Beyond Basketball

Coach K's Keywords for Success

By: Mike Krzyzewski, Jamie K. Spatola

Narrated by: Mike Krzyzewski

For Mike Krzyzewski, head coach of the Duke University men's basketball team, certain words have special importance and force. Coach K uses them every day to energize, motivate, and teach his players how to be winners on the court and in every aspect of their lives. Now, in Beyond Basketball, he offers 40 short, hard-hitting audio essays that will educate and inspire. Each is centered on an important keyword and illustrated with anecdotes from his personal experiences.©2006 Defense LLC. All Rights Reserved (P)2006 Hachette Audio. All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Personal Development, Motivational, 2007

The power of words

There was something about the emphasis and story behind these words that really resonated with me. I appreciate the Coach K laid this out and got me thinking about the words in my life that are important. 

Outstanding

Whether you like Duke or not, this is a great book on life and leadership. Very entertaining.

A Great Book on Basketball & Life

Would you listen to Beyond Basketball again? Why?

Yes. So much information in the book it's hard to listen too just one time if you plan on taking the information and applying it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beyond Basketball?

As a coach myself I've taken Coach K's one word approach and passed it on to my team. We had one game where we were just getting out hustled. I called timeout and encouraged the team to hustle. From that point on throughout the game every time they broke huddle they did it with the word Hustle.

Such a simple solution to any number of obstacles the team may experience on the court. Since then words like Focus, Intensity, Defense and Together we've used to unite the team towards the obstacles they face during that game.

What does Mike Krzyzewski bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Coach K has so many stories he uses to associate with what he's talking about in the book. Many of those stories I remember watching live on TV so they bring about a connection to the ideas he's trying to communicate in the book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. However, I write software for a living and I often prefer to listen to books over music. Because of that I've listened to this book between 10 - 20 times. I pick up on something new each time I hear it.

Any additional comments?

It's a great book. Not just for basketball but in life. I've start using these single words with my six year old son. When he has a bad attitude day we sit and talk about it. Then randomly throughout the day I'll simply ask what's our word today? He will tell me the word and what it means. I'll follow up with how do you think your attitude is right now? And he'll tell me. This single word solution has also ended his nail biting as well. His mother and I would constantly call out

Enjoyable if you are a Duke Fan

It was great to hear Coach K's stories, but to the extent it is being pitched as a business book, has little practical use.

Outstanding!!

Now I truly see why Coach K is the modern day John Wooden and in my opinion the greatest coach in all of basketball today.

Great book

If you could sum up Beyond Basketball in three words, what would they be?

There are many great people working with our young adults today. Coach K is one of the best.

Have you listened to any of Mike Krzyzewski’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

My favorite of all of Coach K's books.

Legendary Wisdom

Simple approach toward an outstanding point of view that encompasses all of life from sport to business to family.

The best coaching book I've ever read

It's a great coaching book recomended to every coach both in business and in sports.

great

Great advice for regular everyday life. Not just about sports. Easily applied to family, relationships, work and sports.

Beyond Words

This book is so worthwhile for anyone, but especially parents of athletes and any young people with an interest in basketball, coaching, teaching, etc. I was not a huge Duke fan although I have always pulled for them and admired their program and Coach Krzyzewski's insights detailed in this book have made me happy to become a more ardent follower. He is a teacher and a friend, much like John Wooden, and I hope he keeps on discovering more words to add to his list and writes another book soon. Give this book to any basketball coach you know and they will love it and benefit from reading it.