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This t-shirt was a Christmas gift. The colors were vibrant and it is a true-to-fit size. So if you usually wear a large, get a large. Decal was high quality. This shipper was quick and package arrived within days the last week of Christmas. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SELLER.

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arrived on time and in better nick than i thought Thanks heaps

The book has shipped on august 13th, 2009 and I received in September 10th. The book arrived in perfect condition, like new, all good in the delivery and submission. Thanks!!

When boxing mattered, boxers were more than pugilists trying to break each other's wills; they were symbols that attracted the attention and aspirations of the masses. Like gladiators in Rome, these courageous men allow us to project our hopes, fears, and insecurities. David Remnick tells the story of Cassius Clay's growth from a skinny, mercurial, but morally upright boy, to a hero and symbol of resistance and hope for millions of anti-establishment figures. Ali captivated the hearts and minds of fans unlike any athlete before or since. Remnick does a beautiful job of explaining why and how this happened. No matter how dominate Michael Jordan was, or Tiger Woods is, neither absorb our emotions like the sponge known as Muhammed Ali. His grace, speed, and power thrilled, while his words, political stances, and humour enthralled. Everyone in America should learn the story of this hero. There is no better place than Remnick's book to do so. Highly recommended.

It is, as many have said, one of the great sports biographies of all time -- but it's also one of the great history narratives of all time. It's not just Muhammmad Ali profiled here, but the trio of heavyweights who dominated headlines in the early 1960s: also Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. And in many ways, those two are more fascinating because, before I read "King of the World," they weren't accompanied by the same pre-fight hype. Here's Liston, a dangerous and sullen felon who's achingly lonely; there's Patterson, a great athlete but at the same time so thoughtful and intelligent he was plagued by a boxer's worst enemy, self-doubt. And that's not to say anything of the portrait of the time, of Black Muslims, Malcolm X, Norman Mailer, the media, John F. Kennedy... Trust me, even a non-sports fan will be mesmerized.

Bertz / Randall "Almighty god was with me! I want everybody to bear witness! I am the greatest! I shook up the world! I am the greatest thing that ever lived! I don't have a mark on my face, and I just upset Sonny Liston, and I just turned twenty-two years old. I must be the greatest! I showed the world! I talk to god every day! I am the king of the world!" shouts Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) to the sporting press, after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. This statement enraged boxing fans all over the world. Here was a twenty-two year old nobody with a big mouth, and he just defeated Sonny Liston. At the time, Liston was viewed as invincible. Liston was an experienced fighter who was known for defeating his opponents in two rounds or less. Not only did he lose the heavyweight championship to Ali, but he quit without being knocked down once. This declared Ali the king of controversy. "King of the World" by David Remnick is the story of the rise and fall of Muhammad Ali. Remnick does a fantastic job of showing us the different sides of racism. He focuses greatly on Ali's devotion to the Nation of Islam. The book showed many similarities between the Nation of Islam and the Klu Klux Klan. Remnick explained that both the Nation and the Klan were for segregation and that they both use methods of violence and terror to enforce their beliefs. After reading this book, I realized that the similarities are uncanny. Remnick's numerous references to these similarities proved to me that Remnick is a non-violent integrationist. I believe that one of the main points of the book is that segregation is wrong. The book greatly describes how the Nation of Islam had interfered with Muhammad Ali's personal life. For example, Remnick noted Ali's marriage to Sonji. He went into great detail how strong Ali's love was for Sonji, but he couldn't accept her inability to conform to his religion. This became a problem for them and they eventually got a divorce. Remnick also noted the emotional distance between Ali and his father being caused by his decision to join the Nation of Islam. Remnick goes even further in describing the way Ali turned his back on his best friend Malcolm X. He also wanted to let the reader know that religion should never get in the way of your personal life. The book said that the only thing in Ali's life that Ali regrets is "his cruel and hasty rejection of Malcolm." Now days, Ali looks back at Malcolm X with great respect. The main point Remnick was trying to communicate with his audience was that Ali stood up for what he believed in. Not only in the boxing ring but, also with his religious and political beliefs. In 1966, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted to fight the war in Vietnam. The government threatened to take away his heavyweight championship and throw him into a federal prison for the next five years. Ali still refused. When they asked him why he refused to fight in the Vietnam war, he replied "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong." Eldridge Cleaver described Ali as a "genuine revolutionary" and the "first `free' black champion to confront white America." Writer, Jill Nelson, called Ali's refusal of the draft a "supreme act of defiance." However, not everyone supported Ali's refusal of the draft. Conservative boxing fans called him an unpatriotic bum. They thought he was hiding behind his religion because he was lazy. Remnick took a much more liberal stance on the situation. The author seemed to support Ali's decision. For many years, Muhammad Ali would be both loved and hated by boxing fans of all races. Some people believe that Ali should not have been allowed to be exempt from the war because of his religion. Others looked at his exemption as an amazing defeat. The only thing anyone could agree on was his amazing abilities in the ring. In 1997, during the summer Olympics, Muhammad Ali was invited to light the Olympic torch. In my opinion, this proved Ali to be a very patriotic man. It proved that the world had never forgotten about Ali, and it never will. Lighting the Olympic torch is one of the highest honors any athlete could be given. "King of the World" was published in 1998. Exactly one year after he lit the Olympic torch. I think that's why this book was written when it was. The ignition of the 1997 Olympic torch was Ali's return to the public eye. And this book was written to honor him.

