Ali: A Life

by Jonathan Eig

The definitive biography of an American icon, from a New York Times best-selling author with unique access to Ali’s inner circle

He was the wittiest, the prettiest, the strongest, the bravest, and, of course, the greatest (as he told us himself). Muhammad Ali was one of the twentieth century’s most fantastic figures and arguably the most famous man on the planet.

But until now, he has never been the subject of a complete, unauthorized biography. Jonathan Eig, hailed by Ken Burns as one of America’s master storytellers, radically reshapes our understanding of the complicated man who was Ali. Eig had access to all the key people in Ali’s life, including his three surviving wives and his managers. He conducted more than 500 interviews and uncovered thousands of pages of previously unreleased FBI and Justice Department files, as well dozens of hours of newly discovered audiotaped interviews from the 1960s. Collectively, they tell Ali’s story like never before—the story of a man who was flawed and uncertain and brave beyond belief.

“I am America,” he once declared. “I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me—black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own. Get used to me.”

He was born Cassius Clay in racially segregated Louisville, Kentucky, the son of a sign painter and a housekeeper. He went on to become a heavyweight boxer with a dazzling mix of power and speed, a warrior for racial pride, a comedian, a preacher, a poet, a draft resister, an actor, and a lover. Millions hated him when he changed his religion, changed his name, and refused to fight in the Vietnam War. He fought his way back, winning hearts, but at great cost. Like so many boxers, he stayed too long.

Jonathan Eig’s Ali reveals Ali in the complexity he deserves, shedding important new light on his politics, religion, personal life, and neurological condition. Ali is a story about America, about race, about a brutal sport, and about a courageous man who shook up the world.  

Genres: Biography, Sports, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir, Politics, Audiobook

640 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

Jonathan Eig is the author of six books, four of them New York Times best sellers, as well as four books for children. He is a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal. His works have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
His most recent book is "King: A Life." His previous book, Ali: A Life," was the winner of the PEN Award and hailed as an "epic" by Joyce Carol Oates in her New York Times review.
His other books are: "Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig;" "Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season;" "Get Capone;" and "The Birth of the Pill."
Jonathan served as consulting producer on the Ken Burns PBS documentary on Muhammad Ali.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I ever reviewed on my blog, nearly three years ago, happened to be Jonathan Eig’s The Birth of the Pill. It was the strength of the writing in that offbeat work of history, as well as rave reviews for this 2017 biography of Muhammad Ali (1942–2016), that led me to pick up a sport-themed book. I’m the furthest thing from a sports fan you could imagine, but I approached this as a book about a cultural icon and read it with a spirit of curiosity about how Eig would shape this life story and separate the facts from the legend. It’s a riveting account of outliving segregation and developing a personal style and world-beating confidence; it’s a sobering tale of facing consequences and having your own body fail you. I loved it.

Today would have been Ali’s 76th birthday, so in honor of the occasion – and his tendency to spout off-the-cuff rhymes about his competitors’ shortfalls and his own greatness – I’ve turned his life story into a book review of sorts, in rhyming couplets.

Born into 1940s Kentucky,
this fine boy had decent luck – he
surpassed his angry, cheating father
though he shared his name; no bother –
he’d not be Cassius Clay much longer.
He knew he was so much stronger
than all those other boys. Racing
the bus with Rudy; embracing
the help of a white policeman,
his first boxing coach – this guardian
prepared him for Olympic gold
(the last time Cassius did as told?).

A self-promoter from the start, he
was no scholar but won hearts; he
hogged every crowd’s full attention
but his faults are worth a mention:
he hoarded Caddys and Royces
and made bad financial choices;
he went through one, two, three, four wives
and lots of other dames besides;
his kids – no closer than his fans –
hardly even got a chance.

Cameos from bin Laden, Trump,
Toni Morrison and more: jump
ahead and you’ll see an actor,
envoy, entrepreneur, preacher,
recognized-all-round-the-world brand
(though maybe things got out of hand).
Ali was all things to all men
and fitted in the life of ten
but though he tested a lot of walks,
mostly he just wanted to box.

The fights: Frazier, Foreman, Liston –
they’re all here, and the details stun.
Eig gives a vivid blow-by-blow
such that you will feel like you know
what it’s like to be in the ring:
dodge, jab, weave; hear that left hook sing
past your ear. Catch rest at the ropes
but don’t stay too long like a dope.

If, like Ali, you sting and float,
keep an eye on your age and bloat –
the young, slim ones will catch you out.
Bow out before too many bouts.
Ignore the signs if you so choose
(ain’t got many brain cells to lose –
these blows to the head ain’t no joke);
retirement talk ain’t foolin’ folk,
can’t you give up on earning dough
and think more about your own soul?

Just like Malcolm X always said
Allah laid a call on your head:
To raise up the black man’s status
and ask white men why they hate us;
to resist the Vietnam draft
though that nearly got you the shaft
and lost you your name, your title
and (close) your rank as an idol.
Was it all real, your piety?
Was it worth it in society?

Nation of Islam was your crew
but sure did leave you in the stew
with that Vietcong kerfuffle
and Malcolm/Muhammad shuffle.
Through U.S. missions (after 9/11)
you explained it ain’t about heaven
and who you’ll kill to get you there;
it’s about peace, being God’s heir.

Is this story all about race?
Eig believes it deserves its place
as the theme of Ali’s life: he
was born in segregation, see,
a black fighter in a white world,
but stereotypes he hurled
right back in their faces: Uncle
Tom Negro? Naw, even punch-drunk he’ll
smash your categories and crush
your expectations. You can flush
that flat dismissal down the john;
don’t think you know what’s going on.

Dupe, ego, clown, greedy, hero:
larger than life, Jesus or Nero?
How to see both, that’s the kicker;
Eig avoids ‘good’ and ‘bad’ stickers
but shows a life laid bare and
how win and lose ain’t fair and
history is of our making
and half of legacy is faking
and all you got to do is spin
the world round ’till it lets you in.

