GOAT: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali

Book Description

Muhammad Ali is one of the most remarkable personalities of our time and the greatest sportsman to ever walk the earth. To honor this living legend, TASCHEN has created a work that is both epic in scale and just as unique and vibrant as the man himself. It is more than appropriate that a worthy tribute to his life would reflect the scale of his achievements, and "GOAT - Greatest of All Time" proves itself up to the task.

Four years in the making, and the most comprehensive look at Ali to date, "GOAT" tips the scales at 34 kgs (75 lbs) and is 50 cm x 50 cm (20" x 20") in size. 800 pages of archival and original photographs, graphic artwork and articles and essays - many of them previously unpublished - chronicle six decades of his life in stunning detail. To cap it all, the project takes place with the participation of Ali himself and those members of his inner circle who have been closest to him over the years: from managers and key ringside cornermen to friends, family and children; from spiritual and other advisers to broadcasters, essayists and journalists.

No stone has been left unturned in telling this remarkable story: the book features written contributions from hundreds of writers and photographers, as well as over 3,000 photographs of Ali's dazzling life. Plus Ali's own insights, writings and drawings, and reproductions of fight posters and classic memorabilia.

In addition, new work - commissioned from artist Jeff Koons - gives the Ali mythology a twenty-first-century edge and an entirely contemporary context. "GOAT" will come in two versions: the (Champ's Edition), limited to the first 1,000 copies and featuring a specially-commissioned congenial multiple by Jeff Koons as well as four silver gelatin prints by Howard L. Bingham, signed by the photographer and Ali himself. The remaining 9,000 copies come with a photo-litho made by Jeff Koons. All 10,000 copies are individually signed by Muhammad Ali and Jeff Koons.

Customer Reviews:

SKIP THIS AND BUY SOUL OF A BUTTERFLY OR FIND HAUSER'S MUHAMMED ALI HIS LIFE AND TIMES.......2006-09-14

If you love Ali get his own SOul of A Buterfly or the other bio - if you can find it, as it really gest into the soul of this great man, and into his depp and abiding faith, which is a place no one any longer goes.

Of course if any of the three thousand or twelve thousand DO get to Ali and his family it will make up in a SMALL way for all the millions managers and damagers stole form him, and will get distributed to good working charitable and humanitarian organizations that actually help people, as Ali gives it all away to those in need, unless Bush has declared him officially a funder of bad and dubious causes

so if it goes to Ali, live large y'all
sting like a bee

G.R.O.A.T. (Greatest Review of All Time).......2006-02-03

First things first: This book has got talent. It might have once weighed in at a measily 40 pounds (500 pages), but has built up its strength and is now a strong contender. Few could question the book's power when it overcame several best sellers, rising up the non-fiction ranks like a soaring upper cut to truly punish George Foreman's jaw. The only question remaining for the experts is this: Will this book have what it takes to take on in a heavy weight bout its subject ?

Pretty amazing book.......2005-01-24

I had a chance to check out this book at the Tattered Cover of Denver

It is MASSIVE and HUGE

The photographs inside are amazing! It definitely attracts the non-reader, and visual lover, within all of us

The price is VERY steep - only purchase if you're a REALLY big fan

Otherwise, I at least suggest that you find a copy, just to see what a really huge book, about a pretty big dude, is like ----- the book is a feat, in itself - just like Muhammad Ali

Ali as object of conspicuous consumption.......2004-07-21

I revere Ali. I had the honor of meeting him for an author appearance for a previous photo essay book when I worked for a New York-based publisher. The Champion Edition at $10,000 and the cheaper edition at $3000 are antithetical to who the man is, or has been. He has always been a man of the people, and not a sycophant for the wealthy who buy books like they buy shares of Berkshire Hathaway. If there was any information about proceeds from the sale of the books benefitting someone other than the publishers and authors I would feel differently. As it is, this is just an opportunity for those who'd have sent him to jail for avoiding the draft to own him. I'd wager that they care less about what the man stands for than that they can now own something their friends can't afford. If you love Ali and have $3000 or $10,000 to spend, give to a charity in his name.

Ten Stars!.......2004-05-09

"Goat: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali" is seventy-five pounds of the finest photos, essays and articles on the man himself. The packaging is great, with a box to protect the cover from shelf wear.

Nearly every photograph in this huge book is a work of art, many of which have never before been seen. The composition and details of the photographs are amazing. I found myself staring at them for hours.

The hefty price will scare off many, but it really is worth it. Don't forget that it comes autographed by Ali and Jeff Koons. (Meaning it will only go up in value.)

