Surround Yourself With Greatness First Edition by Chad Lewis (2009) Hardcover

by Chad Lewis

Three- time Pro Bowl tight end Chad Lewis says that every good thing in his life is a direct result of his family and his faith. Surround Yourself with Greatness takes readers around the world while looking through the eyes, mind, and heart of Chad Lewis a once freckle- faced, four- eyed, skinny teenager who at an early age wrote in his journal, My goal and quest is to surround myself with greatness . . . only greatness will penetrate the walls of my heart. Within these soul- searching, character- framing chapters, we meet extraordinary people coaches, teammates, friends, and family and learn what a profound influence we have on each other s lives. From the miraculous, near- death experience of his father to the life- changing events in Taiwan as a missionary to the brutal football training camps and his nine- year career in the NFL, Chad takes us on a path to our own selfdiscovery as he shares his secrets to happiness and what it means to surround yourself with greatness. We live in a world of relationships that are dynamic. We need each other. We need to choose, with conscious awareness, to open our eyes, heart, and mind to the great people who elevate life that are all around us.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Biography, Football, Self Help

Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

For nearly two decades Chad Lewis has traveled the back roads of the world in search of the strange and unusual. From tracking vampires in Transylvania and searching for the elusive monster of Loch Ness to trailing the dangerous Tata Duende through remote villages of Belize and searching for ghosts in Ireland’s haunted castles, Chad has scoured the earth in search of the paranormal.

With a Masters Degree in Psychology, Chad has authored over 15 books on the supernatural, and extensively lectures on his fascinating findings.

The more bizarre the legend, the more likely you’ll find Chad there.

Reviews

[Travis Standley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure why I’ve not read this book until now. I’m inspired by Chad Lewis’ goodness. His life is an ode to taking advantage of life’s opportunities and shining our light upon all that is presented to us. Chad is devoted to God, Family, and doing good. Football was his stage but the way he values others and himself is a nod to being a true disciple of Christ.

[Saralyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for youth. We need to understand better that our relationshops in life are dynamic and we learn from everyone we are around for good or evil. If we strive to be surrounded by those who uplift us we will become a better person as a result of that association.

[Lizbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, and I was inspired. This book is an easy read- it took me less than 2 days to read, but one I could not put down. The first 50 pages was read in one evening where I just cried and laughed at the same time. Chad Lewis did an excellent job of telling part of his life story. A great story for future missionaries and anyone else who needs a new way to look at life. Thanks Chad for being an inspiration. You are part of that Greatness you talk about.

[BrighamS · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that I read for this term is Surround Yourself with Greatness. This story follows the life of Chad Lewis. A now retired NFL player who went to BYU and succeeded as a successful football player. The book just gives an overview of his life through out his youth and adult years. As he played football through out college and became a student athlete and eventually got drafted to the NFL. He got drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles and had a successful career as a professional football player.
There were a lot of things as I read that had a effect on me. Just the things that he did to get to college and the NFL I could probably use in my life as a football player. The messages that these stories had were very motivational for a young mind like mine.
I loved this book and everything inside it. The things that it said really changed my personal life as a whole. Even though I don't really like reading books this really taught me that I have the ability to read books in general. And if I can find an interesting topic to read about it will be more interesting to me. And this book did just that.
I would really recommend this book to any one who want's to be a professional football player this book is right for you. And if your looking to be a sports journalist this is a good place to start. It changed my life and I think it can totally change yours
I read 100% of the book

[Katelyn Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I have ever read. And I have read it many, many times. It is so inspiring and personal, and has the ability to really touch your heart. It shows that the people that you spend time with really make a huge impact on your life. It has made me want to surround myself with greatness.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a great message about surrounding yourself with greatness. I liked the overarching theme.
However, the writing was average and the editing was terrible. The book has several grammatical errors.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of Chad Lewis' life and all of the people who helped him to become the great player and human being he is today. Stories that build and lift are the basis of the book. Well worth reading if you want to be inspired.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember watching Chad Lewis playing for the Eagles and it was amazing to hear his life story and for him to talk about all the wonderful people in his life. This book has helped me to appreciate the people in my life eve more

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably shouldn't leave a review, I didn't finish the book and I hate when people do that. But truly I just couldn't get into the book, I couldn't finish it, I tried the audiobook and didn't really like it. I'll give it another try. But it just was kind of flat for me.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Jason Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really positive and uplifting book. I'm an even bigger big fan of @chadlewis89 now after reading his book!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much!!! It is a great example of how to look outside ourselves and to others. Such a great example of humility!

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the stories and insights...especially since I know so many of the people he mentions.

