Thank you go Tyndale and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC version of Uncommon Influence. My thoughts are my own.

I admire Tony Dungy. We probably won't agree with each other on everything, but I do think he has lived an extraordinary life filled with integrity.

Until reading Uncommon Influence, I had never met his wife, Lauren, so fully appreciated the chance to learn more about her.

Uncommon Influence is a book about character... Specifically Christian character. And, most interestingly, it flows back and forth, from chapter to chapter from Tony to Lauren. What holds the book together so well is the fact that they hold the same purpose (oneness) and values (to a life serving the Lord). Tony writes a lot of action points in his chapters, where for the most part, Lauren writes from a very personal place and allows her words to create examples for readers to build into their lives.

Tony and Lauren have made a huge impact on and off the football field. I'd say outside of the field, their largest contribution is in their family, blended together with biological, adopted and foster kids. But Uncommon Influence isn't a book specifically about foster care. It's about becoming the man, woman, couple and family God wants you to be.

I think anyone who has followed tony Dungy or the Dungy family will appreciate this book. Anyone looking to find their purpose or figure out how to be more intentional in their Christian faith will find a wealth of knowledge and be richly blessed.

I have had the privilege to meet Tony Dungy a number of years back in Tampa. This book is a reflection of the man I met. He and Lauren have put on paper what they have lived in real life for decades now. It didn't change when he was winning or losing as a coach. They were the kind of folks who lived out their faith and values in one of the most public forums around. Everyone will benefit from reading this book!

I first admired Tony Dungy as a coach of the greatest sport in the world. Then I learned more about his role as a follower of Christ and family man, which increased my respect tenfold. But this is the first time I’ve picked up one of his books. I love that it’s a joint project with his wife, Lauren.

“Uncommon Influence” is a first person narration rotating between Lauren and Tony. It reads as if I’m sitting on the coach, hot tea in hand, talking with my close friends.

I appreciate the honesty of their struggles and their successes. At times it feels as though it’s a call to arms for foster care because that is their calling from the Lord. But foster care is simply their real-life application of the faith principles they’re discussing.

I intentionally read a chapter at a time - no more, no less - to allow time to process their points and their questions. It’s a successful read if you take it to heart as you read it. Let it challenge you.

Their book isn’t here to tell you what career path to take or where to serve in church. It gives you scripture-based challenges to apply in your daily life to fulfill God’s purpose right where you are - to further His Kingdom.

Tony & Lauren Dungy are a couple to imitate as they seek to follow the Lord in all they do. I have enjoyed their other titles, and as an adoptive Momma, I especially love their hearts for the vulnerable and fatherless highlighted throughout this book. God has grown their family in such a beautiful way, and they continue to foster. Rather than throwing money at a cause, the Dungy’s focus on what love requires and truly said “yes to a purposeful life.”

The Dungys, Lauren and Tony, write of their life fulfilling a promise made early in their married life: to follow Christ’s teachings in all things but particularly devoting themselves and their family as it grew through fostering children including adoption of these children. It is not a story of how great “we are” but a guidebook for striding to follow Christ. They have a plan which includes prayer, associating with others of like purpose and being aware of circumstances when they can reach out to others. Do they make it seem easy? Only in the sense that they acknowledge it involves constant planning which, in turn, allows them to ask for help from others just as they do to others. It’s just not doing it for themselves for glory but to instill these values to the next generation.
I liked the way in which the book is staged: both parents have written different sections of the book while acknowledging what the other has written, The respect that each has for their partner glows in this book.
A book that can serve as a parenting tool, a motivational tool for one’s job and outlook on life is what you will see reflected in the stories of their life and how one can achieve it in their own life.

