The Greatest: Muhammad Ali (The Greatest)
by Walter Dean Myers

The Greatest: Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers is an excellent book about the life of Muhammad Ali. The things I most like about this story are the extraordinary attention paid to his life. I also enjoyed the way Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. turned from a not so talented boy to a championship boxer. Another reason I liked this book is because it makes you want to know what happens during his fights.

I liked how Walter Dean explained how Ali born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky January 17, 1942. I was amazed how Ali started boxing because the police officer he told was Joe Elsby Martin, Sr. he wanted to "whoop" the person's butt who stole his bike. It turned out that Joe was the coach of the boxing program in Louisville. Joe eventually taught Ali and led him to win the 1960 light heavyweight title. Even though Ali was horrible he still succeeded because of his determination.

I am inspired the way Muhammad Ali went from a boy who wanted to beat some body up to defeating almost every heavyweight in the world. How the nothing could stop this boy even as weak as he was. The way he won from blood, sweat and determination. How he fought with speed his own fighting style and toughing the fights out. It is also amazing how he never gave up even when he was losing a fight. This is why Ali inspires me.

One of the fights that I can remember is when Muhammad Ali fought verses Frazier. This fight was know as "the Fight of the Century." This fight put two undefeated fighters against each other on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden. Frazier won the match with hard hits and blows to the body. This was Ali's first professional loss. Even though it wasn't a blow out, some thought he still wasn't use to the routine being previously retired. Ali later won a rematch against Frazier for chance at title.

I really enjoyed this story. I mostly the determination of Ali how he used mind over matter to help him win his matches. I am also amazed to see how he won many fights. The fact that he still living.
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I bought this book for my fifth grader for a report he did on Ali. He enjoyed the book and pictures very much; to the point that he became quite interested in Ali's life (beyond just boxing). The boook was easy to read, not too long, and had some great, famous photographs.

I really like this book because , it had many things about his life. It had many details on his liftime and what he achieved.I would advise people to read it , becaus eit's a really good book.

Genre: Biography
Three Sentence Summary: This story was a bout an african american boy who got his bike solen and reported it to the sherif and the sherif like all kinds of kid every color and so he wanted to help him out and he over head the kid saying he is ganna beat up the kid who stole it so the sherif asked if knows how to fight and after that day he has been one of the Greatest boxers.
What I Like most about the book:When he tells about how things were in the 1800's and how racisms went on when he was a kid.
What I didn't like and why: I didn't like how he was treated because he was black and all the whites treated him bad.
My favorite charicter and why: Curtis is my favorite character because he wanted to start boxing and after how every one treated him he didn't quite i keep going and thats what i like to see people that don't give up.
the scene, line , or passage that meant something to me and why( page#): when the sherif gives him a boxing deal to keep him out of trouble.
What I would say about the this book to someone else: The book is a goog book and if your into sports even boxing you will like it.
One question i have after reading this book: has boxing changed from when boxing started to now.
My strongest reason for recommending this book: Its a good book and I think that i tell about his problems that he had in trying to make it out of the bad life that he started in.

I'm afraid "The Greatest" is not the greatest book on Muhammad Ali. It is tedious in its construction and rather boring for the first couple of chapters. However, it does manage to pick up some steam in the middle chapters, granting the reader some excellent insight into the behind-the-scenes happenings of Ali's boxing life. The author delves into his days with the Nation of Islam, his early marriages and even the intimacies involved in the boxing world. The final chapters of the book are very good, as we are given an almost round-by-round account of some of Ali's greatest matches, against Joe Frazier and George Foreman. If you can endure the slow beginning of this book, the finale is well worth the wait.