[Kimber Cutler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed. Kids loved listening on parts too.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book.
Undoubtedly there are several books written in this same vein by much stronger authors. With that being said, I thought all in all it was a worthwhile read. Going into it I kind of already knew what to expect having previously read a few short pieces from Chad Lewis. As a person he is all about values, leading by example, and an over the top, eternal optimist. He's an attitude is everything, silver lining in every cloud type of guy. He writes the way he thinks and speaks, and unfortunately it doesn't always translate that well to paper. Although his upbeat attitude and optimism are his most useful writing tools, at times it can almost be too much. Like overly sweet birthday cake in small amounts it's fine, but anything more than that will leave you feeling sick as a dog. There is no question the writing wanders and needs a little work, but the overall message and material in this book easily outweigh and overshadow the authors lack of skill with the pen.
"Surround Yourself With Greatness" is filled with inspiring personal stories and anecdotes from one of the most successful overachievers to play in the NFL. I would recommend this book for all teenagers, and anyone in the market for solid advice and a quick pick me up.

I would also recommend:
My Personal Best : Life Lessons from an All-American Journey by John Wooden

[Verona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book highly enough. What an inspiration it is! What a great message--to surround yourself with greatness. He leads us through his life showing us all the great people who have influenced his life and who he is. The sweet thing is that not all the people who influenced him and taught him great principles to live by were not famous people. Yes, some of them we know as public figures, or sports heroes, or Church leaders, even presidents of the United States. But never did Chad Lewis brag about knowing or associating with important or great people, but instead was very humble in knowing and learning from them. It has helped me to examine my own life and realize that I, too, am surrounded by greatness: my own children and grandchildren, my parents, great friends, and a few important people,even. I am thankful for Chad Lewis to bring that to our attention, to realize that we can never be taught enough. We can learn from all with an attitude of humility and respect as well as appreciation. Besides all that, it was interesting to read, to relive all those great football games and experience the great parts of his life. You will enjoy this book even if you are not a football fan. I have a great respect for Chad Lewis and thank him for writing this book.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book has an incredible message. I saw Chad Lewis interviewed and I was impressed, so I decided to read his book. It's not like he's the best writer in the world. But he is an amazing man.

Chad played football for BYU and then went on to the NFL. This book tells of his journey and of all the people who helped him get there. Sure, there is a little name dropping. But the real heroes in his book turn out to be his family, children, church leaders, etc. He talks a lot about his LDS mission and the incredible experience he had there.

Now, during the football parts of the book, I did tune out a little. I mean, I get bored with football details. But I expected this. I knew what I was getting into. I am just amazed at what a wonderful person Chad has become and always has been. I wish I could read this book to my boys, but it's almost 400 pages long. So I will encourage them to continually surround themselves with great people, just like Chad did.

Mostly, I learned that how I deal with trials, tragedies, and setbacks can either make or break me. Chad chose to learn and grow from his experiences, not complain about them. This book has motivated me to become a better person overall.

[Brandon Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to start with this review. First, I read enjoyed Chad's focus on the good in people and the examples that those people set for him. In today's world of tell-all books, there seems to big a focus on digging up the dirt on people. I think that more books like this should be written to improve our collective morale about the innate goodness in people.
From a personal perspective, I enjoyed the view into the inner-workings of the NFL and the personalities there. I really enjoyed hearing about Donovan McNabb, Dick Vermeil and Andy Reid from an insiders perspective. I certainly understand NFL training camp better because of this book.

Now why I only gave it 3 stars: The writing style is too conversational and too disjointed. I could barely get through a few chapters because I couldn't follow what he was saying. This book should have been condensed by 100 pages or so and having a more unifying arc. I'm disappointed that an editor didn't spend more time with Chad in getting just the essence of his experiences and thoughts.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Chad's outlook on life and family. He was lucky enough to be able to take his abilities to the next level. I met Chad at BYU and a few times on flights to Philadelphia when I lived back East. We have spent a few hours talking both at school and on flights that left me with wanting to spend more time with him.

His book allowed us to learn more about his life and how he got to be where he is today, even a little of life after the NFL. When Chad talks about his family, he is truly sincere in his love for them. This book allowed me to reflect back on my own family, friends, and acquaintances and to realize the greatness that they are in my life. I want to and now will ensure that my current and future acquaintances will make me a better person because of who they are and what they represent. There is no reason to drag myself down when there is so much greatness in the world!

[Josh Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book I didn’t know what to expect from it, I didn’t really know what it would talk about or anything. As the book went on it just talked about events that have happened in his life and how the people around him supported him and his family and helped them out a lot and Chad would always say after the support that he was glad those people were there for them because they set a good example for him and they were great people and Chad’s family was surround with great people.
This book was not made into a moive.
i would recommend this book to you, because it is a great story. It is awesome because in the book i feeel like there are alot of stories that can relate to our lives today. with like our trials and how he handled his trials, so i think it can help us or you with whatever you might be dealing with in your life.