Book Description

Dave Zirin provides a knowledgeable, analytic, sports-aficionado's journey through the starry trajectory of Ali's boxing career. Included are informative insights into Ali's relationship with Malcolm X, his personal journey within the Nation of Islam, and the moral crisis that brought him face to face with losing his boxing career (and millions of dollars) for his religious principles. Zirin offers intelligent, accurate assessment of Ali's extraordinary political involvement in the anti-Vietnam war protest and the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Includes unique interviews with famous sportswriters who followed Muhammad Ali from his early days, including Robert Lipsyte; Dave Kindred; Mike Marqusee; veteran journalist Lester Rodney; Ali's biographer, Thomas Hauser.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning photos and essays.......2007-04-03

So I am a big fan of radical sportswriter Dave Zirin and his book did not disappoint. More than his essays and interviews on Ali, I was blown away by the color and black and white photos. Ali at a Palestinian rights demo? It's here. Ali with Martin Luther King? Malcolm X? It's here. Original interviews with Bob Lipsyte, Etan Thomas, and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad? It's here.

My only minor complaint is that the serious SERIOUS Ali fan will know many of the stories Zirin tells. But others will be blown away.

A rather remarkable - and affordabe - hardcover book, it's everything the $10,000 GOAT book should have been.

Ghosts of Manila: The Fateful Blood Feud Between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier

Average customer rating:

Ali and Frazier: a welcome revisionist view
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (please read)
Fascinating read
The Thrilla from Vanilla...
Not a Thrilla

Ghosts of Manila: The Fateful Blood Feud Between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier
Mark Kram
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060954809
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Amazon.com

Muhammad Ali once admitted to former Sports Illustrated writer Mark Kram that he and Joe Frazier went to Manila for the third of their three epic fights "as champions and we came back as old men." Boxing is a particularly unforgiving sport for old men, especially those--as Kram tells us in Ghosts of Manila, his thoroughly riveting account of one of the Sweet Science's greatest rivalries--"with too much pride, heart, and unexamined confidence for their own well-being." Which defines Ali and Frazier's essential characters in a nutshell.

Kram begins his saga in the present, looking at the different kinds of isolation that currently surround each man's life, then dances back and forth through time to spar with just who these warriors have been and how they came to be the icons, for better or worse, they became. Ghosts of Manila is more than a twin biography, though; it is an often haunting meditation on how much we project onto our athletes, and how destructive the projections can be. As much as any punishment sustained in three of the most brutal title fights in heavyweight history, the baggage--personal and societal--that Ali and Frazier carried into and out of the ring changed them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Did Ali earn all the love? Did Frazier deserve all the scorn? To answer the questions, Kram bravely goes toe to toe with Ali worship and Ali's myth. His daring rewards us with knockout profiles of two legends more complex and real than mere iconography might allow. --Jeff Silverman

Book Description

When Muhammad Ali met Joe Frazier in Manila for their third fight, their rivalry had spun out of control. The Ali-Frazier matchup had become a madness, inflamed by the media and the politics of race. When the "Thrilla in Manila" was over, one man was left with a ruin of a life; the other was battered to his soul.

Mark Kram covered that fight for Sports Illustrated in an award-winning article. Now his riveting book reappraises the boxers -- who they are and who they were. And in a voice as powerful as a heavyweight punch, Kram explodes the myths surrounding each fighter, particularly Ali. A controversial, no-holds-barred account, Ghosts of Manila ranks with the finest boxing books ever written.

Customer Reviews:

Ali and Frazier: a welcome revisionist view.......2006-12-29

It's human nature to look for heroes. Few candidates for this level of acclaim, however, especially in an age where little of a public figure's life remains private, can withstand scrutiny and still come out shining. Muhammad Ali's shortcomings have been glossed over during the last thirty plus years and his actions have been recast in a more complimentary light by his many hagiographers to turn him into a sacred cow, a heroic figure who can do little wrong.

Mark Kram's "Ghosts of Manila" is essentially a revisionist view of two great heavyweight champions of the 70s, one whose character has perhaps been overvalued, the other who has never received his due. The tension between the two men, an exploration of their psychologies and their historic trilogy of battles are the subject of the book.

Hardly anybody is shown in a positive light in Kram's book and one can't help but feel that the author has some mysterious axe to grind. Yet much of what is described here can be found in other books about Ali. What makes Kram's book unique is that he analyses the actions of the key figures and the context they lived in to give an alternate picture that leads one to assess both men differently, or more accurately in Frazier's case, to assess him at all.

The Ali who emerges in Kram's book is an opportunist who happens to be in the right place at the right time and whose every proclamation and gesture is spun to take on a level of significance to which he is essentially ignorant. The icon we hold as a model of courage is dismantled to reveal a man who repeatedly turned his back on those who supported him, either because there was risk attached to remaining loyal (Malcolm X) or it was inconvenient to do so (his numerous ex-wives as well as a few of his children).

Frazier is presented in only a slightly more sympathetic light because he is seen as the victim, the target of Ali's most offensive insults. The man who emerges is an embittered figure who has sacrificed his dignity (as well as his friends and family) to his rage.

Kram is a skilled, but occasionally undisciplined, writer. Some of the metaphors are overblown and some of his digressions seem to go nowhere, suggesting that the book could have used more editing. In general though his prose is sharp and devoid of cliche.

