BoxRec

Looking to get a book on Muhammad Ali so I can get the full story of his life, rather than just the bits you get on TV. I'd like to learn about his early life, refusing to go to Vietnam, converting to Islam etc. The whole picture. Anyone got any recommendations for the best biography out there?

Cheers.

I have a spare copy of the Thomas Hauser book if you want it? PM me your address.

People rave about it, but, personally I didn't like it but I'll happily send it to you to see what you think.

Dirk Kelly wrote:I have a spare copy of the Thomas Hauser book if you want it? PM me your address.

People rave about it, but, personally I didn't like it but I'll happily send it to you to see what you think.

I think its a great book, very interesting and a lot of info from people close to Ali. Well worth a read.

Dirk Kelly wrote:People rave about it, but, personally I didn't like it

x2

winkveron wrote:Looking to get a book on Muhammad Ali so I can get the full story of his life, rather than just the bits you get on TV. I'd like to learn about his early life, refusing to go to Vietnam, converting to Islam etc. The whole picture. Anyone got any recommendations for the best biography out there?

Cheers.

I don't think there's been an awful lot published on him but good luck in your search..... :>

too many of them and just like everything today, "done too death and regurgitated over and over and over again"

but an excellent book about Ali is from the veiw of his opponents - "Facing Ali" written by Stephen Brunt about 8 or 9 years ago.

less subjective about all the Ali hype and more respectful to the worth of many of the great and very good men who fought him.

excellent and one of the Best boxing books I have ever read as well as "the Rochdale Thunderbolt" and "Gilroy was here!" and I own over 70 Boxing books and bios!

Thomas Hauser gets my vote for the best Ali book.

I love the Hauser book too, as it's Ali from the perspective from those who were closest to him, + I like Hauser's style of writing. I loved it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1861 ... 3K6MDTWEF4

The Fight by Norman Mailer is a great read. Not so much a book about Ali, but a book about the fight with Foreman in Zaire.

Great insight into the characters around at that time and also of both Ali and Foreman.

I loved Hausers.

Has lots of archive report excerps and so on from the time

I must re read it

forcefraser wrote:The Fight by Norman Mailer is a great read. Not so much a book about Ali, but a book about the fight with Foreman in Zaire.

Great insight into the characters around at that time and also of both Ali and Foreman.

I loved that book too, it came out free with one of the blokes mags like Loaded or something, many many years ago.

I love Mailer as a writer annyway, so that books was exceptional.

I liked the Hauser book and David Remnick's 'King of the World' is well worth a read. For a different perspective 'Ghosts of Manila' by Mark Kram is interesting. He looks at the darker side if Ali, justifiably so with regards to Frazier in particular, although I feel he went too far in his assassination of his character.

I agree with King of the World. My favourite Ali book. Have to check out Ghost of Manila, sounds like a good read.

Just bought "Muhammad Ali, Through the Eyes of the World". Bought it in the cancer charity shop in Rochester for £2.50.
It`s a thick tome, giving insights into Ali`s life from various individuals including Arthur Mercante, Hugh McIlvanny, Ian Wooldridge,Ernie Terrell,Hank Kaplan, Ferdi Pacheco, Sir Henry Cooper, Hana Ali (his daughter), Howard Davis, Mickey Duff, Angelo Dundee, etc, etc.
From what I have read so far, it is a little fawning but it still gives the reader a good insight into his life.

I ended up reading the Thomas Hauser book which Dirk Kelly kindly sent to me. I enjoyed the book, very detailed and good to hear about the perspectives of loads of other people.

So, I'm now looking to pass it on to a BoxRecer who wants to, but hasn't read it. If there are any takers PM me your address and I'll post it to you. First come first serve.

Cheers.

The Rough Guide to Muhammad Ali is a great little paperback book with shedloads of info in it. Well worth having and one I go back to time and again.

i've got "The official treasures of Muhammad ali". Its an illustrated hardback not a proper read but its got some nice memorabilia in there.

The definitive book on Muhammad Ali is the Thomas Hauser book - well written, exhaustive, covers his whole life with assistance from Ali himself, extensive interviews with those around him & who boxed him, dispels many Ali myths. Everything you need to know.

Next is King of the World by David Remnick, brilliantly written but only covers Ali's peak years - also includes equally brilliant biogs of Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson in the same book. Essential!

I'd avoid all the other claptrap that are basically just cash ins with nothing new to say, except for Facing Ali which is a fascinating read.

Ali is always sanitised in book form. The man is larger than life, bigger than the written word, a walking, talking, 'doing' individual. He beat everyone worth beating for so long.

kingfinn wrote:i've got "The official treasures of Muhammad ali". Its an illustrated hardback not a proper read but its got some nice memorabilia in there.

I picked this up aswell, I like it.