The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football

Belichick, the only NFL head coach to win six Super Bowls, aims in this competent debut manual to translate his experiences on the gridiron into life advice. He outlines a coaching philosophy that centers process and consistency, particularly during high-stakes moments (in preparing for the Patriots’ winning 2002 Super Bowl game against the St. Louis Rams, he focused on making methodical adaptations to their defensive strategy, as the team had been doing all year, rather than doing something “big and dramatic”). Equally important, in Belichick’s view, are versatility (“The more talents you possess, the more useful you will be in any kind of competitive environment,” he writes, citing how players who can play multiple positions give coaches “great game-planning flexibility”), and owning one’s mistakes (as a leader, admitting to one’s own missteps promotes accountability and sets a standard for an open, honest culture). Belichick’s lessons are solid and commonsense, and football fans will delight in the trivia and behind-the-scenes insights sprinkled throughout, even if the repeated shoutouts to his superstar quarterback, Tom Brady, can feel excessive. There’s nothing earth-shattering here, but sports fans looking for leadership advice will find some helpful pointers. (May)