This book has aroused a fair bit of controversy, as some of the other reviews here illustrate (some of which, interestingly, go to some length to discredit the author). Yet it is a well written book, which provides an interesting antidote to the popular view of the two fighters. The author's courage in taking a critical stance toward one of our sacred cows is to be lauded. Where the book could have gone deeper is in exploring the reasons Ali's many obvious failings have been ignored in the public's eyes to give him the saint-like stature he currently holds.

"Ghosts of Manilla" should have obvious appeal to those with an interest in boxing in general and Ali and Frazier in particular; it should especially interest anybody who wants to get an alternate view of one of the most famous public figures of our time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (please read).......2006-11-29

Before making a decision on whether or not to purchase this book, I feel I should share some important information about its author, one Mark Kram, so that you can make an informed decision on whether this is the kind of honest man who is going to write a fair and even handed account on anything regarding boxing:

In 1976 Don King arranged the infamous US Championships Tournament for ABC television. This was a tournament involving fighters signed with Don King or his cohorts only. Bribery was used to corrupt ratings to justify the inclusion of undeserving King fighters/exclusion or far more deserving non-King fighters. The more worthwhile fighters who wanted to participate were told they would have to kickback a chunk of their purses to King, whilst also leaving their current manager and signing with King. Those who refused this blackmail were left excluded. And thus a bogus tournament was created with a clutch of retired preliminary fighters and obscure journeymen, dressed up as contenders with fake records and paid for rankings.

Where was Mark Kram in all of this? This `journalist' accepted gifts and gratuities from Don King and penned a puff piece article promoting the tournament for the January 1977 Sports Illustrated. Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, this `journalist' was bought and wrote a four page article extolling the virtues of this "great tournament" and "the honesty of Don King"! Of course the tournament fell apart half way through and its massive corruption was exposed, as well as Kram's. This `journalist' took money under the table to humiliate the most respected sports publication in the US. No surprises the magazine fired Kram and had to write a full expose/apology by Robert Boyle in the May 1977 Sports Illustrated, atoning for Kram's article of lies.

And now all these years Kram resurfaces from under his rock, attempting to destroy the character of Muhammad Ali. Perhaps a look in the mirror may have been more appropriate. Muhammad Ali is loved by millions worldwide, and accorded major respected by fighters, both amateur and professional. Mark Kram however, is an exposed crook and isn't even accorded respect by fellow journalists, let alone fighters. Maybe if Kram had ever had the guts to lace on a pair of gloves he would have more of an understanding of just how hard it is to do what Muhammad Ali does.

Fascinating read.......2006-11-05

Kram goes beyond much of the shallow coverage that passes for sportswriting these days to deliver a first-rate package that won't disappoint anyone with a modicum of interest in boxing's golden age. He provides fascinating insights into the two central characters and many others in the business. Thoroughly recommended.

The Thrilla from Vanilla..........2006-07-11

Muhammad Ali has received hagiographical treatment for the past thirty years or so. This book has a different perspective, however. Kram was there the whole time, saw everything, knew everybody, and lays out his take, to use an apt metaphor, without pulling any punches. Kram does occasionally lose himself in pretension--using the word "rodomontade" in a boxing book?--but, hey, he was an old guy, close to death, and I guess he wanted his last work to be more profound than the subject matter permitted. For everyone who thought Ali was a keen intellect, or a political visionary, or, indeed, a saint, here is your bucket of cold water. He certainly was a talented athlete--a heavyweight with the speed of a middleweight--and he may have been a symbol of pride to blacks...but that's about it.

Not a Thrilla.......2006-06-26

This book was a major disappointment. If books could be returned for a full refund because of disappointment with the contents, then I would immediately return this one. I liked the title and I am a fan of both Ali and Frazier and I was interested in reading more about their great third fight. Plenty is written about Ali, but I was interested in reading and learning more about Frazier. Well, 90% is about Ali and race. 6% is about Frazier and only 4% is about the fights themselves, including the third fight that the book is based on! This book could have been a short magazine article, instead it is needlessly expanded. I only finished this book because I paid full price for it and I knew that I couldn't get my money back.

Average customer rating:

AMAZING
A different ALI approach
A Useless Book - Save A Tree - Do not Buy This Book!
The Greatest
A Blast from the Past

Ali Rap

Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3822851566

Book Description

Before there was hip-hop: from the publisher that brought you the biggest book on Ali, here comes the smallest This book contains over 300 rap rhythms, witticisms, insults, wisecracks, politically incorrect quips, courageous stands and words of inspiration from the mind, heart and soul of the brash young Cassius Clay, as he steadily grew into the magnificent man who is Muhammad Ali. From a narcissistic self-promoter who eventually became a man of enduring spirituality through a journey of formidable tests, Ali has emerged as a true superhero in the annals of American history, and the Worldwide Ambassador of Courage and Conviction. This fresh, first-person book serves as a hilarious and moving hands-on autobiography by Muhammad Ali, the intrepid man of action who spoke in soundbites, all wittily and powerfully visualized by the provocateur graphic designer, George Lois.

