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David Maraniss on Why We Study the Greats

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Sep 28, 2022

Guest

David Maraniss

In this conversation, David Maraniss, a New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize winner, shares insights from his latest biography about Jim Thorpe, America’s greatest all-around athlete. They discuss the crucial balance between natural talent and hard work in sports, using legends like Thorpe and Bo Jackson as examples. Maraniss also addresses the complexities of navigating historical narratives, emphasizing the importance of sensitivity in representing Indigenous experiences. Lastly, he reflects on how the pandemic influenced his writing process.

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ANECDOTE

Clinton's Note Cards

Ryan Holiday asks about Bill Clinton's note card system mentioned in Maraniss's book.
Maraniss explains it was his first book, and he used note cards for organization, inspired by other authors.

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ADVICE

Improve Memory

Writing information down improves memory, even with backups.
Visualize, see, and repeat notes for better retention.

insights

INSIGHT

Organization is Key

Organization is crucial for managing large amounts of information in biographies.
A plan and structure, combined with creative improvisation, are essential.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

The Power of Index Cards and Athletic Discipline

05:05 • 19min

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Exploring the Balance of Natural Talent and Hard Work in Sports

24:16 • 2min

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Legends of Resilience: Thorpe and Jackson

26:34 • 5min

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Legacy and Identity in Sports History

31:55 • 21min

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The Irony of Assimilation: Cultural Genocide and Misguided Good Intentions

52:50 • 2min

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Navigating Biographical Complexities

54:37 • 8min

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Isolation and Focus: The Writer's Journey During COVID

01:02:56 • 2min

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David Maraniss's 'Path Lit by Lightning' is a riveting biography that delves into the life of Jim Thorpe, a legendary athlete who excelled in multiple sports. The book explores Thorpe's rise to fame, his struggles with racism and personal challenges, and his enduring legacy as a cultural icon. Maraniss provides a nuanced and detailed account of Thorpe's life, using extensive research and historical context to portray a complex figure.

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David Maraniss's biography, 'Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero', vividly portrays Roberto Clemente's remarkable life. Clemente was a baseball icon who transcended sports, becoming a symbol of larger themes. He led the Pittsburgh Pirates to championships and was known for his humanitarian efforts, culminating in his heroic death while delivering aid to Nicaragua. The book delves into Clemente's career, his impact on baseball, and his enduring legacy as a hero beyond the sport.

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Ryan talks to author and journalist David Maraniss about his approach to his work, and his most recent book: Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe, which is an epic biography on the trials of America’s greatest all-around athlete.

David Maraniss is a New York Times best-selling author, fellow of the Society of American Historians, and visiting distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University. He has been affiliated with the Washington Post for more than forty years as an editor and writer, and twice won Pulitzer Prizes at the newspaper. In 1993 he received the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for his coverage of Bill Clinton, and in 2007 he was part of a team that won a Pulitzer for coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting. He was also a Pulitzer finalist three other times, including for one of his books, They Marched Into Sunlight. He has won many other major writing awards, including the George Polk Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Book Prize, the Anthony Lukas Book Prize, and the Frankfurt eBook Award. A Good American Family is his twelfth book.

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