A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond »

Currently the men's basketball coach at Oregon State University, Craig Robinson played his college ball at Princeton University under the legendary Pete Carril. He is also the brother-in-law of President Barack Obama. He lives in Oregon with his wife and children.

The eagerly anticipated inspirational memoir from Michelle Obama's brother, celebrating the extraordinary family members and mentors who have shaped his life When he stepped into history's spotlight at the National Democratic Convention, Craig Robinson recalls that nothing could have been more gratifying than introducing his sister, Michelle Obama, to millions of Americans. Within minutes, he won the hearts of the nation by sharing highlights of growing up in the modest Robinson household, where the two were raised by devoted parents who taught them the values of education, hard work, and the importance of reaching far beyond what even seemed possible. Those lessons of character were fundamentals in shaping Craig Robinson's own remarkable journey: from his days playing street basketball on Chicago's Southside, while excelling academically, to admission at Princeton University, where he was later named Ivy League Player of the Year, twice. After playing professionally in Europe, Robinson 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 made the unusual decision to forego the trappings of money and status in the business world in order to become a basketball coach. He soon helped transform three struggling teams - as an assistant coach at Northwestern, then as head coach at Brown and now at Oregon State University. In his first season at OSU, he navigated what was declared to be one of the nation's best single season turnarounds. In A Game of Character, Robinson takes readers behind the scenes to meet his most important influences in his understanding of the winning traits that are part of his playbook for success. Central to his story are his parents, Marian and Fraser, two indefatigable individuals who showed their children how to believe in themselves and live their lives with conviction through love, discipline and respect. With insights into this exemplary family, we relive memories of how Marian sacrificed a career to be a full-time mom, how Fraser got up and went to work every day while confronting the challenges of multiple sclerosis, how Craig and Michelle strengthened their bond as they journeyed out of the Southside to Princeton University and eventually, the national stage. Heartwarming, inspiring, and even transformational, A Game of Character comes just at the right time in an era of change, reminding readers of our opportunity to work together and embrace the character of our nation, to make a difference in the lives of others and to pave the way for the next generation.

The Washington Post - T. Rees Shapiro

Robinson's journey to Princeton University, a position with Morgan Stanley and, after a drastic career change, the coaching job at OSU—all this makes for an uplifting read.

Foreword Marian Robinson Robinson, Marian

Pregame: Tests of Character

Pt. I Fundamentals 1

1 Meet the Home Team 3

2 Robinson Family Values: Love, Discipline, Respect 22

3 Know Who You Are and Live Your Life with Conviction 43

4 Be Relentless: You Have to Win to Stay on the Court 64

5 Don't Be Afraid to Be Smart and Cool 75

6 The Correct Choice May Not Be the Right Choice 89

Pt. II On the Road 99

7 From the Southside of Chicago to Princeton 101

8 Learn the Game, Not Just Your Position 117

9 Luck Is Just Another Word for Hard Work 128

10 Character Is Shaped by Choices Made Every Step of the Way 140

11 Expect the Best but Prepare for the Unexpected 151

Pt. III A New Season 165

12 Building a Strong Family Is like Building a Strong Team 167

13 A Strategy for Change Starts with the Belief That You Can Win 181

14 Playing a New Position 193

15 Be Relentless: You Have to Win to Stay on the Court (Reprise) 205

Pt. IV Full-Court Press 217

16 What Would Fraser Robinson Say? 219

17 Harnessing Energy, Seizing Momentum 227

18 The Character of a Nation 237

Postgame: We All Have a Window of Opportunity 251

Acknowledgments 255