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING.......2007-02-25

I am soo happy I bought this! The quotes are awesome but the layout design and pictures are amazing! You can read it through or just flip to random pages and it is just as interesting. There is a caption explaining the circumstances for each quote so even if you know nothing about Ali you'll understand. This is definitely worth the money. GET IT!

A different ALI approach.......2007-02-19

This is a compact book with great graphics with a whole slew of Muhammed's sayings contained within. If you are a collector of Ali stuff , this is a great addition to your library.

A Useless Book - Save A Tree - Do not Buy This Book!.......2007-01-31

There are scores and scores of books written about the greatest athlete of our time, Muhammad Ali. In fact, Ali is the the most written about athlete ever. He has gone from being the most hated man in America in 1967 to the most revered today. Spanning his glory years, authors literally tripped over themselves to explain and reveal the complex and amazing person that is Muhummad Ali. An Ali book collection can easily consume an entire bookcase, afterall, his life and career have been disected by dozens and dozens of writers, from Norman Mailer to Howard Cosell to George Plimpton.

To celebrate Ali's 65th birthday, comes the release of "Ali Rap". Contrary to what other reviewers have written, I find this to be a completely useless book. (I may have spoken too soon labelling it useless, as it may make a good paperweight as it is relatively small in size but thick). I "read" it in one brief sitting and was completely unimpressed. Don't waste your money on this assortment of Ali poems and sayings.

The "book" is a collection of Ali's poems and sayings with pictures that are mostly appropriate to the meaning of the poem or occasion. The pictures are not that special, there being many other much better done Ali photograph books. And the poems are all ones that the Ali fan has heard before. The only unique quality of this book is that the poems are all brought together in one volume.

The price is outrageous in my opinion for something with so little content. Literally, I went through this book in about 30 minutes. There was nothing that intrigued me about it or make me want to read it again. I am hoping to donate it to the library or sell it at a garage sale.

I am a HUGE Ali fan and have read dozens of Ali books and this is clearly the worst of the worst. Avoid it - it will disappoint you if you are looking for something to understand the heart and soul of M. Ali. Instead, buy the DVD Ali Rap - now that will grab your interest. This book is a mere afterthought.

Save a tree - don't buy this book!

Jim 'Konedog" Koenig

The Greatest.......2007-01-29

I bought this book on impulse and love it from the first page. I was born the year Ali fought the "Rumble in the Jungle" and grew up on old clips my dad had on VCR. I was so engrossed in the book that I read it while trying to drive and I almost ran off the road. I doubt Ali was the originator of rap. As I read, it seemed to me that while it appeared he was able to rap at the drop of the hat, I suddenly realized that Ali probably spent hours trying to write this stuff down before quipping it in front of the media. He wanted it to seem natural. One of my all time favorite books. Strongly recommended.

A Blast from the Past.......2007-01-16

I first read about Cassius Clay in Ring Magazine when I was 10 years old and he was a youngster fighting in Louisville, Kentucky. I rooted for him during the 1960 Olympics, and cheered for him throughout his career. This book brought back many memories and reminded me of what a breath of fresh air he was during the sixties. I'm not sure if Ali was the "Father of Rap" as Mr. Lois postulates, but he certainly set the stage for the many colorful athletes who have followed him and tried, unsuccessfully, to match his brash, colorful, and charming use of words. He was one of a kind, and this book reminds us of just how amazing he was.

King of the World: Muhammed Ali and the Rise of an American Hero

Average customer rating:

The King
Ali is crazy good
Death of One of My Heroes...
The Titans Reigned Supreme
muhammed ali discussed

King of the World: Muhammed Ali and the Rise of an American Hero
David Remnick
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375702296
Release Date: 1999-10-05

Amazon.com

You'd think there wouldn't be much left to say about a living icon like Muhammad Ali, yet David Remnick imbues King of the World with all the freshness and vitality this legendary fighter displayed in his prime. Beginning with the pre-Ali days of boxing and its two archetypes, Floyd Patterson (the good black heavyweight) and Sonny Liston (the bad black heavyweight), Remnick deftly sets the stage for the emergence of a heavyweight champion the likes of which the world had never seen: a three-dimensional, Technicolor showman, fighter and minister of Islam, a man who talked almost as well as he fought. But mostly Remnick's portrait is of a man who could not be confined to any existing stereotypes, inside the ring or out.

