At Home with Muhammad Ali audiobook

The emotional integrity of this book moves me to the core! I knew so little about Muhammad Ali...... ....next-to-nothing when I started this book. I had no idea how famous he was internationally.The gifts he left this world are extraordinary. The things I learned were fascinating- I read the physical book458 pages ....and listened to the audiobook, by Kim Staunton- 15 hours and 9 minutes...Taking a journey with the life of Muhammad Ali.....written by his daughter, Hana, has been a pleasure that will stay with me a long long time.....Hana’s love for her father can move mountains....The bond she had with her daddy — was beyond special - - spectacular and pure — Laughter, love, honestly, intimate ....this is one heck of a brilliant and ambitious memoir..........no one could have written this book better.....than Hana Ali. Both of these human beings squeezed every last drop of love from my heart. I fell in love with Muhammad I fell in love with Hana Popsicles, Pippi Longstocking‘s, and Wonder Woman were childhood favorites for Hana.... but nobody was or ever will be more ‘favorite’ than her daddy... the great boxing Champion, profit, and childlike-loving man...., than Muhammad Ali ...HANA.... Thank you for sharing your dad, the most famous man of the decades in the 70s, your daddy, your family, your stories, YOURSELF....I’m forever changed from this experience!!!!!I can still hear Hana’s little childhood 3 year old voice... “Daddy, I want to go with you..... I want to go bye bye ....I don’t want to stay home, daddy, I want to go with you.....I want to go bye-bye.....I want to go bye. Nine times out of ten.... daddy caved - and took his little girl with him. What was really extraordinary for me is that Muhammad Ali had been making vocal tapes of he and his family forever years and years worth. When Hana was 19 years old - he handed over to her a humongous suitcase FILLED WITH TAPES. Ordinary days... sweet conversations... etc. Can you imagine playing YEARS - BOXES - of tapes that your parents made of you while you were growing up?Listening to the real live tapes… a sample at the end of the audiobook was quite WOW-amazing. I could never write a review that would do justice to this book - for all the gifts I took away....The best I can do is sincerely say thank you to the very beautiful- bright - lovely woman - Hani Ali

