A review by coatesvillain
Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig
emotional
informative
fast-paced
4.5
I always had issues with most eulogies. They sand away the rough edges of a person in order to give something “less offensive” and “more presentable” to an audience. At the same time it renders the subject as less real in order to please others.
When I picked up Ali: A Life, I expected hagiography. What I got was a nuance telling of Ali that wasn’t always positive, but almost always felt fair. It highlighted his accomplishments, but also hypocrisies, womanizing and other flaws.
There were moments in this book where I didn’t like Ali. There were others where I admired him. There were others where I felt sympathy for him. All of these moments were part of his whole existence. He was human, he was flawed, and he is a legend. None of these make him less. Instead it all makes him that much more.
The book runs 539 pages, but it’s a quick read. You will find yourself surprised how much of it you can read in a sitting. Johnathan Eig’s writing melts like chocolate on a summer day as you absorb the details and feel like you’re watching the events take place right before your eyes.
A great read for you even if you aren’t interested in boxing. With how Ali craved attention, there are many touch points with today’s influencer culture.
When I picked up Ali: A Life, I expected hagiography. What I got was a nuance telling of Ali that wasn’t always positive, but almost always felt fair. It highlighted his accomplishments, but also hypocrisies, womanizing and other flaws.
There were moments in this book where I didn’t like Ali. There were others where I admired him. There were others where I felt sympathy for him. All of these moments were part of his whole existence. He was human, he was flawed, and he is a legend. None of these make him less. Instead it all makes him that much more.
The book runs 539 pages, but it’s a quick read. You will find yourself surprised how much of it you can read in a sitting. Johnathan Eig’s writing melts like chocolate on a summer day as you absorb the details and feel like you’re watching the events take place right before your eyes.
A great read for you even if you aren’t interested in boxing. With how Ali craved attention, there are many touch points with today’s influencer culture.