Reviews

This was my first time reading Mailer, and I'd never really read something written with that kind of self-important style before, and I didn't even know what to expect going in. But I enjoyed the book quite a bit for what it was and what it wasn't. The description of the fight was tremendous and Mailer's take on both fighters was so distinct and fantastic that you really felt as though you were there. There's something to be said for being able to persuade the reader toward the view of Foreman being the heavy favorite so long after the events have already been written in history. Mailer writing himself in the third person seemed perfectly fine to fit in with the African religious themes he describes, and it just gives a flavor to the book that I didn't expect going in. Definitely recommended if you have an interest in classic American authors, combat sports, or feature-length in-person journalistic accounts.

If ever two egos needed to meet, these were the two. Only Norman Mailer could've made a Muhammad Ali-centered event like "The Rumble In The Jungle" so much about himself. And yet in his way, Mailer makes one want to read and re-read every page. He crafts a tale that makes it easy to sense the chaos preceding a heavyweight title fight, as well as the almost universal expectation that Ali was simply going to get himself killed by George Foreman. I loved Mailer's attempts to draw out Ali, and loved Ali's constant tug-of-war with Mailer, "the press" and the Foreman camp. Were the small cracks in Ali's confidence real, or was it part of the show? Did he use Mailer, or did Mailer use Ali? Having watched the fight many times over the years, I knew how the book would end. And yet I was enthralled by the ebb and flow of Mailer's thoughts as the fight approached and unfolded. No newspaper account...this is a marvelous take on a legendary sporting event, and well worth reading as a fight fan or a literature fan.

Norman Mailer died today. He was my first and maybe largest influence as a writer. (Those who admire and dislike my books have often compared my voice to Mailer's.) THE FIGHT was my introduction to Mailer. It's certainly among the best writing about Ali and about the act of boxing. I wish I'd made the opportunity to tell Mailer of his influence on me. And, heck, I wish I'd had the chance to box with him. I'm sad this afternoon. I'll miss this outsized, ridiculous, singularly talented person. Davis Miller (author of THE TAO OF MUHAMMAD ALI, THE ZEN OF MUHAMMAD ALI AND OTHER OBSESSIONS, THE TAO OF BRUCE LEE: A MARTIAL ARTS MEMOIR)

Norman Mailer delivered a classic in his coverage of the October 30, 1974, "Rumble in the Jungle," in the May 20th Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire, when heavy underdog Muhammad Ali shocked the world one more time with his 8th round knockout of champion George Foreman. Referring to himself in the third-person, Mailer captures the various angles of the fight that was oftentimes more interesting with the personalities and controversies outside the ring. There are interviews with George Plimpton and Hunter S. Thompson - the Gonzo journalist who could go toe-to-toe with Mailer in the world ego championship - along with the bitter Joe Frazier and vastly underrated contender Ken Norton. This was Don King's first boxing promotion, who got into the game with a boost from Ali. While Mailer gives perhaps the best sketch of Ali's famous cornerman, Drew "Bundini" Brown, it is nearly a throwaway comment on what appeared to be Ali struggling at times with his quick quips that may have been one of the earliest signs of what became permanent neurological damage. Going into the fight, Foreman - who earlier in his pro career enlisted Sonny Liston as a sparring partner - was considered unbeatable, with fears that Ali would get severely hurt in a heroic, but losing effort. After the loss, Foreman claimed - though later recanted - that his water bottle was tampered with & he was drugged. Foreman also claimed - but also recanted - that members of Ali's had loosened the ring ropes, so his punching power was negated by Ali leaning his upper torso & head far outside the ring. The Fight is not the typical coverage of a sporting event, but Mailer proved to be up to the task and delivered some of the best writing in his storied career.

