Three Rules for Living a Good Life: A Game Plan for after Graduation

by Lou Holtz

Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (first place, spirituality-hardcover).


Legendary former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz shared three easy to remember and impossible to forget rules for life during a commencement address at Franciscan University Steubenville. Now expanded into book form, Three Rules for Living a Good A Game Plan for after Graduation offers a quick, sometimes humorous, and always practical formula for recent college graduates and other young adults to reach success in their business, personal, and spiritual lives. Three Rules for Living a Good Life is a great gift book for a young adult looking for a quick read that offers encouragement and concrete advice for transitioning to the workforce and to deeper, more committed relationships. Lou Holtz, one of the most successful college football coaches of all time, a college football analyst, and a premier motivational speaker, shares a message that is genuine and sensible. Punctuated with examples for keeping and living the rules each day from his years of working with teams, in business, and with his family, Holtz’s book keeps the discussion light, humorous, and real. Holtz’s commencement message is one he often shares with business leaders around the world. He points to the foundation of his Christian faith and the necessity for young adults who have been raised in the faith to take stock of themselves at this crossroads of their life. “Don’t ignore God! Don’t give up the faith!” he writes. A sought-after motivational speaker, Holtz annually gives hundreds of presentations on topics having to do with leadership, success, and achieving peak results. Holtz has also given many commencement addresses and been awarded a number of honorary degrees. In Three Rules for Living a Good Life , this iconic Notre Dame football coach and television and radio analyst sums up his essential graduation message that college grads will find useful as they take their places in the “real world.”

96 pages, Hardcover

Published February 22, 2019

About the author

Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz (born January 6, 1937) is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary (1969–1971), North Carolina State University (1972–1975), the University of Arkansas (1977–1983), the University of Minnesota (1984–1985), the University of Notre Dame (1986–1996), and University of South Carolina (1999–2004), compiling a career record of 249–132–7. Holtz's 1988 Notre Dame team went 12–0 with a victory in the Fiesta Bowl and was the consensus national champion. Holtz is the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games and the only coach to guide four different programs to the final top 20 rankings. Holtz also coached the New York Jets of the NFL during the 1976 season.

Over the years, the slender, bespectacled Holtz has become known for his quick wit and ability to inspire players. In 2005, Holtz joined ESPN as a college football analyst. On May 1, 2008, Holtz was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Holtz is a master motivational speaker and a former analyst for CBS Sports. Lou Holtz and his wife, Beth, are parents to four grown children.

Reviews

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me less than 24 hours. (I read the 73 page edition-that is minus the appendix).

A simple book everyone should read about how to live their life in terms of attitude and mindset. (It’s also talks about college graduation and I just graduates HS but honestly it makes no difference).

Idk. Wasn’t bad. The rules are great. Nothing crazy though.

[Aidan Reichert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with simple, practical advice.

The three rules are:

1. Do what is right
2. Do everything the best of your ability
3. Show people you care

[Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short read geared to young adults just starting in life post graduate. My opinion it's a refresher of everything people learn but might have lost along the way to adulthood. Having heard Coach several times the stories within reinforced many of his presentation. They are never ending messages related to life and ones journey provided they've mapped the road ahead. Think this would be a good book for a recent grad at HS or college levels. It might also help someone looking for directions in life.

[Jacob Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandmother gave me this book when I graduated college. It sat there for years until today. I see why she had given me this book. I am excited to re-read this to remind myself of the hard work that needs to be there everyday. I plan on passing this down to my brother after he graduates high school to hopefully show him the path he can and should be on.

[Andrew Linderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet but oh so profound!

There is a beautiful poetry in the way Lou can simplify large and grandiose life lessons and philosophies down into a very few short words. He makes it sound so easy... and really, it should be.

Man, I enjoyed this book!

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good rules, good advice.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book by an incredible individual. It is great advice for life. Perfect for a recent graduate.

[Blake Edward · Rating 1 out of 5]

The size of the book’s font has an inverse relationship with the intelligence of those who thought this book was profound.