Biography’s all ’bout the arc
and though this story gets real dark,
there’s a glister to it all the same.
A man exists beyond the fame.
What do you know beneath the name?
Less, I’d make a bet, than you think.
Come over here and take a drink:
this is long, deep, satisfying;
you won’t escape without crying.
Based on 600 interviews,
this fresh account is full of news
and fit for all, not just sports fans.
Whew, let’s give it up for Eig, man.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muhammad Ali was most definitely someone undeniably larger than life. However, he was as human as the rest of us, even if he never believed that himself. Eig does a great job of portraying both the man who was the legend and the man who was but a man. He was both loveable and highly unlikable. Mostly, what I felt the strongest for him was pity. While he was excessively arrogant, he was also equally naive and generous, for which he was exploited over and over again. (Don King, you deserve your own realm in hell!)

PS, anyone else think of King David sending Uriah to the front lines when Ali's draft status changed to 1A? Like it was the government's way of conveniently trying to get rid of a social loudmouth who was possibly getting to be too irritating and inconvenient?

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much needs to be said about the impact Muhammad Ali made on the sport of boxing, civil rights in the United States or the Muslim faith. There have been many books and articles written about the man on all of these topics and more. Now there is one source for inside information on Ali the man, Ali the boxer and Ali the spiritual figure – this outstanding biography written by Jonathan Eig.

Covering Ali’s entire life, from the childhood of Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky to his death in 2016, Eig uncovers stories behind Ali’s transformation from being one of the most despised men in America (at least by white Americans) to one of the most beloved figures. Information on just about every aspect of Ali’s life – his association with the Nation of Islam, his training methods, his marriages and eventually the neurological issues that plagued him even before his boxing career ended – are all addressed in the masterful storytelling that has won Eig widespread praise.

Nearly anything that has been said about Ali, even if just in mythological or legendary status, is mentioned in the book. Stories such as the one about a stolen bicycle leading to his interest in boxing, the real source for his famous quote about “no quarrel with the Viet Cong” and the atmosphere of his famous first fight with Joe Frazier in 1971 at Madison Square Garden are written in a flowing style that makes them, and the rest of the book, a joy to read.

This is the case even with controversial or unpleasant topics. The reader will gain a better understanding of the importance of the Nation of Islam in Ali’s transition from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali and the roles that Elijah Muhammad, his son Herbert and Malcom X played in that part of Ali’s life. Ali’s conviction on draft evasion, his subsequent association with Don King and his generosity with his money that led to financial problems. Through all of these, however, Eig never fails to remind readers that often Ali was simply being kind to everyone whom he would encounter.

Ali’s boxing career is just as well chronicled as his life. Good coverage of nearly every fight in his career can be found in the book and the bigger fights such as the first and third fights against Frazier, his two knockouts of Sonny Liston and the “Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman have substantial pages written. While many of these fights have been covered in other books (some of which were references for Eig’s research as well as over 500 interviews), these accounts of those great matches will leave the reader reliving those fights or give some new information.

Just like his biography on Lou Gehrig, Eig’s biography on “The Greatest” paints a comprehensive picture on a beloved icon in American sports in an enjoyable, entertaining book that readers will want to add to their libraries. One doesn’t have to be a boxing or sports fan to enjoy this, especially since Muhammad Ali transcended sports to become an iconic figure. It is a biography that comes close to that status in the world of books.

I wish to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...

[Fred Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

You more than likely have heard of Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali, if nothing more than that he recently passed away. I was in high school in the 60’s when he won a gold medal in boxing in Rome at the summer Olympics, and when he won the heavyweight title by beating Sonny Liston. He was generally known then as a loud mouth, and many despised him for his “I am the Greatest of all tiiiiiimmmmmeeee” chant and his unorthodox boxing style. He was black and defiant. He refused to go to Viet Nam as a conscientious objector, was sued by the Federal Government for draft evasion and had to quit boxing, give up his livelihood for several years. But I came to know him as a truly caring and generous man through Jonathan Eig’s portrait. Some say he was the greatest athlete in the world in the 20th century. President Obama quoted Muhammad Ali after his death: ““From the White House, President Obama issued a statement that read, in part: “‘I am America,’ he once declared. ‘I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me—black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own. Get used to me.’”” I think that says it all.

I don’t generally read biographies, but this is one I sought out and was not disappointed.

[Styron Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Muhammad Ali book is the “GOAT”, of Ali books! This was my eight book on Muhammad Ali. Ali, remains the ONLY athlete, I personally consider my hero. The other seven books, very well discuss his life as a boxer, just as the Will Smith, movie did. Jonathan Eig, painted the picture of the person. From his birth, the early racial prejudices faced. His decision making that made him once hated and later respected and loved. The author painted the good, bad, ugly and greatness of the man. If you are an Ali, fan- READ THIS BOOK!

[Michael Fineberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extraordinary for how well it conveys so many different things about 20th Century life in the United States; boxing, coming of age, race, Islam, marriage (and divorce and infidelity), social action, aging, and finally, the power of charisma and bravery. The writing is crisp and engaging, the subject matter(s) is fascinating and the pages just fly by.

I could say more, but read this book and then, let's talk.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! rtc

4.5 Stars

Listened to Audible. Kevin R. Free was phenomenal!!

[Marco Etheridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan Eig's "Ali: A Life" is a detailed and comprehensive biography. The book charts the life of heavy-weight boxer Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most famous athlete of the Twentieth Century. It is an arguable point, but Ali would have had an answer. He would say that he was the greatest of all time. Except that he would say "of allllll times.....!!" "Ali: A Life" was published in 2017 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and has a length of 640 pages.

There are several distinct narratives living between the covers of this book. There is the story of a heavy-weight boxer, Muhammad Ali. In and of itself, the tale of Ali's life would carry a normal biography. His larger-than-life personality, both in and out of the ring, made him front-page news. Ali's fame ran far outside the borders of the United States. Not only was he one of the most famous men in the USA, he was quite likely the most recognizable face in the world. And that face was Black.

Muhammad Ali was a Black Man. He was not a quiet Black Man. He did not fit into the mold of what a Black athlete was supposed to look like in a White society. Muhammad Ali was the man who would break that mold; upset the comfort zone of sportswriters and boxing fans. And this controversy, this collision of worlds, is the stuff of the second narrative. The second narrative is about race in the United States.

As a reader, I found a third narrative woven into the story of Muhammad Ali. That story was an oblique cultural history of the last quarter of the 20th Century. The perspective is as of something viewed in a mirror. In this case, the mirror is the life of Muhammad Ali.

