Name: Sarah Sammis's review of King of the World by David Remnick
Item: King of the World
Rating: 3
Author: Sarah Sammis

David Remnick

There were mythic sports figures before him–Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Joe DiMaggio–but when Cassius Clay burst onto the sports scene from his native Louisville in the 1950s, he broke the mould. He changed the world of sports and went on to change the world itself. As Muhammad Ali, he would become the most recognized face on the planet. Ali was a transcendent athlete and entertainer, a heavyweight Fred Astaire, a rapper before rap was born. He was a mirror of his era, a dynamic figure in the racial and cultural battles of his time.This unforgettable story of his rise and self-creation, told by a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, places Ali in a heritage of great American originals.

Muhammad Ali and the Rise of the American Hero

King of the World

Sarah Sammis

I've never watched a boxing match but as a child I knew who Muhammad Ali was. Having read The Autobiography of Malcolm X last year King of the World by David Remnick seemed like a logical follow-up.

King of the World chronicles the first few years of Cassius Clay's boxing career, his conversion to Islam, his rocky marriage (and divorce) to Sonji Roi. Remnick divides his time among describing the boxing matches, Clay's personal life, the political atmosphere and his friendship with Malcolm X.

Boxing fans and especially fans of Muhammad Ali will enjoy this book. It's well written and detailed enough on the sports side of things to mentally replay the matches. For non-fans, the boxing doesn't over power the other aspects of this biography.

Sarah Sammis &
King of the World by David Remnick

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Sarah Sammis &King of the World by David Remnick

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Sarah Sammis &
King of the World by David Remnick