My Brother, Muhammad Ali

August 31, 2020
Arguably no one knew Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) better than his brother, as Rahaman Ali proves in this astute account of the world boxing champion’s life. From their childhood in Jim Crow–era Louisville, Ky., to Muhammad Ali’s early Olympic triumph and his glorious professional career, the younger brother reveals his elder sibling’s overly generous manner with family and fans. Ali takes readers behind the scenes of Ali’s draft fight, the aftermath of his first defeat by Frazier in 1971, his epic battles with Sonny Liston and George Foreman, his Hollywood forays, and his womanizing and divorces. An added bonus: Ali’s access to his brother’s complex relationship with the Nation of Islam, with revelations about his abrupt parting with Malcolm X, when the boxer was forced to “choose sides” in disputes within the organization; his financial woes with manager Jabir Herbert Muhammad; and his adoration of Herbert Muhammad’s father, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Though “boxing was just a platform,” Ali writes, his brother was “the chosen one to unite people through love, peace and respect.” Ali’s candor may irk some, but instead of milking the Champ’s well-worn myth and hype, Ali offers an intimate, bittersweet remembrance. This is a great addition to the literature about one of the 20th century’s towering figures.

October 1, 2020

Since his death in 2016, boxing great Muhammad Ali has been the subject of biographies by several friends and family members. Rahman Ali, his younger brother and a former heavyweight himself, along with sportswriter Rafiq now present intimate memories of an infamous man. Muhammad Ali's childhood in Louisville, KY; boxing career; Muslim faith; and years in retirement are all described fully, as are the many myths and legends surrounding him--some confirmed, others debunked. Of special interest is a thorough account of Ali's reaction to being drafted during the Vietnam War, a provocative stand that brought him further into mainstream culture. The lifelong connection between the two brothers allows the author to differentiate between Ali's private and public personas. His exclusive observations make this an important account of Ali's life for fans of "The Greatest," and all readers who want to learn more about one of the 20th century's most successful, polarizing, and, ultimately, beloved public figures. VERDICT The only sibling of Ali brings us into the boxer's inner circle with warmth and ease. This engaging biography of a complicated, charismatic, and larger-than-life figure is recommended for all public library collections.--Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT

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