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Product Description
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Clive Woodward was at the helm when English rugby union triumphantly heaved itself from the boozy, pot-bellied mire of amateurism to the top of the professional game at the 2003 World Cup in Australia. And in Winning he makes a robust, cogent and at times brilliant argument for taking the lion's share of the credit. As sports autobiographies go this is an extraordinary book, part personal memoir and part historical revision, of course - Woodward is not backward in correcting his critics or laying bare the politics that shroud top-level sports managers. But what sets it apart is that the former England coach presents a detailed analysis of the man-management and coaching theories that underpinned the success, in what is effectively a case study in winning. To this end there is an abundance of diagrams, flow charts and 'key rules' which at first glance will have a worryingly familiar look to anyone who's ever sat through a motivational business seminar. They formed the day-to-day intellectual touchstones that were the foundation of the Woodward era, covering the 75 matches between November 1997 and that famous victory in the Telstra Stadium. And in a sporting turn-up akin to Jonny Wilkinson's last-ditch drop-goal that felled the Aussies in Sidney, Woodward takes these unpromising raw ingredients and delivers a genuinely engrossing read: a how-to manual for aspiring coaches and an unique insight for fans. The tone is occasionally bombastic - whatever the veracity of their substance, one or two of the recounted conversations ring about as true as an episode of Acorn Antiques, but somehow it doesn't get in the way. Midway through the book, there's a rather peculiar "Author's note about confidentiality" in which Woodward claims that he will never: "show any player or member of the management in any sort of bad light". Not fashionable and frankly not much fun, but arguably entirely in keeping with the Winning philosophy . And you can't argue with results, can you?--Alex Hankin
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'His first day in the job of England coach is superbly described, and thereafter he is forever going the extra yard to make his team great.' (The Sunday Times )
'There is much more to the man than single-minded determination.' (Sunday Telegraph )
'To the hardened rugby fan, it is incisive and required reading. To anyone involved in sports coaching or administration, regardless of the sport or level of competition, 'Winning!' is essential reading.' (Yorkshire Post )
'Very different to pretty much any sporting autobiography on the market... Fascinating.' (Daily Express )
'Entertaining and informative.' (The Sun )
'The best feature of the book is that the essential Woodward comes through so strongly.' (The Sunday Times sports books of the year )
'There is much more to the man than single-minded determination.' (Sunday Telegraph )
'To the hardened rugby fan, it is incisive and required reading. To anyone involved in sports coaching or administration, regardless of the sport or level of competition, 'Winning!' is essential reading.' (Yorkshire Post )
'Very different to pretty much any sporting autobiography on the market... Fascinating.' (Daily Express )
'Entertaining and informative.' (The Sun )
'The best feature of the book is that the essential Woodward comes through so strongly.' (The Sunday Times sports books of the year )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a Springbok supporter, Clive Woodward and his team have often been subject to much vitriol from yours truely in the "heat of battle"! However, putting allegiances aside, I decided to buy Woodward's book and was pleasantly surprised by it. Not only is it highly entertaining and easy to read but contains a lot of insightful information on the philospohies and techniques that moulded England into a winning team. Many of Woodward's successful methods are generic enough to be applied to any team, be they in sport or in business. I think this book is a must read not only for the rugby enthusiast but also for anyone interested in the areas of individual or team performance, motivation and leadership.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Whether you are a rugby or even a sports fan is irrelevant, this is a fascinating combination of a sporting life and a practical application of management theory and attention to detail. From the point of becoming England coach, he sets out his plan, his methods and his incredible attention to detail in the manner of operating a small business, (he was a very successful salesman for Rank Xerox in the 80's).
Some of his ideas are brilliant, all of his methods are fascinating and I feel there are lots of very valuable lessons to be taken from his book for anyone involved in the management of people. This is more like a contempary management guide than a straight sporting autobigraphy. The methods for getting 'buy-in', the fluid nature of the model he develops, the creation of an elite team in every single area of the rugby business, all combine to offer a fresh approach to the usual, often rather lame life of sporting hero.
I just wish he hadn't fallen out with Donal Lenihan, then perhaps I would have followed a successful Lions team around Australia in 2001.
Put it on your christmas list.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Winning! is an unusual combination. It functions as a biography of Woodward, a history of the English rugby team's World Cup campaign and an analysis of management mehods used by the author in both in his business and coaching careers.
There is such a lot of material here that interest never wanes. I enjoyed the description of Woodward's early life and he doesn't pull his shots when it comes to the horrors of being denied football (his first love) whilst attending boarding school. He comes across as a much more likeable, humorous and maverick character than I had supposed.
Overall it's well-written and clearly structured. Woodward doesn't mind poking fun at himself and his very English love of tea, golf and Radio 4. A few dozen well-chosen colour photos add interest and stir memories of the historic victory.
There are some jarring notes. Woodward repeats a couple of phrases to the point of tedium: "He is on record as saying..." certainly got on my nerves and he devotes a whole page to a stilted poem sent in by a fan. Also some of the organisational charts he uses to illustrate his management thinking are a bit simple-minded to say the least.
Overall though this was an inspirational and entertaining read. Die-hard rugby fans may not learn much that's new to them but I'd go as far as saying it's about the best sports book I've read since It's Not about the Bike.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Method or Luck?!
As a Englishman living in Wales I found this an interesting read. I believe the approach Clive Woodward used at the time was ground-breaking in international Rugby but he was also... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Russell3162001
'Winning!' isn't every book; it's the only book!
There are several reasons why reading this book should have delivered an epic fail for me. I've never played rugby. I've never watched rugby. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Allen Baird
Rugby - but not as they used to know it
I was directed to read this book from a school PE teacher. I was undertaking another year as a football coach, and I asked said teacher if he fancied becoming my assistant for the... Read more
Published 10 months ago by john23evans
Where is the man behind the book
I thought this was good stuff as an account of what happened in the run up to wiining the World Cup and I thought his fights with the "old farts" was well documented too. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2010 by David L
Class act
A friend of mine attended a management training course and the trainer recommended this book as an insight to team building. Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2009 by cheekymonkey
Winning all the way
This is my favourite self improvement book I have read. There is a good balance in that it offers both insightful knowledge on personal and team improvement, as well as offering... Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by M. Cope
Building winning
I started this book expecting the gossip, half baked platitudes of the world champions' coach and the mantra of 'my family has always been the most important etc'. Read more
Published on 1 May 2008 by James Field
This is not a review of the Lyons tour
Anyone who has built a high performing team will know it does not happen overnight. This is an insight into the building of the winning team that led to a national celebration... Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2006 by Shaun Bradbury
Sports Book & Management Book - Bargain!
I was lucky enough to review a signed copy of this book from Clive himself as he did a speech at our annual corporate event. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2006 by Mark Beech
Worth the read
I just finished reading this book. The content of the book should not be judged by Clive's performance on the Lions tour. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2006
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