Muhammad Ali

THE TOP 15 MUHAMMAD ALI BIOGRAPHIES

Looking for the best biographies on Muhammad Ali? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

As someone making a film on Muhammad Ali, I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed with the abundance of information out there on “The G.O.A.T.,” so I’ve taken time to share with anyone who might be interested in researching the legend some of my thoughts on the biographies, autobiographies, and documentaries done on him.

Making a name for myself as a “trusted resource” in the filmmaking world became especially important to me after my hit AI short film, “BE WATER, MY FRIEND: The Story of Bruce Lee.” When everyone from life-long Bruce Lee associates and fans to journalists who had followed “The Dragon” from the time they had written about him in magazines like “Black Belt” reached out to thank me for my authentic portrayal, I knew that with my follow-up film on Muhammad Ali I could do no less… The bar was raised.

In an age where misinformation spreads around the world “before the truth has a chance to get its boots on” – (a quote that itself has been misattributed so many times I dare not assign a source) – even AI resources aren’t fully reliable. So, while I use AI to create the visuals for my films, in my research I prefer to try to get as close to “the horse’s mouth” as I can; often scouring second-hand market places for out-of-print books and videos on a person, created by reliable sources, that are no longer available in mass production.

However, with Muhammad Ali, a researcher’s work is especially cut out for him or her as often-times “the horse’s mouth” himself spread misinformation. There are even tape recordings of Ali giving different versions of events, with the “Whatever happened to Ali’s Olympic Gold Medal?” question being the greatest mystery of them all! (I note where he gave as close to what we’ll get as “a death-bed confession” when discussing one of the books below.)

It was disappointing to find out that Ali’s autobiography, The Greatest, contained a lot of fiction, as it would have been nice to have one solid “go-to” resource… Instead, one has to sift through that, along with tons of biographies, documentaries, autobiographies, interviews, videos, etc. – many of which contradict each other on certain points – to try to get a sense of the most likely events based on consistent recollections and credibility.

Furthermore, some information makes more sense in light of, say, a 30-minute interview with Ali, or a spouse, relative, insider, etc. And some things found in books are completely discredited by one throw-away line Ali may have made in passing to a reporter, or in footage of him talking with someone.

So, proceed with caution. And, above all, do your own research! Dig and then dig some more! (After all, a popular photo of, say, Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali together does not mean that they ever met, lol…) In the meantime, I hope this list helps.

And for further insight into the Legend, feel free to check out my film “G.O.A.T.: Muhammad Ali’s Blueprint to Greatness.” Available for free on streaming services like YouTube, Odysee, RadTV, etc.: @tashacaufield

MUHAMMAD ALI BIOGRAPHICAL & AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL BOOKS

Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times (Thomas Hauser)

Made with the cooperation of Muhammad Ali, this was my favorite of the biographical books as it allows Ali and the people involved in the events of his life to tell his story in their own words, a la a documentary… It was a smart way for Hauser to avoid the pitfall of penning “fake news.” And while he still takes the time to create a narrative by relaying information in the form of “who, what, where, and when” in between participants’ statements, he does so in a way that isn’t overly biased, so the reader can still get an idea of how controversial Ali was at times, and form their own opinions, unencumbered.

Muhammad Ali: A Tribute to the Greatest (Thomas Hauser)

Published the year of Ali’s death, this is more of a follow-up/companion piece to Hauser’s His Life and Times biography, as that one was published in 1992. It’s mostly made of up of essays Hauser had written on Ali and contains some more reflective information from an older-and-wiser Muhammad. In this tribute we also get Ali’s answer to what happened to his gold medal when being told to “swear to Allah,” lol. (What is what I meant by as close to a “death bed confession” above…) Hauser had definitely earned the trust of The Champ over the years, and in this tribute it really shows.

The Greatest: My Own Story (Muhammad Ali with Richard Durham)

With some of its more entertaining scenes largely discredited, (e.g. the confrontation with the motorcycle gang from the diner and the shoot-out at the Atlanta cabin), The Greatest is still a helluva good read… It’s also a MUST READ for anyone researching Ali’s life as it does contain a lot of facts, (in some cases more than any of the biographies); and here you’ll find the original transcript to the recording of Ali’s conversation with Frazier in that Cadillac ride.

