What You're Made For

Powerful Life Lessons from My Career in Sports

By: George Raveling, Ryan Holiday

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

Stories and wisdom from the pioneering basketball coach and Nike executive George Raveling, coauthored by bestselling author of The Daily Stoic Ryan Holiday

Orphaned at just thirteen in a still-segregated Washington, D.C., George Raveling was introduced to a relatively unpopular sport—basketball—in high school. The rest, as they say, is history. Raveling went on to become one of the winningest coaches of all time, a mentor to legendary athletes, and a confidant of the sport’s greatest coaches, including Bob Knight and John Wooden. He convinced Michael Jordan to collaborate with Nike on the Air Jordan. He led the 1984 U.S. Men’s Olympic team to their ninth gold medal. He even once owned the original, handwritten copy of Dr. King’s most famous speech after an unlikely stint as a bodyguard during the famous March on Washington.

Here, Coach Raveling tells the story of his extraordinary ascent, sharing incredible behind the scenes stories of his days working with the best in the game. But this book is more than a memoir—it’s a manual for life that presents surprising methods for harnessing your potential from a man who shaped the careers of so many legends. Raveling imparts lessons learned from his grandmother, his long career in basketball, and his lifelong habit of reading—to which he credits all his success. Readers will learn how to choose good books and retain their wisdom using a ‘learning journal’, how to build a unique, personal library; and how a consistent reading habit can be life-changing—and money-making.

Whether you’re an athlete, a leader, a parent, a student, or simply seeking to mold your raw talent into greatness, What You’re Made For is a blueprint for your life.

©2025 George Raveling and Ryan Holiday (P)2025 Penguin Audio