Muhammad Ali is the sort of larger-than-life historical figure that nobody forgets. I was offered an opportunity to read and review this biography written by his daughter, Hana, and I jumped at the chance. Her recollections are bolstered by the vast archives that her father intentionally left, cassette tapes of every phone conversation that took place from his home, along with letters, photographs, and journal entries. Ali knew he was making history, and so he consciously left copious documentation behind. This wonderful book strikes the perfect balance, deeply affectionate and intimate, emotionally honest, yet never prurient or mawkish. My thanks go to the author for the beautiful hardcover copy, and for this opportunity. A note before I continue: usually when I review a book, I refer to the author by his or her last name. In this case, however, the last name is shared by author and subject, and so when I use the name ‘Ali,’ I refer to the boxer, whereas I refer to his daughter and biographer by her first name. I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. I didn’t watch boxing, which my mother considered a nasty, violent sport; I was inclined to agree with her, and so when Dad turned on a boxing match on television, she and I beat a hasty retreat. However, it was impossible to miss my father’s agitated shouts at the TV whenever Ali was on it. Ali’s brash confidence, his refusal to humbly look at the floor while talking to white interviewers, his fervent proselytizing on behalf of the Muslim faith frightened a lot of Caucasians, particularly those who, like my family, lived a life that never intersected with people of races different from our own. But my father wasn’t just afraid of Ali; he was angry. How dare he! On television! He called him a clown; he called him an idiot. There was a lot of that going around at the time, as the Civil Rights Movement strove to change the racial contours of American society, not only in the Jim Crow South, but across the nation. Many years later, when I began studying education in preparation for teaching public school, in particular language arts, American history and civics, one of the most critical parts of my own graduate school curriculum had to do with serving children from underserved racial and ethnic groups, and part of that was in holding up positive role models to foster self-esteem in every child. My classmates raised the name of Muhammad Ali, and I could see that they were right; say that name around any Black child, especially a little boy, and watch his chin raise perceptibly, his spine straighten, and a gleam come to his eyes. This is what interested me about Ali, not his athletic record, but his principled stand in regard to Civil Rights issues, and his assertion that Black men in America should walk tall. As I began reading Hana’s glowing tribute to her daddy, I began to wonder more about his boxing career. Ali began boxing at age twelve! There’s a practice you won’t see today; but Louisville, Kentucky during the post-war boom was a much different place than anywhere in America today. By the time he was old enough to shave, he was already accomplished at his sport. And the more I read, the more convinced I was that I should not review this biography without watching some boxing. I went to YouTube over and over, and I watched Ali with Sonny Liston, with Joe Frazier, with George Foreman. I learned a lot about the sport, including the fact that it’s not really all that violent, and it involves just as much skill as other team sports. And also: that man was talented, and he was so damn smart. And this is the side of Ali that the public never really saw. Who knew that he preferred brainy women with independent ideas? In the 1960s, this was a rare thing among men. Who knew that he wouldn’t let anyone, whether family or staff, raise a hand to his children? Nonviolent parenting all the way. There wasn’t much of that around back then, either. Part of his indulgent nature was due to his faith, but part of it was a deep fear that some hateful person would try to hurt him by kidnapping his daughters. Given the way Hana describes her childhood self, it might have become a Ransom of Red Chief situation. Among the mountains of documentation Ali saved is a hefty collection of letters sent home by preschools and schools decrying Hana’s scrappy behavior. Here’s one of my favorite excerpts from the recordings she shares: “’Hana, say ‘I’m a good girl.’“’I’m a good girrrrl.’“’Say ‘I’m a pretty girrrrl.’“’I’m a pretty girrrrl.’“Say ‘I won’t bite the boys no more.’“’I won’t bite the boys no more.’“’Say ‘I won’t scratch the boys no more.’“’I won’t scratch the boys no more.’”Hana recalls him as a gentle father who remained available to his children despite his busy career; each day began with her careening down the stairs to find him in his den, where he might be having a phone conversation with one of many American celebrities as well as world leaders. He spoke with Brezhnev, Ghaddafi (who wanted to contribute to the war chest of a Black American presidential candidate), and Deng Xiao Peng, who wanted Ali to train Chinese boxers. He offered his services to President Jimmy Carter in the 1980s, hoping he might use his religion as a connection to the Iranians holding American citizens hostage. In another section she recounts the time he happened by a police cordon. A man was out on a ledge of a skyscraper, threatening to jump; Ali persuaded the cops to let him get past the cordon and speak to the man. There are photographs of him holding the would-be jumper in his arms after he was rescued. Whereas other public figures often bemoan their lack of privacy, Ali loved being famous, and he loved his fans. Sometimes he left home just to go out and find some of them and talk to them. It’s refreshing. Yet Ali wouldn’t have been an easy man to be married to. Part of this dovetails with his generosity; he often tooled around in his Rolls Royce when he wasn’t training or working, and when he saw homeless people he’d load them into his car, bring them home, and put them in a guest room until he could arrange a lovely hotel suite for each of them. It’s a sweet gesture, but although Hana doesn’t mention how her mother reacted to it, I can tell you right now that for me, that would get old fast, coming home and not knowing how many strangers had taken up residence. And whereas Ali had more respect for the women in his life than most men did back then, his marriages were clearly never intended to be equal relationships. But his relationship with Hana was an idyllic one, and this shows in the many engaging photographs that punctuate the text, one after another in which she and her father pose using identical body language, some of which are pretty funny. She also speaks with the pain she feels, even today, of her parents’ divorce, which she is convinced was primarily due to a misunderstanding. There’s a great deal here about Ali’s religion; there’s really no way to tell his story without it, since it motivated nearly everything he did. There are places where I am ready to be done with it; but just when it threatens to slacken the pace of the narrative, Hana wisely segues on to other topics. To remember Ali is to remember the virulence of the overt racism of twentieth century America. The way that the media played up every violent thing any Black man or boy did; the stereotypes involving the jungle, and the unpredictability of Ali’s personality, all served to underscore the false notion of hidden menace deep within the man. Ali is the first Black man I ever saw on television that didn’t keep his eyes down when talking to reporters, and who didn’t downplay his own strength. He scared a lot of Caucasian people half to death, merely by being successful, strong, and confident. But Hana doesn’t dwell on any of the negative publicity; instead, she shows us who he really was. Ali loved to write poetry, for example, and he loved to read. He had never gained strong skills in spelling or grammar, so some of what he produced came out looking a little rough, and yet its merit is undeniable. What a voice! Who knew that a fun day out with his daughters often meant a trip to Barnes Noble to load up on good books? The book’s ending is perhaps the most poignant of all. Hana recalls her father, an old man in his seventies, weakened by Parkinson’s, viewing footage of himself after the Foreman fight: "I wrestled with an alligator, and tussled with a whale. I handcuffed lightning and threw thunder in jail. Just last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, and hospitalized a brick! I'm so mean I make medicine sick!"Watching himself he muses, “Man, I was something!” I defy you to finish this book without a lump in your throat or misty vision, as Hana tells us, "Sometimes I still feel like that five-year-old girl roaming the halls of a mansion, waiting for her daddy to come home."Highly recommended.