Kinhasa Zaire...1974...One of the most publicized and adored fights of the 1970s, and what better writer to depict the settings than Mailer. This book was a tough find until '96 when the legendary documentary, "When We Were Kings" was released. Mailer's descriptions of the fight throughout the film were compelling enough to make me search out his read. Many people forget that the fight was postponed for two weeks by Foreman's camp, and the fight almost didn't go off, which leads to chaotic story. Mailer's settings in the Zaire heat and his descriptions of icons such as Hunter Thompson, George Plimpton, Jim Brown, and Don King roaming the lobby of Zaire's Inter-Continental Hotel are so good that you'll feel as if you've been thrown back for two weeks through a time-machine to 1974. A true time period when sports was straight-up for men's men Now, I'm not so into the romaticized Ali depictions seen through the eyes of Michael Mann, 'limo liberals' and other misinformed academians, and I will never adopt the modern day pre-fabbed tributes to Ali. Accompany this read with a viewing of "When We Were Kings" or with a read of Thomas Hauser's "King of the World" and Mark Kram's "Ghosts of Manila", and you'll catch my drift. Avoiding a Ali tribute, Mailer loves the sport of boxing, and it shows throughout the book. "The Fight" is a great read that depicts a chaotic time, Zaire, the characters and the life surrounding the classic fight.. Lead with a right-hand jab, and pick this read up. -BD 5/03

Reviews

One of the first tai chi books I ever read. have read it many times over the years. one of the few tai chi books ive read that is very good at all . tai chi is pretty hard for most people to really grasp. you dont need a book with a bunch of fancy words. when you are playing with tai chi you need a book that tells you what you need to know and this is one of the books that does exactly that. it the fist book i reccomend to begining students.

First and foremost, this is not a text for a beginner. If you are looking for a book that teaches the form, this is not what you are looking for. For an intermediate student, this little book will become a valuable sources of reference. Contained here, are translations of the Taiji Classics. Mainly: -The Tai Chi Chuan Classic, -Wang Chun Yueh's Mental Elucidation of Thirteen Postures, -Wang Chun Yueh's Tai Chi Chuan Treatise, -Song of Substance and Function of the Thirteen Postures, Each passage contains comments seasoned by T.T. Liang's many years of experience. The writings describe the appropriate weight distribution, posture, breathing, and sensations which a practitioner should feel if doing the form properly. Definitely an eye opener for anyone who is serious about their study of Tai Chi Quan, and wants a deeper understanding of the forms and their applications.

