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Muhammad Ali

Name: Muhammad Ali
Author: John Stravinsky
ISBN: 9781402819155

by John Stravinsky

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Overview

In Muhammad Ali, John Stravinsky tells the story of the century's most famous sportsman. The many facets of this incredible life vividly and humanly expressed the changing world of the sixties, seventies, and eighties. There was Ali the Black Muslim, the African-American unafraid of being outspoken at a time when race riots left America's cities in flames. Ali the Conscientious Objector, a man who sacrificed his prime fighting years to take a moral stand. Ali the Media Master, who, despite the near unanimous antipathy of sportswriters, made use of television and the press to create the modern sports hero. Ali the Most Famous Man in the World, known from New York and London to the jungles of Zaire for both his actions and his words. And there was Ali the Fighter, an unparalleled combination of the skills that make a boxer great.

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Editorials

VOYA - Faye A. Powell

The life of a scrawny little boy named Cassius Clay, Jr. who became a "legend in his own time" as Muhammad Ali, the athlete, clown, promoter, missionary, motivator, and the greatest, is portrayed here. Stravinsky has taken Ali's story and retold it in a clear and factual manner, capturing the attitude and atmosphere of the A&E Cable TV network's Biography show, which produced the book. The biography ends with the 1996 lighting of the Olympic torch in Atlanta, Georgia. Ali is honored and praised, yet he is not glorified or deified. The author looks at Ali's ups and downs, his trial and triumphs, his spiritual and physical ordeals, and his private and public life. Placed within the biography are green pages of "sidelights." These may be about an opponent, a manager, a promoter, a wife, or photos. Two of these pages are of Ali's "Vintage Poetry." The story ends with chants of "Ali! Ali!" shouted by all in the 1996 Olympic Village, but twenty-six more pages follow: four experts who, in 1973, picked the five greatest boxing champs; a chronology 1994-96; pages of bibliography and sources for the eight chapters; photo credits; a clear index; and a brief "about the author." Of ALA Best Books quality, this book should be in every school and public library. It is made exceptional by content, resources, and format. Young adults will enjoy reading about this controversial gentle warrior while being informed. Ali's life dictates interest, and the simple style of the author makes it accessible. Index. Photos. Biblio. Source Notes. Chronology. VOYA Codes: 5Q 5P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written, Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).