Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success

Like so many others in 2020, I was captivated by the series of the Last Dance and enthralled by the coaching methods of Phil Jackson, which didn't get the full detail they deserved in the series.This book does a wonderful job of providing Phil Jacksons perspective on his time with the Bulls and the Lakers with a much deeper insight into his management style, thoughts and practices. There is a lot of food for thought in here beyond the basketball court with a wide range of theological and psychological texts referenced. Phil Jackson pushes Zen Buddhism to the reader like he did to his players - as a point of intrigue worth considering rather than "thou shalt do as I say".Given so many seasons covered, the depth of information is a little thin, but as I am not a huge follower of basketball (as a UK resident, this is the default position) I got enough information on the primary players and characters. The insights into Kobe Bryant and his development are interesting.At just 350 pages, you feel this book could have been double the size and just as enthralling but for what it is, it is a well recommended read if you liked the Last Dance and are interested in learning more about Phil Jackson coaching style.

One of the best autobiographies I've read. Phil Jackson is a clear example of success in the NBA - coaching two legendary teams, dealing with some of the world's best players and putting his ideas, methods and plans into action! It was nice reading about his life, his love for the game, his family and how he became a coach. It was nice seeing how he dealt directing the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls. They were an unstoppable force in the 1980s. Despite the success and glories, there were ups and downs with the team - egos, injuries and when MJ left, Jackson pretty much wanted Scottie in a leading role and tried getting him to be more of a leader with MJ gone. When MJ returned, Jackson spoke about dealing with his return and how he managed to adjust Dennis Rodman to the Bulls. As well as the Bulls, he also coached the Lakers, dealing with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol etc. He clearly saw greatness in the young Kobe Bryant and tried getting him to be better than the troubled teen he was. Jackson proved himself a legendary coach due to winning 11 rings and he truly is a legend!Deffo recommend to basketball fans!

A book where leadership, sporting success and spirituality come together. Fascinatingly interesting and very readable, this is a book that I'm sure I will come back to. Having grown up in England as a devout lover of football, this book gives a fabulous insight into an American sport and an icon of its sporting history. What strikes me as I read this is the thought that this is 'just a coach' and this is not to disparage but to admire p, hugely, that the writing, the thinking and what is contained is so far removed from the hum drum drudgery many us are regularly exposed to in English football!If you are a sports fan, read it. But this book transcends sport too. For anyone interested in mental strength, spiritual enlightenment, coaching and leadership this book has something for you and that it is bound up in sporting success for me makes it unputdownable!

I like Phil Jackson's approach to coaching and learning about the background to this is interesting. However, it's a tough read, certainly not a page turner. I'm really struggling to get to the end.

As a fan of the 90’s Bulls I was going to like this book. That said it is really well written and gave me some interesting things to think about. A side of Phil Jackson I never heard about beyond the headlines.