King of the World (David Remnick)

If there’s one thing that’s obvious about David Remnick’s biography on Muhammad Ali, it’s that the guy is extremely knowledgeable about not just Ali, but the whole ecosystem around him. Consequently, you’ll also get good info on the background of other boxers, boxing history, (especially “black boxing” history, which you can also find in my film on Muhammad Ali), and the mafia, told in a nice, concise way… Of all the biographers, Remnick would make the most interesting dinner guest.

Ali: A Life (Jonathan Eig)

The “thickest” of all the Muhammad Ali biographies, in Ali: A Life Eig gives a comprehensive account of The Champ’s life and therefore cannot be overlooked. It also has a great index for all its claims and is primed to be a go-to resource as it’s published after both Ali’s 2016 death and the release of the FBI files.

However, since Eig includes things told exclusively to him in interviews it’s hard to know how reliable some information is. For example, I would have liked to see more support for claims that Ali cross-dressed in high school, (as told to him by a Marjorie Mimmes, per the index). It seems like something Ali definitely might have done for kicks, but when a biographer is the sole person introducing new information, it would be nice to have more “backup” before presenting information as facts. (In this case, a prefacing statement like, “According to a schoolmate…” would have aided in the author’s credibility.) Consequently, as a filmmaker, I found some of his reports “unusable” as I didn’t want to risk aiding in the spread of potential misinformation.

Also, Eig’s portrayal of Muhammad Ali’s father was largely imbalanced and therefore inconsistent with Muhammad and his brother Rahaman’s versions, as there was little-to-no mention of all the positive ways Cassius Clay Sr. helped shape Ali’s life.

Furthermore, at times, Eig seems more focused on using Ali’s story to campaign for the physical dangers of boxing than “just give us the facts,” so there’s a “preachy” undertone that may not sit well with some readers…

However, my biggest concern with Eig’s book is over his statement that Ali claimed he regretted saying, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.” He expresses great surprise over it, and leaves it at that, which can cause readers to feel as puzzled as Eig apparently felt… The full statement Ali made, (in his Sport interview with Jose Torres, [found in The Ali Reader, p. 214], is:

“The biggest mistake I ever made was when I made the statement that I had no quarrels with the Viet Cong. I made it too early. It was right, but I should have said it later.”

By including Ali’s full statement, Eig’s portrayal of such a big moment in Ali’s story would be less confusing…

All in all, aside from its drawbacks, Eig’s in-depth research makes Ali: A Life a biography one should definitely include in their study of Muhammad Ali, but not rely on exclusively.

My Brother, Muhammad Ali: The Definitive Biography (Rahaman Ali)

Written by Ali’s longest and most trusted companion, his brother, Rahaman, it would be nothing more than a silent protest to not include this book in one’s Muhammad Ali research, lol… It’s a solid biography, and if I could only recommend three books to casual readers interested in learning about Muhammad Ali, I would say that reading this, Ali’s The Greatest, and Thomas Hauser’s His Life and Times, would get the job done… It’s well written. And while Rahaman’s life-long adoration of his brother is well-documented, the intimate portrait of Ali found in this book does not hide any criticisms he had about his big brother, as well. This view of The Champ is a perspective Ali fans will find themselves grateful to have.

That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother!: My Life on the Undercard (Rahaman Ali)

This quick read is the older, “less polished” book Ali’s brother put out; and while it’s technically an autobiography on Rahaman, (per the title), he mostly talks about Muhammad, so it’s helpful for those looking to soak up every little detail of Ali’s life, lol. As a filmmaker, here I was able to find details like: Ali’s dad wore cowboy boots and three diamond rings on each hand, and sang Sinatra’s “I did It my way…” But for most readers, I’d recommend his book My Brother, Muhammad Ali: The Definitive Biography over this one.

