• The Captain Class

  • The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams
  • By: Sam Walker
  • Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
  • Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (975 ratings)

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The Captain Class  By  cover art

The Captain Class

By: Sam Walker
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
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Publisher's summary

A bold new theory of leadership drawn from elite captains throughout sports - named one of the best business books of the year by CNBC, The New York Times, Forbes, strategy+business, The Globe and Mail, and Sports Illustrated

“The book taught me that there’s no cookie-cutter way to lead. Leading is not just what Hollywood tells you. It’s not the big pregame speech. It’s how you carry yourself every day, how you treat the people around you, who you are as a person.” (Mitchell Trubisky, quarterback, Chicago Bears)

The sixteen most dominant teams in sports history had one thing in common: Each employed the same type of captain - a singular leader with an unconventional set of skills and tendencies. Drawing on original interviews with athletes, general managers, coaches, and team-building experts, Sam Walker identifies the seven core qualities of the Captain Class - from extreme doggedness and emotional control to tactical aggression and the courage to stand apart. Told through riveting accounts of pressure-soaked moments in sports history, The Captain Class will challenge your assumptions of what inspired leadership looks like.

Praise for The Captain Class

“Wildly entertaining and thought-provoking... makes you reexamine long-held beliefs about leadership and the glue that binds winning teams together.” (Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations, Chicago Cubs)

“If you care about leadership, talent development, or the art of competition, you need to read this immediately.” (Daniel Coyle, author of The Culture Code)

“The insights in this book are tremendous.” (Bob Myers, general manager, Golden State Warriors)

“An awesome book... I find myself relating a lot to its portrayal of the out-of the-norm leader.” (Carli Lloyd, co-captain, US Soccer Women’s National Team)

“A great read... Sam Walker used data and a systems approach to reach some original and unconventional conclusions about the kinds of leaders that foster enduring success. Most business and leadership books lapse into clichés. This one is fresh.” (Jeff Immelt, chairman and former CEO, General Electric)

“I can’t tell you how much I loved The Captain Class. It identifies something many people who’ve been around successful teams have felt but were never able to articulate. It has deeply affected my thoughts around how we build our culture.” (Derek Falvey, chief baseball officer, Minnesota Twins)

©2017 Sam Walker (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

The Captain Class really resonated with me. It will absolutely be part of my thought process as we continue to build our roster.” (Ryan Pace, general manager, Chicago Bears)

"I’ve been involved with an undefeated high school team, an undefeated college team, and coached in two Super Bowls. The Captain Class made me think back to those teams. The captains were indeed characters with a bit of uniqueness and a certain grittiness.” (Pat Ruel, offensive line coach, Seattle Seahawks)

“The best book I’ve read this year.” (Mike Dunlap, head basketball coach, Loyola Marymount University)

What listeners say about The Captain Class

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Dates and names

You better be the biggest sports fan to enjoy this book. Ends on the power of story telling, unrelated to the theme of leadership. Lots of recycled ideas in here. Rugby’s “legacy” + Sapiens + the excitement of reading a dictionary + history of team-sports lecture = the captain class. If you want a leadership book try extreme ownership. And if you want to know about being the best team, watch “the last dance”.

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Excellent audiobook

Just what an audiobook should be. First, great writing by Sam Walker, with engaging stories and sometimes surprising conclusions. And then a first-class narrator in Keith Szarabajka - compelling and not overdone. Highly recommended for content and narration.

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Must read

Become a better leader and recognize the attributes and key components that make them up.

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Great book, suggested reading for anyone looking to lead

Great insight on leaders, captains and what makes them unique, great reading for anyone looking to lead or mold future leaders

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

should be a 10 minute podcast

To be fair, I'm not really into sports, if you are you'll love it. I was expecting more insight into leadership...the last 20 minutes sum up whatever conclusions the author comes to.

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Among the best of the best

I have read many, many books in this genre, and The Captain Class is without a doubt among the best of them. It’s balance of engaging storytelling with clear, actionable and highly relevant lessons for teams make it one of my all-time favorites both for enjoyability and for its practical applications. I strongly recommend it to any coach or group leader.

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One of the best leadership books I've read

I've been in a leadership role in my company for the last 4 years. During that time I've read dozen of good leadership books. What makes this special is it explains a different type of leader. It's not about giving powerful speeches or being an outspoken character. Being a great leader is someone who is willing to serve and do what's required for the team to win. I've already got the book on repeat

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What makes a team great?

The captain class is a book that really tries its best to answer the question, what makes the best team in the world the best? Is it the coaches? The players? The sport organization? I believe this book did its best to answer those questions with the evidence it provides. If you are a sports fanatic and what to find out what makes a team “the best” this book is for you!

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A Must Read for Egomaniacal Leaders

I’m a HS boys sports coach. Like mentioned in the book, I’ve noticed a decline in adoption of the Captain concept. Bad move. This books lays clear the need for Captains as well as what make a a good Captain. Data, statistics, history, psychology and excellent story-telling all woven into a rewarding read/ listen.

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headline

Just finished this book today and I thought it had some really good insight into what makes a world-class captain drive a team forward. There's a chapter in the middle where he lists the inclusive criteria that I thought was spot on. If I'm being honest, there is some fluff in the book because the author is also a sports writer who just kind of jerks himself off with his prose. And I don't like how the reader of the book does an accent when interviewing someone of non-regional Midwest diction. But hey, overall worthwhile.

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