Ali: A Life
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Jonathan Eig |
| Products | Biography |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
Ali: A Life is a biography authored by American writer Jonathan Eig and released in 2018 through Simon & Schuster. This work explores the life story of boxing icon Muhammad Ali, who was originally named Cassius Clay.
Synopsis
Drawing from conversations with 500 individuals familiar with Muhammad Ali, Ali: A Life offers a comprehensive examination of both his personal experiences and professional accomplishments.
Reception
In 2019, Men's Health placed Ali: A Life at number 23 on its list of the greatest sports books ever published. The following year, Esquire recognized it as one of the top 35 sports books in history. Writing for The New York Times, Joyce Carol Oates lauded the biography as an epic narrative befitting Muhammad Ali’s extraordinary life. The book was shortlisted for the 2017 NAACP Image Awards and William Hill Sports Book of the Year, as well as the 2018 Plutarch Award. It secured victories including the 2018 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing, The Times Biography of the Year, and was honored as Sports Book of the Year at the 2018 British Sports Book Awards. Conversely, Ali’s earlier biographer, Thomas Hauser, provided a critical assessment, highlighting factual inaccuracies and expressing concerns about the portrayal of Ali’s inspirational legacy.