• Coach

  • Lessons on the Game of Life
  • By: Michael Lewis
  • Narrated by: Michael Lewis
  • Length: 57 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (774 ratings)

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Coach  By  cover art

Coach

By: Michael Lewis
Narrated by: Michael Lewis
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Publisher's summary

"There are teachers with a rare ability to enter a child's mind; it's as if their ability to get there at all gives them the right to stay forever."

There was a turning point in Michael Lewis' life, in a baseball game when he was 14 years old. The irascible and often terrifying Coach Fitz put the ball in his hand with the game on the line and managed to convey such confident trust in Lewis's ability that the boy had no choice but to live up to it. "I didn't have words for it then, but I do now: I am about to show the world, and myself, what I can do."

The coach's message was not simply about winning but about self-respect, sacrifice, courage, and endurance. In some ways, and now 30 years later, Lewis still finds himself trying to measure up to what Coach Fitz expected of him.

©2005 Michael Lewis (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

What listeners say about Coach

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A Nostalgia Tour of a Great Man

More of a tribute/essay/paean than a book, Coach is a relic. It is a reflection on Billy "Fitz" Fitzgerald, one of those influential and transformative men who through their character, courage and strength affect a large number of boys. Lewis recalls his memories of Coach Fitz and details the way both parents and children have changed (at least in the milieu of New Orleans and the Isidore Newman School). At heart it is a nostalgia tour of a great man and how lessons about adversity, strength, practice, resolve, respect and focus taught the right way to the right children can help children concur both fear and failure on the road to adulthood.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

As Always

Michael Lewis goes back to his New Orleans high school where his old coach Billy Fitzgerald has come under fire from his player's parents and is in danger of losing his position. Lewis then takes on the attitude of the players millennial parents; one that tells them it is their duty to remove both obstacles and consequences from their son's paths. Ultimately Fitzgerald retained his coaching job until February 2014. It was also this project that brought Lewis together with his old high school teammate Sean Tuohy; which led to the bestseller "The Blind Side" which of course became the hit movie "The Blind Side." The sale price of 2.95 makes this a fantastic bargain.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Short, good sentimentality.

A short little tribute to Coach. Very conversational story. Enjoyed the point of the author.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Nice listen but WAY OVERPRICED

Even at member price of 6.35 for less than an hour? I wasn't paying attention!!!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic for anyone who wants to help someone

A fantastic 57 min listen that can be completed in one run/walk/house cleaning session. Highly recommend to all parents.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Lessons

Michael Lewis captures the exceptional experience countless athletes and students have had with coaches and teachers over the years. He relates his good fortune in having a coach who helped him realize he had something to contribute and emphasized the importance of hard work.

Lewis has an uncanny ability to clearly explain many aspects of life and this book is right on target. My entire family listened to the book and we all enjoyed the message.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

How the Coach Fitz coached throughout the different years of hum coaching

I loved the book, It really gave my a different look on life. it taught me a lot.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Too Pat?

I get it, and I agree with the problems with today’s kids and their parents.
I understand that Lewis greatly benefitted from Fitz’s methods. His audience for the story is wealthy parents, and that’s too small.
For example, what about the kids who face an abusive coach who doesn’t actually know anything about either kids or baseball? Or, in my experience, the coaches who only play the attractive, aggressive jocks, and never teach or attempt to develop the shy, timid players?
I love Michael Lewis, but this one isn’t his best, and I think Fitz probably deserved more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting

As usual, Michael Lewis does not disappoint. Whatever the topic, he draws me in, somehow involves me, and leaves me feeling enlightened.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great tribute to an old school coach

Michael Lewis shares the values, style and approach of his former high school baseball coach, whose previously successful methods now clash with today’s parent.

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