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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fighter, Champion, Paradox, Hero...Icon: Hauser's Ali, 3 Feb 2004
First published in 1991, Thomas Hauser's extraordinary biography preceded the so-called "Renaissance" of Muhammad Ali that followed his torch-lighting appearance at the Olympic Games in 1996. Since then, an army of books have jumped into publication aiming to capture the 'true' Ali. Constant revisioning of Ali's life and his influential presence in the world today means that journalists across the world always have something to write about when discussing or debating the importance of the man who is now affirmed by millions as "The Greatest".Yet, Hauser's book remains for many the definitive account of the story of Muhammad Ali - a deep, complex and inspiring account of an undoubtedly deep, complex and inspiring man, peeling off the myth and gloss of Ali's "autobiography" THE GREATEST which (along with the subsequent film) has been largely criticised over the years for presenting a fictionalized and 'saintly' image of Ali. Hauser does not fall into the trap of saint-making; we read about Ali's rejection of Malcolm X, his torture of Patterson and Terrell, his "bullying" of Frazier. We also read of a man who is a paradox: a man who stood up to the U.S. Government, sacrificed his title and faced the angst of America at a time when public figures like were being picked off one by one, yet was manipulated and abused by those closest to him to the extent that his finances and ultimately physical health was almost sapped. Yet, it is a credit to Hauser that in spite of his avoidance of saint-making the reader comes away seeing exactly why he (and now most of the world) recognise him as "The Greatest". A fighter of incredible physical ability and mental strength, who gained a life-time ambition but sacrificied it when he was at the peak of his powers, and against all the odds when he was regarded as the emblem of a bygone era. And yet, in both times of injustice and joy, was always ready to make people laugh, encourage to believe in themselves and to teach them about the important things in life.
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