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Hauser presents his narrative Studs Terkel style, often with lengthy monologues on his subject. I enjoyed getting to know characters such as Don King , Bundini Brown and Howard Bingham , scurrilous, outrageous, steadfast. The spectrum of people that Ali surrounded himself with was Technicolor. But what this book offers most of and does best for the leisurely reader is a fuller portrait of a man coming of age in his times. The narrative is thorough in filling in the details left out of this mythic story, such as the politics behind the stripping of his world championship title after his draft dodging conviction and what he did in the three year interim.
Who knew that he traveled the college lecture circuit and that he surrounded himself with mooches that took advantage of him every chance they got? To help tell this story, Hauser relies on extensive testimony from a strange variety of sources: When reading these, I often think they got put in the book because they were black. Which highlights the point that Hauser is a white journalist even more. How does this play out? Both Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad are quoted for pages on end.
Jeremiah Shabazz gets four-plus pages, uninterrupted. If Hauser had been more familiar with the subject matter, he would have been able to edit it into a more readable primer. It was the only part I skimmed over.
The medical records are very detailed and unnecessary. Again, it feels as if the author erred on the side of TMI. This bit of info the modern reader is more likely to know about anyway. Even though there are the Joe Fraziers in the world, who will always have quarrel with Ali and who could blame him?
Oct 10, Mike rated it liked it. This is a good book about a great man, possibly the greatest of men. I'm a bit young to remember Muhammad Ali the boxer, though I recall one of his last fights, a travesty of entertainment that resembled nothing less than a magnificent career in the ring dying over the course of a single bout.
My generation was that of Mike Tyson, a more terrifying fighter than Ali and a far more odious human being. Hauser's chronicle does a very fine job of stating the significance of Ali, both in the ring and This is a good book about a great man, possibly the greatest of men. Hauser's chronicle does a very fine job of stating the significance of Ali, both in the ring and within the world at large.
It rightly declares him to be the most famous and best loved person on the planet, and makes it clear that this is because his allure reverberated far beyond the boxing world, focusing instead on his charisma, principles and the generosity of his spirit. The book is littered with testimonies from the man himself and those who knew him; many of these are valuable. Where it fails is in its glossing over much of the boxing. Perhaps the effort was to not go into exhaustive detail on a fighting career that has been covered so extensively elsewhere, but the gaps are filled instead with Islamism.
Not just Ali's conversion, but pages of general information on the origins of the faith and what it means to people today. Maybe it's the case this was at the request of Ali himself, but whilst I've absolutely nothing against Islam, I didn't buy the book because I wanted to read about it, and there's so much space devoted to it. Elsewhere, the stuff about his ban from boxing is fascinating, not least because it makes clear these were the best years of his career he was missing.
There's a lot covering his decline as a boxer, which is just as interesting but also quite tragic. Hauser interviewed various people relatives, friends, rivals, Ali's associates, journalists and physicians. The events are discussed from different perspectives which gives the reader the choice to choose what to believe also the availability of different sides gives a broader perspective of the situations. Ali's flaws and lows e. Personally, I fell in love with Ali all over again after reading this book; I respect his devotion to his religion, Islam, and how he stood strong through it all.
Ali has played a part in all our lives; his achievements and his pride empowered us; his dedication to his beliefs and ideals inspired us all to stand up and to know where we belong; is courage motivated us.
Ali is one of those people that come to this life and bring enlightenment along with them. He was a great man with a unique personality and an extraordinary life. I don't think there will ever be someone like Muhammad Ali.
Tell us what you like, so we can send you books you'll love. Always helps, I guess, when the subject matter is so darn interesting. And I saw him with his hands down, standing there, looking like he was going to get bombed out, and all of a sudden realizing that God had given this kid reflexes like no one had ever seen. Before the games, Sports Illustrated declared him "the best American prospect for a gold medal [in boxing]," adding, "Clay likes to display supreme confidence by doing intricate dance steps between passages of boxing. And only one prevailed in a heavyweight title bout when he was older than Ali, who at thirty-six years eight months toppled Leon Spinks to recapture his crown. He''s four years older than I am, so that would have made him twenty at the time. Six weeks after joining the gym, eighty-nine-pound Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
His Life and Times is a well documented biography on the most phenomenal man, Muhammad Ali. Put in mind that this is not an easy read as it's detailed and needs time to be fully devoured. Mar 09, Glen rated it really liked it. In the book Muhammad Ali, by Thomas Hauser, this book was said to be told for Muhammad Ali to show that he is not just a vicious boxer that will kick your butt in the ring, but to show the other side of Ali from a close friend of Muhammad, which is Thomas Hauser.
Ali has been center stage of the ring for twenty years, or in other words he has been fighting in the ring for seven president terms. During this time only two people had won the heavy eeight champiinship if the world at a younger age. And Ali was ine of them. He was challenged for his heavy weight title, and defended it ninteen times. Muhammad Ali was a great man that showed many people that if they felt like they needed or wanted to do something they could definetly do it.
He showed us that Ali is not just a vicious killer but thhat he is also a man, a human being. Like all the rest of us in the world. I really enjoyed reading this book because. Jun 07, Cindy rated it really liked it. I have always loved Muhammad Ali growing up. It was interesting reading about him as an adult.
I liked the format of the book, filled with interviews and comments from all different people in Ali's life; including Ali himself and his family. He sounds by all accounts a generous, very religious and humble man behind the scenes. He was smart about marketing himself and using bravado in order to rouse curiosity in people so they wanted to come watch his fights. Luckily he was a very gifted boxer to I have always loved Muhammad Ali growing up. Luckily he was a very gifted boxer to back up those words.
In his heyday one of the best there ever was.