To return to our first narrative: A Life. For readers who love a straight biography, there is a lot of meat here to chew on. Mr. Eig covers Ali's early life, when his name was Cassius Clay. We see a young boy growing up in segregated Louisville, Kentucky. He is always on the move, always in motion. Soon he is learning to box; the story of Cassius Clay mentored by a White policeman. Clay boxes his way to the US Olympic Team and a Gold Medal. And the story goes on, tracing his path to his first heavy-weight championship. The personal life of Muhammad Ali is documented in great detail, including the flaws and clichés that would become famous. The story continues, of course, through a new name, through other fights, other losses, other wives. As this very personal and complex life plays out, the author brings us to a fourth narrative but I will leave that for the last, as Mr. Eig does.

Woven through the transition from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali is the question of race in modern America. The very idea of race, of what it means to be a Black Man in the United States, is part and parcel to the life story of Muhammad Ali. There is no separating the two. Ali would not be quiet and he would not be humble. Ali would not be contained or defined by any preconceived notion of what a Black athlete should or should not do or say. Then, as if to draw the question of race into sharper focus, Cassius Clay did the unthinkable. He changed his name, he changed his religion, and he thumbed his nose at the US Government. He became more than a loud-mouthed Black boxer. Now he was thorn-in-the-side of those who hold the reins of power. Ali was a threat to the status quo.

Challenging the Powers-That-Be is a dangerous game. Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali after becoming a member of the Nation of Islam. During these tumultuous times, the life of Ali holds up a mirror for the reader. In this mirror, we see many of the famous Black men of the time. Malcolm X was a friend and mentor to Ali, until the former split with Elijah Muhammad. Ali had to chose between the two men, and the choice would haunt him. Dr. King is seen through the mirror of Ali's life, as are Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan. There were the Black men Ali would fight: Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, George Foreman, and Larry Holmes. Over the course of his career, we see Ali stripped of his title for refusing the Vietnam draft. We see him regain the heavy-weight title. Things are changing in the world. Black athletes from the US Olympic Team give the Black Power salute from the podium. Ali becomes a star. Some of the sportswriters that formerly reviled him now embrace him in their columns.

There remains a final narrative to the story of Muhammad Ali. Like many champions, he stayed too long. There are other clichés as well, sad and oft heard. There were other famous men, Black men, who would take advantage of the Champ. They sought a way to make a profit from Ali. It is the same sad story that happened to other champions from the past. Then there began to be clear signs that all was not well with the Champ. He was slower in the ring. He was slurring his speech. This was the time, the moment where Ali could have made the choice to retire. The Black men who profited from the Champ, Don King, Herbert Muhammad, they could have stopped Ali. But they did not. There was money to be made. Here we enter the final tragic chapter, the neurological damage that Muhammad Ali suffered. The end of Ali's life is the story of him dealing with this damage.

"Ali: A Life" is a well-written and well-crafted biography. The author does not pull any punches when it comes to the Champ's life. We see Ali as he was; complex and brilliant, flawed and naive. We see his generosity and his selfishness. Ali's life story is a large narrative, but when overlaid with the story of race and culture in the USA, this book reaches very far. I am happy to say that the author's reach does not exceed his grasp. A wonderfully successful biography, this is highly recommended reading.

[Jeffrey Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even like boxing and I still could not stop reading this book. I've read all of Jonathan Eig's books, and while his reporting and writing are always top-notch, ALI: A LIFE is his crowning achievement.

Part of that, of course, is due to the fact that Ali was a fascinating, infuriating, dynamic man. His life had unbelievable twists and turns—most of it at his own making—and he was in the middle of so much history during some of America's most turbulent decades.

But Eig doesn't glorify Ali, nor does he insult him. He does something much harder: He humanizes him. I finally feel like I understand Ali's motivations, his strengths and weaknesses—and see him as more than some kind of super hero or cartoon. And that's a testament to how well-written and well-reported this book is. And with each boxing match described, I cringed a little more at how this one-of-a-kind man was disappearing with each punch.

ALI: A LIFE is the best book of 2017. It's tragic, but also funny, fast-paced, and timely. Ali's life tells us so much about America's complicated racial history, much of which informs today's culture. I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Joel Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t understand the U.S. in the 60’s and 70’s, unless you understand the role of Ali. And you can’t understand the role of Ali, unless you read this brilliantly written, immaculately-researched book. The book manages to be both action-packed and full of broad, important themes (race, how athletes get brutalized for money, etc. ) that prompt deep thought. Given the national debate today of the role of athletes in politics, this book is more needed than ever. And it’s is a heck of a lot of fun to read. Read it … now.

[Cmp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lackluster biography. It was an easy and pleasant enough read, but not a particularly rewarding one. Its main failing was the absence of any overarching premise about Ali as a person, as a boxer, or regarding his legacy within both his sport and American culture. As such, there’s no real point to the book, leaving it to exist as a simple narrative of Ali’s life for the uninitiated.

Though it adopts a refreshingly more critical “warts-and-all” view of its subject than hagiographer/authorized biographer Thomas Hauser’s Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, presenting Ali as a warm-hearted but self-centered, childish, philandering man, it does not enhance the existing understanding of Ali, as those aspects of his character were already well-documented in other books and various media and they do not cohere here into a greater whole. Eig, who tends to focus more on race than boxing, also grates in his attempts to come across as the “wokest” of the “woke,” most pathetically in suggesting Ali became something of a sell-out in the ‘70s in return for wider popularity and barely concealing his contempt for Ali’s endorsement of Ronald Reagan’s re-election bid in 1984. The latter Eig shamefully submits as proof of brain damage.

The author also betrays a poor understanding of boxing and its history in his repeated attempts to downgrade Ali’s boxing abilities. His ignorance of the sweet science is in fullest relief when he spends almost an entire chapter citing retrospective CompuBox stats as evidence Ali was overrated. Contemporaneous ringside CompuBox numbers, which are dubious in accuracy and reveal nothing about the clarity or power of shots landed, are meaningless enough to boxing fans and those involved in the sport; retrospective CompuBox numbers, gleaned from viewing grainy old fight films, are downright nostrum. Eig also falsely describes the first Chuvalo fight, one in which Ali won 13 or more rounds on each of the three scorecards, as a closely-contested bout and inaccurately labels the Rumble in the Jungle a “dull” affair, denigrating the rope-a-dope as a non-strategy. The Rumble in the Jungle might have been “dull” if all Ali did was lean against the ropes and cover-up for eight rounds, but he was persistently throwing and landing counters on Foreman as he did so, building up a comfortable lead on all three scorecards until he finally delivered the knockout blow to Foreman in the eighth round. The palpable excitement amongst the crowd and television commentators throughout belies Eig’s claim that the bout was “dull.” It is also patently ridiculous to dismiss a technique successfully employed to goad an opponent into throwing ineffective punches and tiring himself out as a non-strategy: either Eig doesn’t understand the rope-a-dope or he doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “strategy.”