[Marek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the positivity and the energy behind this book, but I couldn't get past the football part of Lewis' life (probably because I really don't love football) and didn't finish. I love the concept of surrounding oneself with greatness and the truthfulness of that principle...but I started reading about football and I lost all interest in finishing it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to win this book for first reads and it did not disappoint. I found myself recommending it to others even before I was half way into it. I really appreciated Chad Lewis' insight into life as a whole and how each of us have certain people in our lives that have strengthen us along the way. As I read, I thought of all the people that have affected me throughout my life and I realized how many good role models I have had and how much I have been shaped by the service and love others have shown me.

I think everyone, especially teens, need to read this book as it helps put life into perspective. Every time I opened the book I was inspired to be more grateful and to do all that I could to reach out and try to lift up others.

[Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrounding one's self with greatness requires that one make one's self great, and Chad Lewis has obviously done that. To think of achieving something close to what he has achieved is almost overwhelming (and probably will be overwhelming to some) but it is also motivating to me. Effort is rewarded, but the effort must first be sincere and solidly consistent. This book brought to me a stronger sense of true family love; greater appreciation for Mormon missionaries, for friendship, unselfishness, and for a job well done; a significantly increased respect for professional sports; and more. The thought comes to my mind that Chad Lewis would be the kind of politician that I would happily work for.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting biography of the BYU football player turned pro, and his journey through challenges starting with his father's near death experience. I really liked the beginning of the book about how the family rallied around the Dad through his recovery, and his experience as a missionary in Taiwan.

The football part was interesting as well, but once he got to the NFL, it seemed like the book focused a lot of time naming all the famous people he has met. He only mentioned positive things about others in his life. When someone hurt him or was negative, he never mentioned their name and moved on quickly or acknowledged that person might have had a different point of view.

I really do respect him as a person and his personal philosophies were inspiring.

[Tory S. Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine book, much more than I expected from a football player! He shows himself a valiant defender of the faith while also portraying a life in which he lived and served without friction in many environments. He makes some great observations about surrounding yourself with greatness, with finding the right team mates and coaches and spouse in life. One of my favorite insights was when, contrary to the warnings of the defensive coach that he should avoid the ambition- and energy-sapping situation of marriage, he found marriage motivated and refined his ambitions.

Not a literary masterpiece, but neither the sort of literature I expected from a football player. Excellent for Latter-day Saints as well as the non-LDS, as the principle of choosing your society is valuable everywhere.

[Cissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars makes it sound like it was really bad. It wasn't. It was fine. Good enough. I don't regret my time reading it. A nice message, but really reads like a play-by-play of Chad's life--way too many tangents, names, unnecessary info. I think it was the report-like style that detracted from his theme (surround yourself with greatness). I read this because the author grew up in my husband's neighborhood and I recently heard him speak (his message is much more heartfelt when he speaks).

On the positive side, I would encourage my sports-loving sons to read this when they are teenagers. It's that kind of pump-you-up, feel good while being good in the NFL sort of book.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don't know what possessed me to read this book other than a desire to understand some of the history of BYU football a little better for the sake of my sons who are young BYU fans. For me this book felt a little too self indulgent and seemed to wander all over the place. It was interesting to learn more about the life of Chad Lewis, but for the average reader the book could be about 150 pages shorter and be much more interesting. It was almost like he wanted to remember every famous person he had ever met and wanted to make sure we knew it. The overall message was a good one, but this book could have used some more editing!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was torn on the rating of this biography. There were parts that I absolutely loved and would rate a five, but then there were parts I was bored reading and would rate a three. I admire the standards and character Chad Lewis chose to be throughout this life. I loved the inspirational thought of surrounding ourselves with greatness. I enjoyed learning so much about the behind the scenes of College Football and the NFL. Sometimes though it was a little too much and I found myself wanting to skim. That could just me my lack of excitement for the details of football. Overall a really great book and extremely inspirational/motivational.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chad carries the theme Surround yourself with greatness throughout his book. I think the good thing about reading this book is to see how Chad's "charmed" life, and all good things in our own lives will come as a result of alot of hard work & desire AND the ablilty to see goodness and greatness in what many of us would call "ordinary" things. Part of showing gratitute is seeing the glass half full instead of half empty, and Chad explifies this quality as he looks at his own life. So as a result it makes me want to be more positive and appreciate the good things around my life.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of a very fantastic individual. Chad is a truly unique person who has accomplished way more than anyone would have thought. Walk on football player at BYU who became one of its greatest tight ends. Undrafted in the NFL draft who "walked on" and became a three time Pro Bowl tight end. What made Chad so different? Why did he excel when people didn't think he had the potential. Once you read this book you will know. A must read for all fathers of boys who are involved in sports. A must read for all boys involved in sports 14 years old and above.