hard on the ones they mentor, coach and teach. Quick read and a must read.

A tremendous short story by a great author. A must read...

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