I found it to be a quick read. At times Hana's thoughts went back to an item that had been covered before, slowing the pace. Having lived in Michigan near the farm, I knew some of the stories of Muhammad around the area. Stopping at McDonalds and pointing to the M, signing pamphlets, taking photos with people while saying something he was told not to. He visited a friend's pre K class in Benton Harbor and all the kids instantly knew who he was. Why? This was in the 90s and they were 4 years old? Because he was Ali. This book confirmed the stories I knew and told me so much more about living with the Greatest This is more than a love letter from a daughter to a father. His heart was big and I thank Hana for sharing her father with us in live and in death. You can't write a book this personal without including Muhammad's faith and also his infidelity. Neither should stop you from reading this book. My heart is better for having read this book.

I really enjoyed this book because it describes Muhammad Ali from his daughter's perspective. Hana's love for her father allowed her to only see him in one way; as a perfect father, husband, and boxer. However, in reality, he cheated on his wives many times which forced them to divorce. Despite this, Hana still loved her father very much and this book shares all the good times they had together. This book shows how special their relationship was, and how he could have quality time with all his children although he has 9 of them.

Others have written very good reviews - there's little I can add, other than I'd like to thank Hana for writing this book and showing me sides of her father that needed to be told.

I always wanted to read about this great man, deeply loved by his family and widely loved by his fans, who is "The Greatest" of all. His confidence, his love for the people and his spirit instill a sense of divinity about him in your mind. And I wanted to hear all of this from the perspective of his beloved daughter, Hana. Because who would better explain the nuances of his ways, what kind of a father he was and why he is "The Greatest".This book has brought me utter satisfaction. Hana tells his story like a beautifully woven garment, running through the times of his prime, his fame, his wife Veronica, his love for the people, his fans, his childhood, his disease and his fighting spirit outisde the ring, while always putting in small threads of her love for him in the garment. This book has also been a great lesson in how to be a great father and I'm surely going to read it some years down the line, because the memories in this book are evergreen.Some of the best moments in the book for me were:1. Hana saying "But God will see.. and God tells my daddy EVERYTHING!"2. Muhammad Ali saying "She'll grow out of it.."3. Muhammad Ali: "What you resist, persists and what you persist, resists.."Lastly, the quote by Theodore Roosevelt has left a deep impact on my mind:"There is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."A perfect account of his greatness and his life, this book has been at par with my expectations.

This is a phenomenal book. I’ve seen the movies and read his other books, but this one was the greatest. Even though it was written by his daughter, sometimes the best perspective on a person comes from those closest to him. This is one of those. Muhammad Ali was way more intelligent, deep, and insightful than ever thought he was. I do believe he was as close to God as anyone on this earth can be.

She has her father’s voice, and his knack for spinning a yarn. In addition, she has what every writer (including those probably more technically gifted) would love: great, great stories. If you, like me, put the name of Muhammad Ali second only (in most conversations) to the name of God, this is the book for you. 5/5.

A totally different side of the Champ. It's all about love.

Lots of detail about Muhammad Ali's family life and the struggles and joys he experienced outside the ring. Hana did a great job of showing how her father cared for his children and friends. So much of the book presents information from tape recordings, not just memories.

