Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

Discuss Wooden’s path to becoming the head coach at UCLA and how his integrity played a part in that. How does Wooden’s personal career success in this narrative compare to his philosophy about the meaning of success?

At the end of Part 1, Wooden shares his thoughts on the generation gap. What are his opinions, and do you agree? In what ways have ideas on generations shifted since 1997?

In what ways does Wooden’s definition of success differ from that provided in Webster’s Dictionary? What is the philosophical importance of these differences, and what does it say about the author’s core outlook?

Wooden insists that his leadership philosophies apply to more than coaching; they also apply to business, military affairs, etc. Take the author’s view of leadership and transfer the principles to another sphere of life, detailing what this leadership looks like. Does Wooden’s view bear out?

In how many ways does the author convey the importance of self-reliance and the cruciality of being true to oneself? How does this value system express itself in his coaching style? Cite three examples from the book.

Why does Wooden state that “it is best not to drink too deeply from a cup full of fame”? How does this idea tie into the book’s themes?

Wooden suggests that the hardship of not having a true home court for nearly 14 years helped to create the success that UCLA had in the 1960s. Discuss how challenges create opportunities for growth, using examples from the text.

Discuss what led Wooden to decide to retire after the 1975 season. How does that relate to the Pyramid of Success and the Seven Part Creed?