Uncommon Influence was the first book I've read by Mr. & Mrs. Dungy and it will most definitely not be the last! This is a phenomenal read and one of my absolute favorite reads of 2022. I don't even know where to begin because the entire book is pure perfection -- uplifting, insightful, informative, biblical, inspirational -- there aren't enough adjectives to describe this book. I felt as though Tony & Lauren Dungy were speaking to me personally throughout the chapters. It's written with heart and soul and most importantly with a love of Jesus that comes through in a spectacular fashion. This is a 10-star+ read for me and I honestly believe that if everyone would read and follow the Dungy's guide to saying "Yes!" to Jesus and "Yes!" to a purposeful life, this world would be an awesome place. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Dungy on an encouraging and hopeful read! I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an early copy of this book for NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Uncommon Influence
by Tony Dungy, Lauren Dungy
Pub Date: August 9, 2022
Compassion
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Tony's books include Quiet Strength, Uncommon, The Mentor Leader, and Uncommon Marriage. He led the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl victory on February 4, 2007, the first such win for an African American head coach. Dungy established another NFL first by becoming the first head coach to lead his teams to the playoffs for ten consecutive years.
I was drawn to this book because of the quality people that The Dungy's are. I have read all of their books and have learned something from each one.
Dungy has been involved in a wide variety of charitable organizations, including All Pro Dad, Abe Brown Ministries, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Mentors for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Boys & Girls Clubs. He also works with Basket of Hope, Impact for Living, the Black Coaches Association National Convention, Indiana Black Expo, the United Way of Central Indiana, and the American Diabetes Association.
I don't think you can go wrong when you read a book from these two!! I am purchasing it for our library and I am sure it will be one of the best books I have read this year. 5 star

Tony Dungy doesn’t know it, but his coaching style had quite the effect on my own. I read his first book, Quiet Strength, just after he retired from coaching the Indianapolis Colts. Growing up in southern Indiana, the Colts were “my team” and my dad’s company saw to it that we got to go to a game every year or two. Football was never really my sport, but after finishing out a gymnastics career, I turned toward coaching and found a philosophy of teaching in Quiet Strength that has guided me as both a coach and a pastor for the past fifteen years.

I hadn’t really followed Coach Dungy’s writing career past that book. I was generally aware of his other books, but had never picked them up. Now, fifteen years later, in the midst of a doctoral program in leadership, dealing with the study of leadership influence, Tony and Lauren Dungy’s thoughts on having Uncommon Influence proved to be a nice change of pace from the academic leadership material I’ve been reading. I don’t know that my advisors will let me quote them in my dissertation, but I’m certainly going to try!

Uncommon Influence is a book about using your influence—your position, your wealth, your relationships, your connection, whatever it is you can use—to make the world a better place. The Dungys encourage readers to say yes to a more purposeful life, to take hold of the opportunities that God puts in our path. For them, saying yes to God’s calling has meant engaging in foster care and adoption. After reading this book, I’d love to see Tony and Lauren write a book just on foster care, adoption, and building a multicultural, multi-ethnic family. While they are careful to protect the identity of their children, the Dungys give readers access to their lives to show how saying yes to God has challenged and blessed them.

The book is styled so that some chapters are written by Tony and others are written by Lauren. The result is that there’s something for everyone. The football fan will get some insights into Coach Dungy’s time as both a player and a coach. There are a few Peyton Manning stories thrown in. Tony shows how his use of influence as a leader in a football organization changed his players and set them up for success on and off the football field. But if football isn’t your thing, don’t worry, because Lauren’s chapters will focus more on their family and adoption/foster care. It’s obvious that each has worked with the other on developing the chapters, but they retain their distinctive voices throughout.

Uncommon Influence is encouraging and exemplary. The Dungys are both coach and cheerleaders, guiding readers toward living out a radical life of “yes” in following Jesus, using their own example as an encouragement to follow. I’ve often thought that I’d love to see Coach Dungy back out on the field, but after reading about what he’s doing with his life now, I wouldn’t take that away from him for anything.

5 stars!
Lauren and Tony Dungy have written a very meaningful and biblical book. I recommend this book to both men and women. I will be looking for other books by these two!

Just as is the case with anything "Dungy," this book is a wonderful, candid look into the lives of Tony and Lauren Dungy. Get your Chirsitan walk right by following them. You can't go wrong.