What You're Made For

Powerful Life Lessons from My Career in Sports

De: George Raveling, Ryan Holiday, Michael Jordan

Narrado por: JD Jackson

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.

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

“This is a must-read book.”—Charles Barkley

“George Raveling has led one of the most incredible lives in sports—maybe of all time.”—Manu Ginóbili

“Coach is an inspiring testament to resilience, reflection, and the pursuit of purpose. His journey spans seismic historical shifts, victories, and near-fatal challenges, yet his unique introspection and shared lessons have helped me connect more deeply with my own journey and potential.”—Paul Rabil, cofounder of the Premier Lacrosse League and author of The Way of the Champion

Profound!!!

I totally loved the book from beginning to end….a must read for all ages!!!

Great reading

Excellent. Unexpected. I really enjoy it. This should be read more than once. Thank you.

The incredible experiences George Raveling had in 87 years of life. Amazing.

Terrific book about Raveling’s amazing journey from being raised by his grandmother to his introduction to basketball, where he got a scholarship to Villanova. A tense racial situation at a college game that connected him with Jerry West for life. How he came to gain possession of MLK’s notes for the “I Have A Dream” speech. And that’s well before he became a coach and Nike executive. You can’t make this life up.

His sincerity of heart extremely valuable

Thank you for making the time to write this and share how to live with your gold nuggets of wisdom!

Fantastic book.

The structure is really tight. The stories are excellent, and the reading was top-notch. Great book, great audiobook!

Amazing sports themes tied to real life

You don't have to be a sports fan to greatly enjoy this book. It's honest, refreshing and inspirational. Enjoyed every minute!

An amazing life

Coach Raveling is a legend.

When I saw he wrote a book, it was an instant yes , especially with Ryan Holiday helping him out.

The book did not disappoint. Filled with amazing stories and life lessons.

It’s one of those books. I’ll revisit multiple times.

Highly recommended.

Very Inspiring Book!

I was not aware of Coach Raveling’s story before getting this audiobook, but what a person he has been! I appreciate the effort he took in distilling some of the biggest lessons he has learned throughout his life and summarizing them in this book in a way that is very easy to comprehend and follow along.

I believe this book is the right listen to people in their 20’s and 30’s who are still trying to figure out what to do in their personal and professional lives, how to focus on what matters and lead a balanced-well intentioned life.

I will be listening to this book a few more times to capture more lessons and put in practice the advice that Coach has shared in this masterpiece!

An Exceptional Testament from a Living Legend

I just finished both reading and listening to “What You’re Made Of,” and I was deeply moved. Coach Raveling’s stories are rich with timeless leadership wisdom—relevant not just for athletes, but for anyone seeking to live with purpose and courage. This isn’t just a book about sports; it’s a powerful, inspirational journey filled with practical life lessons. His teachings resonate across generations—whether you’re young or old, there’s something here for you. The narration on Audible is excellent, bringing his words even more vividly to life. I purchased both the digital and audio versions, and I’m glad I did. This is a precious testament from a true icon of leadership. Don’t wait—read it now.

Inspiring and real

I am not a sports person so I didn’t know Coach. As a CEO, though, the people management and development skills described with clarifying and moving stories are top-notch!

Very inspiring, remarkably simple, powerfully effective!