The only thing I knew about Muhammad Ali before picking up this book was that he was a famous boxer. After having read it, I can still probably claim a lack of knowledge surrounding him, but I would argue that this book is not a biography of him, as a man and that this is to the book's credit. At Home With Muhammad Ali is the exploration and explanation of a daughter's relationship with her father, and the consequences of the decisions he made. What I have learned about The Greatest is how deeply cared for his family, in his own ways, (I say "in his own ways" because there were many, and not all conventional, owing to his status) and how family intersected with his fame. Hana Ali excelled at showing her father through the lens of an adoring daughter. This book is rosie-tinted, soft and fuzzy at the edges, which is its point. It is not about the faults of the man or his personal weaknesses. I felt a lot of sympathy towards Muhammad Ali's wives, and it made me wonder if his other children viewed him as warmly as Hana does. This book would be very different from, say, Veronica's perspective, even if she drew on the same tapes and letters shown in the appendix, but I think the core of this book is that it is personal, even while being presented to the public sphere. I understand why it is classified as a biography, but if there ever was a line between biography and memoir, this would fall firmly in the field of the latter.

Well written

First off, while I of course knew who Muhammad Ali was I didn’t know any more than the a few bulletpoints, e.g. “The Greatest,” his two terrifically named bouts, his name change, and his getting out of Vietnam. Reading a memoir like this, of his whole life by his daughter, was so delightful and enlightening versus what I imagine a traditional biography would be. Though we’ll certainly find out as I will assuredly read more about Ali. Secondly, the sometimes seeming fluidity of time throughout the book kept things interesting. At times I’d wonder if I fell asleep as what I was reading didn’t align with what I thought was last read but it would shortly all be tied back together. The web of stories intertwined different times together beautifully. Quotes and takeaways:- I’ve been an actor my entire life: I wrote my own lines, I directed my own scenes, I started my own plays. I sold my own legend.- History is so beautiful and at the time we’re living we don’t always realize it. - Ali kept a collection of his favorite quotes and anecdotes, just like me!- Ali called random numbers and wished them a merry Christmas. He would’ve been perfect for this current social media world we live in! (Though it’s said that he put Islam above all else, but he called and wished people merry Christmas? This shows the powerful imprint your upbringing has since he was raised Christian and then still very much lived in a culture obsessed with Christmas.)- Only count the miles after the pain sets in. “It’s what you can do after you’re tired that counts in the ring.”- (On conservative dressing and clothes) Everything God made of importance is covered and protected: oil, pearls, diamonds, etc. - Ali would pick up homeless families and put them in his guest house, or put them in a hotel and pay in advance for weeks or months. - Love the story about going to Miya’s school proclaiming her as his daughter and walking throughout the neighborhood holding hands so everyone could see them together. - Homeless man that punched Ali after an autograph just to have a good story. - You can’t serve god because he doesn’t need you. You serve him by serving people. When you reject and turn people away you’re rejecting the one that created you. - Burt Sugar on Ali: if God didn’t create him somebody would’ve invented him. - When asked what the hardest part of boxing was Ali said the women. - Greatness outweighs all sins. (People aren’t mad at him anymore for his draft dodging, being a Muslim, or cheating on his wives.)- Elvis and Ali at spooneys for surprise show.- Ali’s house was used in Rocky 3.- 2,189th star on Hollywood walk of fame is on a wall as to not have Muhammad’s name disrespected. Very cool. - Quoting Louise L. Hay’s best-selling book “you can heal your life”: we’re all victims of victims. - “We all live in a world of limitation, but some people see further than others.” Muhammad Ali

At Home with Muhammad Ali: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Forgiveness I fondly remember Muhammad Ali as a child growing up in the 70's (both my parents were members of the Nation of Islam and later transitioned to Sunni Islam and LOVED him) and had a chance to revisit him through adult eyes via the excellent Ken Burns PBS documentary. It reminded me that whenever I saw him on TV, he made me smile. The documentary made me want to learn more about him, so I started researching him on YouTube and ran across one of Hana's interviews on a Podcast for Father's Day, which led me to her book. All I can say is congratulations, Hana. Job well done. I read it in 2 days. The love, care, and hard work you put into this book is palpable. What sticks with me is his commitment to, and how he always spoke openly about, Islam. Wow. As an American Muslim, that takes a LOT of courage and conviction, especially for someone on his level, during the time he did it. Whew! Fearless. He reminds me of my Dad in that respect; a warm, kind, man with flaws, who loved God and was trying to get a place in the hereafter.