What I’m Reading: “A Game of Character” by Craig Robinson
Publication Date: April 20, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59240-5480
Price: $26.00 (hard cover)
I’m so excited to get into this book by Michelle Obama’s big brother Craig Robinson. There has been a lot of positive press about it. Would like your own FREE COPY? Stay tuned here for a book promotion coming very soon! In the meantime, read the press release below for a deep synopsis of A GAME OF CHARACTER. ~Affrodite
UPDATE 4/30/2010: Congratulations to Twitter entrant @SilentButSmart who won the free copy of “A Game of Character.”
UPDATE 4/29/2010: Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a free copy of “A Game of Character.” Make sure you enter a valid email address when prompted in the comment form (emails are not published with comment) in order for me to contact you if you win. Winner to be announced tomorrow 4/30/2010 at 5pm EST. Similar contest running also on Twitter (affrodite) and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/affrodite). There will only be one winner, but you can enter as often as you like through any of the options I’ve provided.
For many years the role of family historian- the ‘keeper of the family lore,’ as Craig puts it- had belonged to his father, my late husband, Fraser Robinson. Without Fraser here to keep those stories alive, they were in danger of becoming lost and Craig was determined not to let go, but to instead take up his father’s mantle storyteller, motivator, and Philosopher-in-Chief.
He has risen to the challenge with A GAME OF CHARACTER, a book that only pays tribute to his parents (and to all parents, teachers, mentors, coaches, for that matter), but also honors a beautiful brother-sister relationship and all sibling, family, and community relationships. I’m confident that you will find the stories he uses to illustrate lessons learned to be as moving, funny, honest, and instructive as they are enlightening. ~ Marian Robinson, from the Foreword
Craig’s understanding of character and his sound judgment for how to win on any court, clearly learned in the extraordinary household where he grew up, are unsurpassed. The lessons he shares in his book provide a playbook for success that can be applied by anyone. It’s been a joy to witness his remarkable journey. ~ Bill Carmody, men’s basketball coach, Northwestern University
PRESS RELEASE (source: Gotham Books) — Most American’s first met Craig Robinson when he introduced his sister, Michelle Obama, at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Within minutes, he won the hearts of the nation by sharing highlights of their childhood on Chicago’s Southside, where they were raised by exemplary and devoted parents. Fraser and Marian Robinson instilled the values of education, hard work, and courage in their children and always encouraged them to reach far beyond what they ever dreamed possible.
In “A GAME OF CHARACTER: A Family Journey from Chicago’s Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond” (Gotham Books; April 20, 2010; $26), Craig Robinson takes readers behind the scenes to meet his family and the other important influences in his life who have contributed to his success both on and off the basketball court. The result is a stunning tribute to his parents, coaches, and other mentors who have contributed to his ongoing search for what it truly means to have character.
Craig shares rich, heartwarming stories of what life was like growing up with Fraser and Marian Robinson and his sister, Michelle- from days playing street basketball while excelling academically; to dodging third-grade girls chasing him home thanks to Michelle’s sisterly protection; to family outings to the drive-in and grandparents’ homes; to summers at Dukes happy Holiday Resort; to admission to Princeton University, where he was twice named Ivy League Player of the Year. The fundamentals Craig learned from his family are evidenced today in his coaching style and family life.
Basketball has always had a large presence in Craig’s life. His basketball career started with street ball and continued to grow as he did. When Craig was a teenager he had the opportunity to play against Michael Jordan and the other NBA stars, but his skills were honed at Princeton University under the legendary coaching of Pete Carril. After a brief stint in the financial world, Craig returned to his passion- basketball. Using the fundamentals he learn from his parents- what he refers to as the Marian and Fraser Robinson playbook- Craig helped transform three struggling teams, first as assistant coach at Northwestern where he worked with Bill Carmody and was “fortunate to be able to learn from the masterful way he had come in and motivated players to want to change.” Craig soon took these philosophies out on his own as head coach at Brown University, and to his most recent position at Oregon State University, where his first season he navigated what was declared to be one of the nation’s best single season turnarounds.
‘Building a strong family was like building a strong team,’ Craig Robinson writes. ‘I confess that the way I coach the game today comes as much from Fraser and Marian Robinson school as it does from any of the other influences…As I dig deeper to recall fundamental values like love, discipline, and respect that Dad and Mom instilled in me and my sister- not in spot lessons or crash courses but consistently and insistently over time- I can see how many of their strategies found their way in the the Craig Robinson coaching style these many years later.’
Along with basketball, Robinson’s life has always been about family and striving for excellence. A GAME OF CHARACTER honors the close relationship between him and his younger sister, Michelle. “Family was everything. It was a constant and dominant strand woven into all of my childhood memories,” he writes. “Michelle was the head of my fan club…Being known as ‘Craig Robinson’s little sister’ was a badge of honor that she wore well into our college years. Of course, later on the tables would turn and I would have the honor of being know and ‘Michele Obama’s big brother!'” Craig shares memorable moments form childhood, including the family scare games, nightly pillow tosses over the separation in their shared bedroom; learning to dance so he wouldn’t embarrass himself (and his sister!) at their school dances; developing boxing skills with Michelle as his partner; and her habit of playing the Charlie Brown theme song on the piano to calm Craig’s nerves before a big game.
Famously reluctant to succumb to change, Craig always turned to his parents for advice before making major life decisions- from where to go to college, to accepting job offers, to where he should earn his MBA, and eventually whether to leave the financial world and pursue a coaching career. With his parents, sister and loved ones by his side, Craig was able to successfully make many tough life decisions, especially when he moved with his wife and children first from Chicago to Providence, Rhode Island, where he was the head coach at Brown, and most recently, while in the midst of the historic Presidential election of his brother-in-law Barack Obama, to Oregon, where he is currently coaching the Oregon State Beavers men’s basketball team.
“True character is a quality that can be found everywhere and anywhere, in some of the least likely places,” Robinson writes. In A GAME OF CHARACTER Craig Robinson opens the doors to a remarkable family. Using basketball as a metaphor for life he shares the lessons he learned about what it takes to succeed and, more important, what it means to have character.
About Craig Robinson
Craig Robinson grew up on the Southside of Chicago with his younger sister, Michelle, and his parents Marian and Fraser Robinson. He played college basketball for Princeton under the legendary Pete Carril, where he was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year. After playing professionally in Europe, Craig made an about-face, entering the competitive field of finance. With his MBA from the University of Chicago, his meteoric rise landed him a partnership in a promising new venture; but another dream beckoned, and Craig left the financial world to become a basketball coach.
Prior to joining Oregon State, Craig spent two years as the head coach at Brown, leading a revival of the Bears’ program. He won more games in his first two years than any other head coach in Brown’s basketball history and was named Ivy League Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year by Basketball-U.com. Before Brow, Craig spent six seasons with the Northwestern Wildcats under head coach Bill Carmody, where he developed and implemented his local, national, and international recruiting technology. Craig Robinson currently lives in Oregon with his wife, Kelly, and his children.
Related Links
NPR– ‘First Brother-In-Law’ Craig Robinson talks family, character
Examiner.com– First brother writes ‘A Game of Character’ on life with Michelle Obama
The Wall Street Journal– Book Report: ‘A Game of Character’ by Craig Robinson
Blue Oregon– Craig Robinson on Obama
Baller-in-Chief– Q and A: First Brother-In-Law Craig Robinson
About Michelle Obama– Michelle Obama’s Big Brother Pens — ‘A Game of Character’