Beyond those issues, a general sense of incompleteness pervades the work. There is limited background information about the Nation of Islam and its most bizarre and controversial beliefs (Mr. Yakub, orbiting “mother plane” spaceships, etc.) are essentially ignored. Well-known supporting figures so ubiquitous in Ali’s life and career—“Bundini” Brown, Angelo Dundee, Howard Bingham, etc.—barely garner passing references here. I don’t know how it’s possible to write a proper full-length biography of Ali without more than a handful of references to Bingham, Ali’s closest and truest friend. Likewise, the entirety of Ali’s post-boxing life is treated in roughly 35 pages with a hastiness that verges on carelessness.

For all the books written about Ali, there has been a notable absence of a solid cradle-to-grave biography. David Remnick’s King of the World, in my opinion the single best book written about Ali, focuses on Cassius Clay’s transformation into Muhammad Ali and ends upon Ali’s second victory over Sonny Liston. Hauser’s authorized biography was published twenty-five years before Ali’s death and is actually an oral history. Eig’s biography lacks the wonderful insight of Remnick’s book and the impressive detail of Hauser’s, but those who know little about Ali and are simply seeking a straightforward, not particularly deep overview of his life might find that Eig’s biography suits their needs. For others, look elsewhere—specifically, Remnick and, to a lesser extent, Hauser.

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex. Fascinating. Scintillating. Charismatic. Despicable. Inspiring. All words that describe Ali. The book itself was good but not great - it bogged down with repetition at times. Over all, the character pulled it along into a captivating story.

[Cynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hoped by reading a life-and-times biography of Muhammad Ali, I would better understand that service that Muhammad Ali [MA]. I am human, so I can be a little clueless even when the information is right under my nose.

Starting this book, I hoped to find out

* how boxing served POC and families including Muhammad Ali to become more financially comfortable. Through the services of hos last wife Lonnie, MA was able to gain some financially stability.

* how Islam made MA a better person, whatever that might be for him.

* how MA contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. I somehow believed he participated more/more consistently.

If another GR group I read with reads another biography of Muhammad Ali, I will try again.

So did I learn/see some things I did not know about MA. What tormented undereducated privileged women of the 18th century tormented MA.

* Because he had no or few inner resources, he sought admiration in public and private forums.
* Because he had no or few inner resources, MA needed entertainment and movement.

Having recently reread A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, I was able to see this needy character clearer.

Read with GR Nonfiction Reading--Only the Best.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muhammad Ali was, by far, the greatest sports figure of the 20th century. His is a personality that no one will ever be able to "figure out" entirely. He was simultaneously thrilling, charming, disappointing, and malicious. But he was the greatest pugilist of all time(s), and his accomplishments speak for themselves.
This biography by Jonathan Eig is a knockout punch. For sure, no other author has been able to capture Ali in so complete a way as Eig. The depth of the research is very impressive- the FBI files were a fascinating addition, and the interviews with Ali's entourage and family were obviously legion. Before reading, I listened to Eig's "Chasing Ali" podcast, and I knew this book was going to be awesome. I wasn't let down at all.
It's obvious that Eig admires his subject very much, but he does not let that overtake the narrative. The book presents a very balanced picture of the champ, showing us all the wonderful things about him but not hesitating to expose the flaws in Ali's character. I saw how charitable Ali was and the concern he felt for his fellow man, but also how he said genuinely hurtful things to his opponents (especially Joe Frazier) and his callous treatment of his wives. The brave stand Ali took against the government during the Vietnam War is treated fairly, as is Ali's naivete in letting the Nation of Islam take advantage of him throughout his career.
Perhaps most poignant of all is the statistics Eig presents concerning the blows Ali took to the head, and how that caused his slow decline into Parkinson's disease. I won't reveal the figures here, but they are truly terrifying. Early on in the book you can easily see the fast, slick Ali with a lightning jab, and as the book progresses, it becomes truly heartbreaking to read about the gradually-slowing Ali, until he unwisely stepped in the ring with Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick, at which point he could barely even raise his arms to protect himself. I feel that many of the questions concerning Ali's health later in his career were laid to rest in this book. The data is laid flat out, the verdicts of doctors and clinics scrutinized.
I have very little to say negatively of this book, but I will note a few things here:
- This is more of a personal dislike, but I didn't care for the amount of anaphora (something that bugs me). By this I mean paragraphs where multiple sentences begin with the same words, i.e. "He didn't care that.......He didn't care that......He didn't care that......" I acknowledge that this can be very effective when used right, but I tire of it after two or three instances.
- I think the book could have used a further exploration of the relationship between Ali and Howard Cosell. This is an important part of Ali's life, because Cosell was one of the few prominent figures in white America to support Ali when he converted to Islam and resisted the draft. The two became like brothers, griping and making fun of each other, all in jest of course. They were friends for life, and represented the sort of camaraderie that Civil Rights had fought for.

This book is, by far, the finest piece of literature yet written on Muhammad Ali, and I daresay the greatest boxing-related book of alllll tiiiiimes. My overall verdict is five stars, plus some. Bravo Mr. Eig!

[Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the best books I have read serve as a portal into another world. When you open up the book and suddenly you're in another world, another time. Quietly observing whats going on, trying to piece everything together. You feel like you're right in the story with all the other characters. I particularly enjoy older books that have that musty smell to them, with the pages slightly discolored, coffee stains and pasta stains (Is everyone eating pasta when they read?). It's like the world is bustling and constantly changing but in between these pages, this story lies dormant awaiting an enthusiastic reader. Theres peace in between these pages, a silent yet inexpensive refugee. I enjoy Autobiographies for this reason alone but thats neither here nor there. Lets get to the freakin review.