In extraordinary detail, Remnick depicts Ali as a creation of his own imagination as we follow the willful and mercurial young Cassius Clay from his boyhood and watch him hone and shape himself to a figure who would eventually command center stage in one of the most volatile decades in our history. To Remnick it seems clear that Ali's greatest accomplishment is to prove beyond a doubt that not only is it possible to challenge the implacable forces of the establishment (the noir-ish, gangster-ridden fight game and the ethos of a whole country) but, with the right combination of conviction and talent, to triumph over these forces. --Fred Haefele

Book Description

"Succeeds more than any previous book in bringing Ali into focus . . . as a starburst of energy, ego and ability whose like will never be seen again."--The Wall Street Journal

"Best Nonfiction Book of the Year"--Time

"Penetrating . . . reveal[s] details that even close followers of [Ali] might not have known. . . . An amazing story." --The New York Times

On the night in 1964 that Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) stepped into the ring with Sonny Liston, he was widely regarded as an irritating freak who danced and talked way too much. Six rounds later Ali was not only the new world heavyweight boxing champion: He was "a new kind of black man" who would shortly transform America's racial politics, its popular culture, and its notions of heroism.
No one has captured Ali--and the era that he exhilarated and sometimes infuriated--with greater vibrancy, drama, and astuteness than David Remnick, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lenin's Tomb (and editor of The New Yorker). In charting Ali's rise from the gyms of Louisville, Kentucky, to his epochal fights against Liston and Floyd Patterson, Remnick creates a canvas of unparalleled richness. He gives us empathetic portraits of wisecracking sportswriters and bone-breaking mobsters; of the baleful Liston and the haunted Patterson; of an audacious Norman Mailer and an enigmatic Malcolm X. Most of all, King of the World does justice to the speed, grace, courage, humor, and ebullience of one of the greatest athletes and irresistibly dynamic personalities of our time.

"Nearly pulse-pounding narrative power . . . an important account of a period in American social history." --Chicago Tribune

"A pleasure . . . haunting . . . so vivid that one can imagine Ali saying, 'How'd you get inside my head, boy?'" --Wilfrid Sheed, Time

Customer Reviews:

The King.......2005-11-17

Bertz / Randall

"Almighty god was with me! I want everybody to bear witness! I am the greatest! I shook up the world! I am the greatest thing that ever lived! I don't have a mark on my face, and I just upset Sonny Liston, and I just turned twenty-two years old. I must be the greatest! I showed the world! I
talk to god every day! I am the king of the world!" shouts Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) to the sporting press, after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. This statement enraged boxing fans all over the world. Here was a twenty-two year old nobody with a big mouth, and he just defeated Sonny Liston. At the time, Liston was viewed as invincible. Liston was an experienced fighter who was known for defeating his opponents in two rounds or less. Not only did he lose the heavyweight championship to Ali, but he quit without being knocked down once. This declared Ali the king of controversy. "King of the World" by David Remnick is the story of the rise and fall of Muhammad Ali. Remnick does a fantastic job of showing us the different sides of racism. He focuses greatly on Ali's devotion to the Nation of Islam. The book showed many similarities between the Nation of Islam and the Klu Klux Klan. Remnick explained that both the Nation and the Klan were for segregation and that they both use methods of violence and terror to enforce their beliefs. After reading this book, I realized that the similarities are uncanny. Remnick's numerous references to these similarities proved to me that Remnick is a non-violent integrationist. I believe that one of the main points of the book is that segregation is wrong. The book greatly describes how the Nation of Islam had interfered with Muhammad Ali's personal life. For example, Remnick noted Ali's marriage to Sonji. He went into great detail how strong Ali's love was for Sonji, but he couldn't accept her inability to conform to his
religion. This became a problem for them and they eventually got a divorce. Remnick also noted the emotional distance between Ali and his father being caused by his decision to join the Nation of Islam. Remnick goes even further in describing the way Ali turned his back on his best friend Malcolm X. He also wanted to let the reader know that religion should never get in the way of your personal life. The book said that the only thing in Ali's life that Ali regrets is "his cruel and hasty rejection of Malcolm." Now days, Ali looks back at Malcolm X with great respect. The main point Remnick was trying to communicate with his audience was that Ali stood up for what he believed in. Not only in the boxing ring but, also with his religious and political beliefs. In 1966, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted to fight the war in Vietnam. The government threatened to take away his heavyweight championship and throw him into a federal prison for the next five years. Ali still refused. When they asked him why he refused to fight in the Vietnam war, he replied "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong." Eldridge Cleaver described Ali as a "genuine revolutionary" and the "first `free' black champion to confront white America." Writer, Jill Nelson, called Ali's refusal of the draft a "supreme act of defiance." However, not everyone supported Ali's refusal of the draft. Conservative boxing fans
called him an unpatriotic bum. They thought he was hiding behind his religion because he was lazy. Remnick took a much more liberal stance on the situation. The author seemed to support Ali's decision. For many years, Muhammad Ali would be both loved and hated by boxing fans of all races. Some people believe that Ali should not have been allowed to be exempt from the war because of his religion. Others looked at his exemption as an amazing defeat. The only thing anyone could agree on was his amazing abilities in the ring. In 1997, during the summer Olympics, Muhammad Ali was invited to light the Olympic torch. In my opinion, this proved Ali to be a very patriotic man. It proved that the world had never forgotten about Ali, and it
never will. Lighting the Olympic torch is one of the highest honors any athlete could be given. "King of the World" was published in 1998. Exactly one year after he lit the Olympic torch. I think that's why this book was written when it was.
The ignition of the 1997 Olympic torch was Ali's return to the public eye. And this book was written to honor him.

