Coaching for Life is based on master coach and former top player Paul Annacone's insights into the professional game of tennis and how the processed-oriented journey that has helped champions with their game can be applied universally to us all. With this book, universal techniques are served up to help with overcoming adversity, how to plan and process to attain goals, and finally, how to live in the pure belief of oneself. With over 125 photos of the world's most enduring tennis greats, inside-the-game anecdotes and step-by-step guides for personal growth and success on any level.
While driving, I listened to a radio interview with Paul Annacone discussing Coaching for Life. I enjoyed his anecdotes, insights, and understated manner so I decided to read his book.
And I was disappointed. Though Annacone offers a wide range of suggestions about personal development and achieving goals, his ideas didn't resonate with me or move me to behavioral change. I recognize my response may be due to self-imposed inertia, not flaws in his book; nevertheless, the book didn't work for me. What's more, I expected granular detail explaining how Annacone tutored Roger Federer and Pete Sampras; the book's description of Annacone's involvement with them seemed a step removed from his specific coaching techniques.
I don't think I'd ask Stephen Covey for advice on how to improve my tennis game so perhaps I shouldn't expect Annacone to help me with personal development. Strangely, I didn't learn much about tennis development either.
A great book describing what a proper champion’s mindset is. This book provides tools that are useful for overcoming any challenges life faces and is not only tennis related. I do have to say that some aspects of the book were a bit vague (some statements that are a bit too general). And I would have liked to read a bit more about Paul’s personal tennis career and what challenges he faced as a player. Other than that a beautifully edited book with lots of great pictures and nicely formatted chapters.
This is the book to read if you are interested in what it takes to be a champion on the court as well as in life. Full of amazing anecdotal nuggets from his career as a coach to the absolute best in tennis and a competitive player himself, Paul Annocone writes in an accessible, entertaining and inspired way that makes this both a fun and thoughtful read. Am gifting the book to all my athletic pals who enjoy healthy competition as much as me and strive for greatness in life - Highly recommend.