The amazing T.T. Liang gives the reader the benefit of his 80 years (or possibly more) of studying and teaching tai chi. Very detailed discussion of tai chi history, and many important concepts such as jin, chi, many tips and important points relating to doing the form and its applications, and more. Liang had an amazing life with many adventures, and he experienced and witnessed many horrors and tragedies during the war, but it never soured his outlook on humanity, and in fact Liang's approach to life is quite light-hearted and humorous. Studying tai chi enabled him to overcome early health problems, and it has been a constant source of inspiration in his life. In case you're interested in further information, here are some other recommendations for further reading with brief descriptions of the books, including another one by Liang: 1. Tai Chi Chuan Martial Applications: Advanced Yang Style A good book by master Yang but only shows applications against punches. To get the other applications such as chin na, you'll need to supplement this with his Tai Chi Chin Na book. 2. T'ai Chi: The "Supreme Ultimate" Exercise For Health, Sport And Self-defense, by Robert W. Smith and Cheng Man-Ch'ing Historically important early work in English that is still useful, has good photos of the impeccable Cheng Man Ching's form. 3. The Complete Guide to T'ai Chi by Stewart McFarlane A good introductory guide with an emphasis on the "outward shape" or body mechanics for each posture of the short Cheng Man Ching short form, which has become the most popular. Detailed pointers and very clear photos tell you how to perform each movement. 4. Tai Chi Connections : Advancing Your Tai Chi Experience by John Loupos This is the best book I've seen so far in discussing the body mechanics, including balance, how to create and transfer power, the role of momentum, how to step, how to create power, and many other topics. 5. The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan: A Comprehensive Guide to the Priciples and Practice by Wong Kiew Kit Sifu Wong's book is the most eclectic and complete book so far I've seen on tai chi. It lives up to his goal to present the complete art with all its facets. The book presents all the main aspects of tai, from the physical representations of the forms to the more abstruse spiritual matters, which I'd never seen really discussed much before. 6. Steal My Art: The Life and Times of T'Ai Chi Master, T.T. Liang, by T.T. Liang Humorous, entertaining, and well written story of T.T. Liang and his art and many life adventures, which make absorbing reading. 7. The Tai Chi Two-Person Dance: Tai Chi with a Partner by Jonathan Russell This was a groundbreaking book in that I believe it was the first ever in English on the two-person form. Very clearly written text and photo sequences detail how to perform the form. Also, very good explanations of some tai chi martial theory relating to the form, such as the concepts of adhering, listening, neutralizing, etc., which must be learned in sequence as each level builds on the one before it. These are also the important principles to be learned and applied in the form. 8. Compact Tai Chi: Combined Forms for Pratice in Limited Space by Jesse Tsao This book presents an unusual but practical approach to the tai chi form, turning it into a circular stepping pattern instead of the traditional pattern in order to save space, so you can do it at home or in a limited space. Although I know the traditional long Yang form, I have no problems with this and find it an excellent approach and of value. The book also takes and combines techniques from the five main styles of tai chi. 9. Yin-Yang in Tai-Chi Chuan and Daily Life by Simmone Kuo, John Bratten A very complete, one might say, encyclopedic treatment of the concept, drawing from diverse sources, including history, Chinese philosophy, and even poetry, besides its importance in tai chi. Although I found some of the material only peripherally relevant, such as the discussions of Confucius, if you think of this as a treatment of the subject in the context of Chinese culture as a whole you'll have a better idea of the book. 10. Tai Chi Theory & Martial Power: Advanced Yang Style, by Dr. Yang Jwing Ming Like Dr. Yang's other books this is a gold mine of good information. Dr. Yang's book goes beyond the basic principles and gives quite specific instructions on the more advanced ones. As far as good, practical, and detailed advice on many aspects of tai chi energy, power, speed, posture and body mechanics, form practice, martial applications, and so on, this is probably the best I've seen. 11. T'ai Chi Classics, by Waysun Liao After a brief consideration of the history and origins of tai chi, the author proceeds to explicate the most important principles of tai chi through a presentation of the three most important tai chi classics, along with modern commentary written by the author. I found his elaborations on the more condensed and sometimes cryptic sentences and paragraphs in the original classics very helpful, and in fact, most of the text in these chapters is actually his, not the classics themselves. The chapter on jin theory and its many types and their nature and applications was also excellent. Overall good explanations about tai chi but note that sometimes the author's discussions of the physics are wrong. 12. T'ai Chi According to the I Ching: Embodying the Principles of the Book of Changes, by Stuart Alve Olson Very detailed discussion of tai chi concepts, linking the techniques explicitly to the 8 trigrams, the five activities and five elements. The book is chock full of diagrams and illustrations that show these relationships, which makes it good as a reference, as you'll find few other books that lay it all out like this one does. Also discussions and presentations of the pre-heaven 16-movement form for both yin and yang parts, and the 64 move post-heaven form, the 8 hands, and the 8 stances as well. Hope you find my little list helpful. Good luck and happy tai chi practicing and reading!

This book is not intended to teach you tai chi. This book tells you more of how to approach tai chi and where your mind should be during the practice. I have been taking tai chi for about 6 months now. This book is highly recommended by my instructor. Reading it really helped me to understand some of the things my teacher was telling me and it helped me figure more than a few things out on my own.

In this "For Dummies" era, the market has been saturated with New-Agey, cartoon Tai Chi books with pictures and drawings, but that have very little actual substance to them. As more and more people become curious about this art, it is imperitive that material be made available that is true to the art, and not just a vehicle for some so-called "master" to publish pictures of himself practicing a form.To that end, inside this unassuming, little, white book is some of the best writing on the subject of Tai Chi Chuan that I have seen.To begin with, there are no step-by-step instructions here. This book is designed to pique the interest of the layman, or to deepen the learned man's love for the art.The history lessons alone are worth the price of the book. The commentary, anecdotes, and insight come from a place of subtlty and quiet wisdom which you may not get the first time through. Time has only made my appreciation for this book's layout widen.But the real selling point is the translations of the Tai Chi Classics; of which most books about Tai Chi refer to but never provide.So if you want to learn Tai Chi, find a good teacher. But if you want to learn about Tai Chi, then let me recommend this book. It's one of the good ones.