Ali is crazy good.......2005-10-07

King of the World by David Remnick was one of the best books I've ever read. It is the true story of a champion and how he got there. I recommend anyone who likes stories about winning and glory, to read this book. If you also like reading about dudes getting smoked by a champ. Read this book.

Death of One of My Heroes..........2005-02-25

For me, this book should have been titled "Death of One of My Heroes," which should become self-evident if you read this entire review. I believe the book is mostly accurate, and it is a well-written book.

Remnick (the author), in my opinion, devotes too much time to Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. I also wish he had given more details about Ali as Ali got older and continued to box.

Without question, Muhammad Ali, in his prime, was the greatest heavyweight fighter that has ever fought.

"DEATH OF ONE OF MY HEROES": I did not realize how much Ali allowed the Nation of Islam (NOI) to influence him. Because he let the NOI influence him--yes, Ali DID have a choice!!!--Muhammad Ali: (1)lied about throwing his Olympic medal over a fence, (2)divorced his first wife, (3)broke off a friendship with Malcolm X, and (4)claimed to be a "minister" to avoid the draft. If you think the above describes a "hero," your definition of "hero" differs from mine.

The book is good. Unfortunately, it killed one of my heroes.

Buy it and read it. It is well worth the $$$.

The Titans Reigned Supreme.......2004-04-26

The Titans Reigned Supreme

Fantastic book - more than just the Ali Story -

This is one of the best-written and thought out books of the happenings amongst a small circle of the greatest heavy weights.

You get a rare insight into the lives and minds of Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston and Cassius Clay - and the awakening/becoming of Muhammad Ali

I went into this book wanting to feed my hunger for knowledge of Muhammad Ali and came out of with a craving for more Sonny Liston - I now want to know all I can about him.

Only a brief period in time is covered - but it's an in-depth look at that time and the people and the places that made up boxing and some of the world outside boxing.

This is a great book for anyone interested in these titans - for anyone interested in Patterson, Liston and Ali - for anyone interested in the history of legends.

One of the best books I've experienced - I truly felt like I was there at times - in that era - that energy of the people and the times

This is one of those books where you wish there was a part 2

muhammed ali discussed.......2003-10-13

the author is a very good writer and his style here makes this book a good read. impressive. the location of the photographs are well placed--not all in the center as in most books--but advantageously placed at the beginning of some chapters. a good read.

Average customer rating:

Meraviglioso
Beautiful book

Muhammad Ali
Don Atyeo , and Felix Dennis
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 140135193X
Release Date: 2003-10-22

Book Description

Muhammad Ali is a force of nature. Over the past forty years, he's proven himself a one-of-a-kind boxing champion, a charismatic media darling, and a world-class personality. Here at last is a book spectacular enough to capture his legend. This beautifully produced, oversized hardcover is brimming with hundreds of rare and never-before-published photographs, many of which were printed with a unique, stunning silvertone effect. Based on exclusive interviews conducted with Ali at the height of his career, as well as meticulous research with the help of his family, friends, entourage, and opponents, Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years captures as never before the champ's dazzling talent and magnetic appeal, both in and out of the ring. The visual centerpiece to this astonishing collection is a complete photographic record of each and every professional Ali ght from 1960 to 1981. Also included is a foreword by former light heavyweight champion of the world, Jose Torres, and an introduction by writer Victor Bockris. Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years is an indispensable collector's item for Ali's millions of fans, and an insightful biography that captures a pivotal slice of American pop culture. It is, without question, the handsomest book ever published on this national treasure.

Customer Reviews:

Meraviglioso.......2007-01-10

Contiene un gran numero di foto spendide.

Per appassionati di Cassius Clay

Beautiful book.......2006-09-04

This book is a splendid and very interesting view into a Muhammad Ali's life and career. Very detailed and with beautiful photos. A book worth the money.

Average customer rating:

A very good illustrated book

Muhammad Ali
Magnum Photographers , and Dave Anderson
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810956055

Book Description

From the world's foremost agency of independent photographers, Magnum Photos, comes a stunning photographic portrait of the Olympic gold medalist, heavyweight champion, and 20th-century icon Muhammad Ali. Astonishingly intimate images by some of the world's best photographers capture Ali's flamboyant style and extraordinary charisma. His shocking upset victory over Sonny Liston, his conversion to the Nation of Islam, his outspoken stances on social issues, which made him a controversial figure during the turbulent 1960s: all unfold before us in these compelling images.