ESPN used to create captivating biopic documentaries on historical athletes. This was before that channel turned into a sensational narrative generating poisonous entity. They did one on Ali and I immediately fell in love as a kid. My parents, sensing this decided to buy me an Ali poster that hung over my bed for 10 years. Ever since, I have been hooked by the story of Ali. Those mesmerizing interviews when he used to yell "I AM THE GREATEST OF ALLLLLL TIMMESSSSSS". He would be so eloquent for a boxer let alone a heavy weight boxer. I was inspired by his quotes on pushing yourself towards a goal despite resisting the work that comes with achieving said goal. I wanted to pick this up because I felt as if I had a superficial understanding of his life. As it turns out I did in fact not know who this man really was.

Ali starts off a very ambitious child, with a goal to have a 100k, a few cars, a wife and a house on a hill. Essentially wanting to be rich and famous. I thought that was narcissistic and materialistic for someone of his character but then I remember that he was just a child making these goals. More importantly, this was before the integration of blacks and whites at schools. They were not even allowed to eat with whites. These goals are symbolic as a representation of not being defined and limited by the color of your skin. Joe Louis, America's boxing champ catered to whatever was desired from white America in terms of imaging etc. Never taking a picture with a white girl. Think how crazy that is and how disciplined you have to be as an athlete. You can't blame Joe Louis for this, this was simply the cards he was dealt. Ali on the other hand would not acquiesce to these rules. In fact he would break them all.

He started boxing at 12, was charismatic from the very start and his life sky rockets from that point. Winning the heavy weight title 10 years later from when he first put on boxing gloves. He was brash, his moments on television were explosive in terms of the cultural display of not trying to adhere to white America. He would go on to play a heel, a character that people pay to see lose. His mixture of charisma and boxing prowess both created a level of stardom not experienced by any black athlete. He would go on to become one of the most famous people in the world and he would be hated for it.

Lets get to the draft stance, Ali refused to be enlisted in the Vietnam war striking a battle with the government that would tarnish his boxing career, sully his business opportunities and jeopardize his finances. This contradicts his original stance of wanting to receive riches and only riches. You have to commend Ali for this, how many of you would risk millions of dollars for this stand? How many of you would risk your entire career and possibly face jail time for this stance? We all know very few if any would do this. This is why I have an eternal level of respect for him because the ban from boxing and the decision from the courts whether or not he would be in jail would break any man but Ali was not any man.

The boxing ban hurt Ali's career because he did not like to train nor did he like to fight. That was simply his only means to earn a living beyond meager jobs he could take. So he rarely trained during the ban and it ruined his career in a lot of ways. He was not as quick which made him turn his strategy into taking punches... Many to the head. He also fell into the also common trap of having dozens of people surrounding him all siphoning off money from him. At one point he had 38 people in his entourage. All stealing from him. Ali would make 50 million by the 1970's and still be in the hole financially because so many of his 'friends' ripped him off. They encouraged him to fight and take fights that were bad for his career and physical health, giving no layoffs between fights. He was taken advantage of in deals by his own agents. This would plague his life, at one point advisers talked about having a 24/7 financial security guard around him to make sure no one stole from him. He would go on to headline some of the most watched fights in television history, becoming beloved by America in his second act or whatever act. Fighting for millions in front of millions. He would be loud, bombastic and he was doing this while being black. Something unheard of, brands could not wait to ask for endorsements lining up everywhere. As a child I loved him because I thought he was the ultimate professional when it came to training but after reading the biography I realized that was not true. I was wrong but as an adult he inspired me for an entirely different reason. Let me explain.

As a child I and I think many others insert moral values onto our favorite athletes. We expect them to always do the right thing both professionally in the sport and outside of it. Its an unrealistic and improbable demand to ask a human to be perfect let alone one who is dealing with so many pressures and so many vices. I heard a quote in a movie that went like this.

'Kids idolize athletes because they follow their dreams and men idolize them because they get to sleep with models'

Now, as an adult. I realize the beauty of Ali lies in his kindness. Wherever he went, to sign autographs, public appearances or hanging in his home. He was the same person. He always signed every last autograph. People would visit his home and he would open the door, instead of being annoyed, would invite them in and start shadow boxing. "I AM THE GREATEST OF ALL TIMESSSSSS". He would be an activist opposing a war that is unanimously viewed as a colossal mistake, people would ask favors of him like "Can you visit our school and speak to the kids". He would do it no questions asked, he would go to colleges and speak to the students. There countless stories of people coming into Alis home and he would do favors for them, one person came in to his house and told him his father was sick. His father had helped Ali early on in his career. Ali stopped eating and said "Lets go". Visited the man in the hospital and talked with him for over an hour. He then was asked to speak to other people which he happily obliged. I know this doesn't seem like much but to me it means the world. That a superstar would at a moments notice visit a school, let strangers in his home and talk to them like they're family. As a child I may have looked up to him because of his athletic prowess but as an adult I look up to him for his activism and endless self sacrifice. He's not perfect, he cheated on all of his wives, he made mistakes in saying things he shouldn't have to other black boxers and I am sure he did other things wrong. Those things are morally wrong but I still commend him for his level of activism and his unwavering attitude towards making an impact.

[Julian Douglass · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful biography by Mr. Eig on a profound figure in American sports and history. This tells the story of Muhammad Ali, in all his triumphs and failures. It shows the complexities of what he went through as a young man growing up in the Civil Rights era, being an outspoken athlete when many thought he should just shut up and play, and how standing up for what he believed in cost him so much, only to have a second chance and become even more famous than before. Mr. Eig does a great job of keeping the pulse on the times and does not write this history with the benefits of hindsight. I love how things that happened back in the late 1960's is the same thing that is happening today as well. It is great to see that a new generation of athletes are using their voice in the same way that Mr. Ali did, and that he more than just a boxer. Well written, easy to read, and a great biography altogether.

[Kate Moore70 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan Eig, avec « Ali : une vie », nous donne à lire la biographie la plus exhaustive à ce jour sur le mythique boxeur.

Pourtant, Cassius Clay (son « nom d'esclave » comme il le rappelait lui-même) a été un des sportifs les plus filmés, par exemple le film « When We Were Kings » sorti en 1996 et consacré à son combat avec George Foreman en 1974 à Kinshasa ; comptant des centaines d'articles sur ses combats mais aussi sur sa vie privée / intime, le plus photographié….

