Synopses & Reviews
PRACTICE PERFECT,PLAY FOR FUN
August “Augie” Garrido has led his baseball teams to more victories than any coach in any sport in NCAA Division I history. He is also the winner of more National Coach of the Year awards than any other college coach. Garridos former teams at Cal State Fullerton and, more recently, at the University of Texas together have compiled a total of five College World Series championships under his leadership.
But despite his unmatched record as a winner, Coach Garrido is not a win-at-all-costs coach. He teaches his players to focus on developing character, being good teammates, mastering all facets of the game, and playing with joy in the moment rather than focusing on the scoreboard.
Augie teaches that the challenges faced in the batters box or on the pitchers mound are universal—and that the lessons learned on the diamond are applicable off the field, too. Life Is Yours to Win follows the coachs journey of self-discovery and his evolution from being driven by fear to being motivated by passion. His unique and compelling book offers this revered leaders philosophy on life and his thoughtful approach to helping young men understand both who they are and how they can be successful in their work, their relationships, and their communities.
Every individual will find advice worth following including:
•BE A PLAYER, NOT A PROSPECT—If you want to be considered a star in your field, whatever that may be, you need to be fully engaged. Augie once had his Labrador retriever demonstrate the joy of play to a team that needed a reminder of why they loved baseball as children.
•STEP UP, SUPERMAN—Augie stages a costumed Superhero Scrimmage each Halloween to remind his players that their inner superhero is just waiting for the perfect moment when preparation meets opportunity, potential is fulfilled, and destiny is realized.
•THE FEARLESS FIELD—To be successful in the often cruel game of baseball, players must master fear and other emotions so they are energized rather than paralyzed. Augie once rented a hearse and placed a casket on the pitchers mound to help a slumping Cal State Fullerton team bury their fears and put losses behind them.
•BUDDHA AT BAT—Bunting and other “small ball” skills are not as glorified as home runs and big plays, but Coach Garridos teams are known for putting players in scoring position and winning games by following a Zen-like philosophy of claiming small victories during each at bat, in each inning that add up to winning records. Augies coaching methods are unconventional, but his creativity and wry humor provide masterful life lessons. His insights will help you both on and off the field by providing fresh approaches to conquering fears, living with joy and passion in each moment, establishing personal principles, and appreciating the value of both losing and winning. This is a book by a beloved college coach but it is packed with Major League insights and anecdotes featuring many of baseballs greatest players and most inspiring spirits. Life Is Yours to Win will appeal to anyone who appreciates the wisdom of a proven winner in sports and in life.
Synopsis
Now in paperback, the winningest college baseball coach of all time shares his powerful philosophy on life and sports.
FROM THE WINNINGEST COACH IN NCAA DIVISION I HISTORY, A GUIDE TO PRACTICING PERFECT AND PLAYING FOR FUN
While the statistics speak for themselves, Augie Garrido, the legendary baseball coach, is far from a "win-at-all-costs" leader. Rather, he focuses on building men of quality, teaching that lessons learned on the diamond can be applied to any facet of life. Life Is Yours to Win offers a refreshing approach to seizing life's opportunities and understanding that trophies are not the true goal. Garrido's advice includes:
- BE A PLAYER, NOT A PROSPECT--Garrido once used a game of catch with his Labrador retriever to show a team playing without heart the character it takes to be fully engaged as a ballplayer.
- STEP UP, SUPERMAN--Garrido stages a costumed Superhero Scrimmage each Halloween to remind his players that their inner superhero is just waiting to be realized.
- THE FEARLESS FIELD--Master fear and other emotions so that they don't paralyze you. Renting a hearse and placing a casket on the pitcher's mound helped a slumping Cal State team "bury" their fears and put past losses behind them.
- BUDDHA AT BAT--Small ball is not glorified like the home run, but the bunt does advance the runners and puts runs on the board. Small successes add up to big victories on and off the field.
Garrido's coaching methods are often unconventional, but as seen in Life Is Yours to Win, his creativity and wry humor always lead to unforgettable lessons.
Synopsis
Now in paperback, the winningest college baseball coach of all time shares his powerful philosophy on life and sports.Augie Garrido has led his University of Texas and Cal State baseball teams to more victories than any coach in any sport in NCAA history, and he has won more National Coach of the Year awards than any other college coach. But Garrido is no “win at all costs” type of leader; rather, he espouses a thinking person’s management style that focuses on building men of quality, whatever their abilities on the diamond. This extraordinary book culls his profoundly effective approach to life into a book that can inspire anyone.
Based on the author’s journey of self-discovery, during which he moved from being driven by fear to being motivated by passion, Life Is Yours to Win presents a very hands-on and effective plan for self-improvement. Garrido explains how to remove fears, live each day with joy and passion, establish personal principles, and appreciate the value of failure in teaching lifelong lessons. What emerges is a refreshingly Zen-like approach to seizing life’s opportunities that emphasizes courage, living in the moment, and understanding that trophies are not the real goal. Filled with interesting, compelling stories from on and off the field, Life Is Yours to Win appeals to anyone, sports fan or not, who appreciates the wisdom of what it really means to be a winner.
Synopsis
FROM THE WINNINGEST COACH IN NCAA DIVISION I HISTORY, A GUIDE TO PRACTICING PERFECT AND PLAYING FOR FUN While the statistics speak for themselves, Augie Garrido, the legendary baseball coach, is far from a “win-at-all-costs” leader. Rather, he focuses on building men of quality, teaching that lessons learned on the diamond can be applied to any facet of life. Life Is Yours to Win offers a refreshing approach to seizing life’s opportunities and understanding that trophies are not the true goal. Garrido’s advice includes:
• BE A PLAYER, NOT A PROSPECT—Garrido once used a game of catch with his Labrador retriever to show a team playing without heart the character it takes to be fully engaged as a ballplayer.
• STEP UP, SUPERMAN—Garrido stages a costumed Superhero Scrimmage each Halloween to remind his players that their inner superhero is just waiting to be realized.
• THE FEARLESS FIELD—Master fear and other emotions so that they don’t paralyze you. Renting a hearse and placing a casket on the pitcher’s mound helped a slumping Cal State team “bury” their fears and put past losses behind them.
• BUDDHA AT BAT—Small ball is not glorified like the home run, but the bunt does advance the runners and puts runs on the board. Small successes add up to big victories on and off the field.
Garrido’s coaching methods are often unconventional, but as seen in Life Is Yours to Win, his creativity and wry humor always lead to unforgettable lessons.
About the Author
Kevin Costner is an internationally renowned filmmaker. Considered one of the most critically acclaimed and visionary storytellers of his generation, Costner has produced, directed, and/or starred in such memorable films as Dances with Wolves, JFK, The Bodyguard, Field of Dreams, Tin Cup, Bull Durham, Open Range, Hatfields & McCoys, and Black or White, among many others. He has been honored with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award.