Eleven Rings : The Soul of Success

Hall-of-famer Phil Jackson shares his coaching style and methods in this memoir, which chronicles his life and career in professional basketball.  He is one of the most decorated coaches in NBA history.  He coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships and the Los Angeles Lakers to five.

Jackson was raised in a very religious home by his parents, who were both Pentecostal ministers.  As a young adult he strayed away from his upbringing and embraced eastern religious practices including Zen Buddhism as a spiritual path.   He attributes much of his coaching success to using Buddhist principles and practices to help his players to suppress their egos and enable them to forge the type of bond and selfless teamwork needed to win a NBA championship.

As a NBA fan, I enjoyed listening to the behind-the-scene stories of how he worked to build these impressive teams.  However, this book is not only about achieving success in basketball.  Jackson believes anyone can learn to use mindfulness and meditation as a means to improve their outlook on life.