The Muhammad Ali Reader (Edited by Gerald Early)

Now, I had the pleasure of being introduced to this book when hearing the comedian Dave Chappelle talk about it, and it was 100% worth it! Containing many of the articles, essays, and interviews on, or with, Ali that are referenced in several biographies, it not only gives readers a glimpse into how Ali was viewed in real-time, but it also helps put some things other biographers talk about in proper context. (See my thought on Jonathan Eig’s Ali: A Life above.) Of all the books on Ali, this is the one to put on your coffee table.

At Home with Muhammad Ali (Hana Ali)

Written by one of Ali’s daughters, (with his wife, Veronica), this autobiography on Hana/biography on Muhammad is like a Barbara Walters interview where you learn what it’s like to be, well, “at home with Muhammad Ali,” lol. With this extremely intimate angle you get exclusive and reliable details, (e.g. Ali discovering that he had two half-brothers at his father’s funeral, and his formal request to take a second wife, etc…) And hearing Hana, who was a kid at the time, ask Michael Jackson, “Why do you talk like a girl?” was worth the price of the book alone! Hahaha. (And Michael does provide an answer…) It’s an excellent biography.

The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life’s Journey (Muhammad Ali with Hana Yasmeen Ali)

True to its title, this autobiography is about Ali’s thoughts, aka reflections, on the key moments in his life. It’s a quick read that can be had with tea and a biscotti in the morning and finished before lunch.

Healing: A Journal of Tolerance and Understanding (Muhammad Ali and Thomas Hauser)
Ali on Ali: Why He Said What He Said When He Said It (Hana Ali)
More Than A Hero (Hana Ali)

These three books – which are all under-an-hour reads – are less “biographies”/”autobiographies” and more of a collection of quotes or quick thoughts. They’re designed for coffee shop hangouts and coffee tables, and my favorite of the three was Ali on Ali: Why He Said What He Said When He Said It. It makes for a great “back-up” reference for some Ali quotes when the internet proves unreliable due to countless paraphrasing.

Muhammad Ali: A View from the Corner (Ferdie Pacheco)

Of all the books out there on “The GOAT,” this one, written by Muhammad Ali’s career-long ring-side doctor, is the one penned by an insider whose writing talent is so strong he could have had a best seller in the fiction department if he wanted, lol… Of course, it’s helpful to get the perspective of the man who oversaw the athlete’s physical health, but Pacheco often goes beyond that and puts you in the rooms Ali was in, introducing you to the dialect of the boxers and other inhabitants. And known for never backing down from telling the truth as he sees it, sometimes Pacheco discusses “less favorable” things Ali did or said that others do not.

Like a previously mentioned biographer, Pacheco has a strong belief he’s selling, and in this case it’s that Ali’s success was due to luck. But his “slant” is easier to tolerate not only because it’s only mentioned a couple times, but because the book’s foundation, (as reflected in the title), is that it is Pacheco’s view of Ali, opposed to an official biography, so it’s set up to support his narrative… Oh, and Pacheco gives a little more insight into that Atlanta cabin shooting incident, which was helpful.

My View from the Corner: A Life in Boxing (Angelo Dundee)

This autobiography by The Champ’s famous trainer spends most of its time talking about Muhammad Ali, so it’s therefore a must-read for both serious Ali researchers and boxing aficionados. “Facts” from these perspectives are the type that take precedent over biographers, in my opinion – (after all, it’s not only “eyewitness testimony,” but a lot of times it’s an accomplice’s confession! lol). And when it comes to providing reliable insight into the life of Ali, Angelo Dundee delivers!

Like Ferdie Pacheco, Dundee writes boldly, so you’ll even hear things about certain members of the mob… The man literally pulls no punches – (no pun intended) – and this book makes for a helluva read. Check it out and you won’t regret it.

Bundini: Don’t Believe the Hype (Todd Snyder)

BONUS BOOK! Haha… I mostly perused this biography to get more insight into Bundini Brown, Ali’s friend and “hype man,” as well as more info on Ali. (And boy would I have killed for a book by Ali’s best friend, Howard Bingham! [drool…]) And thanks to this Bundini biographer’s detailed conversations with Brown’s son, I got what I was looking for, (and found Ali’s bedside goodbye to Brown particularly touching). It’s not a must-read for Ali fans, but it’s definitely a good one.