Mohamed Ali est LE sportif le plus connu de par le monde. Il a été à la fois adulé et honni, connu pour ses engagements politiques : en 1967, il avait refusé d'aller combattre au Vietnam. Ce qui lui coûtera son titre mondial de meilleur poids lourds et sa licence de boxe.
Le boxeur était loin d'être un saint. Jonathan Eig ne nous cache pas ses parties pris excentriques en politique. Il était avide de gloire, d'argent, à la fois religieux et coureur de jupons.
Mohamed Ali était tout en ambivalence, un paradoxe à lui tout seul. Né à Louisville, Kentucky, au temps de la ségrégation raciale et mort durant le mandat du premier Président afro-américain des Etats-Unis, Barack Obama.

La biographie, « Ali : une vie » nous rappelle que le boxeur a été partie prenante des luttes des noirs pour la reconnaissance de leurs droits civiques, entre autres. Il a été le reflet de l'Histoire des Etats-Unis de la deuxième partie du vingtième siècle, loin d'en avoir fini avec le racisme et une ségrégation encore très forts dans les Etats du Sud.
Et avec l'arrivée de Donald Trump au pouvoir, les Américains voient ressurgir le Ku Klux Klan et tous ces groupuscules blancs et racistes.

Jonathan Eig a mené un travail titanesque. Il s'est plongé dans des milliers de pages concernant le boxeur, pour écrire cette biographie.
Il ne tombe pas dans l'angélisme même si j'ai senti une admiration de l'auteur pour son sujet. Il a, notamment, cassé certains mythes et légendes. Il instruit le « dossier » du boxeur à charge et à décharge.

Personnellement, j'ai beaucoup aimé ce livre sans être une grande fan de boxe mais la personnalité de Mohamed Ali m'a toujours fascinée.
Il reste, pour moi, le plus grand poids lourds de l'Histoire de la boxe.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. Dang. Good. Ali is a wonderfully complicated and fascinating character. One of the great Black heroes of the 20th century. I recommend the audiobook.

[Aaron Siple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story about a man born from nothing who rose to the top of the world, just to lose everything and managed to climb back to the top again. The rise and fall theme of Ali's life is fascinating to read.
Was he an adulterer absolutely, was he self-absorbed absolutely. But his legacy is more than just that. Eig presents a troubled man who wants to be loved by everyone and loves them right back. The tail end of his life is a classic tragedy, the hero who tries to bask in his own glory for too long before he is trampled by his own hubris. Ali just like a lot of other activists and celebrities of the 20th century produce both great and terrible attributes. This is a great read and gives a very thorough outlook of the GOAT'S life both in the ring and out of it.

[Siddharth Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read. Not because I am an Ali fan, but because I am now an Eig fan. Extensively researched, beautiful choice of words and very well narrated.

[Fuad Karimli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave up at around page 450.

Although quite informative about the life of Muhammad Ali, this book was too dense with extremely unimportant details about the boxer and his entourage.

I learned quite a lot about the fighter, and my perception about him changed after learning more about his personality and habits - such as constantly and openly cheating on his wives, but my expectations were too high from this book based on the glowing reviews.

The simple fact was that the book was boring and too long. The effort to go into such small details about the fighter is commendable, however this book could have fared much more entertaining with 200 pages less.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding bio on a larger-than-life personality who was many different things to many different people. Eig covers Ali's storied life (the boxing career, religion, family, legal / financial problems, etc.) in great detail to offer a fair portrait of the man. Strongly recommended to those interested in sports, celebrities, and/or 20th-century history.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know that this will be unpopular but I suppose I am one of the few people who never really went for Ali’s act. After this book, I am convinced he is a man who was greatly overrated as a boxer and as a “hero.” But, well-written and researched.

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book, and could not put it down. The author captured the enthusiast nature of Ali's personality and rise to fame, as well as the turbulence of the Civil Rights movement.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars.

“Ali had boxed beautifully, changing speed and direction like a kite, cracking jabs, digging hooks to the ribs, sliding away with a shuffle to survey the damage, and then cracking more jabs, moving in and out with no steady rhythm, no pattern. He was a revolutionary, like Charlie Parker, with an innate style and virtuosity no one would ever reproduce. He turned violence into craft like no heavyweight before or since.”

Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig, is a wonderfully written biography of a man who at times seemed too big to be written about in any typical way.

While long, and at times slow-paced, “Ali” read a lot like a long-form profile that might be seen in The Atlantic, or New York Magazine. This can be attributed to Eig’s heavy background in journalism, his countless hours of interviews (over 600!) and research, and his descriptive language and choice of words, which made it hard not to see the exact boxing movements of Ali in your head.

Eig’s highly detailed descriptions of Ali’s boxing matches (almost every professional one is described) rebuilt the fight on the page, the movements palpable, the sounds of the crowd heard. Even someone like me, who has almost no knowledge of boxing terms, was able to imagine at least some form of the fight and watching the bouts after reading, the words matched up with the history.

“As the ninth round began, Ali appeared to be completely defenseless. Holmes threw a big right that dented Ali’s jaw, followed by an uppercut. The uppercut was followed by something almost unheard of in the sport of boxing, something that shocked even the grizzled sportswriters who had watched countless hundreds of men struck by countless thousands of punches. But there it was: a scream. The great Muhammad Ali screamed — whether in pain or fear or shock, who knows? But he screamed. He screamed, and he tried to curl his body like a knuckle, shrinking to hide himself from Holmes, looking like a mugging victim who had no defense except to cover up and hope that his attacker would take whatever he wanted to leave him alone. Long after the fight, it was the scream that the men in his corner and the men in the press box would remember. Meanwhile, Holmes kept punching.”

Writing clearly and descriptively, and in a way where the words pull back the reader for the next chapter is no easy feat. Some could say that it’s harder to achieve for a biography of a person as great as Ali rather than fiction, and even more challenging if that person already has countless movies, documentaries, and other biographies written about him. Yet, Eig accomplishes this and more.

What sets this biography apart from others, is that it dives deeply into Ali’s entire life, from growing up in the ’40s and ’50s in Louisville, to retirement in Michigan and Arizona. It’s a profile of the character and human self of Muhammad Ali, not a book about boxing, not a book about a boxer, not a book about the boxer Muhammad Ali, but a book about Muhammad Ali, and his life leading into the fame of a world-class boxer and the prettiness and pain that came with it.