It was written in the 90's so it is not current, but I loved reading about him. I am sad for him that some people used him for their gain and not working in his best interest. Though he did not harbor resentment or bitterness. Following the teachings of his religion he is a forgiving and caring man. Overall he was a great boxer and I feel an even greater man. I bought this at an airport bookshop 5 years ago and finally got around to reading it.
It takes an interesting approach to the subject by taking many quotes from the people present at the time and Ali himself. I felt that as a person he is clearly fascinating but the format often missed a chance for the author to link the comments a little more with background information. Some key people are not given a voice which is a shame for balance Don King for example. The story also finishes at a poi I bought this at an airport bookshop 5 years ago and finally got around to reading it. The story also finishes at a point where his illness is identified and controlled a little where further knowledge of his condition in later life might have given better balance to some of the comments.
Jan 28, Bart rated it liked it. This book is a comprehensive portrait of Muhammad Ali told through the words of a hundred or so authors. It is a unique and definitive way of recounting a life. Still, it suffers from the self-assuredness of many of its speakers.
Its subject should age better than his idolaters. A generation that imparted "trust no one over the age of thirty" now suffers the irony of its children's disbelief when - without much more than opinion, adulation and gratefulness - it offers a testimony that mostly redu This book is a comprehensive portrait of Muhammad Ali told through the words of a hundred or so authors.
A generation that imparted "trust no one over the age of thirty" now suffers the irony of its children's disbelief when - without much more than opinion, adulation and gratefulness - it offers a testimony that mostly reduces to trust us; this was a great, great man. Jul 30, Matt rated it really liked it Shelves: I was a little wary of this book since it was an "authorized biography" and I thought it might gloss over some of the more unsavory episodes of Ali's life, but that was not the case at all.
The author's extensive interviews with those around Ali painted a very complete picture of his life. It's written as kind of an oral history using direct quotes from many of the interviewees and it makes for a very enjoyable read. A very comprehensive, mulifaceted account of an inscrutable legend. The many first-person recollections make the book balanced, although some are a little tough to slog through. I also learned a lot about the Nation of Islam.
My only complaint is I would have liked more about Cassius' early life and upbringing.
Aug 14, Troy Vistro rated it it was amazing. For those of you who might have grown up in the 80's and only remember Ali from second hand accounts, or when he was on Different Strokes. It is a great look at an athlete that transcended sport. His genuine charisma, confidence, and eloquence are only imitated quite pitifully by so many athletes today.
Jan 30, Klega50 rated it it was amazing. Although it was written in , it's one I haven't read before. I liked the style it was written in with numerous perspectives from his many friends and detractors. To me he was, is , and always will be the greatest. Not only for his athletic ability but for standing up for what he believed in and didn't condone. As a huge boxing fan and more importantly, a Muhammad Ali fan, I finished this book cover to cover within 2 days.
I literally put it down only to sleep. You don't have to be a boxing fan in order to enjoy the book. I personally found the latter chapters about Ali's personal life after his boxing career to be far more interesting.
I picked up this book because he was one of my heroes, and by the time I finished it he became my greatest hero ever. I originally wanted to experience how confident he was going into a fight, and I discovered he is much more: What celebrity allows people to enter his home whenever they liked? Apr 16, Philip Girvan rated it liked it.
A pretty comprehensive biography, told as oral history. Most of the key players in Ali's life, including The Champ himself, agreed to be interviewed and the life of one of the 20th century's most engaging personalities is revealed. Jan 14, Ahmad Nazeri rated it really liked it Shelves: Muhammad Ali is one of the most inspirational people. He gave so much of himself to his fans and those around him. While I learned a lot about Ali and was inspired to give more, I wish the book was more focused on his character outside the ring.
Oct 10, Cheng Dang rated it really liked it. The most comprehensive history of the person arguably most responsible for modern day big money prize fighting. Written in the form of an oral biography, it presents a wide variety of views and accounts to shed light on why Ali is considered such a historically relevant figure.
Jan 16, Aj rated it it was amazing. Great insight into one of the greatest sporting icons of the twentieth century.
Hauser takes a back seat as the story is told by Ali and the people who knew him, with Hauser tying it superbly together. Mar 13, Charmaine rated it really liked it Shelves: One of the better autobiographies I have read. I knew of Muhammed's boxing acclaim, what I didn't know was with his limited education he was a genius at marketing and promoting himself. His generosity that comes from a pure place is truly inspiring. May 21, David Horney rated it it was amazing Shelves: Oct 05, Marcus Beatty rated it really liked it Shelves: Good read but the last chapter is very drawn out with commentary from others.
Dec 28, Ryan Williams rated it liked it. Even though it covers less territory, Remnick's King of the World was far better. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. His first work, Missing, was made into an Academy Award—winning film. Books by Thomas Hauser. Trivia About Muhammad Ali: No trivia or quizzes yet.
Quotes from Muhammad Ali: This book is a collage, a composite of thousands of bits and pieces of intimate knowledge, and observations and opinion from his intimate family, his cornermen like Angelo Dundee, the late Budini Brown, Dr. Ferdie Pacheco to opponents he demeaned, to Herbert Muhammad , the son of Elijah Muhammad, who managed Ali and served as mentor all the way through.
You will find support for Herbert in this big grab-bag of a book, along with criticism of his handling of Ali's money and his allowing Ali to fight on into fistic old age. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Mohamed Ali Muhammad Ali: Retrieved 9 September Boxing at the Summer Olympics Clay vs. Bonavena Fight of the Century Ali vs. Frazier I Ali vs. Lyle Thrilla in Manila Ali vs. Frazier III Ali vs. Ali II Holmes vs. Ali Drama in Bahama Ali vs. Requiem for a Heavyweight film The Super Fight film a.