Book Report Essay

A Different Way to Live
As one of the most talked about and well known coaches of the past two decades, Tony
Dungy showed the sports world a different way to lead. Rather than using intimidation and threats, Tony Dungy led through determination and a “quiet strength.” He is a man who knew that his occupation, a coach in the National Football League, was not what defined his life’s value. Rather, Dungy knew that with his title came a platform from which he could spread his ideals on how to live a life of what he considered true success: following the will of God to His pleasing. Through his life, Dungy was a testament of how to live graciously, compassionately, and still achieve greatness. Through this self -told story of his life, Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy proclaims the correct way to live, emphasizing faith, family, and morality above material priorities while always trusting in the plan of God.
Throughout the book, Tony Dungy insinuates many claims which always are backed up with evidence from his real life experiences. Through these accounts, he attempts to build upon his credibility. One of the first claims, which would be supported throughout the book, was that good things come to those who stay faithful to God’s plan. The introduction to the book alluded to the adversity that Dungy would face throughout his life and career. In this short prelude, he speaks about his last experience as he packed up and left the Tampa Bay Buc caneers after being fired. Dungy had put everything into his coaching opportunity and was on the verge of success when he was fired. The team that he had spent five years training would actually go on to win the
Super Bowl the very next year. However, instead of acting with pity or disgust, as he left the

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Buccaneers headquarters for the last time, the only thing on his mind was God’s will. Dungy simply stated that “it was obvious to me that God has something else for [me], or He wouldn’t have closed off what we were doing with the Bucs” (Dun gy 6). As evidence to his belief that
God’s plan rewards the patient, Tony Dungy went on to receive a coaching job with the
Indianapolis Colts and ended up winning the Super Bowl within the next decade. His belief in
God’s plan for him allowed him to stay positive, look with optimism toward the future, and ultimately achieve success.
Throughout the autobiography, Tony Dungy also claims that life is more than just football and more than just his occupation. It is about using his given platform to truly transform the lives of others. Dungy often defines true success as leaving a lasting impact on the life of another so that it may be for the betterment of that person. Simple wealth or glory is not success, rather, it transcends that; it involves the transformation of someone else. He defined and lived this principle. He supported this claim by proving what he could do with the large platform and public reach he maintained as a nationally known coach. One effective example of evidence in this book came with the death of Tony Dungy’s son Jamie. Jamie was nineteen years old when he took his life, and it was a complete shock to Dungy and his wife. Knowing that he would be under the scrutiny of the public eye in the coming weeks, Dungy handled the situation as both an opportunity to honor his son and to outreach to all teens contemplating takin g their own lives.
One boy, who a worried father asked Dungy to write to, was curious as to why he was taking the time to help him. In response, Dungy explained “because if someone had been able to help my son with a phone call, I hope they would have taken the time” (262). This simple response was a testament to his belief. Dungy often spoke about how moments like these are what give a man true success, not any ring that can be won from winning a football game. Due to his help and

3 intervention, the boy did not take his life. Winning the Super Bowl, however, saved the life

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