Highly recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in Muhammad Ali. I had no interest in boxing and wouldn’t have run into this book if not for a workshop with Eig at Medill and hearing his story of writing Ali: A Life. One of my notes from that meeting was “follow your curiosity,” so if you’re are all curious about Ali, start here.

[Joe O'Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that he is easily one of the most famous, most charismatic figures of the twentieth century, it would almost be a perverse achievement to write a dull book about Muhammad Ali. But Jonathan Eig - whose “Ali: A Life” sets out to be the definitive biography of Muhammad Ali, from his upbringing in Kentucky in the 1940s until his death in 2016 - is following in illustrious literary footsteps here. Such literary giants as Norman Mailer, Joyce Carol Oates, and George Plimpton and such skilled biographers as David Remnick and Thomas Hauser have already produced brilliant volumes that have explored the immense charm and magnetism, the courage and bravery, the religious and political militancy of Muhammad Ali – a man who was once one of the most polarising figures in American life, but who went on to become one of the most loved. Thankfully, Jonathan Eig’s comprehensive biography is a worthy addition to the rich canon of literature and publications on Muhammad Ali.

Produced from almost 600 interviews with the key figures from Muhammad Ali’s life – and making use of new research into Ali’s boxing career and medical history – Eig shows how Ali developed from being a boxing-obsessed, hyperactive loudmouthed teen whose “attention was focused on boxing, girls, cars, money, and mirrors” to the most famous (and, at times, the most hated) man in the history of sport. That Ali occupies such a space in our firmament of celebrities and sportsmen was in no small part down to the fact that, not only was he an incredible athletic specimen, but he was also a marketing genius. As Eig credibly claims, “no athlete in American history had ever been so conscious of the power of brand building”. What makes Ali such a compelling character – and such a goldmine for biographers and historians – is that he was an absolute mass of contradictions. Eig believes that these contradictions came out of Ali’s constant craving for publicity and attention: “It turned him into a fighter who said he didn’t care to fight … a radical who wanted to be a popular entertainer, an extravagant spender who said money meant nothing to him … an anti-war protester who avoided organised demonstrations … a religiously devout and demanding husband who openly cheated on his wife”.

Jonathan Eig is a huge admirer of Muhammad Ali, but unlike a few previous biographers of Ali, he is no awestruck sycophant, and this book is no hagiography. There is no attempt to whitewash his longstanding involvement with the Nation of Islam (as detailed in this book, Ali’s prevarication when that organisation ostracised and threatened Malcolm X – before eventually assassinating him – was deeply troubling). Eig repeatedly draws attention to Ali’s propensity to viciously belittle - and frequently race-bait - his black opponents. Whether it was part of a marketing stunt to drive ticket sales or not, it is nauseating to see a supposed civil rights icon disparage men like Joe Frazier as an “Uncle Tom”; thus, in the words of Eig, “undercutting what he claimed to be one of his primary goals: the uplift of black people ... denigrating strong, honourable, hard-working black men with whom he should have stood shoulder-to-shoulder as symbols of pride, men worthy of admiration from black and white Americans”.

Even the most casual observer of Ali’s life will be unsurprised to hear that, in terms of his personal life, he wasn’t exactly a model of fidelity and faithfulness (Eig labels him a man “unfettered by marital convention”). But, the sheer scale of his womanising as outlined in this book is staggering. Seemingly, throughout his life, Ali would screw anything that wasn’t nailed down first. Nonetheless, it is jaw dropping to read of his preparation for his first battle with Joe Frazier, which involved Ali picking up prostitutes on the afternoon of the fight and bringing them back to the very same hotel in which his wife and children were staying! Eig ascribes this compulsion as being down to Ali “fearing isolation far more than he feared Joe Frazier”, which appears to be quite a charitable interpretation.

Reading Eig’s account of Muhammad Ali’s boxing career, you get the impression that the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ (when Ali defeated George Foreman to regain the heavyweight championship by deploying his ‘rope-a-dope’ tactic) was possibly the worst thing to ever happen to Ali. His shock victory in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ convinced Ali he could triumph, not through using the speedy reflexes that were the hallmark of his early career, but by opening himself to unmerciful pummellings at the hands of his opponents in the hope of wearing them out. ‘Rope-a-dope’ worked once, spectacularly, but as Eig speculates it most likely had a ruinous effect on Ali’s long-term health.

When this physical courage and tactical recklessness was combined with Muhammad Ali’s notoriously chaotic approach to personal finance, you can see why he continued his boxing career long after it would have been medically advisable to do so. The need to maintain the lavish lifestyle he had become accustomed to – and to maintain the lifestyles of the vast retinue of hangers-on that he had accumulated – meant Ali having to return to the well and take beatings off younger, quicker adversaries throughout the 1970s. Jonathan Eig sadly notes how Ali was a man who “sacrificed his health and reputation for the pursuit of the next paycheck” and “shots to the head were the price he would pay to continue his career”.

Some of the freshest research that Jonathan Eig has done for this book involves a statistical analysis of all of Ali’s fights, breaking down how many times he hit his opponents and how he many times he was hit (and where, and how hard). Drawing on statistics from the computerized scoring system CompuBox, Eig’s analysis of the first half of Ali’s career (essentially before he was banned over his anti-Vietnam war stance) shows that he was unbeatable … and unhittable. But, when he returned to the ring after a 4-year ban, he was slower, less agile, and shipped far more punishment at the hands of his opponents (by his final nine fights, he was getting hit by twice as many punches as he was landing). All of this contributed to the desperately sad spectacle that Eig describes, of Ali in the final phase of his fighting career: “he had lost his legs, lost his reflexes, lost his quick hands, lost everything but his guile and his willingness to suffer and endure”.

Something I found disappointing about “Ali: A Life” is that Jonathan Eig skirts over the last three decades of Muhammad Ali’s life in little more than 30 pages. Given that it is twenty years plus since the publication of what were previously seen as the definitive Ali biographies (by Thomas Hauser, David Remnick, et al), it is perplexing that Eig doesn’t significantly expand on those works and undertakes only a cursory examination of Ali’s (admittedly illness-wracked) later years.

