Book Review: Ali by Jonathan Eig

Muhammed Ali was the man who told the whole world that he was the greatest of all time, even before he won any heavyweight championship.

Muhammed Ali was the man who told the whole world that he was the greatest of all time, even before he won any heavyweight championship. Before folks in the 21st Century became fascinated with the GOAT title, Ali had it to himself.

But do you know that despite this, Ali was afraid of flights? And Ali was afraid of the Nation of Islam?

That's part of what this book reveals. It takes an in-depth view of the man, his life, his thinking, his victories, and his failures. When you arrive at the end of the book, you will still see a great man who, despite many limitations, rose to the top of his career.

Ali was never good in class. In fact, he failed basic exams for the military. When the news trickled back to his elementary school, all his teachers attested to a lack of classroom intelligence. The book reported that during his final year in high school, he did not meet up with the requirement, and some teachers were of the opinion that he should not be graduated. Their Principal had a meeting with them and said something in the effect that he would support Ali to graduate for one day, Ali could become a famous person in the future. He wouldn't want to be that Principal who regretted graduating Ali. All the other teachers agreed. Indeed, Ali would become famous many years later and return to that school.

A statement he made in the early years of his career said so much about the state of America during his time and the level of thinking the man had- he was a smart man. "I started boxing because I thought it was the fastest way for a black person to make it in this country."

Although Ali did not thrive in class, he was a genius in human relationships. He understood human beings deeply. He listened to everything. Everyone, including Ali himself, acknowledged that Ali was loud, especially against opponents he was fighting. But this book reveals that Ali did all of this just to get under the skin of his opponent and cause them to react irrationally. This act was part of his strategy.

Of course, Ali's greatest moment was also his lowest moment, which was when he refused to be drafted for the war in Vietnam. This book diagnosed the debacle using documents that have been made public since that time. In retrospect, it was the right thing to do. However, at that time, Ali was taking a big risk. Ali's rejection of the draft was a bold thing. It was something against the grain. In fact, when Ali rejected the draft, the Vietnam war had not become as unpopular as it would be in the years ahead. Rejecting the war will set him back for years; his whole career was almost sabotaged. He had to start lecturing, a difficult thing for a man who didn't succeed in school. Ali had to devise a method to accumulate facts and knowledge so he could teach. It is here that you will see the adaptive Ali. A man who was willing to do his best with whatever he had.

Ali's marriage was as tumultuous as his life. His weakness was his inability to control his libido. It broke his several marriages.

Ali's friendship with Malcolm X influenced his life in a big way. Yet, they broke apart at some point. Ali said that was his biggest regret in life. Not defending Malcolm X against the hordes of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was assassinated, and many people suspected it was the Nation of Islam.

Ali's life in the ring was well detailed in this book. Jonathan Eig had a powerful way of describing each fight. Making it so real. His fights with different champs were told in descriptions that made you picture everything in your head. It also gives descriptions of his travels and fights in various places. The one at DR Congo, organized by Mobutu Sese Seko, is worth reading about.

You will find many characters that shaped and influenced Ali's life. Some for good, some for bad.

Ali's lack of ability to manage money will haunt him all through his life. It was one of his major struggles. It was the reason he kept fighting, even when doctors advised him against fighting. His weakness with money will show up again and again. I believe this had a lot to do with his education.

Ali's greatest moments were the kindness he did to ordinary people. Random people invited him to their schools, places, occasions, and homes, and he would go for free! Absolutely free. There is a story of a teacher who invited him, not expecting him to go, for a class event. Can you imagine? Muhammad Ali showed. Not just that. They developed a friendship. At the event, Ali started feeling sleepy. He told the man he would like to get a place to sleep. The man took him to his house, and Ali slept there for some hours. When a family member came around, he told them to talk in low tones as Muhammad Ali was sleeping inside. The family member burst out laughing; he didn't believe that Muhammad Ali was in the house. And boom, Ali came out walking, playing a prank on the family member. Ali had a fun life. He was a joker to the core. He made sensational headlines; he was the kind that journalist love. He was lovable.

Ali was deeply involved in the life of his children despite the marriages he had. All his kids testified to his indulgent orientation. That's something you wouldn't expect from a man who had a busy life like Ali, but the man knew what was most important. He stuck to it.

The last story that this book ends with is the kind of story that every great life should end with. I won't tell you the story. Read the book to find out.

I cannot imagine anyone understanding Ali without reading this book. This is the first Greatest Of All Times, a man worth knowing about.