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corsarahnera's review against another edition
4.0
Informative, fascinating, lyrically beautiful.
This book is a description of the athlete, the person, the political and social context in which he formed himself.
This book is a description of the athlete, the person, the political and social context in which he formed himself.
teaganpotter's review against another edition
4.0
I can’t say that boxing has EVER interested me, but I wanted to pick up a book on a topic I knew next to nothing about. I wasn’t disappointed. Learning not only about Ali’s journey but also his importance in the civil rights movements in the 60s was so interesting. I’m only giving it 4 stars because I felt as if much of the text regarding Liston and Patterson dragged on. I understand the importance of the context, but it could’ve been simplified. An incredible read (although I still can’t stand to watch boxing)
ardavis414's review against another edition
5.0
I appreciate that this book isn't solely about Muhammad Ali. Remnick also provides plenty of context behind heavyweight champions Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson before and after they were defeated by Ali in the 60s.
I've never really cared about boxing but this biography sums up the importance of the sport within American culture, specifically African-American culture.
I've never really cared about boxing but this biography sums up the importance of the sport within American culture, specifically African-American culture.
kecresser's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
alexbond3's review
4.0
When I was two or three years old, my parents took me to our local grocery store in Virginia and I got to shake the hand of perhaps the most famous man in the world, who was promoting, of all things, his line of Champ Gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Muhammad Ali is a totally compelling character, a boxer, celebrity, activist, civil rights leader, philanderer, philanthropist, Black Muslim, and American icon. This book could’ve been two times longer and I’d’ve still devoured it.
What moves me most about Ali is the strength of his convictions and the independence of his thought. He rejected every role people expected him to play. He was loud and proud and unapologetic, which wasn’t how a Black man was supposed to behave, least of all a fighter, least of all at that time. In 1967, as the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, he refused the draft and lost four years of his prime - ages 25 to 29 - as his case wound its way to the Supreme Court. He did not apologize for being a member of the Nation of Islam despite the ambivalence of much of the public to that group’s poisonous rhetoric, and he later regretted his rejection of Malcolm X, who he had been so close to, after Malcolm left the group and was assassinated. After his boxing career he spread love and inclusion and Black and Muslim pride around the world. Ali transcended boxing as much as anyone ever transcended sport. What a legend. And I shook his hand!
Muhammad Ali is a totally compelling character, a boxer, celebrity, activist, civil rights leader, philanderer, philanthropist, Black Muslim, and American icon. This book could’ve been two times longer and I’d’ve still devoured it.
What moves me most about Ali is the strength of his convictions and the independence of his thought. He rejected every role people expected him to play. He was loud and proud and unapologetic, which wasn’t how a Black man was supposed to behave, least of all a fighter, least of all at that time. In 1967, as the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, he refused the draft and lost four years of his prime - ages 25 to 29 - as his case wound its way to the Supreme Court. He did not apologize for being a member of the Nation of Islam despite the ambivalence of much of the public to that group’s poisonous rhetoric, and he later regretted his rejection of Malcolm X, who he had been so close to, after Malcolm left the group and was assassinated. After his boxing career he spread love and inclusion and Black and Muslim pride around the world. Ali transcended boxing as much as anyone ever transcended sport. What a legend. And I shook his hand!
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