Bill Walsh - The Score Takes Care of Itself

In a nutshell (288 pages), this book is the autobiography/manual of the former NFL 49ers multi-championship-winning head coach. The book was finalized and published by his son who puts his two cents in. The rest of the book is Walsh chronicling his career as well as what he learned along the way and how he used those lessons to climb the rungs all the way to one of the winningest coaches in the history of the sport.

What I got out of it

Most people if asked know what good leadership looks like. The difference with this book is that he writes more about how to live those things. Most people know what it means to be a good leader, follower, colleague, etc. The problem is not between the ears of most people it’s the stomach, the guts. Walsh went through it all and still lived his principles and it paid. I don’t think this is survivorship bias, I think it’s proof of concept.

What was difficult

The bit by the son wasn’t necessary but not a big deal, just maybe worth skipping. Same thing with the story of the author telling the story of how he wrote the story. It won't give you anything. One thing Walsh's son did well, that I’m not sure his father would have, was to put in the opinions of the people he led. It’s funny hearing about a story from the perspective of the angry coach, and then the player who made him angry. Most of the stories add up but there’s always that little bit of difference that is telling. More funny than negative.

Recommendation

If you’re still looking for books on leadership, then this book will buy you time because this is one of the real books by real people who did the thing they are preaching about. Walsh and his writer did a good job telling the story and I think it’s the rough side of Walsh that allows the lessons to be so salient.