Joe Louis - by Lew Freedman (Paperback)

About the Book

Joe Louis held the heavyweight boxing championship longer than any other fighter and defended it a record 25 times. During the 1930s and 1940s, the owner of the heavyweight title belt was the most prominent sports competitor not aligned with a team sport. In addition, Louis helped make breakthroughs for African American athletes and bridge the gap of understanding between whites and blacks. During World War II he not only raised money for Army and Navy relief, entertained millions of troops as a morale officer, but became a symbol of American hope and strength. In a famous speech Louis pronounced that the United States would win the war "Because we're on God's side." The simple phrase helped energize the populace and some said that Louis "named the war." The biography of Louis outlines his rise from poverty in Alabama to becoming the best-known African American of his times and describes how an uneducated man, simple at his core, became so articulate and always ended up on the side of right in the battles he fought, with fist or voice.

Book Synopsis

Joe Louis held the heavyweight boxing championship longer than any other fighter and defended it a record 25 times. (In the 1930s and 1940s, the owner of the heavyweight title was the most prominent non-team sports competitor.) In addition, Louis helped bridge the gap of understanding between whites and blacks. During World War II he not only raised money for Army and Navy relief and entertained millions of troops as a morale officer, but became a symbol of American hope and strength.

This biography of Louis outlines his rise from poverty in Alabama to become the best-known African American of his time and describes how an uneducated man, simple at his core, became so articulate and ended up on the side of right in the battles he fought, with fist or voice.

Review Quotes

"retells the story in an efficient fashion...a solid overview of Louis's life...the power of Louis's life is undeniable. Recommended"-Choice; "A surprisingly readable and effective book, and one that would make a very good starting point for anybody who wants to know more about the life and career of one of the truly great heavyweights...This book has two great virtues. Firstly, he knows what he's talking about; and secondly, he can write. That is to say, he knows how to tell a story clearly, in unflashy, accurate prose...Joe Louis: The Life of a Heavyweight is testimony to some real old-fashioned virtues."-Boxing Monthly

About the Author

Lew Freedman is a long-time, prize-winning journalist for such newspapers as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Anchorage Daily News, Seymour, Indiana's The Tribune and Wyoming's Cody Enterprise. Specializing in sports and the outdoors, he has written more than 100 books. He lives in Columbus, Indiana.