Saturday Matinee: American Scandal

This book provides an exhaustively researched and detailed account of Muhammad Ali's life from 1966 to 1971, a period marked by his refusal to serve in the Vietnam War due to his religious beliefs. It explores Ali's struggle against the U.S. government, his involvement with the Nation of Islam, and the broader cultural and political context of the late 1960s. The book offers a nuanced and balanced portrayal of Ali, highlighting his athletic prowess, his wit, and his faith, as well as the challenges he faced during this tumultuous period in American history.

This biography by Jonathan Eig provides an in-depth look at the life of Muhammad Ali, from his birth as Cassius Clay in racially segregated Louisville, Kentucky, to his rise as a heavyweight boxer, warrior for racial pride, comedian, preacher, poet, draft resister, actor, and lover. The book is based on over 500 interviews and thousands of pages of previously unreleased FBI and Justice Department files, as well as audiotaped interviews from the 1960s. It sheds new light on Ali’s politics, religion, personal life, and neurological condition, offering a nuanced and epic portrayal of one of the twentieth century’s most iconic figures.