Stripped of his title when he refused induction into the armed services in 1967 and unable to fight until the U.S. Supreme Court upheld his draft appeal in 1971, Ali went on to compile a 56-5 record, wage furious ring battles with Joe Frazier and George Foreman that were among boxing's biggest events, and become the only man ever to win the heavyweight crown three times. Ali remains one of the world's most recognized and beloved figures, whose lighting of the flame at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta moved millions the world over. His exceptional life and achievements provide fertile material for this remarkable photo-essay. AUTHOR BIO: Magnum Photos, a photographic cooperative founded in 1947 by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David Seymour, and George Rodger, has editorial offices in New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo. The Magnum Photo Library houses some one million images. Dave Anderson, a sports columnist for The New York Times, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary. He has written more than 20 books, including four best-sellers with John Madden.

Customer Reviews:

A very good illustrated book.......2006-09-05

The book contents just pictures of Muhammad Ali without text, but the pictures are interesting showing an unique Muhammad Ali. The book is an interestig addition to everyone's Muhammad Ali's library.

The Greatest: Muhammad Ali (The Greatest)

Average customer rating:

The hard fight
muhammad ali
The Greatest Boxer Ever
The Greatest Boxer Ever
The Greatest? Not Really

The Greatest: Muhammad Ali (The Greatest)
Walter Dean Myers
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0590543431

Book Description

Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers presents the amazing story of Muhammad Ali¹s childhood, his rise as a champion, his politics, and his battles against Parkinson¹s disease. Packed with dramatic black-and-white photos, this critically acclaimed biography is the perfect choice for both young adult sports fans and fans of Walter Dean Myers in general.

Customer Reviews:

The hard fight.......2007-02-15

Ali was waiting for a hard fight his opponent Archie Moore was born in Benoit Mississippi on December 13, 1913 he began to fight in reform school his professional boxing career began in 1936. But his fight more difficult was sonny Liston and George Foreman because they are more older than Ali years later Ali was attacked from a disease called Parkinson. Ever with the disease Ali never backed up. And he was banned from boxing .Ali refused from been taken out.
The theme of the story of Ali talking about his opponent that where older man than him and also talking about all the fighters want to reach Ali level of fighting because of the money to be made and the famous he gets.
I give this book a 4 because he expresses his feeling about how to reach his goals. Ali had accomplished all his goals of racism.

muhammad ali.......2007-02-15

The story in this book is a very interesting because the person and the story is tremendous And this story passes the one fight important and the world the fight with ray Robison and Muhammad ail and 1964 pass the fight and Ali is lose because ray Robison defeats him with a KO Muhammad Ali retired the fights because the eyes is very delicate for punch in that face is dangerous.

THEME: The story is above the fight

Moral/lesson: I learn so munch the this book because I learn what the boxing is used for moment proprietary and fight needed I learn too what the man the name Muhammad Ali is the good person because is teach much thing in the boxing and defeats when in needed the fight .

I like the story because the man in that story is a good boxing and good person in that life Ali open the gym for learn the protection in that life the man is very good person because learn the much on the fight in that life the him . Dislike because and life the Muhammad Ali is problem and your face on the eyes this problem is retard the professional boxing because they have one problem in that eyes is a very sad because the Muhammad Ali is a good person and that life .for it dislike and that life can so much thing because a have a god in the world this an good god because him learn thing beautiful in that life this my opinion on this story.

The Greatest Boxer Ever.......2007-02-14

This summary is about a African American guy who want to be a professional boxer but, he need to fight with a lot of guys so he can have a shot for the champion ship. Also he need to trained a lot for the title so he can beat Frazier and all the professional boxers who has a lot of experience in street fight. They are very strong because they have a lot of time trained in street fight or something like that. So his coaches Joe push his self to a hard trained so he can beat the biggest professional boxers.

I learn the book is about racism because he wants to be a champion but he is an African American so he fights with a lot guys. I think the theme is racism, but also at the sane time is adventure because he traveled a lot for the champion shot. I don't like to much this book because is to longer but I liked because in every story the good heroes win but this time wasn't like that this time the one of the bad guys win the title.

The Greatest Boxer Ever.......2007-02-14

BOOK REVIEW
"THE GREATEST BOXER EVER"
BILLY FIGUEROA

Muhammad Ali had a big dream, a goal. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky January 17, 1942. Muhammad Ali wanted to become the greatest boxer ever. Joe was his coach of the boxing program Ali was in at Louisville. He starts off by pushing himself to hard training. He's a really hard trained person. Muhammad Ali then started boxing against other fighters. I too wish I had Ali's potential. Ali's potential is the greatest attitude a beginning boxer could ever have. He then got a disease, sadly but he's the worlds
Greatest champion. His title was unfortunately taken away; the reason why that happened was because of Ali's religion, he was not allowed to go to war, so he was permanently banned from boxing. So pretty much Muhammad Ali's problem is that he gets diseased, and gets kicked off boxing. He no longer has his life dream. The lesson I would have learned from this book is how hard it is to try and reach a goal. Another lesson I also learned was to never give up. I found this book interesting, so I really like it. I would pretty much recommend this book to anyone. I also have a little boxing thing going on, so I now know how hard it's going to be for me. But thanks to this book I'll never give up. Anything is possible.

