Muhammad Ali (1) (1942–2016)

Muhammad Ali has been one of my favorite athletes since I was a kid, drawn to his brash personality as much as his prowess in the ring. So, when I was asked to write a series of videos that honored his work at the Ali Center in Louisville, KY, I knew the research would be fun. I started - and pretty much finished - here.

This autobiography truly lets you into the soul of the man. It's not a detailed look at each stage of his life. Instead, he speaks more philosophically, sharing honest show more insight as to why he risked his career to protest the Vietnam War, why converting to Islam was the single most important decision of his life, and how Parkinson's has taken its toll.

Mostly, he writes from an inspirational perspective, which would be a tad annoying coming from a third-tier athlete, but when the greatest athlete of the 20th century speaks about 'what it takes' and how we all have 'the soul of a butterfly', you really want to believe him.

Mainly, I left this book feeling like I was Ali's friend - and that doesn't happen when you read most autobiographies. show less

Short book written at the twilight of Ali's life. Ali co-wrote it with his daughter. The tone of the book is inspirational as he reviews the major events in his life. Going from beating the neighborhood bully, to the Rome Olympics, to the Heavyweight Championship, to leaving The Nation of Islam, to refusing to be inducted for military service. Each moment in his life is examined as to whether he could face himself in the mirror as a man of character or as someone who betrayed his values. A show more large portion of the book emphasizes his Islamic faith and how it has served him well. Ali does speak about several of the major life regrets which he wishes he could undue. The main theme is that the spiritual aspect of each person is the most real and therefore the most valuable. Ali uses the dichotomy between his proverbial butterfly and bee as a compliment to the media personae of Clay and Ali. The book surprised me with flickering moments of insight from a man still known world-wide as a sports oracle but not necessarily as philosophical. show less

This autobiography/memoir was written in the 70s while Ali was still fighting. I found his life told from his point of view fascinating. Reading about his struggles as an African American male made me think of how far we had come and how other things have yet to change. There were times the style of writing, specifically flashbacks within flashbacks, were a bit confusing regarding where you were in the timeline of his life. I liked how he included transcripts of conversations with Frazier show more and his first wife to give the reader their perspectives (although the conversation with Frazier was mostly the two of them boasting about their ability to beat the other). It was interesting to get inside his head during his fights and his decisions regarding his stand against white power and the Vietnam War. I am very interested in reading one of the books he wrote later in life because I know some of his positions changed a little over time and I would like some insight on what caused those changes. show less

This autobiography/memoir was written in the 70s while Ali was still fighting. I found his life told from his point of view fascinating. Reading about his struggles as an African American male made me think of how far we had come and how other things have yet to change. There were times the style of writing, specifically flashbacks within flashbacks, were a bit confusing regarding where you were in the timeline of his life. I liked how he included transcripts of conversations with Frazier show more and his first wife to give the reader their perspectives (although the conversation with Frazier was mostly the two of them boasting about their ability to beat the other). It was interesting to get inside his head during his fights and his decisions regarding his stand against white power and the Vietnam War. I am very interested in reading one of the books he wrote later in life because I know some of his positions changed a little over time and I would like some insight on what caused those changes. show less