As to where this book would rank in the catalogue of literature on Ali, pound-for-pound it is up there with what would have previously been considered the most complete biography of the man: Thomas Hauser’s magisterial “Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times”. Jonathan Eig doesn’t pull any punches when describing Ali’s many flaws and contradictions, but “Ali: a Life” is a far better book for showing the rounded character – warts and all – rather than a candidate for sainthood. While it is impeccably and exhaustively researched, it probably doesn’t contain that many revelations which a reader of Hauser or Remnick’s biographies would be unfamiliar with. However, if you have yet to read a book on Muhammad Ali, this would be an excellent place to start. Johnathan Eig has written a marvellous account of a truly extraordinary life.

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few athletes have gained worldwide stardom: Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Lionel Messi. However, long before they forged their own legends, Jonathan Eig chronicles a fabulous narrative of how Muhammad Ali’s feats conquered the world. His unparalleled talents as a boxer combined with his infectious, unbridled personality drew the world’s attention unlike any sportsman before or after him.

Growing up in a humble middleclass Black neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky, he was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1942. At age twelve, his life changed forever when his bike was stolen and he headed to a nearby gym where he witnessed young boxers sparring. From that moment forward, Cassius envisioned himself as king of the world if he could become heavyweight champion.

His gifted skills as a jabber and fleet-footed dancer in the ring led him to Olympic gold in the 1960 Rome Olympics. Returning home a hero, he predicted his meteoric rise to fame when he defeated the invincible Sonny Liston to take the heavyweight crown in 1964. A year later he defeated Liston in the rematch and solidified his bombastic conceit, “I am the greatest!”

By the time America began combat operations in Vietnam, Cassius had changed his name to Muhammad Ali after becoming a Muslim associated with the Nation of Islam. His religious beliefs led him to declare conscientious objection to fighting in the war, and his refusal to comply with draft orders made him a reviled figure in America, and his heavyweight belts were stripped from him.

Three years later, the Supreme Court backed his objections and Ali became a symbol of resistance to the unjust war. Resuming his career, he eventually lost and won back the heavyweight championship in legendary fights with Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. Then in perhaps his most stunning victory, he knocked out George Foreman during their historic bout in Zaire, Africa.

Had he retired soon after his win over Foreman, Ali may have prevented some of the irreparable brain damage he was suffering as a result of the countless headshots he absorbed as part of his strategy to wear down opponents. Even when deterioration to his health was obvious, Ali kept fighting to land big paydays to counteract his profligate loss of wealth.

Much of his vast income was squandered due to the huge entourage that surrounded and leeched off him. Bad business ventures siphoned him financially as did his continual infidelities resulting in three failed marriages. Ali’s lavish lifestyle and his desire for beautiful women made loyalty difficult for him until his health declined and he found solace with his fourth wife.

Few people have lived more momentous, controversial, and inspiring lives than Muhammad Ali. He resurrected himself from the most hated man in America to one of its most beloved and cherished. As a gifted athlete, he was also a showman with his mercurial, unpredictable, bombastic, and charming voice. Apart from the bravado, he was a man of peace and goodwill who crowds adored everywhere he went.

Eig offers an epic portrait of Ali that is hard not to love his resilience and fortitude leading to a career of achievements almost impossible to comprehend. Outside the ring, his kindness and generosity touched countless family members, friends, and fans. In charting all his success, Eig also gives us the unvarnished truth of an American icon navigating his many challenges and faults.

[Adrian]

This book will probably stand as the authoritative biography. It is of the works I've read on the great fighter the most critical. Ali's relationships with the Nation of Islam and women are fully scoped. In neither does he come out unscathed. Eig is clear that that Ali forsaked his friendship with Malcolm X when it was clear that Elijah Muhammad had more power. There is much in here on Ali's womanizing which was rampant and extremely hurtful to his wives and children. Eig uses statistics of punches taken and thrown to show how unscientific a fighter Ali was and though he never states it outright is a condemnation of trainer Angelo Dundee. Ali never learned how to defend himself from being hit. He used his speed to avoid punches early in his career but later when the speed was gone he was a marked man in the ring. He was also badly compromised by his sparring regimen where he took maximum punishment in order to 'prepare' for fights. This added immeasurably to the damage done to his brain. Eig suggests with much evidence that Ali suffered from dyslexia which made simple reading and mathematical deductions very difficult for him. Combined with an extremely giving personality- he went out of his way to help friends and strangers- he was ripe for being taken advantage of. And he was. Number 1 on that list was his long time friend and business manager Herbert Muhammad. Eig covers all of Ali's fights. There were at least four wins (Jimmy Young, Earnie Shavers and Ken Norton twice) that he was awarded wins because of who he was. Eig also, surprisingly, does not entirely discount the story that George Foreman's water may have been doctored by a crooked trainer in Zaire. For all of Eig's criticism of the champion he makes clear that Ali's greatness can never be denied in the ring or out of it. He changed the culture and the fight game to a far greater degree than any other sports figure of the 20th century and showing Ali warts and all only increases our appreciation of him by the end.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been mesmerized by Ali since I was a girl and so this biography was a tough read because it humanized him to a degree I wasn’t prepared for. I remember the retired Ali, still charismatic and working the celebrity circuit, clearly damaged from years of boxing, but held up like a God. The author is fantastic at describing the fights - maybe even too good at it. His later fights were described so viscerally I shed tears at the damage inflicted on both sides. But he is also fantastic at finding what we all loved about Ali: the boyish charm, the need to be adored and the kindness. This is warts and all biography but in the end, it is a loving tale of a boy from Louisville who, against all odds - racial, economic and religious - became the greatest of all time.

[Larry (LPosse1) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan Eig's biography is a knockout punch of literary prowess, landing solid research and narrative flow across 600-plus pages that'll keep you more hooked than Ali's famous rope-a-dope strategy.

As a lifelong Ali devotee who's been swooning since bell-bottoms were in fashion, I once had a chance encounter with the champ that felt like meeting a mythical superhero in downtown Chicago. Those few magical minutes? Pure electricity.

Eig's book captures that ineffable Ali magic - transforming a mortal man into a legend who danced like a butterfly, stung like a bee, and reminded us that greatness comes in gloriously imperfect packages. Who says biographies can't be as charismatic as their subjects?