The Greatest? Not Really.......2006-12-15

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. The boy was destined to become the greatest heavyweight fighter in the history of boxing. Around the age of 32 he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his to Muhammad X Ali. His life was full of thrills including winning world titles, being thrown in jail and told he could never fight again, and becoming an international icon for young blacks. The Greatest wasn't a terribly exciting book but it did show the struggles of many young black fighters in the sixties.

In my opinion the book went into for detail about the boring parts of his life than his fights. The author found it necessary to go on and on about the consciences of him refusing to go into the army, but didn't put in enough detail about his international title fights. As a reader I would much rather listen to how he became the greatest fighter in history than how he got in trouble with the government. The book also took up a page explaining why his middle name was X, when that could have been summarized into a simple paragraph. Myers did a good job of informing the reader of his life but overdid it at parts.

I did enjoy reading about how things changed during the Vietnam War. The draft and the rise of the Nation of Islam definitely changed Ali's life and it was explained well. I didn't know that you had to go into the army and that if you refused you were sent to jail. I also learned that the Nation of Islam was taken in very graciously by young blacks throughout America but many other groups rejected them. This book taught me a lot about things that affected the lives of many people in the sixties.

I felt that this book didn't have enough action. It's 160 pages of boredom hiding inside the cover. If the book was shorter and didn't occasionally take trips off topic then I would probably recommend this book to people who aren't boxing fanatics. Some things should have been more emphasized, like the power of being called one of the best boxers in history, but instead the pages were lined with many random facts and oddities.

While Ali was a fantastic boxer who had to deal with a lot of people trying to hold him back, his life didn't make a very entertaining book. I've never found a book that was easier to fall asleep while reading than this one. There is very little drama or action bound inside this book. I would not recommend this book to anyone who isn't a die hard Ali fan.

- R. Martin

Average customer rating:

Big Subject well condensed
Lord of the ring

The Champ
Tonya Bolden
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375824014
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Book Description

Muhammad Ali is one of the world’s best-known figures, and this incredible biography delves into precisely why. From his unlikely beginnings as a skinny, young Cassius Clay learning to box at a local gym to becoming the heavyweight champion of the world at the famous “Rumble in the Jungle,” where even the skies let loose with rain right after his victory, Ali has captivated the world. Tonya Bolden’s careful research and elegant telling, paired with R. Gregory Christie’s incredible paintings, make this a book that will inform and inspire readers of all ages.

Customer Reviews:

Big Subject well condensed.......2006-09-18

It's hard to distill a complex adult's whole life into a picture book, but it's well done here. Cassius Clay become Ali, losses, recapture of the championships, his defeats, his major life changes are well presented with impressionist art. This could be a good core title to challenge young researchers on how they would condense a person's life into a 32-page picture book, and because there is not one iota of "cute" in this, it would be effectively used in a biographies unit at any grade level. SOmetimes picture book biographies tend toward "sappy" but this one maintains its rhythm and integrity well.

Lord of the ring.......2005-02-18

Controversy dogged the boxer born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., much of it invited. It's all here - the rhyming brags and swagger that earned him headlines and ruffled opponents, his conversion to the Nation of Islam, his refusal to serve in Vietnam and subsequent court battle.

He was either an inspirational symbol of defiance against injustice, or a loudmouth buffoon who overstayed his welcome in the ring, depending on your perspective. Nor does Bolden shy from his pathetic decline from too many blows to the head, leaving a palsied echo of the proud and loud pugilist.

Christie sums up entire bouts in a few expressionistic squiggles, and in the next frame can capture both the champ's grace and grit. The acrylic colors are bold, the brushstrokes bolder, as if any canvass - including the ones Ali fought on - could ever capture a character so much larger than life.

Muhammad Ali: Legends in Sports (Matt Christopher Legends in Sports)

Average customer rating:

Muhammad Ali: Legends in Sports (Matt Christopher Legends in Sports)
Matt Christopher , and Glenn Stout
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 031610843X

Book Description

ention the name Muhammad Ali and people the world over will know exactly who you're talking about. The former heavyweight champion is one of the most recognized and beloved sports figures of the past century. In the ring, he made an impact with his powerful fists and lightning quick feet. Outside the ring, he earned a reputation as a good-natured, free-spoken personality who liked to make up poems about how he planned to beat his next opponent. Yet Muhammad Ali was much more than a boxer and a braggart. He emerged during the tumultuous 60s as a man with strong spiritual convictions and an unwavering belief in the importance of the Civil Rights movement. Today he continues to support charitable causes and peace efforts even as he fights a new and more daunting opponent-a debilitating syndrome that has impaired his speech and motor control. Though he can no longer 'dance like a butterfly' or 'sting like a bee,' to sports lovers everywhere, he is still 'the greatest.' Get to know a true legend.

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