The Greatest: My Own Story by Muhammad Ali with Richard Durham is one of the most important autobiographical books associated with one of the twentieth century's most famous athletes. Originally published by Random House in New York in 1975, the work was published in Britain by Hart-Davis, MacGibbon in 1976. The British edition contains approximately 413 pages and was issued with the ISBN 0246109440.
Written in collaboration with journalist and writer Richard Durham, The Greatest: My Own Story presents Muhammad Ali's life and career in a distinctive first-person voice. Ali discusses his childhood in Louisville, his emergence as an Olympic gold medallist, his professional boxing career and his rise to become world heavyweight champion. The narrative also explores the personality behind the celebrated public figure, offering insight into the man who became famous both inside and outside the boxing ring.
The story covers Ali's transformation from Cassius Clay into Muhammad Ali and his association with the Nation of Islam, as well as the political and social controversies that surrounded him. His refusal to be inducted into the United States Army in 1967, his subsequent loss of his boxing titles and his years away from professional boxing form an important part of the story. The Greatest: My Own Story therefore extends considerably beyond sport, touching on race, religion, politics, identity and civil rights in twentieth-century America.
Ali's boxing career naturally remains central. His encounters with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and other major fighters are discussed alongside the training, rivalries, personalities and controversies that defined the heavyweight division. The result is not simply a record of fights and championship victories but a portrait of Ali's extraordinary confidence, humour, charisma and determination.
Richard Durham worked with Ali for several years in preparing the book, while Toni Morrison, then an editor at Random House, was involved in its editing. The original 1975 edition was 415 pages, and the work is classified as a biography of a United States boxer.
This second-impression 1976 Hart-Davis, MacGibbon edition is an appealing addition to collections devoted to boxing, sports history, autobiography and twentieth-century American history. The Greatest: My Own Story captures the voice and personality of a sporting icon whose influence reached far beyond the ring, making it an especially interesting memoir for readers fascinated by Muhammad Ali's remarkable life and legacy.
Condition: Very Good - Light wear on dust jacket and foxing present.
