The Score Takes Care of Itself

Starred review from June 29, 2009
This posthumous leadership guide by the acclaimed head coach of the San Francisco 49ers is a fascinating compendium of Walsh's philosophy, as compiled by his son and Jamison (coauthor of Wooden
) from interviews and private notes. Interspersed with the coach–turned–leadership guru's insights into management are pieces by football greats Joe Montana and Randy Cross and former colleagues John McVay, Mike White and Bill McPherson. Walsh reveals a simple and strict philosophy that prizes people above all and focuses on core values, principles and ideals. His philosophy centers on three beliefs: organizational ethics are critical; everyone, regardless of their position, must perform at the highest possible level; and teaching should be a top priority for any leader. He shares his unique “Standard of Performance” and offers valuable advice on communication and priorities. Enlightening, informative and engaging, this powerful book is a must-read for executives and managers at every level.

September 1, 2009
Bill Walsh (19312007), the innovative coach of the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford University who is most famous for developing the ubiquitous West Coast Offense, was not shy about appearing in print. He began this volume around the same time as his second autobiography, "Finding the Winning Edge", in 1998. However, when Walsh returned to the 49ers' front office in 1999, he put aside the manuscript. He died soon after renewing the project. Coauthor Jamison contacted Walsh's son Craig, and the project was restarted with the addition of Craig's perspective as well as contributions from five of Walsh's favorite players and coaches. Walsh taught some classes at Stanford's business school, and the primary topic here is leadership expressed through many illustrative examples from his 49ers coaching career. The book is arranged in a fully outlined business-manager style and covers Walsh's five major elements of leadership: setting a standard of performance, innovation and planning, fundamentals of leadership, interacting with people, and self-assessment. VERDICT This will be of interest primarily to 49ers fans and to readers interested in the nexus of football coaching and business management.John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ

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